Dye, Richie

The Fighting Temptations (Full Screen Edition)

The Fighting Temptations may not cure the common cold with its FFF (Familiar Feel-Good Formula), but it'll definitely cure what ails you. Here's an unassuming, well-cast comedy drama, filled with forgiving spirit and jubilant gospel music, and its lessons go down as smooth as a mint julep in summertime. Mostly it's just good, harmless fun, beginning when a deceptive corporate ladder-climber (Cuba Gooding Jr.) returns from Manhattan to his southern-fried Georgia hometown to attend the funeral of a beloved aunt, whose will stipulates a reward of $150,000 if he'll direct the local church choir to win a big annual gospel music contest. The outcome is obvious, but veteran comedy director Jonathan Lynn keeps things percolating with casual flair, especially when a lovely lounge singer (Beyoncé Knowles, in a nicely downplayed costarring role) agrees to rejuvenate Gooding's choir, which teams rapping convicts, a boozy barfly (on organ), and bible-thumping prudes. With musical appearances by the O'Jays and the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others, how could this be anything but delightful? --Jeff Shannon

A New York executive and small time con-artist travels back to his old hometown in Georgia after the death of a close relative, and learns that he must start a gospel choir in order to collect his inheritance.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 2-JAN-2007
Media Type: DVD

The Fighting Temptations (Widescreen Edition)

The Fighting Temptations may not cure the common cold with its FFF (Familiar Feel-Good Formula), but it'll definitely cure what ails you. Here's an unassuming, well-cast comedy drama, filled with forgiving spirit and jubilant gospel music, and its lessons go down as smooth as a mint julep in summertime. Mostly it's just good, harmless fun, beginning when a deceptive corporate ladder-climber (Cuba Gooding Jr.) returns from Manhattan to his southern-fried Georgia hometown to attend the funeral of a beloved aunt, whose will stipulates a reward of $150,000 if he'll direct the local church choir to win a big annual gospel music contest. The outcome is obvious, but veteran comedy director Jonathan Lynn keeps things percolating with casual flair, especially when a lovely lounge singer (Beyoncé Knowles, in a nicely downplayed costarring role) agrees to rejuvenate Gooding's choir, which teams rapping convicts, a boozy barfly (on organ), and bible-thumping prudes. With musical appearances by the O'Jays and the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others, how could this be anything but delightful? --Jeff Shannon

A New York executive and small time con-artist travels back to his old hometown in Georgia after the death of a close relative, and learns that he must start a gospel choir in order to collect his inheritance.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 2-JAN-2007
Media Type: DVD

World Traveler

Cal (Billy Crudup) is a handsome, hard-drinking guy driving across the country with no particular destination in mind--but this is no romantic road trip. Cal has abandoned his wife and child and is running from a misery he can't even articulate; his encounters with other lonely people in bars and airports only render him more confused, while his inviting good looks routinely get him into trouble. World Traveler delves into the heart of a certain American grief and rootlessness, one that corresponds to the vast open space of the country itself. The movie doesn't explain itself, but the nuanced script and direction by Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints) and superb performances by Crudup, Julianne Moore, James LeGros, David Keith, Karen Allen, Mary McCormack, and others make World Traveler completely compelling. A subtle but deeply felt movie, akin to 1970s character portraits like Five Easy Pieces. --Bret Fetzer

The Fighting Temptations [Region 2]

The Fighting Temptations may not cure the common cold with its FFF (Familiar Feel-Good Formula), but it'll definitely cure what ails you. Here's an unassuming, well-cast comedy drama, filled with forgiving spirit and jubilant gospel music, and its lessons go down as smooth as a mint julep in summertime. Mostly it's just good, harmless fun, beginning when a deceptive corporate ladder-climber (Cuba Gooding Jr.) returns from Manhattan to his southern-fried Georgia hometown to attend the funeral of a beloved aunt, whose will stipulates a reward of $150,000 if he'll direct the local church choir to win a big annual gospel music contest. The outcome is obvious, but veteran comedy director Jonathan Lynn keeps things percolating with casual flair, especially when a lovely lounge singer (Beyoncé Knowles, in a nicely downplayed costarring role) agrees to rejuvenate Gooding's choir, which teams rapping convicts, a boozy barfly (on organ), and bible-thumping prudes. With musical appearances by the O'Jays and the Blind Boys of Alabama, among others, how could this be anything but delightful? --Jeff Shannon