Chi-Raq Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

Director Spike Lee has been around for quite some time now, and his films never seem to get old. You never know what you’re going to get, which alone is a refreshing feeling when choosing your seat at the movie theater. That’s how I always approach his films, and this time it wasn’t any different. With the sensitive subject of gang violence in parts of the African-American community, Spike Lee decides to adapt the Greek play ‘Lysistrata’ tied in with the countless deaths that riddles some sections of Chicago. Whether you’re a fan of his work or not, he always swings for the fence, and is not afraid to be boldly different than other filmmakers that most are used to. Once again he’s able to deliver an entertaining film, with a great message, that provides a good amount of comedy, while at the same time teaching a serious lesson to groups of people that may be involved in their own repeated genocide.

Since I just praised Lee’s previous work, I can imagine in a production meeting how foreign his story-boards may look. I’m personally not thrilled by stage plays or musicals, but with his unique talent, he’s able to take the better of the two, and tone it down to a respectable form of rhythmic dialogue. Even from the opening scene he decides not to provide imagery, but subtitles of a song to carry the film. It was an interesting decision that I found appealing. It painted the picture of how horrifying life could be in some cities in America, and whether true or false, it made me a believer. He was also able to use text messaged images to get his point across, and also showed how the infectious disease of silly pride can kill any man, woman, or child who decides not to be the bigger person when a confrontation arises. The main message he tried to convey is, “What is the purpose of life?” You were brought into this world to do more than kill your fellow man. Fortunately while some may complain that it’s too preachy, I thought the exact opposite taking it in like the best dessert choice. He got his point across through satire and jokes, with some falling flat on their face, while majority received my stamp of approval.

The cast in the film for the most part did an excellent job at telling the story. Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris) was the driving force behind the entire film. She was strong, bold, and rocked the hell out of that natural beautiful hair of hers. If she didn’t have enough to carry the film (which she did), the remaining cast had more than enough to lay a strong foundation. Cyclops (Wesley Snipes) had an interesting name choice, whose title alone provided great undertones of some of the ignorance that can corrupt a number of lives. Miss Helen (Angela Bassett) had a strong core, and was the root to the movement from its inception. I’m proud to say that her character’s motivation wasn’t remedial, because it would’ve been too easy for her role to fall down that path. Dolmedes (Samuel L. Jackson) put everything into perspective, ranging from comedy, narration, and addressed multiple issues that literally flood our news feeds in the world today. The most surprising casting choice, and probably the best in the entire film was that of Father Mike Corridan (John Cusack). While at first sticking out like snowflakes in July, he probably had the best line and/or scene in the entire film. If his dialogue didn’t wake you up, I honestly don’t know what will. While the cast just listed was fantastic, the absolute appalling craptastic award goes to Irene (Jennifer Hudson), and Chi-Raq (Nick Cannon). I don’t know what happened with these two. Hudson can act most certainly. Most has seen it before, so maybe she was sick on the day of shooting. Nick Cannon carried the film Drumline, along with a few other small budget films. Though this time his performance was absolutely atrocious, and that’s me putting it lightly. Cannon trying to portray a thugged out gangster was a laughable disaster embarrassment, which could actually ruin his career as an actor. Since that isn’t his main goal, and he’s more of a real life personality, it may not matter in the long run. Though towards the end of the film where the story tried to wrap things up, he single handedly destroyed the scene ERASING all of its weight.

What’s shocking is as horrible as Cannon’s performance was, from a different view it may have improved the films quality. The reason I say this is due to the message that’s been conveyed throughout the film by the director. Not all, but some groups of people are so loyally blind to a street code that they have no clue of the damage they’re doing to their own community. They’re willfully dense to say the least, and you can’t even convince them there’s a fire even when their head is burning. They look utterly ridiculous, stupid, and any other downgrading word that you could come up with. With that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Spike Lee told Cannon to act this way, to give a mirror reflection of just how idiotic someone of blind gang affiliation may be. Now I’m definitely not saying all gangs are bad. That word is just a term that’s used to identify a community of people that has each other’s backs, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Though if you can’t recognize that your own actions are as dangerous as drinking gallons of Clorox bleach every day, that is where the problem lies. Spike Lee pulled it off with most of the cast, with Wesley Snipes character as a prime example. But I’m still on the fence with Cannon’s role, whether it was just horrible acting, or done on purpose to prove a point.

Overall the film is extremely enjoyable with a mixed bag of everything great from a narrative standpoint. I got a decent cast, a head bobbing soundtrack, funny performances, with a powerful message. The message was formed through the idea of stage plays, musicals, modern technology, satire, sex, comedy, real world news, in your face propaganda, and love. There’s not too much more you can ask for. While the execution of it all may not have been perfect, it was more than enough to get the conversation going, if you were not already self-aware. With films like this I can’t wait for the next chapter, to see if anything changes, or to witness Spike Lee’s next great film. It was a fun ride, with an interesting take, and a film that should certainly be on your bucket list.

