Idlewild (2006)

The eclectic, pell-mell energy of hip-hop maestros Outkast gives a jolt to Idlewild, their first movie as a team (both have acted independent of each other: Andre Benjamin, a.k.a. Andre 3000, has previously appeared in Four Brothers and Be Cool, and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton was in ATL). Young bootlegger Rooster (Patton) and undertaker's son Percival (Benjamin) are best friends from childhood, but adult life has become woefully complex: Rooster's wife despises his life at the nightclub Church, Percival is stuck taking care of his depressed father, and an ambitious gangster (Terrence Howard, Hustle & Flow, Crash) kills Rooster's mentor (Ving Rhames, Rosewood) to take over the gangster's bootlegging operation. The arrival of a high-handed cabaret singer (Paula Patton, Hitch) may help Rooster save Church, but when she and Percival fall in love, troubles multiply. Idlewild's musical numbers are packed with dynamic spectacle--not surprising, given that director Bryan Barber previously directed music videos for Outkast. Unfortunately, Barber's script is lackluster, taking some particularly cliche turns toward the end. Still, there are plenty of pop-out performances--singer Macy Gray turns up the heat in the opening number--that put Idlewild a step above such pop-star-driven flicks as Under the Cherry Moon and Glitter. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

An extended hip hop video

I think everyone can agree that visually Idlewild hit all the right points. It's the bad acting and predicable plot that has you cringing in your seat. I understand wanting to do something different with the rap-they were trying to reach their target audience, but it's so jarringly out of place that you can't quite forgive them for it. The shootout scenes are the best part of the film, but overall the film doesn't have that much to say. Did I mention that the acting is bad??? August 10, 2008

Best movie seen since a long time

Everything's in it: gangsters, love story, great actors, exceptionnal musicians with Andre 3000, Big Boi, Patty Lavelle, among others. The sound tracks are really good, Outkast beeing lifted by that southern jazz heritage.
We loved it here in Geneva, Switzerland...... Go for it! April 18, 2008

Out of place and time

In the speakeasy of the prohibition era both jazz
and blues got their start. Musically rap and hip hop
came much later: break dancing is also a later result.
To be fair the music and plot are pretty good,
but King Arthur doing rock and roll is as likely as
30's blacks doing rap. Historically it shames the heritage
of jazz. April 9, 2008

Could've Been a Great Movie About Ambition

This movie had the potential of being a real eye opener for many people, but they reuined it with all the sex and cursing, two very unnecessary evils when trying to get your point across. I don't recommend it for anyone. April 7, 2008

Just wild and confusing is all I can say

I expected a lot more from this movie. I did not enjoy it at all. It seemed very messy for a musical. March 29, 2008

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