Customer Reviews

Nothing But a Man

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Here's an American neo-realist masterwork that captures the temper of black consciousness in the south just prior to the mass upheavals of the early '60s.

Long before Scorsese made "Mean Streets" and "Raging Bull," Michael Roemer had made this great film. No other film dramatizes so profoundly the plight of a man whose basic human pride will not be compromised under any circumstances.

Ivan Dixon as Duff gives one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema and Abbey Lincoln as Josie, the preacher's daughter he tries to settle down with, is just about perfect in control of nuance. These characters are extraordinary "ordinary" people, truly heroic; yet the tragedy that stalks them may or may not be hopeless at this time in history, due to an apparent shift in black consciousness, a general "fed-up-with-it-all" attitude that needs men like Duff to inspire itself.

The entire cast is uniformly excellent and there are too many brilliant scenes to mention here. The film seems cut directly from the fabric of real life in a semi-documentary Rossellini-like style. "Little Fugitive" and "Medium Cool" are the only other pre-70s American films I've seen that feel this real and authentic.

In terms of the subtlety with which racial politics and power relations are exposed through simple gestures and concrete acts rather than rhetoric and melodrama, Martin Ritt's "Sounder" and Paul Schrader's "Blue Collar" are the only films I've seen that come close. Charles Burnett's low-budget independent masterpiece "Killer of Sheep," also comes to mind.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned here, especially by directors like Spike Lee, who I'm sure has seen this movie, and who has made decent films in the past (Do the Right Thing, She's gotta have it), but now wastes his time making laughable, "really hardcore," "I want to transcend puny barriers with overloads of style" cartoons like "Summer of Sam." "Nothing but a Man" is light years away from the two-dimensional nonsense they call "realism" these days. Over and out

A film that deserves far more exposure than it has apparently received thus far. There is drama to be found in everyday lives. NBAM is set in a time and place when black survival was so tenuous that its pursuit necessarily involved drama. There is plenty of dramatic conflict in the main character's struggle to find a way to live with himself and those around him. Other conflicts include decisions about romance, parents, children, religion and work. The acting and direction are uniformly topnotch. Abby Lincoln radiantly and subtly portrays faith and dignity. Because so many films about racist and other tragedies use a hammer to drive home messages of injustice, NBAM refreshes. While the narrative is clear, viewers are credited with the ability to connect dots. These are qualities too rarely found in contemporary cinema, although they are richly apparent in the work of directors including Marcel Pagnol, Sagyajit Ray (Sp? - anyway, director of the World of Apu, etc.), John Huston, Jean Vigo, Werner Herzog (in a few of his films), Fassbinder... NBAM provides less of an escape than some of the work just referenced. But its realistic style and well-drawn characterizations made me hungry for at least a sequel. Sidebar: That the story takes place when music like "Heatwave" was popular just provides ironic contrast and a window, for non-black viewers, into the disparity between ebulliant soul hits and early-'60s African American living.

I first saw "Nothing But a Man" on public TV about 35 years ago when I was in high school. I never forgot it. I was very happy to learn of its release on tape in the 1990s and now its availability on DVD. Terrific acting, and a tight script. Unlike so many Hollywood movies, you have to pay attention to the details in this one. It's in my personal Top 50 films of all time.

In 1964, when "Nothing But a Man" was released, it must have been a shock to see a film that presents a story focused on the lives of black characters, and does so with such vivid and unsparing authenticity. The film's power has faded little in over forty years and remains essential viewing for reasons that far exceed its historical importance. The story of a man who refuses to conform or give in but who breaks a little along the way as he ends up fighting everyone around him is told with such courage and honesty that you are hooked from the opening scenes. The direction is unobtrusive and the script manages to effectively walk the delicate balance between delivering a message without being heavy-handed. The actors in the film don't seem to have a lot of range but what they do, they do very effectively and are completely convincing.

