Rosewood Movie Review 1996

Based on the true story of the well-off African American community of Rosewood, Florida, which was destroyed by a white mob in 1923. Rhames is Mr. Mann, a war vet and Voight a white shopkeeper who, together, try to save innocent people from the tragic massacre that begins when a woman falsely accuses a black man of rape. Accurately shows the tensions present between blacks and whites of the time. Voight's character is not overly romanticized as the great white hope. The real hero is the reticent Rhames, a fictitious blend of real-life characters and Hollywood machismo. Both performances are strong and film succeeds as a detailed visual reminder of country's tragic history. Real-life survivors of the bloodshed finally won reparation from the Florida legislature in 1993. Singleton's location shoots in the Florida swamps caused problems for the crew, one of whom was sent to the hospital after a snake bite.

Distribution

Warner Home Video, Inc., 5775 Linder Canyon Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362, URL: http://whv.warnerbros.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 142 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Historical Drama, True Stories, African America, Civil Rights, Wrong Side of the Tracks, American South, Revenge, Fires, Period Piece: 1920s, Florida

Screenplay

Gregory Poirier

Cast

Ving Rhames, Jon Voight, Don Cheadle, Michael Rooker, Bruce McGill, Loren Dean, Esther Rolle, Elise Neal, Catherine Kellner, Akosua Busia, Paul Benjamin, Mark Boone, Muse Watson, Badja (Medu) Djola, Kathryn Meisle, Jaimz Woolvett

Cinematography

Johnny E. Jensen

Director

John Singleton

Music

John Williams

Producer

Jon Peters, Tracy Barone, New Deal, Peters Entertainment, Warner Bros.