Movie #3198 "Passing Strange" (Pluto) Since Colman Domingo was recently nominated for his work in the outstanding film "Rustin" (which you can stream on netflix) and also does a great job as MR. in "The Color Purple" (the musical film in theaters right now, and snubbed by the Academy, in my opinion), we recalled seeing him on stage in various roles. And the one in particular we saw was a little known musical entitled "Passing Strange" -- with a little researching, we discovered that none other than Spike Lee filmed the play when it was on Broadway. We had seen it there and were very impressed, but now knowing a bit more about Colman Domingo, we thought we'd see Spike Lee's film and found it on Pluto. I must say, the live presentation was a bit better ---- it usually is --- but this is well done, too. And more importantly, with the subtitles that we could put on, we now understood every word that was sung/said. It focuses on a mother/son relationship, with the mother quite conservative and religious and the son trying to be his own person. He decides to leave and go on his own, traveling to various places in Europe, one being Amsterdam, where he lives for a time period abusing drugs. It is a story probably told before in a show, but in this one the musicians are on stage --- the lead musician narrates the story -- and it is a very powerful show. I'd give it a 4, and if you are interested in seeing something different that you missed in the theatre the first time it was around, you might want to check this out.
"PASSING STRANGE" 2009 2 hours and 15 minutes
Director Spike Lee's passionate adaptation of the thrilling Broadway musical about a young bohemian who experiences sewx, drugs and rock and roll on his journey to selfhood.
Director: Spike Lee, Annie Dorsen
Writers: Annie Dorsen, Stew
Actors: Stew, D'Adre Aziza, Elsa Davis, Colman Domingo
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