Very well executed

i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

I was a young man when this all happened, I remember many of the news clips that Mr. Roger Guenveur Smith and Mr. Lee have skillfully woven into this POWERFUL biography of a man that was demonized by the "system" both economic and political. The real tragedy is all of Mr. Newton's issues are even more relevant today. Now the cry is not just from African Americans, it is now a call from all people from all over the world, the 99% that are not part of the 1%.What seemed like a very reasonable requests in 1968 today seems like distant dreams to many. What were they? He wanted Full employment, decent housing, Justice instead of criminal justice, Good Education, Stop killing our people. Newton talks about the "slave mentality" which today has become the employment philosophy demanded by Wall Street. No Union, no contract, work in fear, things have gotten much worse since 1968, Mr. Smith has done a masterful job of capturing and perpetuating Huey Newton's work, which has now become the work all of the 99% , OWS, . One can only ask how the world would be today if white America would have listened and supported what he was trying to do. This is a sharp criticism of today's society in the form of a historical documentary. It will offend some and anger others. But for the few who can endure the pain and guilt. There are some real nuggets of truth being conveyed. Try to listen, and learn. A true work of love and conviction, Mr. Smith poured is own soul into the work and Mr. Lees genius captured it and made it work. Well done gentlemen.

Not only is this a great glimpse into the life of an extraordinary complex black revolutionary, but this is was masterfully written and played. Roger Smith gives a performance of a lifetime. I amazes me how is Roger Smith is able to portray Newton as a charismatic yet derelict leader, author, and theorist. It is a shame that Smith isn't being more recognized for his hard work and talent. For one man to possess this much talent and not be a mainstay in the entertainment industry is beyond me. Kudos to Spike Lee for bring this play to the small screen. Spike brings many visual elements to a stage play with one man sitting primary in one stop the entire time. It can be easy to become board when watching a performance with a stationary figure, but Lee is able to capture the viewers attention with vivid images and camera angles.

====================================================== This one man show is excellent and had me enraptured the whole time. I love Spike Lee's use of newsreel footage. Roger's acting was wonderful. I am sure it's not easy to pull off the accent. I am amazed how someone can keep a story like that straight. I would forget what I was doing! --------------------------------------------------------------------- I think what comes across in the end is sadness. And it's a sadness we all have no matter where we come from. That everything in life boils down to the inevitable. We all die. We are not greater than each other. Whether our struggle is within, or from forces outside, we cannot fight being human. So let's stop fighting each other. ======================================================

I've seen Smith in a bunch of movies usually in a small yet important role and on HBO's K Street. This rendering of his live play by Lee finally showcases his tremendous range. Smith is one of those enigmatic actors you see but can't quite place -- here he stands out magically: an enigma playing an enigma. Intense! I liked the music, it was subtle, supportive and gave great context. Seeing the berets of the audience members reminds us the icon Newton has been. It seemed to be, to a certain extent, a memorial. The use of the archival footage was effective as was Smith's choreography. As a writer, Smith incorporated many threads of Newton's life skillfully. One thing I didn't get from the film was a cardboard cutout of Newton in one way or the other. He was neither the oversimplified "angry black man" nor the "crazed junkie." Smith's rendering of the character had so much texture: he was vulnerable, strong, defiant, needy, angry, compulsive, confident, worldly and naive. Beautifully written, expertly done. Why Smith isn't playing more leads is a real mystery. I hope he does more work like this.