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Get on the Bus (1996)
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Reviews Counted:9
Fresh:8
Rotten:1
Average Rating:7.6/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 1 min
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Released on the one-year anniversary of the Million Man March, GET ON THE BUS follows nearly 20 African Americans as they ride a bus cross-country to attend the historic event in Washington, DC.... Released on the one-year anniversary of the Million Man March, GET ON THE BUS follows nearly 20 African Americans as they ride a bus cross-country to attend the historic event in Washington, DC. The passengers--a diverse group of Los Angeles-based men--include a bickering gay couple, a pompous (and disliked) Republican, a Spike Lee-esque film student, a vain actor, and a quarrelsome father and son who are literally shackled to each other by court order. The fascinating and enlightening discussions between the men shed light on numerous issues concerning the African American community and enrich their lives in the process. Lee chose to shoot his film on super-16mm stock, giving it a grainier, more documentary-like feel--which, when combined with the naturalistic performances from the ensemble cast, makes an impact that is all the more immediate. Lee's camera and the actors breathe fervor into Reggie Rock Blythewood's screenplay. Standout performances include Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Andre Braugher, De'Aundre Bonds, Roger Guenveur Smith, and Richard Belzer (as the white bus driver). Once again Spike Lee delivers a poignant commentary on the state of African American affairs at the end of the 20th century. [More]
Starring: Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Andre Braugher, De'Aundre Bonds
Starring: Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Andre Braugher, De'Aundre Bonds, Roger Guenveur Smith, Isaiah Washington, Harry J. Lennix, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Richard Belzer
Director: Spike Lee
Director: Spike Lee
Screenwriter: Reggie Rock Bythewood
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Reviews for Get on the Bus
A vital regeneration of a filmmaker's talent as well as a bracing and often very funny dramatization of urgent sociopolitical themes...
While the film assembles a full array of black male stereotypes and conines them to what is essentially a talky one-set play, Mr. Lee stylistically jump-starts this small, earnest film in every way he can.
It's two hours of men sitting on a bus talking, but the talk is alive. Lee keeps the scenes short, so that nothing ever resolves completely.
It's successful at holding our interest -- at making us care, and believe.
An involving, intimate portrait of a group of men gathered for a common purpose.
If the movie finally doesn't know when to quit, its flaws are those of enthusiasm and heart.
If the movie's central sadness is that we identify with our own group and suspect outsiders, the movie's message is that we have been given brains to learn to empathize.
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