Best Movies by Farr

For Black History Month, 10 Key Films on the African-American Experience

With Martin Luther King's birthday just past us, and Black History month coming up, the time seems right to celebrate those invaluable films that shed light on the black community's long struggle for equal rights in this country.

Even for those of us who think we know the story well, it's one that always bears repeating, both for ourselves and our children, and an assortment of outstanding movies on DVD can help.

Until the early sixties, the portrayal of black characters in movies was confined to servants, porters, and other similar stereotypes. With too rare exceptions, only with the advent of the Civil Rights movement did the film industry wake up and begin to show black people as three-dimensional characters endowed with intelligence and pride.

The 10 key titles listed here, which combine documentary and narrative forms, bear authentic witness to the black experience, past and present, while lending crucial perspective on their courageous fight for the kind of freedom and opportunity that white people have always taken for granted.

A Raisin In The Sun (1961) -- Walter Lee Younger (Sidney Poitier) is a proud but frustrated young man counting on his recently widowed mother, Lena (Claudia McNeil), to let him invest her $10,000 life-insurance check in a business which could lift him and his family out of their dead-end existence. Despite her son's entreaties, Lena plans to buy a home and leave Chicago's South Side for good, stoking Walter's anguish and resentment. Based on Lorraine Hansberry's play, Daniel Petrie's magnificent A Raisin In The Sun provides an ideal star vehicle for young Poitier's explosive talent. The actor projects barely suppressed rage as he pleads with Claudia McNeil's resolute matriarch, who wants to use her money to buy a new home. Poitier's raw desperation is palpable as his one chance to better himself slips away. See this for Poitier's intense performance, and McNeil's equally powerful turn as his mother. Ruby Dee also scores as Ruth, Walter's long-suffering wife.

Nothing But A Man (1964) -- In this landmark independent film by Michael Roemer, Duff (Ivan Dixon), a struggling black railroad worker meets Josie (Lincoln), a shy, refined preacher's daughter. They fall in love, but soon Josie must adjust to Duff's frustration as he faces discrimination in a repetitive, dead-end job. How they surmount these obstacles and stay together shines a penetrating light on the black experience of the time. A lean film of unusual grace and power, thanks to a perceptive script and solid characterizations. Both Dixon and jazz singer Lincoln give heartfelt portrayals as Duff and Josie, and look for the late, great Julius Harris playing Duff's drunk, delinquent father. Nothing is an inspiring work of cinema that helped fuel the Civil Rights era, and still speaks volumes today.

The Autobiography Of Miss Jane Pittman (1974) -- Originally a TV movie, "Pittman" traces the life of the title character from a childhood in slavery all the way through to the civil-rights movement. The film begins in 1962 as an aged Pittman is visited in her Baton Rouge home by journalist Quentin Lerner (Michael Murphy), who, vetting material for a book, prompts her recall of events both tragic and inspiring. The gifted Cicely Tyson is a marvel as Jane, gradually transforming from a young girl to a wizened but still spirited lady of 100+ years. A revealing history lesson and tribute to the sturdy spirit of one human being who endured through periods of vast change, this important and touching film feeds both brain and heart. Widely recognized as a creative milestone in television programming, Pittman makes for ideal family viewing.

Killer Of Sheep (1977) -- Living hand to mouth in the Watts section of Los Angeles, Stan (Henry Gayle Sanders) toils at a slaughterhouse, where the dispiriting, mind-numbing routine of dispatching livestock leaves him emotionally remote from his wife (Kaycee Moore) and young son. Under these circumstances, life's pleasures come in small and unexpected ways. New to DVD, Charles Burnett's tender, affecting film, a landmark in American independent cinema, hasn't much of a plot, content instead to observe the melancholic daily existence of an impoverished African-American neighborhood. But its neorealist aesthetic, lugubrious pace, and minimal storyline are the ingredients for a surprisingly moving film that depicts ghetto life with lasting beauty and an authentic sense of humanity. Both touching and heartbreaking, with a sweet jazz score setting a mood of inner yearning, the under-exposed Killer of Sheep should be at the top of your must-see list.

