Description

Filmmaker Spike Lee, star Denzel Washington (the New York, Boston and Chicago Film Critics' choice as 1992's Best Actor) and other talents vividly portray the life and times of the visionary leader."One of the decade's best and most important films." (Arch Campbell, WRC-TV/Washington D.C.) ... Read more

Reviews (72)

Awesome man, excellent tribute
Denzel Washington makes this little understood nearly mythical man breath. After studying the life of Malcolm X in a sociology of religion class, we watched this film to relax a bit. The script seems fairly accurate to history, and the imagery helps bring the conflict, drive and sincerity of Malcolm X to life.
In the movie, it becomes so obvious that Malcolm had just reached a kind of Buddhist nirvanna in his Islamic faith. Had he been allowed to live, his newly found spiritual insight gained from his pilgrimage to Mecca most likely would have helped to enlighten other Americans, Muslim or Christian, white or black. Malcolm appears on the verge of something even greater than he had previously been. Malcolm appears to be on the verge of becoming a national and perhaps even global spiritual and secular leader at the time of his death. Denzel makes more mourn the death of a man I never met. Inspiring, insightful. I'm grateful to Denzel and Spike for bringing me this "joint."

Excellent Biopic, One of the Best!
A sweeping biopic of an admirable man, who, while his ideas were wrong, had the will and the determination to defend his ideas and to say them publicly. A powerful film, with a sweeping force and excellent production values. While the film is extremely long (200+ min.), it is never boring ans always fascinating, it is divided in equally interesting stages; Malcolm's youth, prison time, his dedication to Elijah Muhammad, and the ultimate betrayal and death of Malcom X. A compelling study of a complicated, angry man, and whether you agree with his ideas or you don't, the movie remains a riveting biopic that is one of the best movies of the 90's. The reason the film works so well is mainly because of the performances and the assured direction by Lee. Not as incendeary or provocative as one would expect from a Spike Lee film, only the first and last few minutes are controversial. Denzel Washington delivers a powerful performance that ranks among his best. Also Angela Bassett is great in support. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!

Powerful...
...is the best way to describe Malcolm X, Denzel Washinton's greatest work in cinema so far. It tells the story of Malcolm X, the strong-willed black revolution leader whose ironic and powerful views differed very differently from Martin Luther Jr.
Denzel Washington gives an extraordinary performance, and with heart he shows the metamorphosis of Malcolm X, from hip young kid, to his life of crime days, to when he was a white-hating civil rights leader.
There are many other great performances in the film, and Spike Lee makes Malcolm X his best "joint" ever. You can feel that this is a Spike lee film, because it is a little strange and it swings from one mood to another. Spike lee also stars in the film, but as a minor character.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Malcolm X, and it ranks as one of the best film of the '90s. If you love Denzel Washington, you haven't seen him perform until you have seen him in Malcolm X.

BEST MOVIE EVER
Movies are never good as the book, but its good to see a visual. One thing I didn't like about the movie is the way they protrayed Elijah Mahammad.
This movie changed my life, for someone like me in High School that didn't like to read. lol It was becasue of this movie I joined the Nation Of Islam when I was 18. I figured I would go to the source, Malcom X just repeated what Elijah said, and look how great he became. Malocom X was so great, but always thought he would come back to the N.O.I....Give thanks to Malcom X our living Ancestor...

Definite classic
But... while this film marks Spike's high point as a director and one of Denzel's highest points as an actor (THIS is what he should've goitten the Oscar for, not Training Day, and it's criminal that Spike wasn't nominated.)
That being said, the film is overall excellent and historically accurate, even when it hurts, such as the corruption of the Nation of Islam. Two things, however, mar it: First, Freeman's Elijah sounded like he belonged in Kung Fu film; the real Elijah (there are tapes)didn't quite sound that Asian. Second, the ending just didn't fit. That was just Spike trying way too hard to say something that really didn't need to be said. The film could've ended at the assassination and been near perfect. The rest was attempted spin-doctoring.
DEFINITELY see this film. It's essential in understanding a lot of the early '60s political scene. ... Read more

Reviews (86)

In both senses, a black comedy
After the terrors of "Summer of Sam", Spike Lee has come up with "Bamboozled", in which he roasts TV and the way it exploits the black population. Unhappy with his situation at a television network, Pierre knows he can be sued if he quits, thus breaking his contract, so he figures out a fail-safe solution: he'll get himself fired by producing a show so outrageously offensive it will cause a racial backlash. (It's a variation of "The Producers"; even the initial audience reaction is similar.) Pierre is a re-invented man: he wears expensive suits and greets us with "Bonjour", but about half-way through the movie we learn his name is really Peerless and his father is a second-level night club comic. Pierre is very sensitive to racial issues, and so he's convinced his proposed showcase will be a shocking failure: a minstrel show for the new millennium. Two Afro-American street performers are re-named Man-Tan and Sleep 'n' Eat and put into situations (in a watermelon patch, no less) displaying how lazy and untrustworthy Negroes are -- but, hey, great tap dancers! The two are even required to wear black face. (I assume the N word cannot be used in Amazon.com, but it's used ad nauseam in this screenplay.)To Pierre's consternation, the show is a big hit; and he is faced with the dilemma of denying his principles to court success. In fact, he has fantasies of winning everything except a Nobel Prize. One of Spike Lee's strongest points as a writer-director is providing flashy roles for capable actors. I was appalled that Samuel L Jackson's performance in "Jungle Fever" was ignored by the Academy. In "Bamboozled" Lee has provided several such oppportunities, though nothing as showy as Jackson's. At first viewing, Damon Wayans may seem a little excessive with Pierre's affectations, but look again. Paul Mooney is compelling as his father, an entertainer who realizes he's gone as far as he's going to go. Savion Glover, Tommy Davidson, Michael Rapaport, and Jada Pinkett-Smith are all good in their different roles. (Al Sharpton and Johnnie Cochran play themselves, and one can't help but wonder: did they realize they were satirized?) The big flaw in "Bamboozled", the reason I can't give it four stars, is the violence with which Lee has chosen to end his dark comedy. I think it would have been much more powerful to circumvent the deaths and have the characters, chastised, watching the devastating montage which closes the picture: the humiliations, the buffooneries, the relentless yassuh yassuh yassuh that degraded black people for generations. It's the death of the spirit that is the revelation in Spike Lee's screenplay,and he weakens that message with physical destruction.

Minstrel Shows Aren't The Only Cliche
.... Let's take as a given that some of [Spike Lee's] films are "heavy-handed". Anyone see Jungle Fever? Do The Right Thing? School Daze (oh, never mind...)? Anyone ever see or read a Spike Lee interview? He's an intense Brother who makes intense films, and true, subtlety isn't one of his strong suits. But you knew that going in.

...

In Bamboozled, as in many of his other flicks, Spike rubs your face in the problem and challenges the viewer to action, if so inclined.

This was "black comedy" in the more ways than one. Damon Wayans was an excellent choice to play the part of media corporate climber Delacroix, whose plan to stick it to The Man went cataclysmically awry. But I still believe Wayans' best work is before him. He's a talented actor who happens to be a comedian, and he just hasn't broken through the mold yet.

As with many Spike Lee joints, this film either satirizes or condemns everything in sight. In Bamboozled, he sets his sights on "wiggers", rappers and the hip hop lifestyle, the WB, UPN and the television and movie industry in general. Robert Townsend addressed similar problems about a decade before in his film, "Hollywood Shuffle". It wasn't as "heavy-handed", and there weren't any "solutions" offered other than from his grandmother, who told him to eschew portraying racial stereotypes on film for money, because after all, "there's always work at the Post Office".

