Release Date: 12/5/2006 Original Release: 2006 Format: DVD Length: 121 minutes Rating:R (MPAA) Rating Reason: for violence, sexuality, nudity and language. UPC: 025192648724 Studio: Universal Studios Home Video
André Benjamin and Antoine A. Patton--aka Andre 3000 and Big Boi of the hip-hop duo Outkast--star in this uproarious period piece, a comedy-drama-musical-action film set in Prohibition-era Virginia. Patton plays Rooster, the lead singer at a raucous, high-class all-black club called Church. Benjamin plays Percival, his best friend, who is the piano player at the club and the shy son of a funeral parlor owner (played by Ben Vereen). Terence Howard (HUSTLE AND FLOW) provides the menace as Trumpy, a vicious underling of Rooster's bootlegger father (Ving Rhames). Meanwhile, a beautiful singer (Paula Patton) comes to town and Percival finds himself falling in love--much to his terror, as he's afraid to leave the small community of Idlewild for the big city: Chicago, her next stop. As Rooster prepares for a showdown with Trumpy, Percival faces his fears, the band heats up, and the guns and songs come out for a big final night at the Church.
This is clearly a labor of love for writer/director Brian Barber and the Outkast crew: a color-saturated adrenalin rush of witty dialogue, loving attention to period detail, boisterous and athletic dancing, and lots of eye-popping digital animation (such as Rooster's talking/singing whiskey flask). Appearing in a bevy of diamond-studded cameos and bit parts are Cicely Tyson, Macy Gray, Cedric the Entertainer, Patti LaBelle, Jackie Long, Faizon Love, Malinda Williams, and child rapper Bobb'e J. Thompson, who is hilarious--and demonstrates some very fancy footwork--as the young Rooster.
DVD Features
Region 1 Snap Case Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35 Full Frame - 1.33 Audio: Dolby Digital - English Subtitles - English (SDH), French, Spanish - Optional Additional Release Material: Deleted Scenes Audio Commentary: Bryan Barber - Director Deleted Songs - Deleted Outkast Song Music Video: 1. "Morris Brown" - Big Boi 2. "Idlewild Blue" - Andre 3000
What a disappointing film. How could a brilliant music video director like Bryan Barber, teamed with the amazing men from OutKast make such a dull and unoriginal film? To start off, the performances... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on March 31, 2007
Reviewed by: Movie Addict
There are two reasons I tuned into this film. One, I love Terrance Howard (currently on the big screen in "Pride), and two, I was hoping to see another "Chicago"-style musical extravaganza. I was... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on March 28, 2007
Reviewed by: Misty
Obviously I love the music, right? I think that the music was the best part, but it was an okay movie. I liked the actors and the characters. I liked the costumes and scenes. I liked the story, even,... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on July 5, 2007
Posted on March 31, 2007