Say Amen, Somebody (1982) -- The unparalleled joy and healing power of gospel music is brought to life in this uplifting documentary. Part-history lesson, part-revival meeting, the movie not only stresses the importance of this musical form in people's spiritual lives, but also allows us to see its transforming effect in the here and now. Regardless of anyone's race or creed, this entry provides rare nourishment for the soul, as we listen to its infectious practitioners, both young and old. Especially poignant are the respective presences of "Professor" Thomas Dorsey, then over eighty, and "Mother" Willie May Ford Smith, a hearty seventy-nine. With its message of love and hope made contagious, Director George Nierenberg fashions a touchingly human and inspiring portrait that translates how this special music has sustained (mainly) African-American people through adversity for so long. A humbling and glorious achievement.

Eyes On The Prize (1987) -- This six-episode PBS miniseries provides an in-depth look at the American Civil Rights movement, covering the storied struggles during the insurgent years from 1954-1965, and culminating in the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Interviews with participants both legendary and obscure are interwoven with now iconic archival footage to provide a full picture of the fight. We revisit the marches, bus boycotts, and the tortuous path to school integration, and hear the inspiring words of Martin Luther King Jr. ring out once again across the decades. This justly lauded Emmy winner is the definitive document for anyone wishing to fully understand this tumultuous moment in history, and that should be most everyone. Its detailed, rigorous recounting of a seminal period in American history covers topics and events often glossed over in history class, such as the Emmett Till murder trial and how race played a role at the contentious 1964 Democratic Convention. It also does full justice to the legacy of spiritual leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, whose proud defiance sparked a movement. Perhaps most important, Eyes gives voice to the average citizens who participated -- those who helped changed history, but never received recognition for it. We should all prize -- and watch -- this landmark work of remembrance.

Glory (1989) -- This is the true story of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick), son of Massachusetts abolitionists, who's appointed to lead the first black regiment for the Union in the Civil War. Before this group is able to prove their mettle in battle, Shaw must fight injustice within the Union hierarchy, as superior officers doubt the regiment's ability to fight and seem unwilling (at first) to even equip them properly. Ultimately, Shaw's faith in his men is borne out heroically. Edward Zwick's vivid Civil War epic boasts terrific battle sequences, but aside from the story's inherent fascination, what sets this movie apart is the incredible acting glimpsed in between the gunfire. Broderick brings to Shaw a nuanced mix of determination and vulnerability, but Denzel Washington virtually steals the picture as a defiant enlisted man. (He won an Oscar for this.) Morgan Freeman also shines as a wise, seasoned regimental sergeant. Glory delivers both rousing entertainment and a vital history lesson, in one winning package.

Malcolm X (1992) -- Ambitious film chronicles the remarkable life of murdered civil-rights leader Malcolm X (Denzel Washington), born Malcolm Little, from his early years in a Harlem gang to his religious conversion during a stint in prison, marriage to Betty Shabazz (Angela Bassett), and eventual rise to fame as a controversial orator and spokesman for the Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad (Al Freeman Jr.). A life-changing pilgrimage to Mecca, however, not only upends Malcolm's radical views of race, but tragically puts him on the outs with his mentor. Built around a commanding performance by star Washington, Spike Lee's Malcolm X is the writer-director's most ambitious, impassioned film to date, as it presents a turbulent and eventful life filled with self-transformation. The Oscar-nominated Washington never lets you forget his hero's fiery charisma, the emotional impact and candor of his speeches, or the resentment he faced from both sides of the racial divide. With a top-notch cast, and Ernest Dickerson's fluid camerawork creating immediacy, Malcolm X bristles with energy and impact.

