18 reviews
A nice surprise, which I didn't have terribly high hopes for after seeing the ratings but it was actually a nice little film.
It's a drama about a black teenager from a really religious upringing who's struggling with his sexuality, biggest reason for his struggle being his force-fed belief that homosexuality is a sin.
But there is tons of humor in the movie as well, it's definitely not all darkness even though there are plenty of sadder moments as well it combines the serious drama and comedy very well.
The cast all do a very good job and may I say that the lead; Julian Walker is a brilliant singer as well? Well he is.
The only issue I have really is that there was a moment in the end where they throw a bit of a twist on you that I didn't really quite understand fully but on the rewatch I'll pay closer attention and perhaps it will fully make sense.
Still nothing that takes away from the overall feel of the movie.
It's a drama about a black teenager from a really religious upringing who's struggling with his sexuality, biggest reason for his struggle being his force-fed belief that homosexuality is a sin.
But there is tons of humor in the movie as well, it's definitely not all darkness even though there are plenty of sadder moments as well it combines the serious drama and comedy very well.
The cast all do a very good job and may I say that the lead; Julian Walker is a brilliant singer as well? Well he is.
The only issue I have really is that there was a moment in the end where they throw a bit of a twist on you that I didn't really quite understand fully but on the rewatch I'll pay closer attention and perhaps it will fully make sense.
Still nothing that takes away from the overall feel of the movie.
- Seth_Rogue_One
- Sep 7, 2015
- Permalink
Blackbird (2014) is an independent film about a young African American male who is struggling to reconcile his sexual orientation with his devout Christian faith. There are both positives and negatives about this film. I'll start with the positives. The acting was mostly good, especially from Mo'Nique, who I fell in love with as a dramatic actress with Precious, which was her Oscar win. She is just a really great actress and she nails every scene she is in. She is a hard character to like a lot of the time, but Mo'Nique really does do a fantastic job of portraying her. The main character is played by an actor that I personally think needs some more experience in acting, he wasn't bad but I just think he could've been better. The story is interesting and the teenage characters are pretty likable for the most part, that is what kept me watching. It isn't the best, there were some parts where I felt the feeling was lacking, but then in other scenes, I could really connect with the film. It's a mixed bag really, 7/10.
- davispittman
- Mar 8, 2018
- Permalink
- vincentlynch-moonoi
- May 27, 2018
- Permalink
- kcrisenphoenix
- Jun 17, 2016
- Permalink
- marosteeha
- Aug 17, 2015
- Permalink
This has got to be one of the most boring films of all time. It's bad enough to beat a dead horse in a movie. But this just beats on three dead horses. Don't waste your time with it. There's really only so many times you can do a movie about a particular subject before it's already been done to death. This movie take three different subjects that we have known about and continues to just over do it. On all accounts. IF you can make it to the end you'll be asking yourself "Really? Another movie about that?" Save your time. Save your insanity. Just go to the local mall and sit there for about an hour. It's cheaper and more entertaining.
- DukeOfMarshall
- Aug 5, 2015
- Permalink
- Marc_Action
- Aug 15, 2015
- Permalink
This movie definitely tells the struggles of young black boys trying to cope with who they are. The music in the movie is also very fantastic which is one of the main reason why i watched it. My only problem... was the token white boy really necessary? I mean come on... they definitely could have found plenty of handsome black boys to play his roll.
- demarko1405
- Sep 17, 2019
- Permalink
There are a few scenes that are definitely a tear jerker! Not only was the acting very good, but the humor in it leveled the sad parts. I will not tell you details about the movie because I highly recommend you to watch it. If you like chocolate shawty's then Torrey is definitely a chocolate drop and his body is on point. This film tells a great message that folks today are definitely dealing with.
Mo'Nique is such an underrated actress. She's really good when given the opportunity to showcase it. This film, much like Precious, really shows her serious side, although we do love her funny side, there's always more than one side to a person.
Mo'Nique is such an underrated actress. She's really good when given the opportunity to showcase it. This film, much like Precious, really shows her serious side, although we do love her funny side, there's always more than one side to a person.
Oh dear...what a mess this is. A case of a good enough cast let down by a truly inept script. This film is all over the place. Appalling character development (or lack of it), coupled with an overdose of melodrama and dialogue that is truly cringe-worthy, lead to an embarrassment of a film. With so few films speaking with a black voice, let alone a Gay one, expectations were high for ' Blackbird' but this hysterical nonsense just leaves the viewer wondering WTF???! This film has the feel of a film-school graduate's first effort, which is not a criticism if they come up with the goods, as many do,...but not in this case. There's way too many concepts fighting each other for space here- religious fundamentalism, homophobia, mental health issues, abortion, family dysfunction, missing child syndrome, coming out and more. There's promise enough to hope for a better effort next time. Until then, this one is a bird that will never fly...regardless of its colour.
- michaelmouse1
- Jun 16, 2017
- Permalink
It is low budget movie....so what! The actors portraying the teens were great. I would have liked them to be fleshed out more...but so what! The story line of youth coming into their own is probably playing out in millions of homes across the world. The writing was start/sad/witty/funny. I would have liked to see more about the young couple and their struggles. The sex scenes were not just obligatory, they were well produced/directed. Did I say it was low budget....SO WHAT! I can't find the soundtrack to this movie...the first song should be on my Ipod...Period... If there is a soundtrack please release it somewhere....Period
- complaintsrus
- Feb 24, 2016
- Permalink
A wonderful film that will motivate and help young individuals who are coming of age ! The film explores the fear that many young teens face that many other writers or filmmakers are afraid to expose. We have seen films where gays are loved and praised, which is always fun to watch, but it is also important that we get to see the other side.