Bamboozled, on the other hand, took no prisoners. From Scatman Crothers to Shirley Temple's dance routines to Farina and Stymie to Aunt Jemima to Fleishman's cartoons to "Good Times" to "In Living Color" (the reference to which was humorous in that both Wayans and the minstrel show side-kick, Tommy Davidson were cast members of that show) to "Martin" (a true minstrel show) to Jerry Springer.

Tommy Davidson is deserving of more work.

Bamboozled isn't too far from the truth. Martin Lawrence used to bug his eyes out and stick out his [behind] and show his teeth and it was a favored show in police departments throughout Ohio. Don't ask me how I know, but some of you might wanna be judicious in your application of the accelerator, if you know what I mean...

This was a better movie than I thought it would be. I didn't buy Wayan's performance for a minute, but there's some really good acting from people you wouldn't expect. That's all I'm saying.

Say what you want about the other Spike Lee joints. In this one, he was completely on point. And as with the rest, the solution is up to you.

Spike Lee's Best
This is the movie that got me turned on to Mr Lee. When I rented this movie just a few years ago I watched it 3 times and then watched it with the audio commentary. I found the movie *that* interesting. Also, the movie has a few layers to its plot so each time one watches it, they're sure to pick up on something new.

The characters are also great - I especially love Damon Wayan's boss who is a caucasian married to a black woman and tells Damon "I'm more black than you are" From that point on, you know this movie is going to put a lot of stuff in your face.

The basic premise - Damon's character is tired of the types of shows with black people that show on tv nowadays. It's all very stereotypical (think this summer's "Method and Red" on fox) and he wants to do something creative. His boss wants something along the lines of "homeboys in outer space". Damon's character is so incensed that he decides he'll get fired in order to break his contract.

What could be better for getting him fired than to make the most racist and ignorant show on tv? He decides to make a show called "Bamboozled" which will recreate the blackface shows of the 30s and 40s only it will be black actors putting on blackface. There's only one problem with his plan: the show becomes a hit.

The rest of the movie shows what happens to the rest of the characters in the style of a Shakesperean tragedy. In other words, a few things don't quite go according to plan and everyone suffers. (ie Romeo & Juliet, MacBeth, etc)

Another thing that makes this movie so awesome is the fictitious commercial spot during the show Bamboozled. Spike Lee takes a pot shot at Tommy Hilfigger's alleged marketing directed at blacks with another brand whose name I can't write or my review will be banned. You'll be shocked, but in a revealing sort of way.

Some People Just Don't Get It
I have to applaud Spike for making this film. People can argue if he is a racist or not, but on this film he showed how corporate America market their products to black inner city people. I for one used to work in a marketing department at a large corporation and this type of behavior went on all the time. So many times, I had to smile and walk away when I heard "you people" and "those people like stuff like that". What is worst is some black artists (namely rappers) help build on these negative stereotypes. They are NO different from the black actors of the 30s who was paid to demean their race. Instead of black people getting mad at Spike for making these films, I suggest you take your anger out on the real culprits and their marketing schemes. BTW, these culprits come in ALL RACES.

What I really want is O Stars...
In high school, I tried to convince our African American STudies teacher to plan a field trip to see this movie. He rebuffed me, and when I saw this movie on tape, I knew why.

I am glad that I am not the only one who knows Spike Lee is a racist. And a slick one at that. He does these movies and black people go see them (I am black, so don't attack me). Do The Right Thing was horrible, Jungle Fever (he ought to be ashamed) all in the name of "eye-opening" filmmaking. Give me a break

Bamboozled...I don't know what to say about this movie. Stereotypes, senseless violence, just downright shameful. There was no message here...except that, we, as black people, sometimes do it to ourselves (ex. Soul Plane? same problem). And helping this man, for the sake of a paycheck is deplorable.

Please spare yourself of this film. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

More like one king, two princes, and one sucker
Bernie Mac is undeniably THE king of comedy in this movie, his set smokes all of the others. That's not to say that the other's aren't funny. D.L. Hughley is really funny, especially when talking about how black people and white people view work. Steve Harvey sort of MC's the concert and does like two 10-15 minute sets that are decent. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that I really didn't think that Cedric the Entertainers set was funny at all. It's a good thing Spike Lee didn't open the film with him because I probably would have shut it off. The funniest part of the whole movie is hearing Bernie Mac's views on child raising, it's just simply hilarious. Bernie comes from the old school of child rearing where it's ok to give a kid an @ss whippin'. Anyway, this is definitely worth buying just for Bernie Mac's set alone, but D.L. Hughley and Steve Harvey do a good job as well...a good addition to any comedy collection.

Almost a classic
The Original Kings of Comedy is not a movie per se; rather, it's an assortment of comics doing, well, comedy. Steve Harvey is the emcee, and he is joined by Cedric "The Entertainer", D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. They each do an exceptional job of bringing their own comedic style to the stage, and I don't want to really go into the specifics because that would be giving away too much of the movie.

So why didn't I give it five stars? Because there was one problem: part of D.L. Hughley's routine. Sure, his jokes were funny as ever, but we all know damn well that several of those jokes were the same jokes he told a year before (or a year later, depending on when this movie was taped) in his HBO special "Going Home". And I don't mean similar jokes, I mean EXACT jokes. Although the jokes are still funny, you can't help but ache for more new material. I've noticed that with a lot of black comedians. (I'm black too, so that's not a racist remark.) For example, several of Chris Rock's jokes from his HBO special "Bigger & Blacker" were the same jokes given during his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996...minus the profanity, of course. I think that kind of pattern isn't good to follow. I mean, how would you feel if you bought a new album from your favorite artist and discovered that the exact same songs from the previous album are on there? (Are you listening, Jesse Powell?)

This is still a good video, so add it to your collection.

A
this movie is hilarious. you should buy it or even rent it. i cant garantee you'll like it. dont listen to them haters hatin on this dvd. yeah, i agree that maybe its none too smart to make fun of your own culture, but its still funny. it would still be funny if any body from another race made fun of thier own culture. well anywayz this is a good movie. but its not as funny as the latin kings of comedy.

The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Sickeningly Hilarious!
This film captures stand-up performances from comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, and is a non-stop laugh-fest in the highest sense of the term. This review is not going to be a very long one - to be rather honest. The humor, of course, revolves around many taboo subjects like racial stereotypes, sex, religion and other things - if you are easily offended by any of these things, I suggest you avoid this film like the plague, because it is no holds barred! A few of the many hilarious scenes that I consider personal favorites from each comedian:

(1). Steve Harvey does a pretty good job of mocking the characters in the Titanic film who choose to keep playing their violins amidst a major catastrophe. He later goes into detail about why he prefers "old-school" music; particularly old-school R&B, over the hip-hop and rap trends that seem to be preferred by the modern generation. He does an effective job of lambasting rappers, and is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at this. Needs to be seen to be believed.

(2). D.L. Hughley was hilarious too, but like some have pointed out, some of his routines came from other, earlier stand-up specials. Side note: If you can find a copy of his stand-up comedic special entitled "Going Home," pick it up. That performance I believe to be his funniest, and it leaves me rolling on the floor everytime.

(3). Cedric The Entertainer's humor was the least brash of all the four, and has more of a laid-back, subtle charm, which still manages to make you laugh. The whole break-dance scene was funny, as well as his "cruising into outer space" scene, his self-made "martial art style" scene, and others.