4 Little Girls (1997) -- Spike Lee's documentary revisits a shocking crime that shook the nation in 1963, when a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama was blown up, killing four African-American girls. The film combines reminiscences of the girls' families and friends with observations on the times and the event's broader significance within the Civil Rights movement. Girls may be heartbreaking to watch, but it's also essential viewing, as director Lee revisits an atrocity we should never forget. The overwhelming sense of personal loss and moral outrage is palpable. It's also striking how this unthinkable tragedy accelerated the progress of civil rights, with the barbarity of the southern segregationists' act thrusting the race issue right to the front of the world stage. Ultimately, these four promising, innocent girls are seen as martyrs to the age-old struggle for racial equality. Don't miss this touching, insightful film.

Freedom Riders (2010) -- During the turbulent Civil Rights era, over 400 men and women, black and white, challenged segregation laws by riding buses together into the Deep South. As a result of this non-violent act, these activists endured beatings, tear gas, and imprisonment. Based on the acclaimed book by Raymond Arsenault, Riders brings together interviews with the participants themselves, as well as journalists, government officials, and other first-hand witnesses. The result is a vivid account of a gallant struggle against racial injustice. While most Americans have doubtless heard of the Freedom Riders, this meticulously researched work, presented by the acclaimed PBS series American Experience, provides a level of immediacy and detail that brings the whole period back into vivid focus. Nominated for three Emmys, the film is a superb technical achievement, but more than anything else, its story of ordinary citizens taking extraordinary risks for the noblest of ideals is both affecting and profoundly humbling. This fascinating, inspirational chapter in our country's history should be required viewing for all thoughtful people, young and old.

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Great Movies For Black History Month

With the month of February comes Black History month, when we recognize and pay tribute to the black community’s long struggle for equal rights in this country. Even for those of us who think we know the story well, it’s one that always bears repeating, for ourselves and our children, and an assortment of solid, relevant titles on DVD can help.

Prior to the 1960’s, the portrayal of black characters in movies was confined to servants, porters, and other similar stereotypes. Only with the advent of the Civil Rights movement did the film industry dare address the authentic black experience. At this point, Sidney Poitier emerged as the first black movie star, whose roles advanced a new image of the African-American male, one reflecting intelligence, pride, and dignity.

Daniel Petrie’s “A Raisin In The Sun” (1961) provided an ideal vehicle for Poitier’s explosive talent. Sidney portrays Walter Lee Younger, an ambitious, tightly coiled young man counting on his mother’s small nest-egg to invest in a business which could lift his family out of their dead-end existence. Walter projects barely suppressed rage as he pleads with resolute mother Lena (Claudia McNeil), who wants to use the money to buy a new home. Walter’s raw desperation is palpable as he sees his one chance to better himself slipping away. Watch this moving piece for Poitier’s intense performance, and McNeil’s equally arresting turn as the family matriarch.

Three years later, director Michael Roemer would release an independent film called “Nothing But A Man”, addressing the challenge of black men sustaining loving relationships when discrimination and feelings of futility consume them with anger. Duff (Ivan Dixon), a black railroad worker, meets Josie (Abbey Lincoln), a shy preacher’s daughter. They fall in love, but soon Duff’s frustration with his prospects boils over, threatening the relationship. With grace and feeling, this lean, unadorned film details how the couple navigates these choppy waters to find a measure of happiness. The talented Julius Harris stands out playing Duff’s failed, drunken father.

In the 1970s, television would actually do more than feature films to advance understanding of black history in this country. Perhaps best remembered is the wildly successful, landmark adaptation of Alex Haley’s novel “Roots” into a six-part, ten hour mini-series in 1977, which took viewers back to the dawn of the slave trade that first brought blacks to our shores in bondage. Regrettably, this series is not widely available on DVD.

