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Disappearing Acts
2000
Gina Prince-Bythewood's DISAPPEARING ACTS, based on the novel by Terry McMillan, is a mature look at relationships in the late 1990s. Franklin gets day work in construction, with hopes of someday owning his own business. Zora teaches music and voice but dreams of becoming a successful singer-songwriter. When these two lonely, .. Read more
| Starring | Sanaa Lathan, Wesley Snipes |
|---|---|
| Director | Gina Prince |
| Genres | Drama |
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Disappearing Acts
Gina Prince-Bythewood's DISAPPEARING ACTS, based on the novel by Terry McMillan, is a mature look at relationships in the late 1990s. Franklin gets day work in construction, with hopes of someday owning his own business. Zora teaches music and voice but dreams of becoming a successful singer-songwriter. When these two lonely, intelligent people meet, fireworks are not far off. But once the two become involved, secrets are uncovered, and their relationship begins to unravel. Zora suffers from epilepsy and soon becomes pregnant, and Franklin just happens to be married with two kids, and he never graduated high school.
Sanaa Lathan (who starred with Omar Epps in Prince-Bythewood's LOVE AND BASKETBALL) and Wesley Snipes (in one of his few romantic leads since Spike Lee's JUNGLE FEVER) are excellent in their roles as lovers struggling to just get by in their Brooklyn neighborhood. Michael Imperioli (THE SOPRANOS), Clark Johnson (HOMICIDE), and John Amos (ROOTS) are good in minor parts. The fine soundtrack enhances the atmosphere as these two lost souls battle to bring warmth and love into their sparse worlds.
| Starring | Sanaa Lathan, Wesley Snipes |
|---|---|
| Director | Gina Prince |
| Studio | CINEMA CLUB |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 55 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: None |
| Released | DVD: 20 Mar 2004 Production year: 2000 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews
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This perceptive, emotionally complex drama is probably the most satisfying of all the Terry McMillan's (Waiting to Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back) screen adaptations. Another classy HBO production, this follows the glorious ups and moving downs in the relationship between builder and handyman Wesley Snipes and aspiring singer Sanaa Lathan. The two leads are superb: Snipes is powerfully understated as the proud craftsman susceptible to old demons, while Lathan is even better as a woman trying to balance a career and a relationship. Neither they nor director Gina Prince-Bythewood flinch from the raw truths of love and relationships in the modern age. There's also a strong supporting cast which includes Q-Tip from rap group A Tribe Called Quest, Regina Hall and The Sopranos Michael Imperioli.
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Most helpful member's review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Nice Try
With such good names as Wesley and Sanaa, for whom I confess a crush, I expected this film to be fast-paced and inventive. It turned out to be not a bad film, but nothing special about it really. A sort of Sunday afternoon film, to watch in between snuggling with your partner. Plot had been seen before - I think on a Cagney & Lacey episode! - you know the stuff; lady with a career meets & falls in love with a man with no prospects, lots of tension, baby arrives, more tension...and the acting's a bit disappointing. Maybe it's just Wesley Snipes is better at all action roles? I wonder what Marlon Brando would have made of this role? It could have been another 'On the Waterfront' or 'Streetcar' but instead it's just watchable. If you like seeing Sanaa naked...then you'll also be disappointed, though she puts in her usual competent performance. Good film, but eminently forgettable. I'd give it 2 and a half stars as it does a tried and tested plot very well, but I can't so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and give it 3 stars. You won't miss much by missing this one. Pity but there you are - you can't win 'em all !
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Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Nice Try
With such good names as Wesley and Sanaa, for whom I confess a crush, I expected this film to be fast-paced and inventive. It turned out to be not a bad film, but nothing special about it really. A sort of Sunday afternoon film, to watch in between snuggling with your partner. Plot had been seen before - I think on a Cagney & Lacey episode! - you know the stuff; lady with a career meets & falls in love with a man with no prospects, lots of tension, baby arrives, more tension...and the acting's a bit disappointing. Maybe it's just Wesley Snipes is better at all action roles? I wonder what Marlon Brando would have made of this role? It could have been another 'On the Waterfront' or 'Streetcar' but instead it's just watchable. If you like seeing Sanaa naked...then you'll also be disappointed, though she puts in her usual competent performance. Good film, but eminently forgettable. I'd give it 2 and a half stars as it does a tried and tested plot very well, but I can't so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and give it 3 stars. You won't miss much by missing this one. Pity but there you are - you can't win 'em all !
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Disappearing Acts
Gina Prince-Bythewood's DISAPPEARING ACTS, based on the novel by Terry McMillan, is a mature look at relationships in the late 1990s. Franklin gets day work in construction, with hopes of someday owning his own business. Zora teaches music and voice but dreams of becoming a successful singer-...
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