Hollywood Reviews and Movie Trivia

"Idlewild", with its prohibition era period look of the American south, dazzling song and dance numbers, and enough drama to go around, earns a B...

One of the hardest films to direct is the musical/drama movie. In modern times the multiple Oscar winner "Chicago" (2002) starring Richard Gere and Renee Zellwegger made it work. The challenge with "Idlewild" is to bring what's commonly referred to as "old school" style music of the past, and merge with the "Gen X'ers of today. Bryan Barber, the writer and director, is OutKast's music video director and has a good eye for interesting visuals, creating a stylish film that seamlessly mixes live action with animation, including the way he brings old photographs to life for the opening titles, and weaving the nicely staged musical numbers to tell his story. "Idlewild" is not going to win any Oscars. It is a fun ride with music, drama, and a lot of heart.

The story's two main characters are Percival (Andre Benjamin) and Rooster (Antwan A.Patton), who are members of the music group OutKast. They meet as youngsters and are as different as night and day. Rooster, being very good with numbers, takes an early interest in his uncle's alcohol moonshine-running business. Percival is being groomed by his father to take over the mortuary family business. Years later as adults, they both perform at a local speakeasy called "The Church", which is as far away from religion as one can get! Rooster has to deal with the conniving second in command Trumpy (Terrence Howard from last years Oscar winner "Crash" in another chilling and intuitive performance) who wants to take over the liquor running business after the untimely death of his mentor Spats (Ving Rhames, from "Mission Impossible 3"). In the course of dealing with Trumpy and his takeover plans, Angela Davenport (Paula Patton from the movie "Hitch" starring Will Smith) comes to Idlewild, GA with a contract to perform at the "Church". Angela is big city 'torch' singer who, with her style and charm, suddenly wakes up feelings in Percival that he has long since buried.

The story moves right along as Rooster tries to outwit Trumpy for control of "The Church", stay on his wife's Zora (Malinda Williams) good side, and try not to meet the same fate as Spats. Percival tries to deal with his feelings for Angela and help her get over her stage fright while dealing with the overbearing demands of his father (Ben Vereen). Both friends are trying to stay alive. After all, it s the 1930's, in Georgia, during prohibition, Rooster runs a speakeasy which means alcohol, fast women, faster men, and gangsters who want their cut of the action!

There's a good cast of veteran musicians and actors including Cicely Tyson, Macy Gray, and Patti LaBelle. The musical dance numbers are nicely staged, thanks to the music video directing skills of Bryan Barber. "Idlewild" also has stylishly recurring moments like Rooster's interacting with a talking rooster on a flask he inherited from his uncle, and Percival' s ticking clock sequences are very Dahli- esquely staged. There are tender moments like Percival writing a song for Angela to sing for her speakeasy debut has a lot of feeling. Paula Patton as Angela is the movie's one true breakthrough, showing up as a demanding diva, but coming down with stage fright until Percival eases her through it as she performs the song "Moving Cool" he wrote for her. It's one of the movie's high points, because Paula's natural on-screen charisma. Paula Patton is an actress who will be featured in upcoming movies, so keep an eye out.

"Idlewild" is a movie with some good music, nicely staged song & dance numbers, a good period look, some not so nice gangsters, and an underlying dramatic story that tugs at your heart, "Idlewild" has it all...

Grade: B