Lackawanna Blues (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

George C. Wolfe

Writers (WGA):

Ruben Santiago-Hudson (play)
Ruben Santiago-Hudson (teleplay)

Release Date:

12 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Play it. Sing it. Shout it. Feel it.

Plot:

In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives in 1960s Lackawanna, New York.

Plot Keywords:

1960s | Boarding House | New York | 1950s | Blues Music

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 25 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

S. Epatha Merkerson	...	Rachel "Nanny" Crosby
Marcus Carl Franklin	...	Ruben Santiago Jr. (as Marcus Franklin)
Mos Def	...	The Bandleader
Carmen Ejogo	...	Alean
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Ol'lem Taylor
Macy Gray	...	Pauline
Terrence Howard	...	Bill Crosby (as Terrance Dashon Howard)
Ernie Hudson	...	Dick Barrymore
Delroy Lindo	...	Mr. Lucious
Rosie Perez	...	Bertha
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Freddie Cobbs
Liev Schreiber	...	Ulysses Ford
Jimmy Smits	...	Ruben Santiago Sr.
Patricia Wettig	...	Laura's Mother
Charlayne Woodard	...	Bill's Woman

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (TV rating) | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

Based on the autobiographical one-man show by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rachel is getting $20 bills pinned on her, there are pinned bills on her right side including her arm, when they return to that scene, the bills are gone.

Quotes:

Bertha: Did you see all those negroes shouting "black power, black power"? Hair as nappy as can be!
Rachel "Nanny" Crosby: The black panthers?
Bertha: Yeah. I have all the "black power" they need right in my hot comb.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

But It's Alright

Marvelous enjoyment

Superb editing, outstanding acting, especially by Epatha Merkerson, and highly enjoyable musical soundtrack. This film reaches back to the 40's to comment on the racial lifestyle differences and some effect of desegregation while it weaves the true story of a truly admirable and fantastic lady.

The actor portraying the young Terrence Howard character does a wonderful job reflecting the life and times of his upbringing in the small upstate New York town. The audience laughed, cried, and erupted in applause for the film and its director.

Soon to be shown on HBO (Feb 7, I believe) - fire up the TIVO and enjoy a great story!