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Soul Men

Soul Men (2008)

November. 07,2008
|
6.4
|
R
| Comedy Music

Two former backup soul singers, Louis and Floyd, have not spoken to each other in 20 years, and reluctantly agree to travel across the country together to a reunion concert to honor their recently-deceased lead singer. Cleo, a beautiful young woman who is believed to be Floyd's daughter, accompanies them as a new singer.

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Reviews

Console
2008/11/07

best movie i've ever seen.

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InformationRap
2008/11/08

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

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Deanna
2008/11/09

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

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Zlatica
2008/11/10

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

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Tss5078
2008/11/11

Soul Men was a film that was racked with problems right from the start. Originally the film kept getting pushed back because of a law suit by the R&B group, Sam & David, which claimed it to be a farce on their life story. The group also accused the producers of copyright infringement for using their style and the title of one of their songs, "Soul Man". The law suit was finally settled and the movie was released in 2008. Then, days before the films release, two of it's stars, Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes, died on back to back days, a tragedy that created a public relations nightmare. For those reasons, this film wasn't widely distributed or advertised, which is a shame because it was one terrific film. The story starts 30 years after a legendary R&B group, Marcus Hooks & The Real Deal, broke up. We see the remaining members, Samuel L. Jackson in trouble with the law, and Bernie Mac, living in a retirement community, when they learn about the sudden death of Hooks. Record executives, quick to capitalize on his death, organize a tribute show at the Apollo in New York, and invite the Real Deal to participate. This means that two men who hate each other and haven't performed in almost 30 years, need to get their act together in a hurry if they want the big pay day and a chance at a come back. The film is an absolute riot, with Mac as the old lonely man and Jackson as the bitter forgotten convict. Their chemistry was nothing short of amazing and the big surprise was that both men can actually sing and dance! Even though they must have said mother f'er about a thousand times, I found the film to be very clever, funny, and original. If it wasn't for all the problems it had, this movie would have done much better than it did and it is without a doubt, worth watching.

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elshikh4
2008/11/12

Sit back and relax, because you're in for a ride. I think I didn't say these corny terms in a review before, but you know what, it's the time to say it, while meaning a good thing too.This is a good old odd-couple comedy, written as a kind of musical road movie. I loved the script. It made good riot along the way, with nice games too (the matter of your daughter, my daughter. I'm so sick, you're so sick, etc). The comic lines were many and slick. However you have to feel that the comedy was lesser than the potential of the story and the cast. For instance it didn't need to bare some actor to make laughs, what it did need was less easy, less poor handling than that !(Bernie Mac) and (Samuel L. Jackson) are perfect. And maybe more perfect with each other. I wasn't a (Bernie Mac) fan until this movie by the way (very late I know !). Everything about him here is adorable, and I'm not talking out of nostalgia caused by his death. Look at the way he laughs that sarcastic, extremely idiot, laugh, or look at his crying over canceling his performance; OK, that moment was historical; I mean his only competitor would be (James Dean) in East of Eden (1955) through another crying scene. (Mac) portrayed pain there as it should be. The selection of songs did wonderfully. And the 2 leads' singing performance wasn't less wonderful. I have never imagined that (Mac) and (Jackson) could sing this catchy. The climax of this movie's fun remains in the scene inside the coffin; that was both hilarious and sentimental.Now, to the problems. Hmmm, not many though. Sure the ocean of the F words. I don't think that black people, out of Hollywood movies, swear in this superabundant way, and I don't think that it serves any comedy or drama, and I don't think that our ears are supposed to be trash boxes for that matter ! The F words with its derivatives run boringly and nastily while consuming them non-stop. The back projections, with the desert image, seemed too fake. Then, (Mac) was 50 year old, which makes him at least 10 years younger than his character. That was clear from the start, especially with the presence of someone older and fitter for his character like (Jackson) who was 60 year old. It was called with names like "having unoriginal script", lacking more comic situations, and ending pretty fast, but despite this or that, it worked, managing eventually to be delightful and colorful time on screen. And although (Soul Men) is 2 men show, but (Mac) was the one who stole it meritoriously.

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imaginary-life
2008/11/13

It was a straightforward almost Blue Brothers film, but who cares? It has music, honesty, and is truly a reminder of the sad loss of Bernie Mac. Many of the so called clichés are actually representative of so much that truly happens in life. This may not be the most important film in the world, but it's heart is in the right place. And it sings a certain song of life, friendship and forgiveness. That's all that it needs to provide. I am surprised that it received so much negativity on some pages. Just sit back and enjoy. If only the music business had so much respect for past legends. Sometimes it happens, and this also goes to show that some musicians really live from retaining their audience, as it is all they have that sustains them.

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Newsense
2008/11/14

Im not the least surprised that the rating for this movie is low. Im not the least surprised that IMDb reviewers only complain about excessive violence and profanity when it comes to black films(as if they never saw a Quentin Tarantino film in their life!). Hmmmmmmm,interesting. At any rate, Soul Men is a moderately funny movie with some heart.The story chronicles Lewis Hinds(Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd Henderson(Bernie Mac)two members of the group "Real Deal". Floyd pays a visit to Lewis after the death of a soul singer legend Marcus Hooks(played by John Legend) to perform at an event at the Apollo because they believe they can get paid. Lewis is still bitter with Floyd about an incident involving his former wife. They reluctantly team up and go performing state to state before they reach the Apollo.I wont say that I always laughed but there are plenty of times where I laughed especially with the interaction between Bernie Mac's character and Samuel Jackson's character. Cleo's bumbling, abusive boyfriend Lester(Affion Crockett) had some funny moments too. Both Floyd and Lewis's misadventures are humorous also. There are times when i laughed and times where I smiled. Lewis's interaction with Cleo(played by the attractive Sharon Leal who somewhat resembles Kerry Washington) was sweet. The songs Lewis and Floyd sung were cool and they seem to have a ball performing them and not phoning in their performances(like some entertainers tend to do). Its a shame that Bernie Mac passed before the release of this film. He would have been proud of the final product because the movie was pretty good.REST IN PEACE BERNIE MAC, ISAAC HAYES and RUDY RAY MOORE!!!

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