(4). Bernie Mac - good lord. He was without a doubt the craziest, most brash, most (messed)-up comedian in this set. Sadistic and intensely cathartic, even. It's only fitting that he would be the last performer. His routine was just a little too much for me - and still is - and I mean that in the best way possible. His takes on kids and how they get (or should get) punished, sex and orgasm, and the "stuttering" kid were just too much - not only was I laughing too hard, but my lungs began to hurt, I nearly lost my voice for a brief period, and I was nearly out of oxygen. The guy was too much! Saying that he cracked me up would be a HUGE understatement.

All in all, recommended for many who want (or need) a major laugh-fest. Sometimes, one of the best ways - if not the best way - to deal with unpleasant situations in life is to be able to laugh at them - as exemplified in this film. If you suffer from chronic asthma, heart disease, and/or are easily shocked - particularly by the things mentioned in the above paragraphs (including loads of profanity) - stay VERY far away from this - you will be digging yourself an early grave. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

More like one king, two princes, and one sucker
Bernie Mac is undeniably THE king of comedy in this movie, his set smokes all of the others. That's not to say that the other's aren't funny. D.L. Hughley is really funny, especially when talking about how black people and white people view work. Steve Harvey sort of MC's the concert and does like two 10-15 minute sets that are decent. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that I really didn't think that Cedric the Entertainers set was funny at all. It's a good thing Spike Lee didn't open the film with him because I probably would have shut it off. The funniest part of the whole movie is hearing Bernie Mac's views on child raising, it's just simply hilarious. Bernie comes from the old school of child rearing where it's ok to give a kid an @ss whippin'. Anyway, this is definitely worth buying just for Bernie Mac's set alone, but D.L. Hughley and Steve Harvey do a good job as well...a good addition to any comedy collection.

Almost a classic
The Original Kings of Comedy is not a movie per se; rather, it's an assortment of comics doing, well, comedy. Steve Harvey is the emcee, and he is joined by Cedric "The Entertainer", D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. They each do an exceptional job of bringing their own comedic style to the stage, and I don't want to really go into the specifics because that would be giving away too much of the movie.

So why didn't I give it five stars? Because there was one problem: part of D.L. Hughley's routine. Sure, his jokes were funny as ever, but we all know damn well that several of those jokes were the same jokes he told a year before (or a year later, depending on when this movie was taped) in his HBO special "Going Home". And I don't mean similar jokes, I mean EXACT jokes. Although the jokes are still funny, you can't help but ache for more new material. I've noticed that with a lot of black comedians. (I'm black too, so that's not a racist remark.) For example, several of Chris Rock's jokes from his HBO special "Bigger & Blacker" were the same jokes given during his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996...minus the profanity, of course. I think that kind of pattern isn't good to follow. I mean, how would you feel if you bought a new album from your favorite artist and discovered that the exact same songs from the previous album are on there? (Are you listening, Jesse Powell?)

This is still a good video, so add it to your collection.

A
this movie is hilarious. you should buy it or even rent it. i cant garantee you'll like it. dont listen to them haters hatin on this dvd. yeah, i agree that maybe its none too smart to make fun of your own culture, but its still funny. it would still be funny if any body from another race made fun of thier own culture. well anywayz this is a good movie. but its not as funny as the latin kings of comedy.

The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Sickeningly Hilarious!
This film captures stand-up performances from comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, and is a non-stop laugh-fest in the highest sense of the term. This review is not going to be a very long one - to be rather honest. The humor, of course, revolves around many taboo subjects like racial stereotypes, sex, religion and other things - if you are easily offended by any of these things, I suggest you avoid this film like the plague, because it is no holds barred! A few of the many hilarious scenes that I consider personal favorites from each comedian:

(1). Steve Harvey does a pretty good job of mocking the characters in the Titanic film who choose to keep playing their violins amidst a major catastrophe. He later goes into detail about why he prefers "old-school" music; particularly old-school R&B, over the hip-hop and rap trends that seem to be preferred by the modern generation. He does an effective job of lambasting rappers, and is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at this. Needs to be seen to be believed.

(2). D.L. Hughley was hilarious too, but like some have pointed out, some of his routines came from other, earlier stand-up specials. Side note: If you can find a copy of his stand-up comedic special entitled "Going Home," pick it up. That performance I believe to be his funniest, and it leaves me rolling on the floor everytime.

(3). Cedric The Entertainer's humor was the least brash of all the four, and has more of a laid-back, subtle charm, which still manages to make you laugh. The whole break-dance scene was funny, as well as his "cruising into outer space" scene, his self-made "martial art style" scene, and others.

(4). Bernie Mac - good lord. He was without a doubt the craziest, most brash, most (messed)-up comedian in this set. Sadistic and intensely cathartic, even. It's only fitting that he would be the last performer. His routine was just a little too much for me - and still is - and I mean that in the best way possible. His takes on kids and how they get (or should get) punished, sex and orgasm, and the "stuttering" kid were just too much - not only was I laughing too hard, but my lungs began to hurt, I nearly lost my voice for a brief period, and I was nearly out of oxygen. The guy was too much! Saying that he cracked me up would be a HUGE understatement.

All in all, recommended for many who want (or need) a major laugh-fest. Sometimes, one of the best ways - if not the best way - to deal with unpleasant situations in life is to be able to laugh at them - as exemplified in this film. If you suffer from chronic asthma, heart disease, and/or are easily shocked - particularly by the things mentioned in the above paragraphs (including loads of profanity) - stay VERY far away from this - you will be digging yourself an early grave. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In a long and varied career, She Hate Me is easily one of Spike Lee's most unusual films. On the one hand, it's a drama. On the other, it's a comedy. Then there's the structure: a crazy quilt made up out of several different stories. Even the style is a patchwork incorporating animation and pseudo-documentary--in the vein of Lee's 1986 hit She's Gotta Have It. It all revolves around one John Henry "Jack" Armstrong (8 Mile's Anthony Mackie), a successful executive at a biotech company much like ImClone (the one that brought Martha Stewart down). When Jack blows the whistle and loses his job, ex-fiancée Fatima (Ray's Kerry Washington), who left him for another woman, offers the now-penniless Jack $10,000 to impregnate her. All goes well, so they set up business together, and he proceeds to impregnate countless gay women, including mafia princess Simona (Monica Bellucci). If there's one thing that keeps it all together, it's Mackie, who handles the many changes Lee puts him through with admirable aplomb. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (13)

"Drop your drawers and let's get to work."
When "She Hate Me" begins, John Henry "Jack" Armstrong (Anthony Mackie) is a corporate executive working for Progeia--a company that is developing an AIDS vaccine. The company scientist Herman Schiller (David Bennent) has an odd conversation with Jack, and then throws himself out of the window. Schiller's suicide is connected with some shady business dealings at Progeia. Jack becomes a whistleblower and suddenly finds himself unemployed and the target of surveillance and investigation. With all of his accounts frozen, Jack is penniless. Then ex-girlfriend--now--lesbian Fatima (Kerry Washington) emerges and offers Jack $10,000 if he will impregnate both her and her partner.Jack at first resists but gives in. Soon Fatima is lining up lesbians who pay Jack $10,000 each for his services--it's a "sideline occupation for an ever-changing economy."

The first two-thirds of Spike Lee's film "She Hate Me" is pure genius. Laced with political criticism of the Bush administration and of the capitalistic nature of American society that chews up and spits out individuals, Spike Lee explores Jack's gradual marginalisation. As a corporate executive, Jack is ready to sacrifice any hopes of family to stay focused on his career. When he's stripped on his career, he's left with one only thing--his reproductive capability--but soon even that is divorced from any financial or parental responsibility. Jack is the ultimate sex object, and through hysterically funny scenes, Jack is reduced to "a cash cow." With obvious allusions to the Enron scandal and the ethical practices of major pharmaceutical companies, Spike Lee skewers those he lampoons while layering societal criticism with some of the boldest comedy I've seen in ages.

