Thomas Jefferson

Starring:Sam Waterston, Blythe Danner, Michael Potts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ossie Davis
Director: Ken Burns
Studio: Pbs Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The complicated life of Thomas Jefferson is the subject of this excellent documentary by noted filmmaker Ken Burns. Using techniques that will seem comfortably familiar to viewers of other films by Burns, historians and writers (including Joseph Ellis, Daniel Boorstin, Garry Wills, and Gore Vidal) appear on camera to speak about Jefferson, a cast of actors read the words of Jefferson and others. The visuals include beautifully photographed shots of Jefferson's famed estate, Monticello, other locations where Jefferson lived and worked, and a vast number of period drawings and paintings. Jefferson, who was born into a prosperous Virginia family but lost his father when he was young, became a skilled lawyer despite his natural shyness. And the story of how he became a public figure and rose to prominence during the American Revolution is told intelligently. Commentators, including the noted African American historian John Hope Franklin, grapple with the peculiar inconsistencies of Jefferson's life. The man who wrote the Declaration of Independence owned slaves, and some of what he wrote about race is both troubling and puzzling. This film (which covers Jefferson's entire life, including his two terms as the young country's president and his later years in Virginia) doesn't sidestep controversy but provides a balanced account of one of the most fascinating of all Americans. --Robert J. McNamara
Description
Revered as the author of the Declaration of Independence, the most sacred document in American history, yet condemned as a lifelong owner of slaves, Thomas Jefferson remains the enigma that is America. Part One: A young Thomas Jefferson from the Virginia wilderness is transformed by the fire of the Enlightenment into his country's most articulate voice for human liberty. Torn between serene family life at Monticello and his passion for politics, Jefferson suffers heartrending personal loss, even as he gives voice to a new era of democratic government. He then journeys to Paris as U.S. Minister to France for George Washington and supports the rising French Revolution. Part Two: Returning from France, Jefferson strives to preserve the new, fragile American government and helps create the first political party through his bitter struggles with the Federalists. As third President of the United States, he doubles the size of the county with the Louisiana Purchase, but faces controversy and scandal, finally retiring to his beloved Monticello. His last years are spent founding the University of Virginia and re-establishing his friendship with John Adams. By the end of his remarkable life, he had advanced the cause of religious, political, and intellectual freedom everywhere and had changed the course of human events.

Holes (Widescreen Edition)
Average customer rating:

Holes

great family movie

Doesn't Quite Fit the Novel's Hole, But Still Good

Near Perfect Adaptation of Great Book

Fantastic!

Holes (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Sigourney Weaver , Jon Voight , Tim Blake Nelson , Shia LaBeouf , and Khleo Thomas
Director: Andrew Davis
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Holes

Because of Winn-Dixie

Tuck Everlasting

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A Wrinkle in Time

ASIN: B00005JLYQ
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Amazon.com

Fans of author Louis Sachar's book Holes will be delighted with this scrupulously faithful adaptation. After being wrongly found guilty of stealing a pair of sneakers, Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) gets sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile correctional facility in the bed of a long-gone dry Texas lake. There--under the watchful eye of overseer Mr. Sir (a zesty Jon Voight), sneakily mean therapist Dr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson, O Brother Where Art Thou?), and the cool and cruel Warden (Sigourney Weaver)--Stanley and dozens of other delinquents are forced to dig an endless series of holes that the Warden hopes will lead her to a precious secret left behind by a long-dead female outlaw (Patricia Arquette). Sachar's book is beloved for its vivid characters and suspenseful plot; by sticking close to its source, Holes has become a dynamic, exciting, and surprisingly touching movie. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The award-winning bestseller comes to life in this phenomenally fun, adventure-filled movie starring Emmy Award-winner Shia LaBeouf (Outstanding Performer In A Children's Series, Disney Channel's EVEN STEVENS, 2000). Dogged by bad luck stemming from an ancient family curse, young Stanley Yelnats (LaBeouf) is sent to Camp Green Lake, a very weird place that's not green and doesn't have a lake. Once there, he's thrown headlong into the adventure of his life when he and his colorful campmates -- Squid, Armpit, Zigzag, Magnet, X-Ray, and Zero -- must dig a hole a day to keep the warden at bay. But why? Through it all, Stanley and company must forge fast friendships as they try to unearth the mystery of what's really going on in the middle of nowhere. Filled with humor and heartwarming messages of friendship and teamwork, HOLES is a treasure everyone will dig.