Another superior television production you can watch in one sitting is 1974’s “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”, which traces the life of one stalwart black woman from a childhood in slavery all the way through to the Civil Rights movement. In Jane’s eventful story lies an invaluable history lesson, one of endurance through suffering and upheaval, and culminating in Jane’s becoming a witness to positive change. The gifted Cicely Tyson is a marvel in the title role, as over the course of the film she ages from a young girl to a spry old lady of 110. She deservedly won an Emmy Award for her work, and the film itself won eight more.

Four years later, Tyson would team with actor Paul Winfield for another top-notch mini-series, “King”, aired in three 90 minute installments. Written and directed by the talented Abby Mann, “King” is a meticulous recreation of Dr. Martin Luther King’s mystical odyssey from spirited young Baptist preacher to anointed spokesman for the vast non-militant wing of the Civil Rights movement. The revelation here is the extent to which King did not choose his thorny path, but was chosen, both by his own people and a higher power. Winfield and Tyson (who’d starred together in the fabulous “Sounder” six years prior) are both first-rate as Martin and Coretta, and along with Mann’s incisive script and a stellar supporting cast, they make “King” a powerful and enlightening experience.

To form the ideal double feature for Martin Luther King’s birthday, also catch “Citizen King” (2004), a riveting PBS “American Experience” entry. I found watching this particularly intriguing after first screening “King”, noting not just Abby Mann’s fidelity to real events, but also the subtle differences between Winfield’s portrayal and the real man, who seemed smaller, more serious, and infinitely sadder than the actor, but whose soaring oratory still sounds like noone I’ve ever heard.

As the 1980’s progressed, so did the careers of two figures whose work would further the cause of black awareness: actor Denzel Washington and director Spike Lee. In 1989, Washington would attain stardom after winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as a defiant soldier in Edward Zwick’s “Glory”, which recounts the true story of the the Civil War’s first black fighting regiment. That same year, Lee boosted his own visibility with “Do The Right Thing”, a contemporary drama about underlying racial tensions in Brooklyn that need only a chance incident on a sweltering day to ignite.

Lee and Washington would join up three years later to make the searing, epic-scale “Malcolm X”. This three and a half hour feature carries us from Malcolm Little’s unpromising beginnings as a Harlem gang-member through his religious conversion in prison, marriage to Betty Shabazz (Angela Bassett), and eventual ascension to chief spokesman for the nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad (Al Freeman, Jr.) Like his contemporary Dr. King, Malcolm faced constant danger and opposition from whites and blacks alike; unlike King, he did not believe non-violence alone would advance the cause of his people. A transformative pilgrimage to Mecca ultimately puts Malcolm at odds with his leader, which helps seal his own fate. The Oscar-nominated Washington delivers a towering portrayal of the militant leader, and bears an almost uncanny resemblance to Malcolm, while Lee’s inspired direction creates an electric impact and immediacy that bring us closer to this tumultuous chapter in our history.

In his devastating documentary “4 Little Girls” (1997), director Lee goes on to profile a horrific true incident from 1963, when a Baptist Church in Birmingham was blown up, killing four young girls attending Sunday School. This heart-rending episode is recalled via reminiscences of the girls’ families and friends, while others comment on the event’s broader significance in reinvigorating the movement at a critical juncture, and accelerating the passage of vital civil rights legislation. This haunting and revealing testament is not be missed.

Lest we forget, before the rise of Dr. King and Malcolm X, there was Thurgood Marshall. Before becoming the nation’s first black Supreme Court Justice, Marshall was an overworked, underpaid lawyer for the NAACP. In the early 50s, he took an isolated case from rural South Carolina all the way to the Supreme Court, resulting in the historic 1954 “Brown vs. Board of Education” decision, which ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. In “Separate But Equal” (1991), a three hour TV movie first aired in two parts, Sidney Poitier plays Mr. Marshall, and predictably, does him proud. This outstanding film is also notable for featuring Burt Lancaster in his final role as John Davis, the veteran lawyer who opposes Marshall in our country’s highest court. Also look for the late Richard Kiley in a measured, dignified turn as Chief Justice Earl Warren.