Lackawanna blues
We sat and watched this movie the other day.This coming on the heels of watching "Ray"...which we loved.Both movies take place over the same time period...which is why I connect them.I found Lackawanna Blues to be just as powerful as Ray...if not more so.I don't think I have ever ...simply enjoyed a movie more.Lackawanna is a city in upstate New York,and home to a young Ruben Santiago-Hudson.Never heard of him?..neither had I until this movie.Although I had seen his face before...bit parts in several movies,most notable being in the Devil's Advocate with Keanue Reeves and Al Pacino.This is his auto-bio,which as a play,won an Obie.With the help of Halle Berry and others has been made into this most remarkable film.
The story is that of a little boy and a kind woman who raised him...but,so much more.The setting is a rooming house filled with amazing characters who all have a hand in young Ruben's life.Each boarder has a tale to tell or a story of how they arrived at Nanny's.Nanny,played by S.Epatha Merkerson is the Mother Teresa of the neighborhood and the film is dedicated to her.
There were a couple of laugh out loud scenes...and several wonderful dance scenes.The music was also pumped as it gave my speakers a good workout.
One of the most powerful scenes...Nanny and the rest of the boarders have went out to the fancy nite club.Young Ruben is at home with "small Paul"...a roomer who has a "past",like all of them.As the two scenes are interspersed,the club/home,the music overlaps the two.At first the bandleader,doing a great version of "Caldonia",the conversation at home is lighthearted.As a blind bluesman,played by blind bluesman Robert Bradley,takes over the mike,the conversation at home between small Paul and young Ruben takes an ominious turn.As a killer slide guitar wails and the the bluesman moans his tail of woe...small Paul tells his tail of love lost,and reads a poem of bloody revenge.It was a most profound and powerful moment...which at the end,my wife and I could finally exhale.
The ensemble cast all turned in great performances,Lou Gossett jr.,Jimmy Smits,Rosie Perez,Macy Gray,Delroy Lindo....
The best thing I can say about this film is,my daughter is coming home this weekend and I can't wait to watch it again with her.If you liked "Ray",you'll love this one also.
The story is that of a little boy and a kind woman who raised him...but,so much more.The setting is a rooming house filled with amazing characters who all have a hand in young Ruben's life.Each boarder has a tale to tell or a story of how they arrived at Nanny's.Nanny,played by S.Epatha Merkerson is the Mother Teresa of the neighborhood and the film is dedicated to her.
There were a couple of laugh out loud scenes...and several wonderful dance scenes.The music was also pumped as it gave my speakers a good workout.
One of the most powerful scenes...Nanny and the rest of the boarders have went out to the fancy nite club.Young Ruben is at home with "small Paul"...a roomer who has a "past",like all of them.As the two scenes are interspersed,the club/home,the music overlaps the two.At first the bandleader,doing a great version of "Caldonia",the conversation at home is lighthearted.As a blind bluesman,played by blind bluesman Robert Bradley,takes over the mike,the conversation at home between small Paul and young Ruben takes an ominious turn.As a killer slide guitar wails and the the bluesman moans his tail of woe...small Paul tells his tail of love lost,and reads a poem of bloody revenge.It was a most profound and powerful moment...which at the end,my wife and I could finally exhale.
The ensemble cast all turned in great performances,Lou Gossett jr.,Jimmy Smits,Rosie Perez,Macy Gray,Delroy Lindo....
The best thing I can say about this film is,my daughter is coming home this weekend and I can't wait to watch it again with her.If you liked "Ray",you'll love this one also.
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