Customer Reviews:

Holes.......2007-06-12

A pair of shoes fall from the sky and hit Stanley Yelnats in the head. Turns out; they were extremely valuable, donated to a homeless children facility by a famous baseball player. The police show up and arrest him, turns out that the shoes were stolen. A judge gives him the choice of Camp Green Lake or jail. Stanley thought that Camp Green Lake sounded like fun. But when he got there, he had the worst time of his life. He finds out that there is no lake and there hasn't been rain for over 100 years. He makes friends along the way and figures out that the warden is up to no good. Stanley helps spoil her plot.
The director, Andrew Davis, did a great job following the book. This film was based on the book "Holes" by Louis Sacher. Louis Sacher also did the screenplay for the movie.
I thought the movie was awesome. It had a great plot. There were many twists and turns in the story that came together at the end. The use of flashbacks made it fun to watch!
I would recommend this movie to any family. Families will want to watch it over and over again.

great family movie.......2007-05-21

my daughter loves this movie she has watched it several times since I got it for her. I watched it with her as well. It is great everyone with kids should get this movie and watch it with their children.

Doesn't Quite Fit the Novel's Hole, But Still Good.......2007-04-29

If you dig out a chunk from gold bullion, all you will get is still gold. So that's what this movie is: a gold nugget--albeit necessarily smaller than the timeless novel of Louis Sachar, who wrote the screenplay, too.

Casting is well made, and Jon Voight reminded me why he's a great actor. Kid-actors were good and a few of them stood out as possible great actors of the near future.

Most exceptional performance comes from Patricia Arquette. Although her role was smaller in time than most others, her character had the most discernable character transformation in the movie; not just that she goes from being a teacher to bandit, but her facial expressions and demeanor are interesting to watch.

In the novel, Stanley goes through a physical metamorphosis along with the positive change in his self-esteem. But as they mention in the DVD extras, this was "too difficult" to ask of a teen-ager to do. I agree. Yet better acting/directing could have made the young Stanley character's emotional phase shift more remarkable to see. A novelist in this area has tremendous advantage over a movie because the reader can "experience" what a character's going through in more subtle ways than the motion pictures medium can allow, easily.

Near Perfect Adaptation of Great Book.......2007-02-20

The movie version of HOLES is wonderful and very close to the popular and well written book for children/young adults. This is not surprising since Louis Sachar who wrote the novel also wrote the screenplay. The movie is well cast except Shea Labeuf does not look much like the Stanley described in the book as the novel's Stanley has a weight problem at the book's start while Labeuf is always about normal size. There are a couple of flashbacks in the book but they are handled without confusion to any viewer who is paying attention or is over age seven. And like in the book all the plot lines are tied up very neatly by the end.

Fantastic!.......2007-02-02

I'll never appreciate any other movie this much again. The characters and the plot were done like no other movie. Louis Sachar's also popular book was re-lived in a way that could never be redone. This is one movie that everyone should own. Defineitely the coolest way to spend two hours.

