Those are my fellas!
If you don’t think “The Five Heartbeats” is a cinematic masterpiece then please log off now. It is my favorite movie of all time. Yes, all time, I said it, mmm hmmmm… This movie has the greatest music, choreography, dramatic overkill, and quotables ever. You can argue, but I would just scoff at you and give you my famous side eye. If you are a weirdo and have never seen it go over to Internet Movie Database to get a synopsis. Let’s begin:
First off I will tell you the story of my first viewing of this illustrious movie. Picture this St. Olaf Durham, NC, 1991. A 12 year old awesome kid by the name of Alise (no natural) begged her mother for weeks to go see a little movie about 5 guys trying to make it in the music biz. All of the relenteless begging finally resulted in her mother agreeing to take her. By the time she decided to comply with my whining the movie had reached the $1 theater… even better, now I can have popcorn and sh*t. (random funfact: That theater is now a church, hallelujah o_0) Things were looking up. On a Friday night we ventured on down to the theater and found some good seats in what would be become a packed house.
The movie come on and of course I am beyond pleased with all the music (I have always been a lil old school) and storyline. However, one thing has me less-than-pleased, well make that two things: the 2 people behind us. There were 2 older girls that actually went to my school sitting behind us. These heffas talked through the whole movie. Not a few words in a whisper. No, they were talking like they were in the school cafeteria or something. In fact one of the girls had seen the movie before and was telling the entire movie.
your mouth... shut it!
No bueno. I was slightly shy so I didn’t even throw back dirty looks or anything, but my mother, I don’t think she knows the definition of the word shy. After she throws a few shhhs and side eyes she is fed up. Sigh, so this woman stands up turns around and proceeds to curse these girls out. I was embarrassed, BUT not a peep came out of their mouth for the remainder of the film and they were super nice to me the rest of the school year. Go Mama! I ended up going back to see the movie 2 more times at the Dollar Theater and purchased the VHS the day if came out (telling my age again). No exaggeration, I have seen this movie over 400 times. I know every line, every dance step, and every song. I am qualified to be a Five Heartbeats historian, I wish that were a real job, I’d be the CEO of that company.
Here are some of my favorite scenes w/ commentary:
I love this scene. First off all Duck’s little sister just tears it up. Such a big voice from much a little girl. The other thing I love is the dramatic overkill of Duck searching for scraps of paper with lyrics on them. Even though it is a tad bit exaggerated, I totally understand searching in strange places to pull out fragments of poems. I do it every time I write. The only difference is that I scour journals and email or blog drafts searching for pieces of poems. It is commonly called: disorganized. *shrug*
I only have one thing to say: “Ladies and gentleman, Mr. JT Matthews!”
One of the most popular scenes of the movie. I watch it for 2 main things besides the obvious of the singing. First is to hear Sarge say, “Are you deaf or just dumb? Come outside and I’ll beat both your asses like you stole something… ” and the next is to see Eddie’s mama stand up and catch the ENTIRE holy ghost… that’s a sho-nuff mama!
Another very popular scene that is funny but sad at the same time… everyone loves to sing the cracked out “Ainnnnnnnnnnnngggg Nights like this I-i-i wish raindrops would fall-uh-uh-uh-all”
Regardless of your religious affiliation, if your heart doesn’t feel something during this song/scene then you are dead inside. Straight zombie status.
So there you have it, my favorite movie of all time… and don’t none of y’all come in here talmbout the Temptations movie… I like that too…
OMG! I probably love this movie about as much as you do. The only bad thing about this movie was that the post production was pretty bad, but whatever its still a great movie. My two favorite scenes are the Come Back scene and the speech leading up to it. The other one is after Heart is A House for Love where Big Red says, and I quote, “I I I loved your show, I mean I really enjoyed your showmanship and your style. I want you on my label. Lets make a deal RAT NOW! Now, Im just a…old country boy, with a small little company but I do work hard for my artists.” lol
Yessss! Big Red was a hot mess… also I love the joke he was telling before he tried to throw Bird off the balcony: “How do you keep an asshole in suspense…….. oh, you can talk now.” That slays me every time!
OMG I’m crackin up over here! That Big Red part is funny as hell! And the part where he goes, “JIMMAAAYYY it’s been a LAWNG time”! Just as country soundin as he can be lmao
Yesssss! I love that part too, he is as country as country can get!
This is also my favorite movie of all time. i did my final project in my Blacks in Cinema class on this movie and deservedly got an A+. lol Music, Drama, Comedy, History, Suspense, Romance…this movie has it ALL!
i loved your break down. My absolute favorite part is when Duck’s sister sings. i was so disappointed when i found out her version of “We havent finished yet” isnt on the soundtrack. I played that scene 10x a day everyday one summer. I also know the entire movie by heart. So mad I cant find my 15th anniversary edition DVD. Funny how that discussion on my FB wall about The Five Heartbeats > The Temptations was heightened by one of the people in the discussion who actually bought me that DVD for my birthday. But he wanna act all beside hisself now. Hmph!
“You want my spot, Flash?! Hmm? Slum-dwelling, scum-sucking, slug-ass mu@!(%#*! You want my spot, Flash? Well, YOU. AIN’T. GONE. GET IT. CUZ YOU. AIN’T. GOT IT!!!” – Eddie King, Jr.
I hate BET for editing that part out.
YASSSSS
1 You should hear my impression, it is classic!
Can someone please help me identify a song that played in this film? It’s a Jazz song with a saxaphone. Right after Jimmy was killed, Duck, and JT went to see Eddie. Babydoll had come back and was taking care of Eddie. They were all talking about Big Red when Bird walked in. After that they showed the passage of time with newspaper articles, and how Big Red was prosecuted. During this whole scene there was a Jazz song playing. Right after the scene they had older Heartbeats on stage singing Back In THe Middle with Flash as the new lead singer. For the last 20 years I have wanted that jazz song. Now I’m asking for anyone’s help.
Is it on this soundtrack list perhaps? –> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/soundtrack
None of those. Thanks for looking tho. I think it might be composed by Stanley Clarke. He does a lot of movie scores. If I ever get the chance I’ll ask Robert Townsend my self.
This was the most complete movie I’ve ever seen. We have failure, triumph, betrayal, spirituality, murder, justice, humor, sadness, music, tradition, love, family, redemption, good, evil etc,etc,etc, just and all around one of the greatest films of all time.
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