Lackawanna Blues
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Movie Reviews of Lackawanna Blues
Movie Review: A Triumph on Every Level!
Summary: 5 Stars
LACKAWANNA BLUES is a fine stage play by Ruben Santiago-Hudson and an even finer film as the author adapted his own life story for the screen. This brilliant film ignites the screen with rich colors, fine music, brilliant editing, superb direction by George C. Wolfe, and a cast so stunning that they make an encore viewing compulsory! Yes, it is just that good.
The story is based on the author's life as the child 'Junior' (Marcus Carl Franklin) raised in the inimitable home of soulfully empathetic Rachel "Nanny" Crosby (S. Epatha Merkerson),
a lady who devoted her life to aiding the disenfranchised by transporting them from the South, from mental hospitals, and from the streets to Lackawanna, New York. The boy recalls all the lessons he learned about life from the inhabitants of the house - odd characters with painful pasts - and from the disintegration of his racially mixed biological family rescued by Nanny. The myriad characters of the home are too numerous to outline but they are portrayed by some of the finest actors in the business: Terrence Howard, Rosie Perez, Mos Def, the beautiful Carmen Ejogo, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeffrey Wright, Ernie Hudson, Charlayne Woodward, Jimmy Smits, Patricia Wettig, Macy Gray, Liev Schreiber, Kathleen Chalfant, Lou Myers, Hill Harper - the list goes on and on.
In the course of the film we are introduced to the cruelties of racism, the history of desegregation, the dynamics of drug abuse and violence, the infectious joy of African American music contributions to our musical culture, and the courage of one fine woman who battled all the hardships the world can dish out to maintain the dignity of those with whom she came into contact. S. Epatha Merkerson is wholly submerged in this role, a role she makes shine like a beacon of reason in a world of chaos. She offers one of the most stunning performances of the past years, and had this film been released in the theaters instead of as an HBO movie, she without a doubt would add the Oscar to place along side her Golden Globe award.
The entire cast is exceptional and Wolfe handles the acting and the story like a master: like riffs in a jazz piece, he pastes tiny moments of conversation with each character and Junior along with flashes of scenes from the story with the matrix of dance fests at the local clubs brimming over the top with incredible blues, jazz, dancing, and joy. The production crew has mounted this little miracle of a picture with extreme care and never for a moment does attention lag from the momentum of the story. Highly Recommended, almost Compulsory Viewing! Grady Harp, February 06
Movie Review: George C. Wolfe and S. Epatha Merkerson Deliver a Heartwarming Experience
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a baby boomer growing up in the early 60s as a person of color, "Lackawanna Blues" is note perfect in capturing the sentiment of a time long gone. The most prophetic statement/assessment about those times comes near the end when Reuben Santiago, as a young man off to college, muses about the lost of a significant part of culture for people of color. It was the last time where one could experience the joys and tribulations of a cultured neighborhood. "For every door that integration opened, another door was closed on the symbiosis of a segregated neighborhood".
S. Epatha Merkerson more than earns her well deserved "Best Actress Emmy", in yet another sterling HBO made for television cinema. She radiates the warmth and grace that the character is based on. Quite simply, I see so much of my childhood in "Lackawanna Blues" though on the surface, one would wonder, how?. The "how" is again the touching snapshot of a peoples taking care of each other, supporting each other, learning and growing from each other. With "Momma's role" being center stage, the viewer can not only see the importance of community that gathers, but, you can almost smell the delicious delicacies being cooked in the boarding house.
The young actor that played Reuben as a child is simply magical. (He gives another knockout performance in "I'm Not There" as one of the Dylan characters. Again, I see myself in his role especially in how the love he has for "Nanna or Momma", and how she eventually takes care of him, more as a maternal figure than his own, troubled biological mother. Terrence Howard is convincing as the 17 year old junior of Momma's heart. Macy Gray in a small, but, effective role is funny and endearing. These are just a few standout performances in a movie that is filled with them.
There was a house in our neighborhood that was just as transient with a wonderful array of personalities.
George C. Wolfe had recently demonstrated his indisputable talent as a stage director in the Public Theater production of "Radiant Baby", a musical about Keith Haring. He is equally adept in directing this wonderful, little gem of a movie.