Average customer rating:

Holes (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Sigourney Weaver , Jon Voight , Tim Blake Nelson , Shia LaBeouf , and Khleo Thomas
Director: Andrew Davis
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009XUM5
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Amazon.com

Description

Average customer rating:

Lackawanna Blues
Starring: S. Epatha Merkerson , Marcus Carl Franklin , Mos Def , Carmen Ejogo , and Louis Gossett Jr.
Director: George C. Wolfe
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
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Lackawanna Blues
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Eve's Bayou

ASIN: B0009S4IGA
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Amazon.com

Cool music, a wonderful atmospheric feel, and first-rate performances by a stellar cast distinguish Lackawanna Blues, a 2005, 90-minute film originally broadcast by HBO. Director George C. Wolfe's theater background (as a writer and/or director he's been responsible for The Colored Museum, Jelly's Last Jam, and Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk) is apparent; adapted by scriptwriter Ruben Santiago-Hudson from his own autobiographical play, Lackawanna Blues is less a story than a reminiscence, told by a young man (an affecting performance by Marcus Carl Franklin) raised by the indefatigable Rachel "Nanny" Crosby (an equally fine turn by S. Epatha Merkerson, known to many from her role in TV's Law & Order) in that upstate New York town. The focus is on Nanny's rooming house, which is populated by all manner of colorful characters (played by the likes of Macy Gray, Jeffrey Wright, and many others, with Jimmy Smits and Carmen Ejogo as the boy's wayward parents). The roomers include drunks, hustlers, ex-cons, and other shady types, but while plenty of bad stuff goes on, it's all coated with a certain patina of sentiment that tends to minimize the hard realities of life for African Americans in the early 1960s. That's fine; Wolfe, with the help of some superb editing by Brian Kates, gives the film such a delightful period vibe that it's easy to overlook its few shortcomings. The music (available on a soundtrack CD), ranging from downhome country blues to uptown swing, jump blues, and more, also makes a major contribution to the delightful diversion that is Lackawanna Blues. --Sam Graham

Description

Based on the award winning play by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, this poignant and colorful drama tells the inspirational story of a courageous woman, Nanny, whose spirit and strength served as the foundation for a struggling community trying to survive during the segregation era. Starring an exceptional ensemble cast led by Jimmy Smits, Rosie Perez, and Macy Gray, this inspiring drama from HBO Films is a celebration of the good things in life, no matter how tough times may be.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Audio Commentary with director George C. Wolfe and writer Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Deleted Scenes
Featurette

Average customer rating:

Set It Off
Starring: Van Baum , Vincent Baum , Thomas Jefferson Byrd , Natalie Desselle , and Dr. Dre
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Wood

ASIN: 6305505799
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Product Description

Four women take the law into their own hands and try to get some pay-back by robbing the city's biggest banks in this riveting action drama starring Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise and Blair Underwood. Directed by Gary Gray.

Amazon.com

Even when it misses a dramatic opportunity in favor of generic action, Set It Off benefits from a sharp understanding of its well-drawn central characters. They're a quartet of young African American women in Los Angeles (Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise), all struggling against a system that seems designed to prevent them from realizing their dreams. The movie establishes their plight with credible attention to emotional detail, making their decision to rob banks believable enough to give the ensuing plot its inevitably tragic momentum. Cowritten by the screenwriter of What's Love Got to Do With It?, the film conveys genuine compassion for its characters, and the ensemble cast is uniformly strong--especially Queen Latifah as a brash lesbian whose fate is as certain as her forceful attitude.

Product Description

Academy Award(R)-winner Denzel Washington (Best Actor, 2001, TRAINING DAY) stars in this must-see story about a convict given one shot at a second chance to be a father! With promises of a reduced sentence, Jake Shuttlesworth (Washington) is granted temporary release from state prison in order to persuade the nation's top basketball recruit ... his estranged son, Jesus (Ray Allen of NBA's Milwaukee Bucks), to play ball for the governor's alma mater! But just as Jesus faces intense pressures and irresistible temptations contemplating his big decision, Jake is also forced to consider not only what's best for himself ... but what's best for his son! With a groundbreaking soundtrack by the legendary Public Enemy -- plus great cameos from John Turturro and basketball personalities Dick Vitale, John Thompson, Dean Smith, and more, HE GOT GAME is a critically acclaimed hit you don't want to miss!

