Customer Reviews

The Long Walk Home

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This film brilliantly depicts how ugly discrimination is. Discrimination of any kind is as ugly as ugly gets. "The Long Walk Home" is just one example of the many forms of discrimination.

I am a huge fan of Whoopi Goldberg and she is a fantastic actress whether in a comedy or a show such as this - The Long Walk Home.

One can also appreciate the sense of helplessness of Mariam Thompson played by Sissy Spacek. The desire to do what is right and the desire to honor her husband's expectations.

A great film, a part of history that should teach all of us to embrace and celebrate the differences in societies, cultures, races, and the differences in all of us.

Sissy, as a sophisticated, mature woman, in a tender and touching screenplay, by John Cork, that revolves around the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. As Miriam Thompson, Sissy is the well-to-do wife of a city official whose busy life ("I'll be at the beauty parlor this morning, then there's a club luncheon, then I have this Junior League thing this afternoon...") is inconveniently affected by the fact that her maid, Odessa (Goldberg), has chosen to support the boycott, and is sometimes late for work. Goldberg, a deeply talented actress who plays *herself* a little too often to be taken seriously, is superb in a role that has very few lines. She lets her expressions (or lack thereof) do the work for her, and she is wholly believable as the maid who takes care of Miriam's family, and then must make the long walk home to take care of her own. The character studies of Miriam and Odessa are overlooked gems in both actresses careers, and it becomes apparent that the struggle is not just that of racism, but of feminism, as well. We are treated to a classic performance by Sissy, again expanding her own consciousness and rising above her milieu. The art direction is also one of the stars of this film, with amazing attention to period details. Supporting roles are extremely well cast. Sissy's daughter, Schuyler, who is already a veteran actress at 18, can be briefly glimpsed in her first film appearance, as the daughter's friend in the park scene. *Long Walk Home* is always elegant, but not always pretty, and it commands the viewers attention - like a picture postcard from another era arriving decades too late

The Long Walk home was a very informative and pleasurable movie. I first viewed the film in morality class. I thought it was just going to be another boring movie but to my surprise is was excellent! The movie provided an excellent view on the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the prejudices that were faced by the people living in Alabama at that time. The movie presented me with a clearer understanding of the boycott as well as the moral issues that were faced by those who were affected by the boycott. The characters in the movie were captivating. They were so strong in standing up for their rights. Odessa despite the long walk refused to ride the bus and Miriam despite her husband continued to drive in the carpool. The movie proves that one person can make a difference and change the way others think.

The Long Walk home is a stunning tribute to the individual women and men who contributed to the stugggle for human rights in 1950's America. This film brings to life Dr. King's belief that the true heroes of the civil rights movement were the people who were willing to make sacrifices in order that all could enjoy freedom. Each year, I show this film to my students at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, Hicksville,NY. Its portrayal of the Montgomery Bus Boycott reminds us that empowered people can, and do, make a difference and that social change never happens by itself.

This is a marvelous film that gives an accurate account of life in the middle of the 20th Century in the Southern US. I couldn't wait for it to come out on DVD. And what did we get? The usual horrible ARTISAN shoddy worksmanship. The DVD has no extras, not even a trailer. It is in full frame instead of widescreen. But most important, the print is terrible. It is very soft, as if it is a copy of a copy. There is no sharpness to it at all, and colors bleed. It is as bad as Artisan's "The Quiet Man." Artisan should not be in the DVD business, as they have no concept of quality. I would be ashamed to work there.

Rosa Parks' refusal to ride in the 'Colored Section' of the bus wasn't the end of the protests. Afterward, the African American community boycotted public transportation.

Dessie (Goldberg) had a 9 mile walk to her employer, Miriam Thompson's (Spacek) home. The act of Thompson giving her maid a ride to continue the boycott causes quite a bit of stir among her conservative white family.

It's just before Christmas, Dessie's shoes barely fit and she cannot come home 'too tired to do the cooking and too late to do the cleaning.' Many African Americans are afraid to lose their jobs.

Meanwhile, the whites are afraid "If they get by with that bus thing, we won't be able to have this Christmas dinner. The maid will be sitting right next to us..."

As Dessie says, "I'll walk til I don't have no legs left if it will give my kids a better shot in this world."

This is one of the most poignant performances on the part of both Spacek and Goldberg I have ever seen. "Long Walk Home" is very underrated.

Most of us are too young to remember segregated schools, buses, and even public parks. We have come a long way, as this film illustrates. And not far enough. Discrimination is an ugly and painful word and it's one I hope we can put an end to.

Rebecca Kyle, October 2008

When we think about the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott of the Civil rights movement our minds immediately think of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Park. Very seldom do we think about the ordinary citizens who were responsible for taking risks in overthrowing segregation.

The Long Walk Home focuses on two women, one Black, the other white, in their struggle to come to turns with a movement about to turn their lives upside down. Meet Miriam, the typical white southern woman who lives to keep together her home. Of course her maid, Odessa, is the one who keeps the home. Miriam is not a bad woman. Her maid is just like family but talk of the boycott would be an inconvience to the family. After all, who will clean the shouse. Odessa, is the maid. She is a strong woman and loves her family. She is also tired of the mess going on.

Whoopi Goldberg and Sissey Spacek give sterling performances of women who are forced to change the way life has always been. Both must take risks and with those risks comes a price. Both of these women have outdone themselves in displaying the emotions, anger and disappointments in their lives. Every moment you feel their pain and sympathize with their dilemma. This movie is a testament of the strong southern Black and white women who took a stand for justice at the expense of defying their community. Share with them their story. You will be deeply moved and grateful for their sacrifice.

The most amazing thing I noticed is the opening scene where the black women are waiting for the bus. They get on, pay their fares, then walk back DOWN the steps, go to the BACK door and get on! I had to watch that scene over again because I just could not believe it -- that black people could not even walk THROUGH the bus to the BACK. And I'm sure it's a true -- and horrible -- depiction of how they were treated at that time. I highly recommend this film and watch it frequently. The acting is very believable; Whoopi and Sissy are exceptional.

I thought this movie was a great movie. It depicted the black struggle in the Montogomery Bus Boycott very well. It was very relasitic in showing the inequality that the black people faced in that time period and how many white people were so racist and unfair to them. It also shows how some white people were very helpful and supported the boycott (Miriam). I believe that this movie is a greta movie to make all ages aware of was really occured during the black rights movement. It teaches you alot about the different views of people and what it is like living as a black person and a white person during this era.

This film is first of all a good movie with fine acting. I also use it in the classroom to show 8th graders what was the situation in the South at the time of the famous Montgomery bus strike for African Americans. In addition I use the film to reflect what was the role of white women during that era. It shows the rise of both groups of women to be powerful forces.