Description: A Huey P. Newton Story is an intimate portrait of Huey P. Newton, the late co-founder of the Black Panther Party. Director Spike Lee and Roger Guenveur Smith collaborate for the 7th time to bring Newton's thoughts, philosophies, history and flavour to life. Adapted from Robert Guenveur Smith's Obie Award winning off- Broadway solo performance of the same name, Spike Lee brings the play from the stage to the screen as only he could. Shot before a live audience, Spike Lee uses his signature mixture of film and archival footage, to capture Newton's "inner mind." The film is complemented by period material and original compositions from sound designer Marc Anthony Thompson, who received an Obie and Audelco Award for his work. Accompanied by an outstanding performance, starring and written by Roger Guenveur Smith, Nominated for two NAACP Image Awards and for winning the Peabody Award. This film is a piece of history that will bring the meaning to "Without Struggle There is No Life".
excellent see this movie. there is nothing like it. the performance is super-stellar. the subject material is explosively revealing. kudos to all involved. this movie will bring u closer to newton and the civil rights movement with all the power and magic they encompass. enjoy and be amazed.
Where's Huey!?? I'm very disappointed. I wanted a documentary. I wanted to know Huey's story, and the hopes of his struggle. Instead, what Spike & pal give us is a one-man play. The actor sits on the stage, chain-smoking and rambling for almost 2 hours. For the sake of Dr. Huey P. Newton (he earned a doctoral degree in 1980), I'm being very generous with 4 stars.
Huey lived his entire life (1942-1989) in the age of television. Even in death, he must live on thousands of hours of footage. He wrote books. He gave countless interviews. Why not let him speak for himself?
The performance is fine as a matter of acting (accurate? I don't know). The delivery is frenetic, and makes it appear that Newton suffered from Parkinson's disease (spasticity). At points it's almost moving. At points it's fairly incomprehensible. But it's neither coherent, nor informative. It shows Huey as if he were always the tattered man that the FBI left of him.
I wanted to know what happened to Huey. What were the Black Panthers? What did they do? What did they try? WHAT HAPPENED!?? This movie gives only a few scattered, vague, spastic hints.
Why, Spike? WHY?
A Must See !!!! Even if you don't know anything about the Black Panthers or could care less about the Black Panthers, you should still see this movie. I must admit that before this film I was mostly uninterested in the Black Panthers. After seeing this movie I could not wait to read Revolutionary Suicide. The portrayal of Dr. Huey P. Newton in the film by Roger Guenveur Smith is like no other. It is captivating and spellbinding and most importantly it is inspiring to see an actor be so committed to a character. For the most part, I am usually unaffected by movies and I rarely would rate a movie this high, but this is an exception. If you have not seen this film you must see it. To date, this is the most incredible thing I have seen. See it immediately.
Phenomenal performance of a powerful man If you do not know who Roger Guenveur Smith is, and somehow don't recognize him from other Spike Lee joints, then this piece will introduce you to an amazing actor. An amazing actor. An amazing performance. Granted, this is translated from the stage to the cinema, but it is quite affecting in expressing the character that was Huey P. Newton, and his explosive personality and his intellect. As great a character as Newton is, Guenveur Smith's intense and deeply expressed performance outdoes the imagery, the music, even the text. As an actor, this is a master class in deep and committed artistry.
This is an amazing movie..... I don't know much about Huey P. Newton at all. Up to the point when i seen this movie, if you told me the mans name I would have had no idea who he was, but now I do. I saw this movie the first time on tv. I was channel surfing and I came across this movie. After watching it for a sec. I could not turn the channel. Roger Guenveur Smith is absolutly wonderful in this movie. I was blown away. Such passion in his acting. I still don't know much about Huey P. Newton, but watching this movie has changed my perspective on what the Black Panthers were all about. Check this movie out. Its amazing......
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