Red Hook Summer (2012)
Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 57
Fresh: 33 | Rotten: 24
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 5.1/10
Critic Reviews: 24
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 12
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 2.7/5
User Ratings: 1,930
My Rating
Movie Info
Red Hook Summer tells the story of Flik Royale (Jules Brown), a sullen young boy from middle-class Atlanta who has come to spend the summer with his deeply religious grandfather, Bishop Enoch Rouse (Clarke Peters), in the housing projects of Red Hook. Having never met before, things quickly get off on the wrong foot as Bishop Enoch relentlessly attempts to convert Flik into a follower of Jesus Christ. Between his grandfather's constant preaching and the culture shock of inner-city life, Flik's
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Cast
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Clarke Peters
Da Good Bishop Enoch Ro... -
Jules Brown
Flik Royale -
Toni Lysaith
Chazz Morningstar -
Nate Parker
Box -
Thomas Jefferson Byrd
Deacon Zee -
Heather Alicia Simms
Sister Sharon Morningst... -
Colman Domingo
Blessing Rowe -
James Ransone
Kevin -
De'Adre Aziza
Colleen Royale -
Kimberley Hébert-Gregory
Sister Sweet -
Steve Henderson
Deacon Yancy -
Jonathan Batiste
Da Organist TK Hazelton -
Samantha Ivers
Patty -
Tracy Camilla Johns
Mother Darling -
Spike Lee
Mr. Mookie -
Turron Kofi Alleyne
Butter, Butter Turron -
Fred Tolliver, Jr.
Born Knowledge -
Lillie Marshall
Miss Marshall -
Arthur French
Mr. Curtis -
Daniel Breaker
Cliff -
Quincy Tyler Bernstine
Hazel -
Sincere Peters
Blessing Rowe (at 12) -
Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Detective Flood -
Eve Lora
Box's Lady -
Louanne Harris
Donna/Kayak Instructor -
Jackson Lee
Kayak Kid -
Tyheim Smith
Kayak Kid -
Nesean Smith
Lil' Buddha -
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All Critics (57) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (24) | DVD (3)
For the most part it's all rather pleasant, if somewhat aimless.
Top CriticLee's typically paradoxical statements on race and religion muddle the narrative, and his old stylistic tricks -- saturated color schemes, characters addressing the camera -- aren't exactly inspired.
The story is static for about 90 minutes, then rises to action, but in a way that seems impromptu, either made up on the spot or ill-considered.
When Spike Lee fails he fails big, and he goes down in flames with "Red Hook Summer."
Lee's latest film feels like several intriguing ideas in search of an over-arching story.
This coming-of-age portrait provides one more instance of Lee as one of this country's finest cinematic regionalists.
"Red Hook Summer" has so much life, so much verve. Spike Lee always makes movies you want to wrestle with, even if the rewards this time around aren't as worthwhile.
Image Entertainment packages their Blu-ray release of Spike Lee's astonishing latest with an A/V transfer and director's commentary worthy of sincere, ecstatic praise.
Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer is the director embracing the change of filmmaking while still being able to capture personal, yet completely relevant stories unlike anyone working in the field today.
Lee uses the blank slate to flex his muscles as a storyteller, resulting ina gritty and charming drama that reflects his earlier work.
... shimmers with unfocused energy.
Unpolished performances are forgivable in they've got a great story to support them. Unfortunately, this is not a great story.
It's close to bottom-of-the-barrel Lee.
There's little drama or sense of progression in the movie until the bombshell hits, and then it just whimpers along for another half-hour until the end.
Lee is, as ever, a gifted image-maker, but his storytelling has gotten so lax over time as to barely register.
Spike Lee in coasting gear.
Spike Lee's least crabby vignette in a decade
Seems to be little but demands much more.
When Lee preaches in Red Hook Summer, the movie bumps along, though it's reasonably entertaining. But when he decides to teach us about the human heart, it becomes a potent experience.
Clarke Peters is an impressive force, but the story gets away from Spike Lee on this one.
Features Lee playing with fascinating concepts and working well with setting even if the final result isn't quite the sum of its parts.
Audience Reviews for Red Hook Summer
Super Reviewer
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- Flik Royale: Are you free?
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- Da Good Bishop Enoch Rouse: We live in a world of, should not be...
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Latest News on Red Hook Summer
August 10, 2012:
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August 8, 2012:
Spike Lee Talks Red Hook Summer and More"Red Hook is a very strange neighborhood. You can't just end up in Red Hook -- it's a destination."
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It's another coming-of-age fish out of water type story, and, while it's nothing all that new, it has some nice ideas and potential behind it.
The main problems are the execution (I wasn't all that enamored by the hand-held digital camera work), and a late plot development that comes basically out of nowhere and pretty much derails tings. Also, the acting (especially by the young actors) is pretty bad. I get that Lee was going for a more naturalistic style with their performances, but unlike Gus Van Sant, he can't pull it off. The performance by Clarke Peters as the grandfather is actually pretty good though, and easily the strongest part of the movie.
I did like the humor, and, as I said, some of the ideas, but ultimately this one falls pretty flat. I did enjoy the world they tried to build here though, and it was also pretty cool seeing Spike briefly bring back his Do The Right Thing character Mookie.
All in all, a largely 'meh' kind of movie. It's got Lee's trademark flair all over it, just not the energy or memorability.