Amazon.com essential video

As a filmmaker and passionate fan of basketball, Spike Lee was the perfect director for this ambitious and heartfelt sports drama, which brought out the best in both Lee and his well-chosen cast. In his third film for Lee, Denzel Washington plays Jake Shuttlesworth, who is in prison for the manslaughter of his wife. His estranged son Jesus (well played by Milwaukee Bucks basketball player Ray Allen) is the nation's best high school basketball star, and Jake receives a compelling offer from the state's governor: If Jake can convince Jesus to sign a letter of intent to attend Big State University, the governor will reduce his sentence. Lee turns this back-room bargain into a fascinating examination of capitalism in college and professional sports, but the film also works as the moving story of a father's desperate attempt to regain his son's respect. Lee handles the basketball angle with an insider's awareness, and takes a few stylistic risks (including a memorable final image) that pay off with considerable emotional effect. He Got Game fully explores the visual poetry of basketball and the greed that fuels this particular vision of the American dream, but Lee never loses sight of the sport's inherent beauty, or the higher priorities of redemption and family that form the solid foundation of this exceptional film. --Jeff Shannon

Average customer rating:

Its keen eye for detail makes for a wonderful movie experience...
Jamie Foxx revives the American Legend
Ray
Outstanding movie - an instant classic
Ray

Ray (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx , Kerry Washington , Regina King , Clifton Powell , and Harry J. Lennix
Director: Taylor Hackford
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B00005JND5
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Product Description

Jamie Foxx (Collateral) stars as the one-of-a-kind innovator of soul who overcame impossible odds to become a music legend. Ray is the triumphant and remarkable story of one of America s true musical geniuses, Ray Charles. From his humble beginnings in the South through his meteoric rise to the top of American music charts, Ray s inspirational journey is a tale of hope, redemption and the power of the human spirit. "Ray is Electrifying" hails Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Witness the incredible true story of a musician who fought harder and went further than anyone could imagine.

BONUS MATERIALS:
Feature Commentary with Director Taylor Hackford
Deleted Scenes
Extended Musical Scenes
Stepping into the Part
Ray Remembered
A Look Inside Ray
Theatrical Trailer
Cast and Filmmakers

System Requirements:

Running Time 153 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Jamie Foxx's uncannily accurate performance isn't the only good thing about Ray. Riding high on a wave of Oscar buzz, Foxx proved himself worthy of all the hype by portraying blind R&B legend Ray Charles in a warts-and-all performance that Charles approved shortly before his death in June 2004. Despite a few dramatic embellishments of actual incidents (such as the suggestion that the accidental drowning of Charles's younger brother caused all the inner demons that Charles would battle into adulthood), the film does a remarkable job of summarizing Charles's strengths as a musical innovator and his weaknesses as a philandering heroin addict who recorded some of his best songs while flying high as a kite. Foxx seems to be channeling Charles himself, and as he did with the life of Ritchie Valens in La Bamba, director Taylor Hackford gets most of the period details absolutely right as he chronicles Ray's rise from "chitlin circuit" performer in the early '50s to his much-deserved elevation to legendary status as one of the all-time great musicians. Foxx expertly lip-syncs to Ray Charles' classic recordings, but you could swear he's the real deal in a film that honors Ray Charles without sanitizing his once-messy life. --Jeff Shannon

More on Ray Charles

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (CD)
The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)
Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)

Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)
Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)
More Albums by Ray Charles

Customer Reviews:

Its keen eye for detail makes for a wonderful movie experience..........2007-06-21

A lot of love circulates around Jamie Foxx's Oscar winning performance here, and yes he did do a wonderful imitation of the real thing, but to me `Ray' has a lot more deserving areas to give consideration and appreciation. For one, the set designs are brilliant, the lighting and mood of just about every scene is fantastic and the musical numbers, while all actual recordings, are choreographed in such a way that you could swear Foxx did all his own singing. Case in point, there is a scene where Ray is singing in a club and in the recording some of the first words out of his mouth are mumbled and so to make it authentic Jamie knocks the microphone off balance for a moment. It's the little touches like that one that make this movie authentic, accurate and worth while.

