Purely Joyful Movie!

Let's be realistic.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Very entertaining. Alot of story lines, but if you can keep up, it's a great movie. Andre Benjamin delivers a dramatic music & acting performance. His music scenes were my favorite.

Like most of the movies that I see, I have only seen Idlewild on cable, and I do not think I have been able to view the entire film in one setting. After several sittings, I finally realized that the production was really not about trying to entertain me. The cast was simply offering their talents which are entertaining. Especially in the final credit scene of Andre Benjamin. Mr Benjamin proceeds to engage in a song and dance routine. I kept saying to myself - he is not a dancer, why is he dancing? The dance routine continues for a much longer period than normally recommended for a non-dancer. Then it dawned on me. Mr Benjamin was not dancing for me. He was dancing out of the joy of dancing, and I became appreciative for his letting me share in his joy. I liked this movie.

I wasn't sure how this movie was going to be. I hadn't heard much about it but I am a fan of Outkast so I was pretty sure I was going to like it. This movie was okay. It wasn't really anything too special. I didn't care for all of the musical numbers. I also thought it was weird that they used rap music in a movie set in the 1930's. I thought that the beginning of the movie was a little slow, and to me it was also kind of hard to hear the actors in the beginning, it kind of sounded like they were mumbling or else the background noise was just too loud. Who knows?? Maybe it was just my ears. I think this movie would have been better if it had focused wholly on Percival and Angel's romance. I thought Andre did a great job as Percival in this movie, he's a pretty good actor and he's really cute too. Paula Patton did a good job as Angel too. The both of them were pretty much the only entertaining parts of the movie. For me personally, I didn't really care for Roosters character much and also Terrance Howard's character was kind of strange. However, the costumes and the effects of this movie are great!! I love the way they did some of the shots of this movie like for example the part with the cuckoo clock, and I also think the sex scene between Angel and Percival was shot wonderfully. It was shot beautifully and tastefully. I'm glad I gave this movie a chance. It was good. I don't think I'll buy it but I'm glad I gave it a chance by renting it.

Two long-life best friends Percival (Andre Benjamin) and Rooster (Antwan A. Patton) works in a sizzling night club called "The Church". Pervical works in his father's (Ben Vereen) morgue by day and by night, he is the piano player at the club and Rooster is the club's flashy lead performer. But things are slowly changing, when Rooster's close friend gangster Spat (Ving Rhames) and Rooster's sleazy club owner Ace (Faizon Love) is killed by a vicious, double crossing gangster named Trumpy (Terrence Howard). Rooster is forced to take the club and he owns money to Trumpy. But Percival starts slowly falling in love with an very attractive, beautiful sing named Angel Davenport (Paula Patton). While Percival shares his songs with Angel, the club starts getting more attention. While Trumpy gets increasingly greedy and violent. Rooster has to find a way to bring back his life and his family together.Written and Directed by Bryan Barber (Who directed music videos for a living) made an ambitious, unique and fascinating drama set in the Depression-era. Surprisingly, "Idlewild" is not a musical. Despite some musical numbers, written and produced by OutKast. Benjamin is well cast in the lead as the lonely and shy piano player. Patton does an good job as Percival's friend. Paula Patton is lovely to watch, although her singing voice is dubbed. But it is Howard as the criminal-minded gangster, who steals the show.DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an strong Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD includes an deleted scene, an deleted song sequence and two music videos. Surprisingly, there is no behind the scenes featurette or an running commentary track by the filmmakers. "Idlewild" is an intentionally anachronistic movie. The feature has an strong visual presence, breathtaking dance sequences and an morality story. "Idlewild" is a very underrated movie with strong cinematography by Pascal Rabaud ("The End of Violence", "Paris, I Love You") and fine performances. If you haven't seen this film yet, it might surprise you over. Super 35. (****/*****).