To all those from a younger generation than mine, who thinks that the 1990's are ancient history, it's very complex in telling a story set in the Prohibition Era situated in the small town of Idlewild, Georgia. Newbie director Bryan Barber thought he found the solution. First grab a bunch of singing sensations and provide a soundtrack that doesn't depend on the authentic sounds of jazz and blues, but instead replace the genre of music to hip-hop (just like Baz Luhrmann has done in his period piece films). Sadly even though Barber provides some of the set pieces, an important staple was missing in action here. The script was very spotty in detail and feels very loosely attached here. The clichés are aplenty and the transitions can be quite incongruent. Although I can appreciate Barber for his efforts as a director, he's still in heavy need of improvement when writing scripts.
"Idlewild" just doesn't have enough songs for it to pass off as a musical with the minimal selection of only five songs which in total last for about 15 minutes. And of the musical numbers three of them are situated at the club, even though they're catchy and the tempo is very uplifting. But the musical numbers feel like I'm in a music video than an actual movie. It's no surprise at that because Barber's first claim to fame was directing videos for OutKast who star in this vehicle. The scenery and photography look authentic and the costumes were stylish for the period, but the hip-hop score can be very distracting. It doesn't feel like a period piece at times.
The story centres around the lives of two friends since youth Percival (Andre "3000" Benjamin) and Rooster (Antwan "Big Boi" Patton) who go their separate lives into their adulthood. Percival becomes a dedicated worker at a mortuary with his father Percy Sr. (Ben Vereen) while fixated with his true passion, music at night at a club called Church. Rooster is the main act there and has a future as owner whenever the current owner Ace (Faizon Love) decides to step down. Even though Rooster is married with five children, he's still an inebriate and a philanderer. While Percival is single and without a girlfriend, he does develop some interest in the new attraction star Angel (Paula Patton). The plot starts to thicken when a local gangster named Trumpy (Terence Howard) enters the fray and kills his boss Spats (Ving Rhames) and then assassinates Ace leaving the Church at the hands of Rooster while Trumpy supplies him with moonshine. The duo despise and the conflict is inescapable.
The performances were overall really good, though nothing special. Benjamin and Patton don't have a lot of acting credits on their resume, they still manage to give it their all and never feel upstaged by the more established performers who also seem to excel in their respected roles. Paula Patton is amazing in her performance and her breakout number is extraordinary. You have great familiar stars like Ben Vereen, Patti LaBelle, Macy Gray and the late Bill Nunn here. It's a shame that we don't hear LaBelle or Vereen singing which is what I was expecting. And though his role is one-dimensional Terence Howard can still add that charm quite professionally.
For fans of OutKast, it will be treasured, but the appeal can be quite puzzling. The tone can be very uncertain at times. The musical and fantasy elements lack in cohesion especially when the gangster scenes come into play. Not only that the talking liquor flask and animated musical numbers seem to not fit in at times. The movie is way too serious in delivery and the tragedy has no room for spontaneous, jovial fantasy sequences. Sure it may be original in content, but familiarity seems to be inescapable. The product might be high in diversion, but there's nothing really that much special about the characters, the plot or the story which in the end makes this movie very disposable.
"Idlewild" just doesn't have enough songs for it to pass off as a musical with the minimal selection of only five songs which in total last for about 15 minutes. And of the musical numbers three of them are situated at the club, even though they're catchy and the tempo is very uplifting. But the musical numbers feel like I'm in a music video than an actual movie. It's no surprise at that because Barber's first claim to fame was directing videos for OutKast who star in this vehicle. The scenery and photography look authentic and the costumes were stylish for the period, but the hip-hop score can be very distracting. It doesn't feel like a period piece at times.
The story centres around the lives of two friends since youth Percival (Andre "3000" Benjamin) and Rooster (Antwan "Big Boi" Patton) who go their separate lives into their adulthood. Percival becomes a dedicated worker at a mortuary with his father Percy Sr. (Ben Vereen) while fixated with his true passion, music at night at a club called Church. Rooster is the main act there and has a future as owner whenever the current owner Ace (Faizon Love) decides to step down. Even though Rooster is married with five children, he's still an inebriate and a philanderer. While Percival is single and without a girlfriend, he does develop some interest in the new attraction star Angel (Paula Patton). The plot starts to thicken when a local gangster named Trumpy (Terence Howard) enters the fray and kills his boss Spats (Ving Rhames) and then assassinates Ace leaving the Church at the hands of Rooster while Trumpy supplies him with moonshine. The duo despise and the conflict is inescapable.
The performances were overall really good, though nothing special. Benjamin and Patton don't have a lot of acting credits on their resume, they still manage to give it their all and never feel upstaged by the more established performers who also seem to excel in their respected roles. Paula Patton is amazing in her performance and her breakout number is extraordinary. You have great familiar stars like Ben Vereen, Patti LaBelle, Macy Gray and the late Bill Nunn here. It's a shame that we don't hear LaBelle or Vereen singing which is what I was expecting. And though his role is one-dimensional Terence Howard can still add that charm quite professionally.
For fans of OutKast, it will be treasured, but the appeal can be quite puzzling. The tone can be very uncertain at times. The musical and fantasy elements lack in cohesion especially when the gangster scenes come into play. Not only that the talking liquor flask and animated musical numbers seem to not fit in at times. The movie is way too serious in delivery and the tragedy has no room for spontaneous, jovial fantasy sequences. Sure it may be original in content, but familiarity seems to be inescapable. The product might be high in diversion, but there's nothing really that much special about the characters, the plot or the story which in the end makes this movie very disposable.