I did enjoy Foxx, so don't get me wrong, but I did feel that his work in `Collateral' was more deserving of the praise. The main problem I have with Foxx's performance is that he invests so much time and energy into getting Ray down that he forgets to infuse enough of himself into the performance to make Jamie the actor stand out aside from Ray the character. But, with that little jab of criticism I will admit that he's a force on screen and demands you pay attention.

That said, to me the real star of this film is the man behind the camera, Taylor Hackford. His acute eye for detail is fantastic here, and is a huge step up from his previous work. Technically `Ray' is far from my favorite biopic, even in the year of the biopic it falls short of perfection and or utter brilliance, but when `Ray' hits its mark it hits it with such beautiful depth and clarity that it makes up for its minor shortcomings. Did it deserve a `Best Picture' Oscar nomination? Not really, but I'm not going to whine about that too much.

Another aspect of the film that shines like a diamond among pearls is the impressive female supporting cast, all of which deserved any and all recognition and praise for they all were essential in not only developing the man that was Ray into a full blown character study but they were also pertinent in making `Ray' the film a film entertaining and relatable from beginning to end. Kerry Washington, an actress I've just fallen in love with over the years, gives such a brutally honest performance as Charles wife, the woman who stands by her man and supports him despite his addictions to drugs and loose women. Regina King gives probably the most explosive performance of the bunch as Margie, one of Ray's backup singers and his obsessive secret lover. Her brilliance on screen is matched only by her spunk and heart and it's a true pleasure to watch her chew each and every scene she encounters. Sharon Warren also does a splendid job as Ray's mother and is sure to stand out as a remembered favorite.

The life of Ray Charles was a hard one, full of deceit, drugs, women and pressure. He was abused, taken advantage of and used and on the other side he abused, took advantage of and used others in the process, but the true story of Ray Charles is a story about overcoming our weaknesses and growing into the person we knew we had in us all along, the person who has been dying to come out but just needed to opportunity. My one big disappointment with this film is that it never truly shows us the recovery Ray made. We see his struggles, his problems and his faults. We see him finally realize he needs help but we never see him truly change, we just read about it in a montage of newspaper clippings that litter the final frames of the film. It's a small quaral I know, but it's one I'm not ready to let go of. If the ending had only added as much depth as the begging and middle had then maybe this would have been a more deserving film to me, but in the end, even with my issue included, `Ray' is still a wonderful biopic, one that I'm happy to have seen and will most definitely see again.

Jamie Foxx revives the American Legend.......2007-06-06

The movie "Ray", directed by Taylor Hackford, is a compelling drama about the journey of a man battling against poverty, racism, and of course, overcoming his blindness, in order to express his talent. It is based on a true story about the life of a black musician named Ray Charles.

Ray Charles' youth was filled with tragedy, from watching his younger brother drown to losing his sight at the age seven. His mother taught him to take care of himself and not to depend on anyone for help. Ray grew up strong and independent, and his passion for music, which was a strong influence in his life before the loss of his eyesight, never faded. As a teenager, Ray set out on his own shortly after his mother's death and made his way across the United States from Florida to Seattle. Soon after arriving in Seattle, Ray's real journey of making himself renowned began.

Jamie Foxx holds the challenging role of Ray Charles and greatly depicts the latter's life in this movie. "Ray" is an interpretation of the extraordinary life of Ray Charles who, in spite of his inability to see, became a wonderful musician and internationally renowned performer. The task of playing the role of a person the whole world knows is very difficult, but doing so and playing the role of a blind person at the same time seems impossible! Well, Jamie did it. During the whole span of the movie, it feels as if Ray Charles is really back with us. As the movie unfolds, we discover a character so full of life and passion that it seems real. Foxx's musical abilities further complete the portrait, not imitation, of Ray Charles. Indeed, the film features many of Ray Charles songs and it does a good job of tracing his music career.

