A Raisin in the Sun
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.83 You Save: $5.12 (51%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.08 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of A Raisin in the Sun
Movie Review: It Is Okay To Like This Production
Summary: 5 Stars
What happens when a film classic is revived? Sometimes it flops, but at other times it shines in a way not like the original but stands alone as a fine production. Such is what happens with Kenny Leon's revival of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," which is a new version for a new audience while still remaining faithful to the original play. Having just seen again the original 1961 movie I was all set to not like the 2008 film. Not to worry. Mr. Leon has every reason to be proud of his work here. The three women are exceptional. Phylicia Rashad as the matriarch of the Younger family brings a youthfulness to the character of a woman still very much engaged in life and seeping with quiet strenth. Audra McDonald becomes the charcter Ruth, and Sanaa Lathan as Beneatha literally shines as the young twenty-year-old so full of ambition and hope for a better life. While Sean Combs is no Sidney Poitier and is not always completely believable as Walter, he redeems himself in the climatic scene when he delivers his "we just want to be good neighbors" speech to John Stamos, the spokesman for the white neighborhood where the Younger family will be moving to shortly.
There are nice touches added to this film not in the original version, if you have to compare the two. There are more scenes outside of the cramped, claustrophobic apartment where much of the action takes place. Additionally the voice over of Morgan Freeman reading the Langston Hughes poem "A Raisin in the Sun" is beautiful.
Incuded with the DVD is a version of the film with running commentary by Mr. Leon as well as interviews with practically everyone connected with the film. Much is made by all of them that this is a classic, that it is all about living one's dreams, the ability to love, etc., etc., etc., all of which is true. But there is an elephant in the room that these folks are too kind to mention: that at the heart of this movie is the ugly word "racism." Unfortunately too many white people in this country still do not want a black family moving into their neighborhood.
"A Raisin in the Sun" is in the same league as other American classics: "A Streetcar Named Desire, "Death of A Salesman" and "Long Day's Journey into Night." It will be produced anew for each generation, whether on stage or in film. Mr. Leon's version certainly gets an A-.
Movie Review: Oh gosh people, give Diddy a break!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really, really enjoyed this movie alot!! It is warm and will very much so keep your attention. The entire cast was great! Now Sean Combs. All the big names in Hollywood Sidney, Will, Glover, Rashad, Ice Cube and the list goes on. But if you can remember when these actors (to name a few) I just named off, they never just came on the big screen with a movie or two and just became Hollywood Blockbuster Stars right off the bat. They all had to start off small and over the years develope their own style of acting. Denzel is a great actor but he sure didn't walk on that red carpet right after his first, second or third movie either. He grinded for many years to get the name he has today. So I think Sean did very well for his first big role and in time I believe we will look back and say Sean Combs has come a long way since Monster's Ball and this movie too. Sean can't just jump into Will Smith, Tom Cruz etc... type movies. He is going to have to sell himself to Hollywood and us movie critics. So I wish people would stop dogging the man out and be patient and let him gather some growth and skill as he continues on his new journey in acting. I really don't care for his rapping much but I think he will do very well in acting. There is always going to be haters who don't wanna see people try new things. So they are quick just judge a person so fast with negative input. So I say, Sean Combs don't let people drag you down with negative weight. You do your thing and keep pushin' to the top! Some day the name Sean Combs will be huge in Hollywood!
Peace
Movie Review: sun yourself
Summary: 5 Stars
While I had been aware of the fact that a stage production revival had been underway, i didn't know that a new version of the movie had been made. Now, I am a serious fan of Sidney Poitier and know that his finest performance was in RITS, lets give credit here, Sidney Poitier is one of the greatest actors ever, and it is his own greatness that in RITS was his downfall. It is difficult to suspend disbelief and see Poitier as the downtrodden worker-for-the-man that RITS expects him to be. It's like trying to envision Tom Cruise as an every-man mechanic in the new War of the Worlds, you just can't stomach it. Enter Sean 'P-Diddy' Combs. Here we have a hip hop star whose credibility even as a music artist seemed bleak at best, let alone his trying out one of the toughest dramatic roles of all time. But to me, Sean does the job and then some. Here is the passionate man who just wants a break to be something better. He is convinced that he is made for greatness and thanks to Sean's portrayal, there is never room for doubt in my mind that this character has had it rough his whole life. The three women are absolutely amazing as has been said and the production itself with its' jittery camera work gives you a view of this family as though you were right there with them as a visitor in their house. This version of A Raisin in the Sun deserves a place in your collection next to your finest movies including the original version of this classic story. 5 stars+Movie Review: I enjoyed this :->
Summary: 5 Stars
To be honest, I cannot compare this to the original, the play or the book. I haven't seen or read any of the above. I wanted to see this because I knew of the story, liked the look of the cast and because I knew how acclaimed this is. I really enjoyed it.
I thought acting by ALL was very good and Sean Combs was very good in it; almost like he's an actor rather than music mogul. Phylicia Rashad stole the movie - she played his mother and the scene where she finds out that her late husbands money has all gone, was amazing. I've always known her to be a comic actress and yet this performance was superb. John Stamos has a small role where he plays a nerdy (played well) white guy who is trying to deter the family from moving into a white neiborhood.
As the dvd cover says on the back - "Dreams can make a life worth living, but they can also be dashed by bad decisions". This is mostly what the movie is about. But how the family pull together to still give themselves a better life is the true lesson.
As I said, I cannot compare this version to anything else, but I really enjoyed it and thought it was done very well and acted well by everyone. I hope that it will get some Emmy nods because I feel it's very deserving. I loved it and hope you do as well.
Movie Review: Love Or Money
Summary: 5 Stars
I never saw the Broadway production and I never saw the original film of Raisin in the Sun, so I had a fresh take on my un-biased oppinion about this version. all I can say is I love it. The acting is absoulutely fantastic. It's rare when you see a movie like this nowadays, most movies released now are violent action superhero melodramas we've all seen before. A Raisin In The Sun is drama based and character driven and the passion displayed in this film is emotionally charged. You can tell the actors loved their characters, instead of just reading off a script. I will say again how rare it is to find a recent film with exceptional writing and an interesting story. I loved Philicia Rashad's performance. She deserved the emmy. I also loved P. Diddy (didn't know he could act too!). He has practically mastered everything at this point. (Check out his colgne "Unforgivable")! A shameless plug. I also loved Audra McDonald's performance. She should have received an emmy too. The cast and the writing carried this movie and turned what could have been your average movie of the week into an above average rendition of an already famous Broadway play and film.