Read more reviews by Brandon Keith Avery at Just My Opinion.net.

Chi-Raq Review

Overall, I would say Chi-Raq was a good film. There were definitely some interesting choices made. Like the first few minutes of the film being a black screen with red lyrics fading in and out to Nick Cannon's song "Pray 4 My City." There's also a scene where Chi-Raq (Nick Cannon) and Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris) are making love and request the lights be turned out, and we hear them continue and eventually almost climax all while sitting in a dark theater looking at a black screen. There's also Dolmedes (Samuel L. Jackson). He never really interacts with the cast. He's more of a narrator, nay...more like someone who adds additional context to the film by using his Zach Morris powers (aka, he can pause time to speak directly to the audience). There are several scenes reminiscent of "School Dayz"...the singing and dance numbers (no it's not a musical), the group of people having an audible reaction in unison, the proclamation to "WAKE UP," and even a scene where the men are kind of sneaking into a building. If you've watched School Daze as much as I have, you'll know the moments when you see them. 

I was also thrown off when I realized much of the film would be done in rhyme. When Chi-Raq and Lysistrata's lines began rhyming for the first time it was honestly hard for me to enjoy. For one thing, I wasn't expecting it. And secondly, Nick Cannon just didn't deliver well when his lines rhymed. Something was off, but he did a wonderful job when his lines weren't rhyming. And in the next scene with rhyming lines, between Lysistrata and Miss Helen (Angela Bassett), I felt relieved. Bassett did it perfectly, and then I knew I would be able to survive the rhyming lines (though I still found it hard to bear at times when Nick Cannon's lines rhymed). I'm going to assume the rhyming may be related to the fact that the film is a modern-day adaptation of the Ancient Greek comedy, Lysistrata (I know some of you were hating on her name not knowing it is a real name of a character from an Ancient Greek comedy). 

The only thing that made me cringe more than when Nick Cannon had lines that rhymed, were the scenes with Cyclops (Wesley Snipes)! Can someone fill me in on what Spike Lee was going for with Cyclops? I mean, Snipes knows how to be a gangster. #NinoBrown But Cyclops was giving us Superfly one minute, a weak Nino another minute, a dash of Mike Tyson, and I don't know what else. It was as if they were trying to make him give some partial comic relief, but it read as corny to me. Furthermore, there was no need for his character to give us comic relief in the way he did, because 1) it was more corny than funny and 2) the movie had plenty of comic relief (though some fell flat to me). And the funniest part about it is that he was in the only scene Dave Chappelle was in as the character Morris. And Snipes was the corniest in this scene, which was even more evident when he's talking to Chappelle. Chappelle is funny in the scene, but not "Chappelle Show" funny (you know how the show would be almost-crossing into corniness but so perfectly done it doesn't cross the corny line and is just funny as heck). So while Chappelle is funny, but not corny, the cornball factor of Snipes attempt at comedy in the scene is even more exacerbated because the camera keeps cutting to Chappelle and so you match up Snipes character with your memories of "The Chappelle Show." But again, Snipes played Nino Brown. So I can only guess this cornball factor is a result of poor or confusing direction. 

Speaking of Snipes and Chappelle, who isn't in this film?! I mean even Big Mama is in the film! That's right, Irma P. Hall who played Mother Joe in "Soul Food" is in it. As is Steve Harris ("The Practice," "Diary of a Mad Black Woman"), La La Anthony ("Think Like a Man," "Think Like a Man Too"), Roger Guenveur Smith ("He Got Game," "Do the Right Thing," "Eve's Bayou"), Isiah Whitlock Jr. ("The Wire"...and yes, he hit us with one of his longest "Shiiiiiiiiid" I've seen), and Harry Lennix. 

John Cusack was Father Mike Corridan, and he did a fantastic job! As a White pastor of an all Black congregation on the Southside of Chicago, I was waiting on Spike to reveal some crooked reason for his choice to be over an all Black congregation. And even after he took me to church (well in the way he preached and in speaking the truth of the Black struggle, not actually preaching the Word), I still awaited the revelation of his secret crooked ways. But the revelation never came. It seems he truly wanted to be there for good reasons, or as he tells Chi-Raq, because Jesus was with the poor and suffering. 

Bassett and Parris also did a great job! In typical Bassett fashion, she delivered a strong performance. Parris carried the lead role perfectly. But another actress stole the show, in my opinion. She brought me to tears in her first scene early in the film and in her final scene towards the end of the film. JENNIFER HUDSON!! It was more than the scene and plot, because she was not the only one to endure pain in the film or cry during the film. Her emotion was so real and moving. I cried not for what she lost in the scene, but I cried because of the pain I was seeing come through her!!! Amazing job JHud!!

Overall, it was a an enjoyable film that managed to give you laughter in the midst of giving you a serious and much needed message. And it is most definitely a Spike Lee Joint. But more importantly, it is a movie that speaks great truths, shares some history, shares some pain, and moves you to want to help make change happen!  

Chiraq Trailer