However, Jamie Foxx's acting skills are overshadowed by the length of the movie, which is 150 minutes long and holds a lot of repetition. Also, we are under the impression that the director is trying to cram every important fact of Ray's life into the whole 2 ½ hours. It would have been possible to remove from 10 to 20 minutes of scenes that render us impatient and seem unnecessary, however this would have made it hard for the director to input many of Ray Charles' hits in the movie, which somewhat makes up for the waiting.

In addition to the lengthiness of the movie, the large emphasis on Ray's personal life, instead of showing us more of the making of his music, was exasperating. Alright, it doesn't hurt to know that Ray was a womanizer who often got high on heroin, but brutally showing a side of Ray Charles that is unknown to most people may not be what every audience is looking for. What's more the film is supposed to captivate our attention, not bore us. A lack of suspense and drama would certainly be the cause for that: I felt my attention weaving on and off during the whole movie.

As a whole, I think that "Ray" is an excellent movie which reveals many of the problems our society faces today and shows the competitiveness present in the world, notably in the music realm. The long length of the movie is forgiven thanks to the outstanding acting of Jamie Foxx. However, I still believe that naming "Ray" as best movie of the year 2004 is a stretch. At least we were able to relive the numerous hits that Ray Charles wrote during his successful career.

Ray .......2007-05-27

I loved this dvd. Jamie Foxx does his greatest work yet. The supporting
cast was great too.

Outstanding movie - an instant classic.......2007-02-14

It took me a long time to finally get round to watching 'Ray'. The wait was well worth it - this is a terrific biopic - but not just a biopic, this is an outstanding movie on any terms.
Whether a fan or not (I wasn't) most everyone will be aware at some level of Ray Charles' music. He's made that big an impact. This movie endeavours to show two periods of his life. The principal part of the movie follows his rise to fame, and corresponding fall into drug use and infidelity, climaxing in his redemption, kicking the habit, and recommitting his lfe as a husband and an entertainer. The second strand is told in flashback, showing Ray as a boy, before and during the process of him becoming blind - explaining (perhaps a little too neatly for some peoples taste) his need to escape into drugs, and how he managed to overcome the constraints of blindness with the help of his mothers tough guidance. His mother is clearly the key character in his life, teaching him firmly but with love how to enhance his sense of hearing and touch in order to compensate for his blindness. His mothers words echo frequently through the movuie when she says, 'Always remember your promise to me. Never let nobody or nothing turn you into no cripple.'. These two tales interweave almost seamlessly, showing not just the facts but the effects on the older man of the younger mans history. As an adult, the cinematography might be beautiful and the tones warm and rich, but Ray the man is shown warts and all - this is a man who used people shamelessly, not least the women in his life, and the movie does not shirk from showing him in those terms. This has the effect of really drawing you in. Instead of a whitewashed version of his life, you feel you are scratching the surface of a person just a little here, and it makes for fascinating viewing because it rings true.
Taylor Hackford the director has done an incredible job of creating striking visuals, from the dusty ochre coloured streets of his youth, through to smoky bars, and on to the over the top glitz of LA and swanky nightclubs - all the period settings ring true and are shot to perfection. You can tell this was a labour of love - in fact, Hackford bought the rights to the story back in 1987, but could not find a studio release - it was only after independent financing that Universal studio stepped in to facilitate its release. It must be a matter of some satisfaction to him that Ray Charles was able to see the first edit of the movie before he died, before the movie was actually released.
Then there is the acting - much has been said of Jamie Foxx's acting here, and it's all true- he embodies the part in a way which is uncanny - his efforts, going to Braille school, wearing prosthetics which made him blind during shooting, studying Ray Charles himself, have really paid off. However this is a performance made up of more than gimmics and prosthetics, this is the performance of a lifetime, giving the character real depth and depth of reality. Then there is the supporting cast - i cant even name them, because every role in the movie rings ttrue, a credit to the casting and to the actors.
All in all, sure there are bound to be more truths to be told about his life, but this will certainly be the best biopic made of his life, and comes at a most fitting time. terrific cast, script, cinematography and direction - a real winner.
post script - almost left no room to mention - the 2 disc version comes laden with extras on both the movie and ray - with delted scenes and extended musical scenes. Worth watching, when you think that Jamie Foxx did all the piano playing himself!