I end up watching this film about once a decade (I've seen it three times). On both occasions as I anticipated watching it again I've thought it's not going to be as good as I remember it being. I've been wrong both times, rediscovering the film's force and seeing even more layers of subtlety as I watched it through the filter of my added experience. I can't recommend this film highly enough.

this is the Kind of Film that while it is over 40 years Old, still reflects so much of what is going on today especially if you are a Black Man in America. this film pulls no punches and it shows the day to day grind of dealing in a cold unfair world. a very strong cast that balances out so much. very well paced film with strong direction and writing that could be anywhere from the 60's til today. very strong all Black cast and dealing with Everyday Life and it's challenges. this is One of the Best Put together casts that I have Ever seen in a Film. this Film is very Historic and Ground-Breaking. a must see classic that will get to your spirit and soul. also a Strong soundtrack.

Once you see this film you won't forget this! Low budget, but excellent and compelling story of a Black man (Ivan Dixon-best remembered as "Kinch" of "Hogan's Heroes") in the South who faces classism (he is a poor man who wants to marry a middle-class preacer's daughter played by Abbey Lincoln) as well as racism. When the local whites see that Dixon refuses to pay the "Uncle Tom game," the word gets out and he becomes unhirable.

This film examines a lot of issues in between all this, but I will spare all that for the viewer. You really have to see it. Lots of good atmospheric touches that makes the Southern urban ghetto scenery authentic, as well as the R&B and Gospel soundtrack. Look for Esther Rolle (Florida Evans from "Good Times") as an extra in a church scene.

A riveting small little film that packs a punch. A drama about a black man in the South trying to survive and become self aware. It is sensitively filmed and all of the performances are great. It is a shame that it is not more widely known for it has a lesson in it for everyone. One critism though, it lacks humor, and in life survival can not occur without it.

A lean film of unusual grace and power, thanks to a perceptive script and solid characterizations. Both Dixon and jazz singer Lincoln give heartfelt portrayals as Duff and Josie, and look for the late, great Julius Harris playing Duff's drunk, delinquent father. "Nothing" is an inspiring work of cinema that helped fuel the Civil Rights era, and still speaks volumes today.

I always wanted to see NOTHING BUT A MAN. It never became the independent hit it deserved to be, yet I can understand why it holds a special place in 60's film history. After watching it last evening, I thought of films like THE PAWNBROKER and a handful of other gritty black and white films of the era: films that realistically and powerfully dealt with adult issues and created a much-needed contrast to the Rock Hudson-Doris Day fluff films that were still quite popular. This film presents its African American characters as realistically as any documentary, with few if any cliches. The late Ivan Dixon plays a young man in pre-Civil Rights America, who has to hang tightly to his dignity as he tries to build a reasonably conventional life under very difficult circumstances in the South. The cast is uniformly good. (The 2004 40-years-later extras on the DVD are interesting to add perspective to the film.) Because wonderful films like this are really time capsules to some degree, I couldn't help but think about all the "people of a certain type" today who criticize our African American President because they feel he doesn't blindly praise America at every turn. Some feel he apologizes for America and points out our shortcomings too frequently. Those folks, obviously short on memory, should watch NOTHING BUT A MAN in order to review the plight of one minority group just a few decades ago. I was, luckily, raised in a very inclusive environment so when I see bigotry in films like this, I can't get my head around the kind of mean-spirited people who treat fellow human beings with such contempt. Alas, these types are still very much among us, only they must keep their prejudices to themselves more than they ever had to in the era in which NOTHING BUT A MAN was made. I was only 14 when this film came out and I'm still shocked that this environment existed at all during my lifetime. How far we've come, and yet we have a long way to go. After seeing this film, I hope there comes a day in which it is shown to an audience that is both shocked and unable to grasp that any of the hatred and prejudices so forcefully recorded in 1964 could have ever existed. The power of positive change is best seen in the context from which the change evolved. NOTHING BUT A MAN serves us well in this regard.

Yes I said it yes I did, as a well known radio talk show host says.
This was a good movie but, I didn't care to much for the way it
ended. This movie showed how a black man can get caught up in
the everyday struggles of life, and began to take it out on the one
who's closest to him and who has his back when times get hard, this
woman was always on the supporting end, never gave up on him through
his struggles with prejudice white folk. I was glad he was on the
way to getting his life in order. Good ole movie I'd say.
Wished there was a part 2 to this movie, I would definately buy it.

Lynn from OKC