"She Hate Me" is full of terrific supporting roles--such as Don Angelo Bonasera (John Turturro)--watch for his imitation of Marlon Brando playing the Godfather--it's amazing. Woody Harrelson plays Progeia CEO Leland Powell--ever ready with the next BS story to give to the eager media.The parking garage Watergate fantasy scene will go down in film history as one of the most imaginative scenes ever made. Unfortunately, "She Hate Me" begins to be mired down with excessive, clumsy heavy-handed preachy scenes that detract from the film's overall style. The plot is too loose and too muddled, but I can forgive director Spike Lee a great deal when rating "She Hate Me." This thought-provoking film is well worth watching--displacedhuman

A Remarkable Film You Don't Want To Miss
This was a really remarkable film and I am astonished that it didn't get more critical acclaim or advertising related to the film.It's a great movie.It's not just a film about a man who goes around impregnanting lesbians as the blurb on the back of the box kinda makes the film seem.The film stars Anthony Mackie, a new actor who portrays Jack Armstrong.At the beginning of the film it seems as if Jack has got it going on.He is the vice-president of a pharmaceutical corporation, lives in a nice apartment, and is ivy league educated.He is a brother that has it all together in every department--except in the romance department.After his company goes into a downward spiral--in which he is fingered for the downfall, he lets an ex girlfriend convince him to donate his sperm to her and her girlfriend at $5,000 a piece.When his assetts are frozen and he loses his job, he feels compell to continue to sell his sperm.With his ex-girlfriend as his manager, she gets him $10,000 a pop.This film is wonderful and thought provoking.Jack gets into a bit of legal trouble and he starts to look to his religion, his family and other factors when it comes to whether or not he will continue to sell his manhood.There were several things about this film that irked me a bit, but that is why I like Spike's films because there is always something that bothers me and makes me think.When the women went into labor the scene was so over the top and they were all screaming and hollering.However, I appreciate the details in the film.For instance, when Jack was having sex with the various women, he made love to each one of them a different way.He also developed a newfound friendship with his ex-girlfriend who left him for another woman years prior.I recommend this film to anyone who wants to see a real thought provoking film.It also has a lot to do with whistleblowing and the state of the world today.

maybe Spike needs to start thinking of retirement...
...up to now I've found something to like in every Spike Lee film I've ever seen, in fact I love his early work like "She's Gotta Have It" and "Do The Right Thing."

But here it really seems like Lee set out to DELIBERATELY make the stupidest, clumsiest and totally irredeemable film imaginable.Everything about it, from the first 10 minutes, just REEKS: atrociously directed actors stumbling through atrociously written dialogue, a cast of numbingly predictable stock characters, a story line that just rambles from one random unconnected schizoid digression after another and cannot decide if it's a sex farce or courtroom thriller or sociopolitical manifesto and packs about three wholesale suspensions of disbelief every five minutes---everything that could possibly go wrong does go wrong and never stops going wrong, in this absolute catastrophe of a movie.

So I confess: the only thing that kept me from bailing out on this movie after the first ten minutes was my anticipation of watching Lee's typically yummy female cast (only Woody Allen can match his talent for always casting some of the hottest women on the planet) pay to get impregnated by Anthony Mackie.On this score he only delivers once, during a flashback to the time that Mackie's character catches his fiancee in bed with another woman---the rest is pretty tame PG-13 stuff.Compared to the sex scenes in his other films, even this normally strong segment of Lee's repertoire falls flat here.

My theory: Spike Lee must've signed some ironclad contract to make X amount of films within X span of years which he cannot get out of, and "She Hate Me" is his spiteful revenge at the film studio.Too bad it's us, the innocent bystander audience, that has to pay the price.

Spike Lee, have u lost your mind?!!
C'mon man you gotta snap outta it 'cuz you're losing much track behind this. That's why I wouldn't see it 'cuz it thought it was real and a lil more overwhelming. I'm sorry to judge you like this but you need to act up a little bit. I'm still a big fan to some of your movies but not all the time.

Favorite flicks I luv are MO BETTER BLUES, MALCOLM X, CROOKLYN, DO THE RIGHT THING (I can't say much about this movie), JUNGLE FEVER, HE GOT GAME (which I seen twice), 25TH HOUR (which is good), GIRL 6 (that was hot!).

Anyway that's all I can think of. I'm happy I ain't buying it nor watching it. But Spike needs to focus on a lil action for a change maybe even some comedy. Sorry this isn't what I expected.

I recommend more films asides that for sure.

One of the few Spike Movies I like.
I have to admit I am not that big of a Spike Lee fan, because a lot of his movies start great and end less than. Case and point, "Mo Better Blues" I loved that movie up untill the sappy ending, but I enjoyed "Crooklyn" all the way through. "She Hate Me" is a off beat movie that I enjoyed watching it was funny,deep, and had a raw sexuality to it. I the scene's between "Alex and John" and the scene between "John and Mafia" were left on the cutting floor, but should have be part of the picture. I even liked Jim Brown's low key and small part. So overall I would give this flim a B+. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

More like one king, two princes, and one sucker
Bernie Mac is undeniably THE king of comedy in this movie, his set smokes all of the others. That's not to say that the other's aren't funny. D.L. Hughley is really funny, especially when talking about how black people and white people view work. Steve Harvey sort of MC's the concert and does like two 10-15 minute sets that are decent. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that I really didn't think that Cedric the Entertainers set was funny at all. It's a good thing Spike Lee didn't open the film with him because I probably would have shut it off. The funniest part of the whole movie is hearing Bernie Mac's views on child raising, it's just simply hilarious. Bernie comes from the old school of child rearing where it's ok to give a kid an @ss whippin'. Anyway, this is definitely worth buying just for Bernie Mac's set alone, but D.L. Hughley and Steve Harvey do a good job as well...a good addition to any comedy collection.

Almost a classic
The Original Kings of Comedy is not a movie per se; rather, it's an assortment of comics doing, well, comedy. Steve Harvey is the emcee, and he is joined by Cedric "The Entertainer", D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. They each do an exceptional job of bringing their own comedic style to the stage, and I don't want to really go into the specifics because that would be giving away too much of the movie.

So why didn't I give it five stars? Because there was one problem: part of D.L. Hughley's routine. Sure, his jokes were funny as ever, but we all know damn well that several of those jokes were the same jokes he told a year before (or a year later, depending on when this movie was taped) in his HBO special "Going Home". And I don't mean similar jokes, I mean EXACT jokes. Although the jokes are still funny, you can't help but ache for more new material. I've noticed that with a lot of black comedians. (I'm black too, so that's not a racist remark.) For example, several of Chris Rock's jokes from his HBO special "Bigger & Blacker" were the same jokes given during his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996...minus the profanity, of course. I think that kind of pattern isn't good to follow. I mean, how would you feel if you bought a new album from your favorite artist and discovered that the exact same songs from the previous album are on there? (Are you listening, Jesse Powell?)

This is still a good video, so add it to your collection.

A
this movie is hilarious. you should buy it or even rent it. i cant garantee you'll like it. dont listen to them haters hatin on this dvd. yeah, i agree that maybe its none too smart to make fun of your own culture, but its still funny. it would still be funny if any body from another race made fun of thier own culture. well anywayz this is a good movie. but its not as funny as the latin kings of comedy.

