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lbcaterson's review against another edition
5.0
The fact that Baldwin's works aren't regularly taught in American schools is a travesty, a disservice to the nation, and an evidence of the desire of some to stifle uncomfortable truths, just as was a problem in his time. His words are timeless, and painfully poignant even today.
teaviant13's review against another edition
3.0
Good. I mean James Baldwin is always, for me, an exceptional writer. This essay looks at now classic films and analyses them. I am working my way through all of his writings so I am not sure if would be much interest unless you are either very interest in classic films or doing the same.
angelicatheherb's review against another edition
4.0
James Baldwin's writing is truly mesmerizing!! Anything he writes truly makes you feel like your mind is expanding. I give it a 4.47 stars✨
jkbartlett's review
4.0
"To live in connection with a life beyond this life means, in effect--a truth--that, frightened as one may be, and no matter how limited, or how lonely, and no matter how the deal, at last, goes down, no man can ever frighten you."
Baldwin, admittedly in this work to be not immune to fear, still once again takes the bulls of American history (and that portrayal of history in the stumbling of American cinema) by the horns.
I am unfamiliar, really, with the syllabi of film courses in colleges and universities. I suspect that they well address acting, direction, cinematography and so forth with great detail inclusive of a great deal of criticism. But how profound is this work, I believe, that should be required reading for those who casually or ferociously have a love of the silver screen. In essence, does the medium of film as storyteller reflect or fantasize the American experience, specifically, in most cases Baldwin's experience and the experience of African-Americans.
There is the obvious to be critiqued- The Birth of a Nation's clear propaganda and falsehoods. Then there is much time spent on the well-intentioned Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, and The Defiant Ones. And the destructive as well, those films tied to dehumanization or mere false accusation in front of HUAC. Dozens of films that were out of my knowledge were also addressed and now deserve a few hours in front of the screen as well, the most important, I think, being the Billie Holliday biopic, Lady Sings the Blues.
The only reason I give four stars instead of five is that in works like The Fire Next Time and No Name in the Street, Baldwin has set so high a bar on flipping society to the underbelly that this work, perhaps only because film doesn't seemingly have the gravitas of religion or politics, isn't quite as stinging.
But this is unique and eye-opening and, like all works of James Baldwin, highly recommended.
Baldwin, admittedly in this work to be not immune to fear, still once again takes the bulls of American history (and that portrayal of history in the stumbling of American cinema) by the horns.
I am unfamiliar, really, with the syllabi of film courses in colleges and universities. I suspect that they well address acting, direction, cinematography and so forth with great detail inclusive of a great deal of criticism. But how profound is this work, I believe, that should be required reading for those who casually or ferociously have a love of the silver screen. In essence, does the medium of film as storyteller reflect or fantasize the American experience, specifically, in most cases Baldwin's experience and the experience of African-Americans.
There is the obvious to be critiqued- The Birth of a Nation's clear propaganda and falsehoods. Then there is much time spent on the well-intentioned Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, and The Defiant Ones. And the destructive as well, those films tied to dehumanization or mere false accusation in front of HUAC. Dozens of films that were out of my knowledge were also addressed and now deserve a few hours in front of the screen as well, the most important, I think, being the Billie Holliday biopic, Lady Sings the Blues.
The only reason I give four stars instead of five is that in works like The Fire Next Time and No Name in the Street, Baldwin has set so high a bar on flipping society to the underbelly that this work, perhaps only because film doesn't seemingly have the gravitas of religion or politics, isn't quite as stinging.
But this is unique and eye-opening and, like all works of James Baldwin, highly recommended.
anaphernalia's review
felt much more disconnected from the content being discussed than i anticipated..
gjmaupin's review
4.0
Stellar. Baldwin’s words are always bright like stars, even when I feel like he & I saw different movies - which he addresses anyway. And some of our differences are generational, which changes things a bit. Regardless. Stellar.