On R List of Movie Reviews
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A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
12/15, 5/19
12/15:
I read the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry many years ago and came away impressed,
but I'm not sure why I never saw the film until now.
Whenever Sidney Poitier is cast, my expectations are always set very high. And in A Raisin in the Sun, they're easily
met. He's simply a tour de force. The most impressive sight is Sidney Poitier in the same scene with the young Louis Gossett, Jr.
(in his film debut), who will be Oscar winners, becoming the first two black males to receive them.
Claudia McNeil doesn't get enough credit for her powerful performance as she goes against Sidney Poitier. It turns out
they didn't like each other while making the picture due to their creative differences. Many themes
are touched upon: poverty, hope, racism, family dynamics, trust, religion, gambling, pride, and the lack of education
and opportunities for blacks. It's amazing how all of them are packed into a two-hour film which can be tragic at times.
All in all, A Raisin in the Sun is a black cinema classic.
5/19:
Sadly, my rating of A Raisin in the Sun is dropped from '10' to '5'.
I realize now that it's an overwrought, talky film, resembling too much of a play and taking a while to get to the point.
At least, the second half is better than the first which only serves as an explanation of what happened in the past. I hate when
they do that.
Sidney Poitier is okay but is guilty of overacting with his arms flapping all over the place. Instead, Claudia McNeil wins me over
with her subdued performance. Ruby Dee isn't much of an actress. Louis Gossett, Jr., makes his film debut and will go on to be
the third black thespian ever to win an Oscar which is nineteen years after Sidney Poitier's dramatic win
for Lilies of the Field.
All in all, reducing the amount of lines would be beneficial for A Raisin in the Sun.