brilliantbrown

I ended up seeing Idlewild twice this weekend, once with a friend of mine and again with A.J. It was just as enjoyable the second time through. I’ve been doing a lot of multiple viewing this summer, but I digress…There are a few minor spoilers below. Nothing serious, but the whiners have been warned.

plot & story

Set in the 1930s, the theme of the film isn’t anything new. We’re presented with two childhood friends who grow into an extremely introverted mortician/musician (Percy) and an extroverted entertainer (Rooster) One of them inherits a nightclub, called Church, and a large debt to greedy gangster. Chaos ensues. Rooster struggles to keep the club afloat while balancing his family life and player lifestyle. Meanwhile, Percy who’s being trained by his father to take over the family business, a mortuary, finds confidence in his music and love in a young songstress who comes to Idlewild to perform.

If you’re thinking that archetypes these characters represent are sounding familiar, you’re right. Essentially, André and Antwan are playing themselves. The setting is different, but the characters are clearly not too much of a stretch for these artists. Who are as clearly defined as they were on the double album, Speakerboxx/The Love Below.

The events that take place are ultimately extremely predictable once the stage has been set. When Rooster receives a bible and is told to carry it with him always, you just know that at some point it’s gonna stop a bullet. It’s so cliché, that it’s almost silly.

But different films serve different purposes and sometimes it’s better to retell a good story in an entertaining way, than to try to catch the audience off guard with randomness. Much like Outkast’s music, Idlewild relies on clever storytelling and entertaining presentation of what old folks call common sense. We all know that Percy will outgrow his father’s influence by the end of the film. We know that Rooster will find a way to do right by his family. These aren’t spoilers, because we’ve all heard this story before. But, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it presented in this way, this well!

magical & surreal

Though it’s set in the 1930s, this is not a historically accurate piece. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. In fact, it’s pretty dreamlike and, in many places, surreal. The sets are overblown. The costumes seem like modern interpretations of classic styles. Rooster starts rapping at a few points in the film, complete with anachronous lyrics and references to modern day things and ideas. The dancers in Church perform a blend of high-flying swing, breaking and music video choreography.

It doesn’t end there. There are talking flasks, animated sheet music, singing cookoo clocks, revolvers that never need reloading, even a splash of bullet-time. It’s not as over the top as, say, Big Fish, but it is out there. I feel like these things are there to illustrate that though Percy and Rooster have grown in stature, they’re still the kids we meet at the films opening. Later in the film, we see them mature as a result of events that take place.

Oh and don’t forget that this is a musical, so people are prone to bursting into song at any moment. This movie sets out first and foremost to be entertaining. And I have to say, this was one of the most fun times I’ve had watching a movie in a while.

This is a world populated with interesting characters as well, such as Macy Gray’s Taffy (who steals the show a few times with her funny delivery of her lines). Terrance Howard as the evil Trumpy comes off as menacing as he does in some of his other films. This wasn’t much of a stretch for him either, but he is convincing and does a good job of making you dislike him.

the Idlewild album

Last week, I reviewed the album of the same name and came to the conclusion that it was a half-soundtrack/half-studio album. After having seen the film, I’m can see that the spirit of the film is infused in the album and vice-versa. Some of the songs on the album that relate to the film, don’t appear onscreen. Likewise, some of the songs that I thought didn’t apply ended up fitting into the plot. Surprisingly, some songs from Speakerboxx/The Love Below end up playing out in the film.

Listening to the album made me want to watch the film and watching the film made me want to listen to the album more. Some cuts that I kinda liked before seeing the film (e.g. Chronometrophobia) ended up making more sense and becoming more like-able with context in which to place them. The album and the film can both stand on their own, but in my opinion do strengthen each other.

will you like it?

The one person who I thought would definitely be excited about Idlewild, just told me that she hated it. I also read a few negative reviews before I saw this film. Doesn’t change my opinion one bit. There’s no such thing as a perfect film that will please everyone. But as movies starring rappers go, this is probably the best. As far as musicals are concerned, this is better than De-Lovely and Rent. (yeah, I said it!) I’ve been singing the songs for since I left the theatre.

I liked it enough to see it twice! Then again, I love Outkast. I kinda like musicals. I love ragtime, swing and the clothing of that period. I walked out of the theatre with a smile on my face. Additionally, my companions to both showings as well as my fellow moviegoers enjoyed it. I saw an older couple from my church in the audience and they later said that they liked it. It seemed the general consensus, from a pretty broad audience, is that it’s a good damn movie.

Like most of Outkast’s work, Idlewild will polarize audiences. Some hip-hop purists will see this as another step for André and Big Boi in a direction that takes them further and further away from their hip-hop roots. But others will understand that stagnation equals death and that this evolution of Outkast is necessary for their growth as artists. People will either love it or hate it, but few people will be lukewarm. In my opinion, that’s the definition of powerful art.

8 of 10 stars