Ray.......2007-02-03

Jamie Foxx delivers the goods in this movie. To give the Oscar to anyone else would have been a crime! Five stars for the movie and Mr. Foxx!

Average customer rating:

Spike doesn't feed the idiot box
Spike Lee is probably one of the best director we have, his
Spike lee never fails to get me thinking
MY FAVOURITE SPIKE LEE JOINT!!
A Typical Spike Lee Film

Bamboozled (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Damon Wayans , Savion Glover , Jada Pinkett Smith , Tommy Davidson , and Michael Rapaport
Director: Spike Lee
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005A1TJ
Release Date: 2001-04-17

Amazon.com

Director Spike Lee has never shied away from controversy, and with Bamboozled he tackles a thorny mix of racism and how images are bought and sold. A frustrated TV writer named Delacroix (Damon Wayans), unable to break his contract, tries to get fired by proposing a new minstrel show, complete with dancers in blackface. But the network loves the idea, and Delacroix hires two street performers (Savion Glover, who is truly the finest tap dancer since Fred Astaire, and Tommy Davidson) whose hunger for success and ignorance of history combine to make them accept the blackface. Despite protests, the show is a huge success--but gradually, the mental balance of everyone involved starts to crumble. As an argument, Bamboozled is incoherent--but how can racism be discussed rationally in the first place? Lee takes a much braver approach: Every time something seems to make sense or make a point, he complicates the situation. At one point, Delacroix goes to see his father, a standup comedian working at a small black club. Delacroix perceives his father as a broken failure. But his father's routine is full of articulate critiques of white hypocrisy, and the older man describes refusing to play the narrow movie roles that Hollywood had offered him, while Delacroix has convinced himself that his minstrel show is actually doing some social good. And what is the effect of the show itself? Lee obviously finds blackface abhorrent, but the minstrel routines are perversely fascinating and Glover's dancing, even when he mimics Amos and Andy-era routines, is outstanding. Most cuttingly, Lee points out parallels between minstrel and contemporary hip-hop personas. By the time it's over, Bamboozled won't have told you what to think, but you will have to think about these issues--and that alone is a remarkable accomplishment. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Spike doesn't feed the idiot box.......2007-06-11

This movie uses satire to tapdance on the abstract line between cultural parody and racial undertones. Only Spike Lee could pull it off in such an entertaining and thought provoking way.
He hits on some vital nerves that pertain to networking and incorporating racial themes into television programs. In this movie, the studio doesn't care about being politically correct, it's all about ratings. Totally sell out to get paid. The programs don't need to be intelligent, as long as America keeps on watching.
Damon Wayans is the creator of the new controversial show, which initially started off as his attempt to get fired. But the show was an immediate success, and he is forced to live with its repurcussions.
Bamboozled is a funny movie, but it also grasps some serious topics. It's very brash and irreverent as it juggles with stereotypes and layers of human compassion.

Spike Lee is probably one of the best director we have, his.......2007-05-26

movies are always original, I don't always "get" them, but they are well done, thought provoking, and full of fresh ideas, not stale re-hashes of other bad movies. This one is no exception, although I didn't quite understand why a smart, good looking, tv executive, living in a beautiful Manhattan condo, making a six figure+ salary, would want to sabotage his own career? And why the two actor/dancers, after being "discovered" and become big tv stars would want to do the same? And why did Jada's brother kidnap one of the dancers and kill him? What was the point? What did it prove? I don't know, but, like I said, Spike does get you thinking. Enjoy!

Spike lee never fails to get me thinking.......2007-05-12

just wanted to know does anyone else see any comparison between the delima of the main character in the movie wanting to quit the show which had become #1 , with its contraversial content conflicting with his morals with that of the real life dilema that caused Dave Chappell to quit his #1 show and run off to South Africa? is it just me or is there something spooky similar about it?

