This entry of the 2008 TV movie version of Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun" that just aired on ABC four days ago, is my final entry on African-Americans in film and television in chronological order for Black History Month. Nearly the entire cast of the recent Broadway revival of this still-resonant drama-Phylicia Rashad, Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, Sanaa Lathan, and Bill Nunn-reprise their roles here. They're all great as well as Sean Patric Thomas, David Oyelowo, Paul Stephen, and, as Carl Linder-the man who tries to buy the Youngers out of their new house, John Stamos. Rashad and McDonald, both of whom won Tonys for their performances, should repeat at the Emmys this fall. Combs, usually known as Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Diddy, holds his own with the experienced veterans here. Scenes such as Rashad slapping daughter Lathan after the latter denounces God or Combs doing his "shufflin' Negro" act near the end to everyone's disgust still packs a wallop. And writer Paris Qualles, whose work I just watched on The Rosa Parks Story, and director Kenny Leon open up the play's locations and expand on the dialogue considerably well. What else can I say except it's been a wonderful journey watching how much African-American performers and filmmakers have evolved over the nearly 90 years with nearly 100 listings here at IMDb during this special month. With the writer's strike still in effect at the beginning of it, I thought this was as good a time as any to celebrate some of the most acclaimed and popular celebrities America and the world has ever known. With that, I'll just say thanks for anyone who's read this and my other BHM comments and gave me favorable and even not-so-favorable marks as a result. Oh, and feel free to read and mark my other non-BHM comments as well!
Plot summary
After moving to Chicago's South Side in the 1950s, a black family struggles to deal with poverty, racism, and inner conflict as they strive for a better life. Adapted for the screen from Lorraine Hansberry's play, this is a moving portrait of dreams deferred.
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A Raisin in the Sun marks my farewell comment for Black History Month
This Raisin Is Delicious and Beams in the Sun ****
Outstanding version of the Lorraine Hansberry classic.
Sean Combs is just terrific as Walter, a young frustrated black, who has an opportunity to make it in a prejudiced world but is victimized by his own people. Bitter, he is ready to take the white man for a ride when the latter is willing to pay him off so that he and his family don't move into an all white neighborhood.
Combs interpretation of the role is marvelously depicted and interesting to note. Unlike Sidney Poitier, he brings a common touch to the part. He is an embittered militant who is willing to strike out at anything to attain the American dream.
Congratulations to Phylicia Rashad and Audra MacDonald for their brilliant performances.
This production works because it brings out that prejudice and taking advantage can occur within your own group.
In addition, we see the hard work ethic shown to be a realistic solution to societal problems.
John Stamos brings the right image as the representative of the community trying to get the family not to move in. His supposed outreach is immediately tempered by utter bigotry and he moves well with this excellent ensemble cast.
The Cutting Edge Of The Civil Rights Movement
Although this version of A Raisin In The Sun doesn't come up to the first film version which contained many of the original Broadway cast, the 2008 reenactment can certainly stand on its own. Wisely the producers left the time as it was in the late Fifties on the cutting edge of the Civil Rights movement.
I doubt you could do a modern version of A Raisin In The Sun with the election of Barack Obama. But that fact lends a certain poignancy to this production. One only wishes that Lorraine Hansberry had lived to see Election Day of 2008. Her work now inherits the mantle of history.
Some things haven't changed though. The Younger family if they were around today would still be experiencing some of the same economic issues. And making the big family decision about what to do with the $10,000.00 in insurance money that the recently departed Walter Lee Younger Sr. provided for his family.
The conflict centers around Sean Combs as Walter Lee Younger, Jr. and his mother Phylicia Rashad. Combs sees an opportunity in a liquor store with two partners and Rashad wants a move to the suburbs and out of the Southside of Chicago.
The family does come together however when a neighborhood association as represented by John Stamos offers to buy them out of moving to his lily white neighborhood. In the original play and film version the part John Stamos plays was done by John Fiedler. Talk about radical casting change.
This is not as good as the first film version, but it does hold its own and well.