Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jeffery Wright- Scene Stealer, March 22, 2002
In a good way. Here, the man who brought us "Peoples Hernandez" gets to play a character whose charisma actually equals his own. I speak of none other than the legendary Martin Luther King, Jr. Seriously, it may be impossible to emmulate a man so great, but Wright gives a great effort, full of Passion and Polish, that makes you feel the events surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott. For people, like myself, too young to remember the civil rights era, this movie is as educational as it is entertaining. And vice versa.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasantly surprised, August 22, 2002
By A Customer
I decided to watch this film and screen it for an undergraduate class on representations of black leadership in American culture, and I expected it to be, like many filmic accounts of the African American freedom struggle, tired and flawed. Everything about this film is wonderful! Aside from Jeffrey Wright's brilliant performance, the use of color, various film grains, and other cinematographic techinques make this film superb. I loved it. I watched it twice in one sitting.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A King for all time, February 25, 2006
I am a late arrival to the career of Jeffrey Wright. The first time I saw him was in Angels in America. He caught my attention and I was riveted to every scene he was in. Wright as Dr. King was a strike of genius. He nails the performance with conviction and compassion. Wright steals every scene he appears in. The project as a whole is very impressive and I commend HBO for investing in this and other projects in which the lives and interests of African Americans are the focus. Terrence Howard is also a figure to watch out for in the future. Howard's performance is powerful especially with his facial expressions. Carmen Ejogo's performance is warm and supportive to the Dr. King character. In playing her part though, she was able to emote what she feels for her husband as she and Wright are real life husband and wife.
There is one moment in this film where Dr. King is overcome with fear and prays to God for strength and it is one of Wright's strongest scenes. It shows exaclty the fear that one might feel if suddenly realizing that you might not live to long just because of standing forwhat was right. Wright's speeches are very King like and in delivering his lines, Wright takes on a slowness of speech that was characteristic of the way Dr. King spoke. He spoke slowly as to give thought first to every word before before it was uttered.
I do find at times that the handheld camera is a bit much and can be a distraction but it can be easily overlooked.
I urge you to buy this film and watch it with your children. It is simply brilliant.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