HBO remains a cut above the competition with their well-made, exclusive movies.
Movie Review: This is all part of our ever-so-rich heritage
Summary: 5 Stars
On January 21, 2011 I will turn 62 year old and I can remember as though it was yesterday, my aunts telling me stories on how my grandmother ran such a boarding house back in the 30's. The residents were just as "colorful" as the ones pertrayed in the film. How many of us growing up in the 50's remember the boarding houses (in our neighborhoods) preventing human beings from living on the streets? It provided a family for those who had no families. We won't mention the delicious down-to-earth, home cooked meals made from an important ingredient; L-O-V-E!!!!! If I sniff the air I can almost smell the hot sliced corn bread (baked in a cast ironed skillet) dripping with butter and the peach cobbler fresh from the oven.
I stumbled upon this film quite by accident. One night there wasn't anything to watch on regular tv and so my next choice was turn to cable and that is when I saw the commercial for the movie - Lackawanna Blues. The what????? (smile) Then I saw one of our most incrediable actress to walk God's green earth -Epatha Merkerson and knew this was something I simply HAD to watch!!!! Through the years I have been searching for this film and now in finding it I can add this to my collection.
This film has also paved the way for the world to recognize this is yet another African-American classic. I agree 300% when it comes to the brilliant acting and if this film had been relased in the theaters instead of an HBO movie another one of the Oscars would have found a new residence. The rating should be ten stars and not five!
I am very proud of this movie and plan to give this DVD away as gifts. Without a doubt THIS film will have a special place in my video library.
Movie Review: Enjoyable Film
Summary: 5 Stars
There were times in the film that I wondered whether it was really 1956 or the 30s, but regardless, I definitely enjoy films of the juke joint era where house parties are thrown regularly, the culture of dance (Lindy Hop?) is done with people throwing themselves on the dance floor, the tight atmosphere of love, and a feeling of family. This movie is told from the narrative viewpoint of a young boy who, after his parents had issues with taking care of him, they both agree to let Nanny take over. The young boy learns his street smarts from the other people living in the home (a lesbian, ex-convicts, handicapped, musicians, couples with domestic violence issues, beauticians, labor workers, and so forth). To someone like a social worker, this is the house from hell to raise a child in, but from the viewpoint of the boy and the giving nature of Nanny, this is a family and a home full of soul--soul music, soul food, and positive souls. Once again, I was thrilled to find Mos Def in yet another movie, and as I knew he would, he played his role as a musician well, and I enjoyed his songs. Macy Gray acted as weird as usual, and nobody could've played crazy quite like she does. The woman who played Nanny did a great job as well, but I paid the most attention to Terrance Howard. I loved his role, with all of his faults and immature ways, he was my main focus. As a young, charismatic man trying to carry on a relationship with someone who people would find it slightly taboo to be with, still trying to enjoy his youthful years, and protect his home, he was a complex character that I found the most interesting. I'd recommend this movie to anybody who is interested in a musical drama with depth.Movie Review: Quite Simply, Exquisite!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever since I first encountered the Divine Ms Merkerson as a sex therapist in Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It" I have been sold on the range of this exceedingly gifted yet terribly underrated actress. She received an Emmy for her portrayal here and to say it is well-deserved is a masterpiece of understatement.
Here she simply shines as THE guiding force and hand in her community. This was especially poignant for me for I grew up in this very same time period. The production detail was phenomenal and evoked memories of life and times during the 50s & 60s and of women like Ms Merkerson portrayed. She was thoroughly and ably accompanied by a hot, hot cast with performances one would enjoy over and over again. I first saw Macy Gray's name in the credits and went ho-hum. Her performance was so good, I didn't even recognize her until about a 3rd of the way through. I am especially proud of the obvious care and attention to detail to produce a feel and look of another beautiful era in African-American culture that is very tastefully done.
Another very interesting aspect is that the project was less concerned with the racial fabric of the times but inifinitely more attuned to the richness of the characters and the emotional diversity they provide to exemplify that in the final analysis it is about the choices we make and to what extent we accept responsibility for those choices.
This is a worthy, elegant presentation of African-American life and is most assuredly destined to become a classic. You owe it to yourself to have this as part of your collection.
I highly recommend.