Kings of the Evening

Last weekend, I had the great honor to view the wonderful film, "Kings of the Evening" at the 7th Annual Arizona Black Film Showcase 2008. I and many persons within the theater were very impressed with the story, the actors and actresses' performances, and the quality of the over all production of the film. It is my hope that as this country enters a time of economic, political, and social uncertainty, that this film could be an inspiration for us all, today! One can't deny the fact that this film was a labor of love for Lynn Whitfield, Glynn Turman, Tyson Beckford, Linara Washington, Reginald Dorsey, and the other persons involved in this production. I hope that my comment and others positive comments in behalf of "Kings of the Evening" will motive other persons to view such an important work of art.

Although this movie had quite a few well-known actors, it lacked excitement and depth. At times it was very slow-moving and boring and you kept waiting for something profound to occur, but to my disappointment, there were a lot of clichés and was very predictable. After seeing the Great Debaters with Denzel, where the story was built around justice and equal rights, which is something that really matters to society; this movie was definitely in another league. It lacked creativity, excitement, suspense, and newness. I didn't walk away from it feeling as if its message made an impact on me. Having read rave reviews about it in various articles, I expected so much more, and got way more less than anticipated.

This was one of my favorite films of the year - because it showed wonderful heart and camaraderie - and the cast bring to life superbly the numbing poverty and never say die spirit that the 30s needed quite beautifully.

We were just swept along by this small story - Homer comes "off the line" having done two years for petty larceny and through a group of misfit friends discovers life again.

With immense charm, and a good dose of realism this is a film that avoids violence, and bad language and rather tries to connect to values - it is a pleasure to watch and as I said in my title what really shines is that this is made with care.

A very satisfying watch, not too schmaltzy at all, but just story-telling well told....

If you get a chance to watch it, do!

I had the pleasure of watching Kings of the Evening and I was amazed by the film. I will be the first to admit that I know mostly nothing about the art of film making. And so I rightfully take my place alongside every other typical film consumer. What I can say to my credit is that I am an educated viewer and Kings of the Evening is a story well-planned and thoughtfully told. There are so few films these days that are respectful and mindful of its audience; this was not the case with Kings of the Evening. The unfolding of the story was generous, offering me an opportunity to experience characters during an era that rarely meet the silver screen. The story was rich and again, kind to the audience. What a rarity these days! This story is a wonderful tool for drawing in a piece of American history with such an unlikely story of hope! I so enjoyed the character interaction and was simply dazzled by the energy, depth and seriousness of character portrayal undertaken by each actor. Kudos to the writer(s), producer(s), director(s) and most importantly to each actor; you each brought light and life to a wonderful story.

This film stands out because of its universal message and, the surprising talents of Tyson Beckford. Beckford plays a humbled, small man (not an easy task for someone known for his looks and physique)and the evolution of his character is seamless. Veteran actors generously share screen time with the lesser known and yet the entire cast gives standout performances.

And, the film isn't a "black" film per se...it features a black cast, but it's message and meaning apply to humanity at large. Subtle gestures and grand, sweeping shots make this film a must-see for lovers of beautiful cinematography and inspiring content.