Blackbird is the movie you go buy and give to that one kid who is afraid to come out and be himself. I think it's something that families can watch together. Although it may be controversial to some,I believe the younger generation facing this struggle will watch this film and say, "Thanks, I needed that."
Blackbird is the movie you go buy and give to that one kid who is afraid to come out and be himself. I think it's something that families can watch together. Although it may be controversial to some,I believe the younger generation facing this struggle will watch this film and say, "Thanks, I needed that."
- JerryWalkerMedia
- Aug 12, 2014
- Permalink
How in all of hell did this get only a 5!? I absolutely loved this film! loved the characters, the REAL sense of feeling, everything.
Just like others the rating put me off a bit but i still decided to watch, and I will never regret doing so. It was heart warming, heart breaking, kept you in place as you watched everything unravel in a fantastic string of events that led to an ending that confuses your heart and emotions in the best way possible. I have no doubt that if anyone were to ask me to recommend a movie to get there heart working and there emotions running high this would be my first pick. I know many wouldn't look twice at it because of the gay theme to it but that shouldn't deter you from watching something so well produced.
Just like others the rating put me off a bit but i still decided to watch, and I will never regret doing so. It was heart warming, heart breaking, kept you in place as you watched everything unravel in a fantastic string of events that led to an ending that confuses your heart and emotions in the best way possible. I have no doubt that if anyone were to ask me to recommend a movie to get there heart working and there emotions running high this would be my first pick. I know many wouldn't look twice at it because of the gay theme to it but that shouldn't deter you from watching something so well produced.
- ladybugs411
- Oct 5, 2015
- Permalink
The struggle the main character has with his sexuality is so real. I felt it, his pain, his confusion, his agony. Sure, some of the acting could've been better in parts but overall I think this ensemble pulled it off. Far better than it's rating. Give this Indy film a chance.
- tshawntaylor
- Nov 16, 2018
- Permalink
Bri-li-ant!
I am so happy to see this movie! I am not very surprised to see it got only 5.5 as I learned not to take seriously IMDb's ratings. Indeed, a lot of people who rate on IMDb seem to love action movies with a lot of special effects. I almost never watch these kind of movies. Also people are so conditioned to watch a certain kind of screening, they're not used to diversity. The kind of grain, the kind of music, the kind of angle, all these things are quite the same in box-office movies. But here you have something different, something real.
I love in this movie how there are so many moments without music, where you can be with the people as they think as they feel. I love that there was no brighty shiny filter on this movie, so when you see people in their home, it feels like you see your own home, when you see an hospital entrance, it feels like you're seeing an hospital entrance from where you really live.
I love that Isaiah is back to say once again that he was not against T R Knight and to show that in this business it's really better to be White than Black, because when you are White you can get away with saying worse things than what a Black person might say. I love that Mo'nique is such a phenomenal actress who made me feel really that she lost someone and couldn't get on with life without that someone and I love that she respects herself so much that she did this indie movie rather than sell her soul to the business.
I love that this movie talked about the great John Cassavetes. That man did some of the movies I love the most. Maybe those I respect the most as real deep intelligent films. I sobbed so much during that film and at the end of it I was a mess!
I did not love the beginning titles. I did not love the sun shadows as mom and son were singing together. But that is what is genius with a true movie.
It's not perfect. It does not have to be perfect. Because the looks are less important than the message. And the message here is BIG.
I really encourage you to see this movie, get past average commercial movies. This movie dares. This movie touches. This movie knows what Love IS.
I am so happy to see this movie! I am not very surprised to see it got only 5.5 as I learned not to take seriously IMDb's ratings. Indeed, a lot of people who rate on IMDb seem to love action movies with a lot of special effects. I almost never watch these kind of movies. Also people are so conditioned to watch a certain kind of screening, they're not used to diversity. The kind of grain, the kind of music, the kind of angle, all these things are quite the same in box-office movies. But here you have something different, something real.
I love in this movie how there are so many moments without music, where you can be with the people as they think as they feel. I love that there was no brighty shiny filter on this movie, so when you see people in their home, it feels like you see your own home, when you see an hospital entrance, it feels like you're seeing an hospital entrance from where you really live.
I love that Isaiah is back to say once again that he was not against T R Knight and to show that in this business it's really better to be White than Black, because when you are White you can get away with saying worse things than what a Black person might say. I love that Mo'nique is such a phenomenal actress who made me feel really that she lost someone and couldn't get on with life without that someone and I love that she respects herself so much that she did this indie movie rather than sell her soul to the business.
I love that this movie talked about the great John Cassavetes. That man did some of the movies I love the most. Maybe those I respect the most as real deep intelligent films. I sobbed so much during that film and at the end of it I was a mess!
I did not love the beginning titles. I did not love the sun shadows as mom and son were singing together. But that is what is genius with a true movie.
It's not perfect. It does not have to be perfect. Because the looks are less important than the message. And the message here is BIG.
I really encourage you to see this movie, get past average commercial movies. This movie dares. This movie touches. This movie knows what Love IS.
- cestleilacherradi
- Nov 27, 2016
- Permalink
Hated the first scene-thought it would be a sappy terrible movie. Stick with it because it is actually very good. Especially the ending. I don't know why some others said the acting was poor because I thought they all did great. Not great just for a low-budget movie but great for any movie. If I had one complaint it would be that the teenagers I know are not always wearing perfectly clean clothes nor are they as perfect as these kids--I can overlook those quibbles for an otherwise great movie.