The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Sickeningly Hilarious!
This film captures stand-up performances from comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, and is a non-stop laugh-fest in the highest sense of the term. This review is not going to be a very long one - to be rather honest. The humor, of course, revolves around many taboo subjects like racial stereotypes, sex, religion and other things - if you are easily offended by any of these things, I suggest you avoid this film like the plague, because it is no holds barred! A few of the many hilarious scenes that I consider personal favorites from each comedian:

(1). Steve Harvey does a pretty good job of mocking the characters in the Titanic film who choose to keep playing their violins amidst a major catastrophe. He later goes into detail about why he prefers "old-school" music; particularly old-school R&B, over the hip-hop and rap trends that seem to be preferred by the modern generation. He does an effective job of lambasting rappers, and is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at this. Needs to be seen to be believed.

(2). D.L. Hughley was hilarious too, but like some have pointed out, some of his routines came from other, earlier stand-up specials. Side note: If you can find a copy of his stand-up comedic special entitled "Going Home," pick it up. That performance I believe to be his funniest, and it leaves me rolling on the floor everytime.

(3). Cedric The Entertainer's humor was the least brash of all the four, and has more of a laid-back, subtle charm, which still manages to make you laugh. The whole break-dance scene was funny, as well as his "cruising into outer space" scene, his self-made "martial art style" scene, and others.

(4). Bernie Mac - good lord. He was without a doubt the craziest, most brash, most (messed)-up comedian in this set. Sadistic and intensely cathartic, even. It's only fitting that he would be the last performer. His routine was just a little too much for me - and still is - and I mean that in the best way possible. His takes on kids and how they get (or should get) punished, sex and orgasm, and the "stuttering" kid were just too much - not only was I laughing too hard, but my lungs began to hurt, I nearly lost my voice for a brief period, and I was nearly out of oxygen. The guy was too much! Saying that he cracked me up would be a HUGE understatement.

All in all, recommended for many who want (or need) a major laugh-fest. Sometimes, one of the best ways - if not the best way - to deal with unpleasant situations in life is to be able to laugh at them - as exemplified in this film. If you suffer from chronic asthma, heart disease, and/or are easily shocked - particularly by the things mentioned in the above paragraphs (including loads of profanity) - stay VERY far away from this - you will be digging yourself an early grave. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

More like one king, two princes, and one sucker
Bernie Mac is undeniably THE king of comedy in this movie, his set smokes all of the others. That's not to say that the other's aren't funny. D.L. Hughley is really funny, especially when talking about how black people and white people view work. Steve Harvey sort of MC's the concert and does like two 10-15 minute sets that are decent. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that I really didn't think that Cedric the Entertainers set was funny at all. It's a good thing Spike Lee didn't open the film with him because I probably would have shut it off. The funniest part of the whole movie is hearing Bernie Mac's views on child raising, it's just simply hilarious. Bernie comes from the old school of child rearing where it's ok to give a kid an @ss whippin'. Anyway, this is definitely worth buying just for Bernie Mac's set alone, but D.L. Hughley and Steve Harvey do a good job as well...a good addition to any comedy collection.

Almost a classic
The Original Kings of Comedy is not a movie per se; rather, it's an assortment of comics doing, well, comedy. Steve Harvey is the emcee, and he is joined by Cedric "The Entertainer", D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. They each do an exceptional job of bringing their own comedic style to the stage, and I don't want to really go into the specifics because that would be giving away too much of the movie.

So why didn't I give it five stars? Because there was one problem: part of D.L. Hughley's routine. Sure, his jokes were funny as ever, but we all know damn well that several of those jokes were the same jokes he told a year before (or a year later, depending on when this movie was taped) in his HBO special "Going Home". And I don't mean similar jokes, I mean EXACT jokes. Although the jokes are still funny, you can't help but ache for more new material. I've noticed that with a lot of black comedians. (I'm black too, so that's not a racist remark.) For example, several of Chris Rock's jokes from his HBO special "Bigger & Blacker" were the same jokes given during his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996...minus the profanity, of course. I think that kind of pattern isn't good to follow. I mean, how would you feel if you bought a new album from your favorite artist and discovered that the exact same songs from the previous album are on there? (Are you listening, Jesse Powell?)

This is still a good video, so add it to your collection.

A
this movie is hilarious. you should buy it or even rent it. i cant garantee you'll like it. dont listen to them haters hatin on this dvd. yeah, i agree that maybe its none too smart to make fun of your own culture, but its still funny. it would still be funny if any body from another race made fun of thier own culture. well anywayz this is a good movie. but its not as funny as the latin kings of comedy.

The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Sickeningly Hilarious!
This film captures stand-up performances from comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, and is a non-stop laugh-fest in the highest sense of the term. This review is not going to be a very long one - to be rather honest. The humor, of course, revolves around many taboo subjects like racial stereotypes, sex, religion and other things - if you are easily offended by any of these things, I suggest you avoid this film like the plague, because it is no holds barred! A few of the many hilarious scenes that I consider personal favorites from each comedian:

(1). Steve Harvey does a pretty good job of mocking the characters in the Titanic film who choose to keep playing their violins amidst a major catastrophe. He later goes into detail about why he prefers "old-school" music; particularly old-school R&B, over the hip-hop and rap trends that seem to be preferred by the modern generation. He does an effective job of lambasting rappers, and is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at this. Needs to be seen to be believed.

(2). D.L. Hughley was hilarious too, but like some have pointed out, some of his routines came from other, earlier stand-up specials. Side note: If you can find a copy of his stand-up comedic special entitled "Going Home," pick it up. That performance I believe to be his funniest, and it leaves me rolling on the floor everytime.

(3). Cedric The Entertainer's humor was the least brash of all the four, and has more of a laid-back, subtle charm, which still manages to make you laugh. The whole break-dance scene was funny, as well as his "cruising into outer space" scene, his self-made "martial art style" scene, and others.

(4). Bernie Mac - good lord. He was without a doubt the craziest, most brash, most (messed)-up comedian in this set. Sadistic and intensely cathartic, even. It's only fitting that he would be the last performer. His routine was just a little too much for me - and still is - and I mean that in the best way possible. His takes on kids and how they get (or should get) punished, sex and orgasm, and the "stuttering" kid were just too much - not only was I laughing too hard, but my lungs began to hurt, I nearly lost my voice for a brief period, and I was nearly out of oxygen. The guy was too much! Saying that he cracked me up would be a HUGE understatement.

All in all, recommended for many who want (or need) a major laugh-fest. Sometimes, one of the best ways - if not the best way - to deal with unpleasant situations in life is to be able to laugh at them - as exemplified in this film. If you suffer from chronic asthma, heart disease, and/or are easily shocked - particularly by the things mentioned in the above paragraphs (including loads of profanity) - stay VERY far away from this - you will be digging yourself an early grave. ... Read more

Reviews (127)

one of Lee's better films
A Film by Spike Lee

Montgomery Brogan (Edward Norton) is facing a seven year jail term after being caught by the DEA for dealing drugs. This movie is his last 24 hours of freedom before he has to go to prison (for some reason he gets to bring himself to prison when the day ends). He contacts his two friends: Jacob Elinski (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a teacher with an unhealthy interest in his student Mary (Anna Paquin); and Frank Slaughtery (Barry Pepper), a stock broker who thinks too much of his abilities and too little of the money of his clients. The three of them will get together later that night along with Monty's girlfriend, Naturelle Riviera (Rosario Dawson).

The film spends its time examing who Monty is. He's a man who rescues a dog that was abused and left for dead, but he is also a drug dealer with no pity for someone whom he helped become a junkie. We see how he relates to his girlfriend on his last day of freedom, as well as what his relationships are like with his best friends, and what they think of him. Throughout the movie, Monty is re-evaluating his life and what he has done in his life (many bad things). He has to decide how he wants to spend the rest of his life and what kind of man he wants to be. Spike Lee does not give us an answer on whether or not Monty is a good man (or if we should think that he is), but rather leaves the question for us to answer if Monty is doing the right thing throughout the movie. 25th Hour offers condemnation without judgment, if such a thing really is possible.

