Bojangles (2001)

The award-winning actor and dancer Gregory Hines stars in this look at the life of extraordinary tap dancing legend Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. This is the story of an incredibly talented man who struggled with the demons of his past and the racism of his time, but still entertained millions with his unique and complex dance style.

Bojangles vs. Tap

If you didn't like Bojangles...get TAP. It's GREAT, and it just came out on DVD.
Check out Savion Glover dancing in HAPPY FEET the movie. You see where he also added some of Gregory Hines steps in some cuts. December 12, 2006

Should have been fantastic... Something went horribly wrong!

I bought this movie simply because it stars Gregory Hines and themes tap dancing. That should be a recipe for success, Gregory Hines and Savion Glover, two of the greatest tap dancers to have lived, in a movie about tap dancing. Unfortunately if that is also what you are thinking, you will be sorely disappointed.

I watched this with my girlfriend who has been tap dancing for over 19 years, even with my limited knowledge of tap I could tell that Gregory Hines was either screwed over by the choreographer, or what is sadly more likely, already suffering from cancer. He never in the entire movie came even close to tapping up to his skill level, which just made him and Bojangles look bad. The only top-notch tapping in the whole movie was a short 1 or 2 minute scene where Savion Glover busts out, which made the movie worth its purchase price for me. I've seen Bojangles routines danced by other contemporary dancers who aren't even great tappers, and they looked far better doing them than anything Hines did in this movie. It's really a shame.

Now that covers the tap dancing. As for the actual movie, I could have cared less had the dancing been good, but it wasn't, and the screenplay was even worse. First off, the screenwriter was apparently at a complete loss as to how to move the plot forward. Rather than writing a string of excellent scenes which tell a story, the characters often turn and look at the camera in the middle of the scene and "explain" what is going on. I don't know where to start, I was under the impression that voice-over dialogue was faux pas... So what is this? Sinful I'd say. Moving on from that little annoyance, it doesn't get much better, the story itself is weak, something about gambling and his 2nd wife... I watched it 2 hours ago and I'm already having trouble remembering what happened... The directing was atrocious, I love Gregory Hines, for his dancing and acting, he didn't give nearly the performance that he has given in other movies, BAD directing.

Anyhow, I could go on, but that would just be mean. If you worship tap dancing, get the movie for the 1 minute scene of Savion Glover going all out with amazing dance moves. If not, I'd steer clear of this movie, you'd be better of watching a documentary with a bunch of interviews... It'd be a lot mor entertaining. March 22, 2006

A Gift

My older brother danced with the nicolas brothers before they passed away and he teaches tap dancing. thought i send it as a birthday present. February 23, 2006

Call that man Bojangles

This movie was awsome. THe coolest flick since titanic. I highly recommed it. Go Bo! October 25, 2005

Bad Casting

Upon researching the true story of Mr. Bojangles, I thought his movie did not do him justice. First I will begin with the disappointment I felt with the casting. As most of people who took a chance to watch this televised biography, we are aware of what Bojangles looked like. No offense to Gregory Hines, but his casting was horrible. No similarities what so ever, besides the fact that he taps. I believe this movie would have meant more to me had the actor been a no-name. You can't get passed the fact that you're looking at GREGORY HINES. Another issue I have is that, this is nothing short of a recall of Bojangles courtship with his wife Fannie, who he dogged out. The movie spent way too much time on this subject and didn't give us the "MEAT" of this man's life, like his fall out with Stepin' Fetchit, or where he & black hollywood were confined to while recreation was segregated, the western version of Harlem, Central Avenue in Los Angeles ! The place that was hot in the 30's & 40's. The street that had a hotel where Bo always stayed when he came to LA, the Dunbar, where he fraternized with other black stars of his era. The club that they named after him. None of this priceless info was mentioned or recreated. This movie was a waste of my time. 2 hours of nothin'. Fannie's charector was a bad casting move too. She was light complected in real life and a sharp hollywood wife that was involved in a WHOLE lot more than messin' around with ice-cream. Then the movie speeds up once Bo & Fannie actually GET married and by the time you think you're gonna actually see some GOOD STUFF, he's dead and the movie's over. I sold my copy of this movie. It wasn't on the same level of other old biographies of other famous black stars. If you're trully interested in learning more about this legend, please take the time to READ about it first and not just rent or buy this movie believing it as Gospel to Bojangles life. The books tell you more. One in particular is The Experience of Black Hollywood written by Donald Bogle. Very enlightening. Don't waste your time on garbage like this movie. I wish I hadn't. June 24, 2005

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