Product 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.Running Time: 95 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 026359274923

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5794 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2005-08-23
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds
• Running time: 95 minutes

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

Customer Reviews

FABULOUS PERFORMANCES; FINE SCRIPT
THIS IS A FANTASTIC FILM!! Everything about it is great - the cast, the sets, the music, the plot, and the subplots. Never has there been such a fantastic ensemble cast with just more than a dozen excellent roles for African-American actors. Each character is well-developed with "histories" that can turn into spin-offs of this film. S. Epatha Merkerson deserved her Emmy and the young Marcus Franklin has a great future in film. Terrance Howard was both intense and witty - not to mention sexy! Plus there are fine performances by Louis Gossett, Jr., Carmen Ejogo, Jeffrey Wright, Michael K. Williams, Henry Simmons, Ernie Hudson, Charlayne Woodard, Delroy Lindo, and Jimmy Smits. And look out for Macy Gray in a dark alley - she can hide a straight razor in places you wouldn't think of! And the incredible Mos Def stretches his chops as a "jook joint Usher Raymond". Nuff said - go watch the flick and enjoy!

I would give it more stars if I could!
Oh how I love this movie! A wonderful true story full of hope and love, music and dancing and some of the best acting you will ever see, S. Epatha Merkerson and Terrence Howard especially, but the whole cast is spectacular. You will laugh and cry and get angry. It's a movie well worth owning.

Lackawanna Blues
My dear black people- GET THIS DVD! I love this DVD! It is definitely an African American life experience. I laughed, I cried, and I was able to relate to this believable story in a very real way.(smile).