Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven
On DVD and Blu-ray from director Kasi Lemmons and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the song of BLACK NATIVITY.
This FILM tells the story of Langston (Jacob Latimore), a young man struggling. Raised by single mother Naima (Jennifer Hudson) they are only days away from losing their home and there is no one to turn to.
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That is until Langston learns that he is being sent to his grandparents he never knew. In New York City he meets grandmother Aretha (Angela Bassett) and grandfather Reverend Cornel Cobbs (Forest Whitaker). Not happy about being in the house with strangers who won’t talk about the past, Langston just wants to help his mother and go home.
Yet, he meets Loot (Tyrese Gibson) who has his own tales of the family to tell, a street prophet (Nas) who tells it straight, a Pawnshop owner who sets Langston straight (Vondie Curtis-Hall) and an Angel (Mary J. Blige) who touched Langston.
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They help him understand the meaning of family, togetherness and most of all – forgiveness.
FINAL WORD: Latimore as Langston is an angry young man who doesn’t want to listen to anyone. Feeling betrayed by all the adults around him, he takes risks with his new grandparents and lets hopelessness creep in. Latimore has a wonderful voice.
Hudson as Naima is a woman filled with hopelessness in her own right. Separated from her parents by a barrier of unforgiveness, that is a weight only to be matched by the barrier of misunderstanding. Hudson belts out song just as strong now as her days on American Idol.
Gibson as Loot is a man who has a past that has followed him into the present, Curtis-Hall doesn’t let anything get past him and Blige gives a performance filled with soul.
Bassett as Aretha is a woman trying to protect everyone from the past yet with the arrival of a grandson she’s never known finds it hard to keep the secrets. Whitaker as the Reverend is a strict man, and with that strictness comes an unbending of history – at least that’s how it appears on the outside of his soul.
Other cast includes: Luke James as Jo-Jo, Grace Gibson as Maria, Rotimi as Officer McDaniels, Mally McCree as Kyle, Henry Hall as Snoopy, and Michael Dale as the Innkeeper.
TUBS OF POPCORN: I give BLACK NATIVITY three tubs of popcorn out of five. The film is definitely spiritual in feel and music. This is a must-add to the holiday Blu-rays that should already be in everyone’s film library.
The cast is one filled with some of the most outstanding names in acting and music. The film brings many lessons home with the faith and spirituality most seek for the season yet the theme of the film is year long.
The Blu-ray includes deleted scenes which is a blu-ray exclusive, featurettes and a DVD. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has an award-winning global portfolio that brings new entertainment content in DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD.
In the end – it is an inspirational journey of family discovery.
