Rosewood (1997)

Very disappointing...

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

John Singleton's Rosewood documents the tragedy of the Rosewood Massacre in piercingly raw detail, showing us how a prosperous Florida town fell to shambles from one woman's lie, spawning over a hundred murders and massive calamity on the survivor's shoulders for years to come. This event occurred in 1923, but is usually left unprinted in history textbooks and shoved to the side as if it had never occurred. Just a few weeks ago, a gunman opened fire on patrons in a movie theater, killing twelve and wounding fifty eight. That story was the most talked about thing for the entire week and still sneaks its way into the top story.Rosewood isn't written with anger, hostility, or a burdening grudge. It is written with its mind firmly centered on history and examination rather than shameful exploitation. The town of Rosewood was populated mainly by blacks who are also operating most of it, with the notable exception of the white grocery store owner, Mr. Wright (Jon Voight). About 1/3 of the town is white, and most have a great disdain for the blacks, which as we know by now wasn't atypical.The film centers mainly on Mann (Ving Rhames), a World War I veteran who travels aimlessly on a horse in search of land that he is willing to pay good money for. When he shows up at a town auction and becomes one of the highest bidders, he does nothing but generate sneers and racist remarks from the patrons. Mann is, for the most part, impassive towards the criticism. One of his friends that he grows closer to over time is Don Cheadle's Sylvester, who happens to be one of the strongest character actors of this or any other decade.The hostility towards blacks skyrockets when the mentally unstable woman, Fanny Taylor (Catherine Kellner) is triggered into a screaming frenzy repeatedly saying a black man beat her, but did not rape her. The reality is, Fanny is a victim to the abuse of her lover, who consistently throws her around and leaves her bruised and battered. Regardless, there is simply no justification for this kind of impulsiveness.And thus, the bell begins to ring louder and for longer and the towers slowly begin to fall; the town becomes even more racially divided than before, violence breaks out in the streets, houses are burned, neighbors become enemies, and secrets holding important, valuable information are kept until it's too late. A white sheriff (Michael Rooker) has an understanding of the events that occurred with Fanny Taylor, begins to piece together that the story of the evil black man beating the white woman is a myth, but is unfortunately silent about the event until violence overwhelms the once humble town. Even Mann grows aware of the impending violence and unsafe nature of this town, and fears because of his "new" status that he will fall victim to murder.The film touches on some other topics not usually explored in a period piece, such as how the idea of racism is spread through explicit teachings from father to son. One father teaches his son how to make a noose, and continuously reminds him that the blacks are the enemies in which the whites must take action against. This even involves the father taking the son along on trips where they go hunting, and I don't mean for animals.Writer Gregory Poirier illustrates this story on a large, limitless canvas for John Singleton to direct with a looming challenge. There is an unusually broad amount of talent here and a plethora of characters and situations to document, and Poirier is careful never to spend too much time on one specific situation, but takes the time to balance the events out evenly. It wasn't long before this that Singleton constructed Boyz N The Hood, a film detailing the tribulations of growing up on the wrong side of the street. That appears on my list of most captivating dramas for its poignant dialog and incredible performances. Rosewood is in an entirely different league; a film that features many different scenes, all highly detailed and illustrated intricately, that is strung together by an easily understandable story.Speaking in terms of aesthetics, the costume and set design here is lavish and meticulous. From the sets of the stores, to the simplicity of the roads, the people, the clothing, and the shops, everything is portrayed in such a refreshingly different light that it becomes indescribably powerful. The care and attention here is not only commendable, but award worthy.Yet sadly, Rosewood, like the actual event, is a long forgotten wave in the ocean of cinema and the world. The film's hefty budget, for which I assumed was mainly used on costumes, set structures, and actors, proved unable to be recouped and went on to become a commercial failure, only seen by those brave enough to endure its tragedy with an open mind and a hungering for knowledge. This is not a movie that many will be able to digest easy. It's a long and brutal picture. But one that is masterfully done in almost every respect and one that should brew a healthy, informative conversation soon afterwards.Starring: Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, Bruce McGill, Loren Dean, Esther Rolle, Elise Neal, and Michael Rooker. Directed by: John Singleton.

This movie is based on real tragic events and yes, it has been one of the dark horrific events in American history. But the filmmakers let it slip out of their hands.The movie never managed to touch or move me; in fact, I was mostly distracted by shoddy writing and mediocre acting. It does not take the subject seriously enough and turns it halfway through into a forgettable action flick. Most of all, I do not understand the inclusion of the fictitious character Mann. He is so overblown to the point of caricature and seems to have stepped out of a western.I was not impressed. Other movies like Mississippi Burning have a heart and a clear message to convey. Here the message gets buried under superficial clichés.Those tragic events perhaps need to be taken to the screen again but this time by more skilled and competent hands.Overall disappointing what could have been a movie with a strong statement.

I won't say much, but I'm just a bit disappointed that No One has a website on what ever happened to the children and grandchildren of the descendants of Rosewood. I know they lived to see retribution, but it seems it is a well kept secret. This DVD was the first DVD I ever purchased and that was years ago. At the time, which was about 1999, the movie sold new for $5 at Walmart. When I purchased it, I had no idea this was a true story. Why? Because I don't usually read info contained on the back of the movie. I like surprises, but was not prepared emotionally for this movie. It was a lot like so many true stories regarding this country and Black Americans. I used to watch westerns as a child, but because of the false hood regarding the Indians as the bad guys, I simply can't enjoy them anymore. However as A comment to this movie, it was Excellent to the point I was crying and was very emotional about it, where I waited till now to watch it again. It is still heartbreaking, and I cried again. This country has not changed much, since the JENNA 6 is new news, and this kind of things is still going on. Crosses are still being burned and someone has the audacity to ask, Does Race Matter. Until we can stop asking that question, it will always matter. As a writer, I must admit, this movie was true to life, not omitting the hard truth of what happened. I'm sure it had to be downplayed a lot, but I got the message, loud and clear. It was an event that happened in the early twenties, and we now live in the year 2008. Today, a Black Man is running for Office as the First Black President of the United States. If it happens, it will be a sign of change, but until this country stops looking at the color of a person's skin and everyone is treated as equals, then not much has changed. Let it just be that a man from Illinois is running for president, not a Black 'MAN' or 'WOMAN'.

As horrific as these events are portrayed, you need only look at real-time life and know that by far they were a thousand times worse. Movies are so sterile in exposing the senses to the horror of real life. Close your eyes and smell the gasoline, feel the night air on your sweaty brow, smell the dirt and feel the small puff of warm air escape from the mouth of the man screaming in your face so close that you can taste his hatred. See all of these things in your minds eye, and know that somewhere close by stands a reasonable person transfixed by his/her indecision to do the thing he knows is right.These things and countless others happened and are still happening today.If you REALLY care, I dare you to stand up for what you believe to be right even if you know you'll be ridiculed or ostracized in some way. Atrocities like Rosewood happen because people like us turn a blind eye to the wrong we see and hear going on around us everyday. Not one person reading this thread can say they weren't in that mob if we just stand by and laugh at ethnic jokes or whisper comments inside our secret hearts when we're angry and don't understand. Stand up today. Stand up or just grab a torch and join the mobs of yesterday...and eventually tomorrow. I give this movie a ten, just because it dares to say these things were wrong. Injustice IS wrong and it hurts EVERYBODY.