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Reviews
Brother to Brother (2004)
Ambitious
Brother to Brother is an interesting film that highlights artists from the Harlem Renaissance and the similar plight contemporary African American artists face today. Like most first time film makers, Rodney Evans tries to accomplish too much in his first narrative film. That he succeeds as well as he does is a testament to his talent and love for his subject manner. This is a film about thoughts and concepts, conflict comes from a deeply internal place: How does a young black artist reconcile the duality of being Black and Gay. How do you handle it when other African-Americans hatred is stronger than the solidarity you want from them? The film is lyrical, appropriately poetic and sincere. Anthony Mackie is strong as the young artist (Perry) who stumbles across an elderly writer from the renaissance who has fallen on hard times, Bruce Nugent, wonderfully played by Roger Robinson. All the performances have charm and style. Brother to Brother is not a perfect film, but without making any special allowances it is an ambitious thoughtful film. It shows a time and place almost overlooked by the general public but worth more than a second look.
Set It Off (1996)
Entertaining and Well Motivated
Set it off is a surprisingly successful film. It is the story of four black women who are unable to cope with the demands of the world they live in. Feeling disenfranchised and frustrated, they rob a bank leading to a series of events that take them down a doomed road. But the women maintain their friendship and loyalty while clashing. The film is refreshingly devoid of easy stereotypes. Queen Latifah is an out and easily accepted lesbian. Neither the police nor robbers are portrayed as one dimensional characters. The actors are always at least equal to their roles and they sometimes surpass them. It is the best performance I've ever seen from Jada Pinkett and a great introduction to Kimberly Elise. John C McGinley is excellent as a guilt ridden police detective. A few fun plot twists are thrown in, though it does loose credibility towards the end it satisfies most dramatic requirements. There are also echoes of `Thelma and Louise' and `Bonnie and Clyde' but `Set It Off' sings to its own voice.
Signs (2002)
Interesting Thematic Ideas but leaky plot and performances
Signs is the latest offering of the very talented M. Night Shyamalan. It is set in the "rural" area of Bucks County just outside of Philadelphia. Mel Gibson is Graham Hess, a former Priest of no stated church who is angry with God and has lost his faith after the accidental death of his wife. For some odd reason he also has a large farm that has acres of corn fields that he appears to tend with no farm hands or help. Suddenly geometric signs appear in his field and Hess is determined to get to the bottom of this while protecting his family. His crises of faith in God or a guiding force in the Universe is supposed to be the concept that drives the film but weak plotting undermines the idea. Mel Gibson is not entirely successful in conveying Father Hess's confusion and sorrow after the death of his wife. One thinks as a middle age Reverend he must have counseled people on how to deal with the loss of a loved one. Sometime, he must have figured out that times like that are what test your true faith and conviction: but right now he "hates God." The Aliens have traveled here for dubious reasons and are ill-equipped to deal with earthlings; though they did have the technology to get here from wherever and make cool patterns in grass and crops. Primitive means are most successful in dealing with them. Perhaps had Mr. Shyamalan formally collaborated with someone the plot could have supported his lofty questions of faith.