:
Roger Guenveur Smith
:
Spike Lee
see all cast/crew...
: Urban Works
: Independent, Politics and Social Issues
: 95 min.
: English
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Spike Lee directed this made-for-cable adaptation of Roger Guenveur Smith's one-man show about the life and times of Huey P. Newton, who as one of the founders and key strategists of the Black Panther Party was among the most respected and feared figures in the Black Power movement of the late '60s and early '70s. A Huey P. Newton Story combines footage of Smith's play being performed before a live audience (featuring Smith, a member of Spike Lee's stock company, in the title role) with newsreel clips of Newton and his contemporaries at the height of their notoriety. A Huey P. Newton Story had its world premiere on the Black Starz premium cable network on June 18, 2001; the film was later shown on the PBS and African Heritage networks. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| What Tired Dreck is This?
by SasquatchPower
February 18, 2006 - 1:27 PM PST
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3 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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Whoa. Just a few words of warning to temper the other reviews here....
This is not a Spike Lee joint, nor will it tell you anything useful about Huey P. This consists of Smith sitting in a chair on stage doing a corny impression of Newton and telling bad jokes. It is far more concerned with the performer's awful schtick than it is with Huey Newton. I found this totally unwatchable and turned it off after 30 minutes - something I never do.
I'm not aware of a documentary dealing specifically with the Panthers, but would recommend The Weather Underground and Berkeley in the Sixties, which both have at least something to do with them. |
| This was a man
by johnnyclock
November 11, 2005 - 9:56 PM PST
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2 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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Forget about the commercial for the film company at the beginning. This is one hell of a performance! Heart-rending. I knew a little about Huey P. Newton before I saw this, but only a little. I know a little more now and my time was not ill-spent finding out. I am reminded of the words said over Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, "His life was gentle, and the elements/ So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up/ And say to all the world 'This was a man!'"
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| one of the best monologues you'll ever see
by lividsnails
March 4, 2005 - 10:28 AM PST
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1 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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I agree about the commercial, that is very uncool. Especially if the phone rings in the middle of the movie and you accidentally press the wrong button and have to watch it again!
This film is kick-ass! A monologue in the style of Spaulding Gray it keeps you transfixed the entire time and has all the drama of a regular movie.
I have a longer reaction to this flick on my blog Lucky White Girl if you're interested |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.93)
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