This movie also is the first one that I have seen that addresses a post-September 11th New York. The opening credit montage has some fairly mournful music that both sets the tone for the movie as well as touching upon the terrorist attacks. The blue lights that we see are the spotlights that shine in the New York skyline in place of the towers. There are also small touches throughout the movie about post 9/11 New York. One of the best sequences in the movie is one where Monty is cursing all of New York, going down a list of stereotypes and realities before he gets to other things that he hates (including Osama Bin Laden) and concluding with himself. It is a beautifully written, if vulgar, speech. It is the money shot of the movie.

This is an excellent movie (excellence in filmmaking), but it is not a great one. I don't know quite what the distinction is, but that as much as I like the movie, 25th Hour did not move me. I would recommend this movie to fans of Spike Lee and drama, in general, but I would not recommend this movie without reservations.

Shocking and Engrossing
A superb cast (and brilliant performances) greatly benefit "25th Hour," Spike Lee's latest directorial effort. Fascinating and frustrating, this is the story of the last twenty four hours Monty Brogan (Edward Norton) gets to spend with his two best friends, Frank (Barry Pepper), a bonds trader, and Jakob (Phillip Seymour Hoffman in another brilliant performance), a high school English teacher, and his girlfriend, Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), before he goes to prison for seven years for pushing heroin, as they party the night away in New York City one last time. Monty spends most of his last day tying up loose ends. There's his dog, a mangy mongrel he rescued after it was burned and left for dead, who needs a new home. There's peace to be made with his father (Brian Cox), who runs a fine Irish bar catering to firefighters. There's a final meeting with his Russian bosses, who play hard and rough. And there's the nagging question: Who ratted him out? Was it, as Jacob and Francis believe, his live-in girlfriend, Naturelle, whose street smarts and supple beauty hint at betrayal?

Adapted by screenwriter David Benioff from his novel that was written before 9/11, the film brilliantly uses this transition in Monty's life as a powerful metaphor for the changes we all went through after that terrible Tuesday in September. Shades of September 11 are everywhere, including the memorable scene in Frank's apartment where we get a clear view of the trgedy's aftermath. There is also the brilliant sequence where Monty looks in the mirror of a restroom and spits out a litany of hate for every group he can think of in New York--every economic, ethnic, sexual and age group gets the f-word, until finally he sees himself in the mirror and includes himself. This scene seems so typical of Spike Lee (it's like an extension of a sequence in "Do the Right Thing") that it's a surprise to find it's in the original novel--but then Benioff's novel may have been inspired by Lee's earlier film.

The film is unusual for not having a plot or a payoff. It is about the end of this stage of Monty's life, so there is no goal he is striving for--unless it is closure with Naturelle and his father. He may not see them again; certainly not like this. Perhaps the film's main flaw is that it goes on a good 20 minutes too long, but it manages to pack a wallop nonetheless, for a truly memorable experience.

Came in with High Expectations.
Maybe I came in with to high of expectations? I don't know, but I did not find this movie enjoyable at all. Some people might say that I didn't get all of the hidden meanings and innuendoes. I did pick up on everything and still found myself thinking 'So what, get on with the movie already!'. The only part of the movie I had any interest in was to see what happened between the characters that Hoffman and Anna Paquin played. Was Hoffman going to end up in jail with Norton for sleeping with his student? Might have been a good twist...

With a great cast of actors and people telling me how great this movie was, I think I just came in expecting to much. I was very disappointed...

This IS the best movie I have ever seen, and I've seen a few
25th Hour... A lot of people have already posted reviews of this movie. Some loved it, some hated it. I am in the first category- although it is dark, tense and slow-paced, 25th Hour riveted me from the first scene, where Monty Brogan rescues the abused dog.
I love Edward Norton. Not only is he an incredibly talented actor, but I find his looks very appealing. He's not a pretty boy or a hunk, yet he has major appeal, and yes, he has definitely got a nice build. But most importantly, he has a way of using facial expressions that is irresistable. Fight Club was a great movie, and he is a great actor, but this has to be his finest work to date. I bought 25th Hour because he stars in it, and I loved it because he made the movie. It was well directed in my opinion, and the supporting cast were wonderful, but if it had starred anyone else, 25th Hour would likely have been something not worth watching. Even a well directed film with a great supporting cast can fail if the lead is miscast. In this case, casting was spot-on.
Edward Norton IS Monty Brogan for 25th Hour.
If for just a few scenes, this movie would be worth watching- Monty's f*ck-you rant to the mirror in the bathroom of his father's bar, the scene where his apartment is searched by the DEA, the interrogation scene, the scene between Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) and Francis (Barry Pepper), the 'make me ugly scene'- these scenes could have made a mediocre movie great. But the movie was already great- these scenes made it unforgettable. I watch it once, and as the end credits roll I immediately want to watch it again. That is what denotes a great movie- I'll never tire of 25th Hour. And on top of everything else this movie has the all time BEST pick-up scene- the 18 year old Catholic school girl-looking Naturelle meets for the first time that cute older Irish guy, Monty Brogan.
I think Rosario Dawson was underrated in this film- she comes across to me as a caring girlfriend, and she proves herself as a GREAT actress when she portrays the younger Naturelle- that WAS an 18 year old girl we were seeing. Plus her scene at the club with Barry Pepper is really great.
I bought 25th Hour sight unseen because Edward Norton was in it, and ended up getting the best movie I've yet seen. I intend to buy the DVD as soon as I can. Buy this film. Don't listen to those who will try to discredit it, it is a great movie and a wonderful vehicle for the acting talents of our Edward Norton.

Chornyi

Nothing really happens
25th Hour has some enjoyable elements, and works in a special way. A man is sentenced to jail, and is allowed time on the outside to say goodbye. Naturally he reflects on what might have been, and also questions his friendships. I found the film had alot of hidden meanings, but it did lose some credibility with the freedom aspect. I dont know what it is like in America, but if you were sentenced to jail for being a drug dealer in Australia, you would be kept in custody beforehand for weeks.

I have to admit it was difficult to feel compassion for Norton since his character is that of a drug dealer. Perhaps if he was being sentenced for something different, it might have helped gain my compassion.

Worth seeing, even if it is rather depressing at times. ... Read more

Reviews (86)

In both senses, a black comedy
After the terrors of "Summer of Sam", Spike Lee has come up with "Bamboozled", in which he roasts TV and the way it exploits the black population. Unhappy with his situation at a television network, Pierre knows he can be sued if he quits, thus breaking his contract, so he figures out a fail-safe solution: he'll get himself fired by producing a show so outrageously offensive it will cause a racial backlash. (It's a variation of "The Producers"; even the initial audience reaction is similar.) Pierre is a re-invented man: he wears expensive suits and greets us with "Bonjour", but about half-way through the movie we learn his name is really Peerless and his father is a second-level night club comic. Pierre is very sensitive to racial issues, and so he's convinced his proposed showcase will be a shocking failure: a minstrel show for the new millennium. Two Afro-American street performers are re-named Man-Tan and Sleep 'n' Eat and put into situations (in a watermelon patch, no less) displaying how lazy and untrustworthy Negroes are -- but, hey, great tap dancers! The two are even required to wear black face. (I assume the N word cannot be used in Amazon.com, but it's used ad nauseam in this screenplay.)To Pierre's consternation, the show is a big hit; and he is faced with the dilemma of denying his principles to court success. In fact, he has fantasies of winning everything except a Nobel Prize. One of Spike Lee's strongest points as a writer-director is providing flashy roles for capable actors. I was appalled that Samuel L Jackson's performance in "Jungle Fever" was ignored by the Academy. In "Bamboozled" Lee has provided several such oppportunities, though nothing as showy as Jackson's. At first viewing, Damon Wayans may seem a little excessive with Pierre's affectations, but look again. Paul Mooney is compelling as his father, an entertainer who realizes he's gone as far as he's going to go. Savion Glover, Tommy Davidson, Michael Rapaport, and Jada Pinkett-Smith are all good in their different roles. (Al Sharpton and Johnnie Cochran play themselves, and one can't help but wonder: did they realize they were satirized?) The big flaw in "Bamboozled", the reason I can't give it four stars, is the violence with which Lee has chosen to end his dark comedy. I think it would have been much more powerful to circumvent the deaths and have the characters, chastised, watching the devastating montage which closes the picture: the humiliations, the buffooneries, the relentless yassuh yassuh yassuh that degraded black people for generations. It's the death of the spirit that is the revelation in Spike Lee's screenplay,and he weakens that message with physical destruction.