Anyways back to the review ............. great movie, intellectual, provoking, spike lee: genius ....... as always xxxxxxxxxxx

MY FAVOURITE SPIKE LEE JOINT!!.......2007-04-01

This will entertain and half way through massively educate you!!

This is one of those films you will either absolutely LOVE or HATE!!

I personally LOVED IT, the DVD is one of my prized possessions!

Basically if you are interested in the representation of African Americans in the media then this film will interest you. If you couldn't care less it probably wont!

Definitely food for thought....

Just as School Daze opened eyes, this film made me thing seriously about the sacrifices black entertainers make in order to be successful!!

A Typical Spike Lee Film.......2007-03-23

I had to watch this movie for my english class it was a typical Spike Lee Film- meant to be funny, but leading astray until his point was to make a political statement. The film went from racial satire to blatant racism. Yet another great Spike Lee film.

Average customer rating:

Thomas Jefferson - A Film by Ken Burns
Director: Ken Burns
Manufacturer: PBS Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Politics | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All | PBS | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
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Founding Fathers

ASIN: B000BITUJS
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Amazon.com

The complicated life of Thomas Jefferson is the subject of this excellent documentary by noted filmmaker Ken Burns. Using techniques that will seem comfortably familiar to viewers of other films by Burns, historians and writers (including Joseph Ellis, Daniel Boorstin, Garry Wills, and Gore Vidal) appear on camera to speak about Jefferson, a cast of actors read the words of Jefferson and others. The visuals include beautifully photographed shots of Jefferson's famed estate, Monticello, other locations where Jefferson lived and worked, and a vast number of period drawings and paintings. Jefferson, who was born into a prosperous Virginia family but lost his father when he was young, became a skilled lawyer despite his natural shyness. And the story of how he became a public figure and rose to prominence during the American Revolution is told intelligently. Commentators, including the noted African American historian John Hope Franklin, grapple with the peculiar inconsistencies of Jefferson's life. The man who wrote the Declaration of Independence owned slaves, and some of what he wrote about race is both troubling and puzzling. This film (which covers Jefferson's entire life, including his two terms as the young country's president and his later years in Virginia) doesn't sidestep controversy but provides a balanced account of one of the most fascinating of all Americans. --Robert J. McNamara

Average customer rating:

Its keen eye for detail makes for a wonderful movie experience...
Jamie Foxx revives the American Legend
Ray
Outstanding movie - an instant classic
Ray

Ray (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx , Kerry Washington , Regina King , Clifton Powell , and Harry J. Lennix
Director: Taylor Hackford
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Million Dollar Baby (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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ASIN: B0006OD444
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Product Description

Running Time 153 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

More on Ray Charles

Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music (CD)
The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)
Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)

Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)
Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)
More Albums by Ray Charles

Customer Reviews:

Its keen eye for detail makes for a wonderful movie experience..........2007-06-21

Jamie Foxx revives the American Legend.......2007-06-06

Ray .......2007-05-27

I loved this dvd. Jamie Foxx does his greatest work yet. The supporting
cast was great too.

Outstanding movie - an instant classic.......2007-02-14

Ray.......2007-02-03

Jamie Foxx delivers the goods in this movie. To give the Oscar to anyone else would have been a crime! Five stars for the movie and Mr. Foxx!

Average customer rating:

Buffalo Soldiers
Starring: Danny Glover , Lamont Bentley , Tom Bower , Timothy Busfield , and Gabriel Casseus
Director: Charles Haid
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000BNTM9G
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Description

This Turner Network Televison movie tells the true story of the black calvary corps known as the 'Buffalo Soldiers.' These troops patrolled America's wild west after the civil war. In addition to keeping the peace, they fought the racism of their commanders and other white corps soldiers.

DVD:

DVD

Accused (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Fangs

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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (CD)	The Genius of Ray Charles (CD)	Ray Charles and Betty Carter--Dedicated to You (CD)
Genius & Soul--The 50th Anniversary Collection (CD)	Ray: A Tribute to the Movie, the Music, and the Man (book)	More Albums by Ray Charles