Talk To Me

[JSngry]

Saw this last night.

Flawed as hell, especially later into it, but Cheadle is exceptional as Petey Greene.

Suspend disbelief, accept up front that it's a biopic and that a biopic is gonna do what a biopic does (ain't no livin' in even a merely slightly imperfect world), and enjoy the ride.

In the meantime, this is all of The Real Thing that's on YouTube for now:

Some more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=11955100

The young folk probably can't "get it", but for a quick minute in American history, people like this, real people who used to speak freely, bluntly, and truthfully almost used to be expected to be part of the American dialogue. And the resultant dialogue, although quite often sloppy and not always "civil", ended up being far more constructive and far more effective than what has since replaced it.

WAKE UP, GODDAMIT!

[MoGrubb]

Cheadle's a hell of an actor. I just saw Hotel Rwanda the other night.

[JSngry]

Yes, Cheadle is one of the best today. so flexible, and so attuned to nuance. This role is no exception.

Anybody know what the release strategy is for this? Is it going to be limited release only (I saw it at the Dallas Angelika, and the only other place in the entire Dallas area where it was playing was a 30-plex in Mesquite, which if you know the area, is kind of a type thing) or is it one of those "open small, hopefully build a buzz before going general" type things?

[marcello]

I didn't know about the movie so thanks Jim, I'll keep a eye out for it.

[Big Al]

(I saw it at the Dallas Angelika, and the only other place in the entire Dallas area where it was playing was a 30-plex in Mesquite, which if you know the area, is kind of a type thing)

Mesquite?????

indeed! If ever Arlington needed more proof that it is a cultural wasteland, there it is.

[JSngry]

I didn't know about the movie so thanks Jim, I'll keep a eye out for it.

I'd not have known about it if not for the weekly NYT email film update I get sent every week. Hardly ever go to the movies any more, but I like to see what's new, just in case something piques my interest, which this one certainly did. I vaguely knew of Petey Greene through word of mouth from back in the day (plus, IIRC, I didn't live in a cable market that carried BET until after they had stopped showing his show, stange as that might sound today....). So I read the generally favorable Times review, did some quick e-research on Greene & decided to check it out, since this era and this style of activism is one that I, for any number of reasons, have a personal attachment to. Forutnately, Dallas is one of the few markets it's playing in right now, so LTB, dional, & I made an afternoon out of it.

Not a "perfect" film, no. And as a straight-up biography, it ain't even close, apparently. But still, it's a good (enough) story "based on" the life of a genuinely interesting person. Interesting subject matter, pretty good ( & sometimes better) film, & Cheadle rocks.

Works for me.

[JSngry]

(I saw it at the Dallas Angelika, and the only other place in the entire Dallas area where it was playing was a 30-plex in Mesquite, which if you know the area, is kind of a type thing)

Mesquite?????

indeed! If ever Arlington needed more proof that it is a cultural wasteland, there it is.

I'm really surprised (or not...) that this film wasn't booked in a theatre/area with a heavier african-American population. Makes me wonder (or not...) who the "target market" is for this film...

[kh1958]

(I saw it at the Dallas Angelika, and the only other place in the entire Dallas area where it was playing was a 30-plex in Mesquite, which if you know the area, is kind of a type thing)

Mesquite?????

indeed! If ever Arlington needed more proof that it is a cultural wasteland, there it is.

Years ago, I saw Freddie Hubbard and Dizzy Gillespie perform in Mesquite.

Edited July 23, 2007 by kh1958

[kh1958]

(I saw it at the Dallas Angelika, and the only other place in the entire Dallas area where it was playing was a 30-plex in Mesquite, which if you know the area, is kind of a type thing)

Mesquite?????

indeed! If ever Arlington needed more proof that it is a cultural wasteland, there it is.

Years ago, I saw Freddie Hubbard and Dizzy Gillespie perform in Mesquite.

As for Arlington--a Larry Coryell solo performance at a very small club.

[Soulstation1]

Special on Greene airs on PBS tonight

Edited February 3, 2009 by Soulstation1

[jlhoots]

This movie came out well over a year ago.

It didn't do anything at the box office.

I watched it on DVD a few weeks ago & enjoyed it.

Agree that the ending is too drawn out.

Cheadle is great. Wonder if the rumor about him doing a Miles bio-pic. will ever come true.

Edited February 4, 2009 by jlhoots

[jlhoots]

A little further research reveals that it was released in 2007 & actually did about 4.5 million at the box office.

Edited February 4, 2009 by jlhoots

[Christiern]

The documentary that aired on PBS tonight is narrated by Cheadle and relies heavily on tapes of Greene's TV shows that pparently had been lost (and, they thought, destroyed) for 25 years.

Very interesting man and a good film. Now I want to see the theater film and what Cheadle does with the role.

[Shawn]

I really enjoyed the movie, as Jim states it's flawed...but the "vibe" is right and Cheadle is a fascinating actor to watch in anything.