Red Hook Summer

Red Hook Summer definitely fits within Spike Lee's oeuvre, recalling the child's POV-style of storytelling used in Crooklyn and the vivid color palette employed (albeit more effectively) in Do the Right Thing. As other reviewers have no doubt already pointed out, Clarke Peters gives a superb performance, though nobody has yet mentioned Thomas Jefferson Byrd's performance, which I thought was at least on-par with his previous work if not surpassing it. Byrd's drunken prophecies shine transparent with hypocrisy, which is a major theme explored on a deeper level once the film's exterior is peeled back in the final act.

Speaking of which, the final act is undoubtedly the highlight. I can't go into too much detail or I will spoil the story's impact. This sequence carries a lot of the film's weight, but viewers won't know it until it comes. The sermons are also powerful, both on the pulpit and off. It's just all too unfortunate that the lackluster acting of the two primary child stars takes away from an otherwise engaging story. And although I am a fan of much of Lee's work, I will never understand his music choices---oftentimes cheesy songs interfere with what would have been phenomenal left to natural sound... think the father-son reconciliation in the woods in Get on the Bus or some of the moments in Clockers. This is probably a matter of taste, but I can't get over it. I guess I just like the other elements of his style so much that I wish he could do better with the soundtrack (NOT the score---his scores are usually good).

I guess my main point is that Red Hook Summer is worth seeing, despite the extremely low ratings I've seen in various online locales. It's just not Lee's best by any means, but not a failure either. It's just kind of... muddied.

A middle-class boy from Atlanta is forced to spend the summer with his deeply religious grandfather in a poor housing project in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Spike Lee wrote and directed this boring tale. This rambling tale gets very tiresome. Did Spike Lee turn anti-religion? The story turns even uglier with a twist that comes out of nowhere. I'm uncertain about what is happening to Spike Lee. After great successes in the 90s and the 2000s, is he on the road to big time experimentation? What is going on? I don't get it. This movie is a mess. Maybe it's some kind of personal project. But even then, I'd expect more skills than he's showing here.

I give this film an 8 out of 10 only because of it's obviously miniscule budget, a few more takes on some of the scenes and we would have yet another great 'Spike Lee Joint'. Gotta let you know, Spike Lee is my favorite director, has been since the death of Stanley Kubrick, and, although neither here or there, they both made/make superior films whose appreciation oftentimes came way too late! The film begins a bit preachy in its dialog, contemporary religious and social and political pontifications, and I am OK with that, it's what Spike has always done. The slice of life tale of a young boy spending a summer with an extremely religious grandfather he's just met, and the unexpected denouement is very good storytelling and very worthy of Spike Lee. I really wanna spoil the story, but, please, see it for yourself.

Don't even pay attention to the rating on this movie. It was good. Some might say the movie is not worth watching after the first few minutes, but I would challenge them to watch the movie a bit longer. This movie was very well written, it was classic Spike Lee style (but written better than some of his old movies), and it even had a surprise twist (which I won't divulge). This movie is not like one of those gospel stage plays or even some of the movies that you would find on Netflix. This is much better. A person needs to really give this movie the 2 hours it deserves and have a good time. It may make you cry (when the secret comes out), but this movie is not a waster. It certainly deserved a better rating than it received. Please give it a chance, and you will not be disappointed.

Red Hook Summer, was funny, thought provoking, tugged at your emotions, and made you think...Classic Spike! You felt a sense of nostalgia with the return of characters Mookie (Do the Right Thing) and Nola Darling (now Mother Darling - She's Gotta Have It). The use of colors was wonderful, as usual Spike and his director of photography has a way of bringing the viewer right into the scene both visually and emotionally. I felt like I was living in Red Hook. The third act of the film was one of the most powerful scenes I have viewed in a looooong time...particularly with films of color. The symbolism Spike used just gave me goose bumps. That makes me want to see this film at least another 3 times, just to study the genius of this filmmaker. The overall music used in this film by Judith Hill and Bruce Hornsby was light and warm - a perfect contrast to the set of the film taking place in the projects of Red Hook - where there's much "death" - I suppose that is the irony of life. There was of course a turn at the end, and the music became more hard hitting during the last scenes of the film - the combination of the visuals and the music REALLY brought me emotionally into the "disturbing situation", brought tears to my eyes. 10 stars! And "that's the truth, ruth!"