Minstrel Shows Aren't The Only Cliche
.... Let's take as a given that some of [Spike Lee's] films are "heavy-handed". Anyone see Jungle Fever? Do The Right Thing? School Daze (oh, never mind...)? Anyone ever see or read a Spike Lee interview? He's an intense Brother who makes intense films, and true, subtlety isn't one of his strong suits. But you knew that going in.

...

In Bamboozled, as in many of his other flicks, Spike rubs your face in the problem and challenges the viewer to action, if so inclined.

This was "black comedy" in the more ways than one. Damon Wayans was an excellent choice to play the part of media corporate climber Delacroix, whose plan to stick it to The Man went cataclysmically awry. But I still believe Wayans' best work is before him. He's a talented actor who happens to be a comedian, and he just hasn't broken through the mold yet.

As with many Spike Lee joints, this film either satirizes or condemns everything in sight. In Bamboozled, he sets his sights on "wiggers", rappers and the hip hop lifestyle, the WB, UPN and the television and movie industry in general. Robert Townsend addressed similar problems about a decade before in his film, "Hollywood Shuffle". It wasn't as "heavy-handed", and there weren't any "solutions" offered other than from his grandmother, who told him to eschew portraying racial stereotypes on film for money, because after all, "there's always work at the Post Office".

Bamboozled, on the other hand, took no prisoners. From Scatman Crothers to Shirley Temple's dance routines to Farina and Stymie to Aunt Jemima to Fleishman's cartoons to "Good Times" to "In Living Color" (the reference to which was humorous in that both Wayans and the minstrel show side-kick, Tommy Davidson were cast members of that show) to "Martin" (a true minstrel show) to Jerry Springer.

Tommy Davidson is deserving of more work.

Bamboozled isn't too far from the truth. Martin Lawrence used to bug his eyes out and stick out his [behind] and show his teeth and it was a favored show in police departments throughout Ohio. Don't ask me how I know, but some of you might wanna be judicious in your application of the accelerator, if you know what I mean...

This was a better movie than I thought it would be. I didn't buy Wayan's performance for a minute, but there's some really good acting from people you wouldn't expect. That's all I'm saying.

Say what you want about the other Spike Lee joints. In this one, he was completely on point. And as with the rest, the solution is up to you.

Spike Lee's Best
This is the movie that got me turned on to Mr Lee. When I rented this movie just a few years ago I watched it 3 times and then watched it with the audio commentary. I found the movie *that* interesting. Also, the movie has a few layers to its plot so each time one watches it, they're sure to pick up on something new.

The characters are also great - I especially love Damon Wayan's boss who is a caucasian married to a black woman and tells Damon "I'm more black than you are" From that point on, you know this movie is going to put a lot of stuff in your face.

The basic premise - Damon's character is tired of the types of shows with black people that show on tv nowadays. It's all very stereotypical (think this summer's "Method and Red" on fox) and he wants to do something creative. His boss wants something along the lines of "homeboys in outer space". Damon's character is so incensed that he decides he'll get fired in order to break his contract.

What could be better for getting him fired than to make the most racist and ignorant show on tv? He decides to make a show called "Bamboozled" which will recreate the blackface shows of the 30s and 40s only it will be black actors putting on blackface. There's only one problem with his plan: the show becomes a hit.

The rest of the movie shows what happens to the rest of the characters in the style of a Shakesperean tragedy. In other words, a few things don't quite go according to plan and everyone suffers. (ie Romeo & Juliet, MacBeth, etc)

Another thing that makes this movie so awesome is the fictitious commercial spot during the show Bamboozled. Spike Lee takes a pot shot at Tommy Hilfigger's alleged marketing directed at blacks with another brand whose name I can't write or my review will be banned. You'll be shocked, but in a revealing sort of way.

Some People Just Don't Get It
I have to applaud Spike for making this film. People can argue if he is a racist or not, but on this film he showed how corporate America market their products to black inner city people. I for one used to work in a marketing department at a large corporation and this type of behavior went on all the time. So many times, I had to smile and walk away when I heard "you people" and "those people like stuff like that". What is worst is some black artists (namely rappers) help build on these negative stereotypes. They are NO different from the black actors of the 30s who was paid to demean their race. Instead of black people getting mad at Spike for making these films, I suggest you take your anger out on the real culprits and their marketing schemes. BTW, these culprits come in ALL RACES.

What I really want is O Stars...
In high school, I tried to convince our African American STudies teacher to plan a field trip to see this movie. He rebuffed me, and when I saw this movie on tape, I knew why.

I am glad that I am not the only one who knows Spike Lee is a racist. And a slick one at that. He does these movies and black people go see them (I am black, so don't attack me). Do The Right Thing was horrible, Jungle Fever (he ought to be ashamed) all in the name of "eye-opening" filmmaking. Give me a break

Bamboozled...I don't know what to say about this movie. Stereotypes, senseless violence, just downright shameful. There was no message here...except that, we, as black people, sometimes do it to ourselves (ex. Soul Plane? same problem). And helping this man, for the sake of a paycheck is deplorable.

Please spare yourself of this film. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

America's Embarrassment . . . . Where were you?
Spike Lee has struck a cord in this classic work. Poignant portrayals of racism in 1964 as 4 Little Girls are brutally murdered in the Birmingham church bombing by the KKK. I was 4 years old living in an all white community in rural Ohio. I didn't even know these things were happening and I am embarrassed and outraged at the ignorance and stupidity of those involved. The scars the community and a nation carried from that moment on will last a lifetime for those who lived and relived the beautiful memories and the horror of the deadly event in the interviews provided in this documentary. The pain, sorrow and powerful message will affect the lives of anyone who views this picture. This should be required viewing for all school aged children so we can work to eliminate hatred and encourage a celebration of diversity in America.

4 Little Girls superb documentary
Spike Lee's 4 Little Girls was briefly released to theaters in 1997 to qualify for Oscar contention as Best Documentary. It was first broadcast nationwide on Home Box Office. It is a remarkably clear-eyed telling of an incendiary tale--how four young black girls, ages 11 to 14, were killed in a 1963 bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.

I hesitate to compare 4 Little Girls to Schindler's List, and yet it has that same quality of being a restrained, dignified recounting of an emotional incident. Spike Lee had been wanting to tell this story since before he became a noted filmmaker, and Lee brings all of his remarkable talents to bear. The movie is not flashy, just quietly gripping.

