Idlewild
directed by Bryan Barber
directed by Bryan Barber
I think the big problem was that it greatly underestimated its probable audience's intelligence and patience and used far too many anachronistic music performances, language, and attitude.
It's as if the director, producer, and writers started out to do their best to make a African-American magical realism/musical in the vein of Chicago or Moulin Rouge before losing their nerve and deciding to include too much foul language or needlessly explicit violence aimed at the rap audience.
Still, upon rewatching this movie, I realized the film has a lot of sentimental melodrama in the best sense of the term.
I dare say a viewer might even shed a tear or two if they are not careful. Although some of the characters are not particularly well drawn the actors generally excel at making the viewer care about them.
Idlewild also has a strong message hidden within. Just so no one misses it the film uses Cooley High as a touchstone.
I am not sure if the creators specifically named this movie after the real life Michigan lakefront town of Idlewild that was a Black run resort area during the harshest days of segregation.