Rick Famuyiwa breathes a refreshing burst of air into the romantic comedy genre with BROWN SUGAR, a film that is as much a tribute to hip-hop as it is a celebration of friendship and love. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan), best friends since elementary school, have been in love with rap music since they can remember. .. Read more
| Starring | Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe |
|---|---|
| Director | Rick Famuyiwa |
| Genres | Comedy, Romance |
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Rick Famuyiwa breathes a refreshing burst of air into the romantic comedy genre with BROWN SUGAR, a film that is as much a tribute to hip-hop as it is a celebration of friendship and love. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan), best friends since elementary school, have been in love with rap music since they can remember. It has even carried through into their adult lives. Dre is making a successful living as a record executive, while Sidney has just taken over as editor-in-chief at one of the hip-hop community's most popular magazines. Somehow, romance has never been an issue between the two, until they both find new loves of their own--for Dre, it's the beautiful Reese (Nicole Ari Parker), for Sidney, it's basketball star Kelby (Boris Kodjoe). Disillusioned with the lackluster music that his label continually puts out, Dre decides to branch out on his own. Sidney gives him a loan to support his bold new venture, but it is this unflinching support that eventually begins to grate on Reese and Kelby, forcing Dre and Sidney to confront their true feelings. Famuyiwa's crowd-pleasing film is boosted by Mos Def and Queen Latifah's hysterical supporting performances.
| Starring | Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Mos Def |
|---|---|
| Director | Rick Famuyiwa |
| Studio | 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 49 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy, Romance |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 12 Apr 2004 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
Director and co-writer Rick Famuyiwa's follow up to The Wood treads a similar path to that pleasant drama — the onset of commitment prompting romantic reassessment — but adds a little more to the mix with a movie that doubles as a love letter to hip hop. Lifelong friends Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) and Dre (Taye Diggs) are both involved in the music industry — and their professions seem more than window dressing thanks to credibility-conferring appearances from the likes of De La Soul — and both are concerned with keeping the music real while remaining oblivious to the true nature of their feelings for one another. The plot isn't earth-shatteringly original, but the assured performances and witty script mean that you really warm to these characters and their dilemma, while the importance of music in their lives adds an enjoyable dimension to the tale (and the soundtrack).
"...A romantic comedy, yes, but one with characters who think and talk about their goals, and are working hard on decisions....It's observant..."
Like many black american comedy romances, this is an earth ultimately heart warming tale yet with an original twist of looking at the history of hip hop and rap in the light of the two main characters friendship.
Although at times this analysis might require some knowledge if not love of hip-hop, it doesn't detract from the charm nor humour of the likes of Taye Diggs and Queen Latifah, and was a pleasant if not unexpected lesson in one of the most interesting music genres since Jazz.
Quite a good film - bit gooey and lovey dovey - but in a good way. Defiantely watchable.
Maybe it's the hot weather or just something in the air, but Hollywood stars just can't seem to keep their clothes on at the moment. Just a few weeks ago Britney Spears (Crossroads, Longshot, In The Pink) bared all for the front cover of Harpers magazine and pop starlet Ashlee Simpson (Undiscovered, The Hot Chick) is to strip down to her smalls when she becomes the next Victoria's Secret model. And now Denise Richards (Wild Things, Starship Troopers, The World Is Not Enough) is joining in on... Read more