Lee frames the incident within the bigger picture of the Southern civil rights movement, particularly as it took place within an inflamed Birmingham. We see the town's police commissioner, Bull Connor--described by one interviewee as "the dark spirit of Birmingham"--keeping order in town while driving a tank painted white, an image that is sure to bring gasps to those who aren't familiar with the full story (which, I humbly admit, included me). And we see a repentant Gov. George Wallace, dragging a reluctant black colleague on camera so that Wallace can introduce him as "my best friend in the world." (Notably, the "friend" looks quite unconvinced.)

It is that Wallace footage that might seem the most showy in a documentary otherwise bereft of editorializing. But it seems right to include the footage after seeing how the segregationist tactics of Wallace and others led indirectly to the deaths of Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, and Cynthia Wesley. Using little more than home movies and interviews with surviving family members, Lee brings the dead girls back to life and shows us that, when racial stereotypes are accepted and even honored, individual tragedies are the result.

Mostly, the story is told through simple, heartbreaking facts. Chris McNair tells us of the day he had to explain to his daughter Denise how she was taken by the aroma of a cooking hamburger at a lunch counter but could not eat there because she was black. And the film comes full circle by pointing out the inexplicable resurgence of black church bombings in the 1990's.

Most of the victims' relatives, understandably, become quite emotional on-camera. It can't have been easy to reopen these old wounds, but 4 Little Girls makes you grateful that they endured their pain to do it. I only wish the movie had been up for Best Picture, as it is worth a dozen L.A. Confidential's.

4 Little Girls is rated TV-14 for violence, brief nudity, and racial epithets.

Great, but.....
Having been to Birmingham numerous occasions and having met Mr. Chris McNair (who is now a county commissioner) as well as Carolyn McKinstrey, who also appears in this film (she was a survivor of the church bombing), I pretty much knew the story, but was pleased with the way it was told. A really fascinating segment for me was seeing the actual home movie of Denise Mc Nair and a couple of the other girls. Good job Spike. This is by far his best film.

The DVD extras are very good, particularly the pathetic interview with the notorious George Wallace uncut. Poor Ed (see the film and you'll understand that last statement).

Only minor complaint is that there isn't a scene selection on the DVD. You'll have to watch it all the way through. Also, it would be nice if some mention was made of Johnny Robinson and Virgil Ware (the two little boys who were also killed on that fateful Sunday, which is another story waiting to be told).

But that aside, it's great that Spike did this while so many of those who were around to remember all this are still alive. This is history that needs to be seen.

a great documentary
I'm actually watching the special features on this disc right now, and the "making of" special is as well done as the film. This is a powerful and moving film about people before, during, and after a great tradedy. The stars of this film are the parents and friends of these children.

One of the most startling things is an interview with violent segregationist George Wallace. Much like Micheal Moore handing the mike to Charleton Heston, the rope is handed over, and Wallace just hangs himself with it. Like Heston, he is old and outdated, illogical and mostly just old. You look at this old old man and you feel a strange pity, because he is so old and small and insignificant.

Absorbing and heart-rendering...
Spike Lee's _Four Little Girls_ is a masterpiece of continuous stream interview documentary of a period that Birmingham would like to forget, but with which it has yet to come to terms. No holds are barred in the recounting of the 1963 Sixteenth Street Church bombing, which forever changed the face of the Civil Rights struggle in the U. S. By interviewing the remaining family members, Lee brought home not only the human suffering of the surviving families, but made the world wonder what universal loss we all experienced in the deaths of these 4 little girls.

I had the honor of attending the world premiere of this film in 1997 at the invitation of the McNair family at the historical Carver Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. Seeing the historical film footage of places I knew myself as a child in that city, seeing the anguish again on the face of dear friends as they recount identifying their dead daughter, and knowing the effects this tragedy has had in Birmingham and elsewhere in the 40 years since it occurred made this much more than a historical documentary for me.

Its effect will be the same for you as well, I think, and well worth having this film as part of an American non-fiction collection. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A good piece of work
Don't get it wrong this movie is not about the Million Man March. This is an excellent work portraying the diversity amongst African-American men. This movie not only showed these differencies but also the interaction between their different views on current affairs, and how this affects unity amongst African-American men and women. I like how Spike Lee used the camera on the bus to give the viewer the feeling of actually riding on the bus with the travellers. The documentary feeling of the film also served to bring your psyche into the work.

Lee Hits us again with the polemics
Once again, Spike Lee hits us again with the polemics. Overall, the story is not bad. The basic idea of a bus ride to the MMM is a good one. SOME of the characters are nicely drawn, such as Charles Roc Dutton's bus driver, Ossie Davis as the patriarch, and the caring father of the wayward son. But the film is weighed down by Spike Lee's usual soapbox dialogue and polemics. Sadly, few of the characters in this film actually talk, they make speeches (as is the case with "The Red Menace" and "Putney Swope)." Like I said, the story itself is good and the above-mentioned characters are nicely drawn. But the dialogue? Go to the soapbox on 125th St. in Harlem as the Black nationalist pontificators pound the podium and you get the idea.

Spike Lee at his best and worst...
His best: social journalism. Nobody brings perennially pressing issues to the screen as consistently and vitally as Spike Lee---love or hate his films as you may, there's no argument that he does a superb job of provoking debate and reflection. Here it's Lee's two favorite topics, racial history/injustice/relations and (less prominently but still significant) gender/sexual issues...treated with a vast amount of humor and often insight.

His worst: at times some of his films implode when Lee gets on his soapbox and goes too heavy-handed---the Message blots out the Movie. This happens towards the last one-third, with the last 10 minutes especially preachy and contrived. The film craft breaks down, characters and dialogue that before had been pretty much spot-on suddenly verge into labored allegory and caricature.

It's like Lee drew up a laundry list of Pressing Societal Problems (brings to mind Larwence Kasdan's "Grand Canyon") and tried to allot 5-10 minutes for each one. Sometimes he does so with grace and wit, but sometimes he stumbles into glibness and stereotyping.

I was a little disappointed that Lee didn't show more of the actual Million Man march, maybe explore the controversial Louis Farrakhan a little bit more deeply. I was however pleasantly surprisd that Lee does take a fairly mature, gutsy stand on homosexuality and homophobia absent in some of his earlier films.

Had Lee made this film more as a straight (or pointed) documentary rather than trying to turn it into a heavy-handed inspirational treatise, I'd gladly give it 5 plus stars. Even in its current form it's well worth watching.

One of my favz - Great actors makes it a wonderful film
This is according to me a very good film, it's actually one of my fav's.
What makes it so good is the feeling u get from watching the movie, U feel that u are a passenger on the bus observing the others.
There are some great performances in this movie unlike Spike Lee's HE GOT GAME that had a player in the NBA in the lead and pretty much everybody except for DENZEL & Hill Harper didn't know how to act.

Great performances from GABRIEL CASSEUS, HILL HARPER, OSSIE DAVIS and the rest of the cast.

A thoughtful film
Get on the Bus is one of Lee's best works. Poignant, funny and introspective, it tells the tale of various black men from various walks of life; a father and his estranged, angst-ridden son, a gay couple, an arrogant actor, an ex-Crip turned Muslim, a half white cop and Ossie Davis as the "spiritual grandfather/moderator" type. They travel from California to DC for the Million Man March, and along the way come to terms with prejudice and hatred they have felt without as well as within.

Some may criticize the "stereotypical" treatment of the white characters, but this may be a bit much. The Jewish Bus driver is an honorable character, and in a scene with him and Charles Dutton, director Lee let's him speak his side of the story "OK, I may have some problems with blacks....but no more worse than the problems you have with whites. I don't have anything to prove to these guys". Randy Quade's redneck cop may have been over the top, but suffice to say, there are people in parts of America who still treat people that way.

Overall, I think this film is definitely Lee's most underrated work. ... Read more