Little Richard Review
I almost forgot about this Robert Townsend-directed movie until I saw it on television the other night. What I do remember is that it was a made for TV movie that aired in 2000, and I did see it then. Not knowing much about Little Richard's background other than his flamboyant stage act and his classic records, I thought that this was a great introduction to the life of a man whom, in my opinion, never really got the credit he deserved being a pioneer of rock 'n roll. Those honors always seem to go to other acts of the day (Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone - please give us a break!), when the REAL pioneers of the genre are mostly ignored or have been reduced to being mere footnotes in rock 'n roll history. Those who are die-hard fans of Richard and his music might find this film to be lacking in many ways, but for those who are just getting familiar with this man's life and his music, this is a good place to begin their research.
Leon is an exceptional actor who seems to portray a lot of musical figures on film, and very well, I might add. Who can forget his dynamic (and probably most well known) performance as the former Temptation David Ruffin in the still popular "The Temptations" mini-series, or as J.T. Matthews in the early 1990's feature film "The Five Heartbeats"? (I've even seen him play Jackie Wilson in another movie mini-series, however, he had a small role in that film.) As Little Richard Penniman, Leon engrosses himself in his subject and although the film is not entirely factual, it piques your interest enough to make you want to seek out the real story of his life. I know, after seeing it yet again, I want to learn more!
My only complaint is that two hours (TV running time, anyway) was hardly enough time to capture the story of this man - this certainly deserved the mini-series treatment. It was like viewing Richard's career and personal life on fast forward - you didn't get the chance to learn whom his main influences were, or understand why he made some of the decisions he did because the film seemed rushed, especially during the last half hour. However, it is an enjoyable movie and definitely worth watching. It needs to be made available again - any fan of rock 'n roll musical bios will want to add this to their collection.
Little Richard Overview
The Richard Penniman (better known as Little Richard) depicted in this 2000 film was a flamboyant, larger-than-life character, not to mention a vital figure in pop music history--perhaps even "the architect of rock & roll," as he's called here. The fact that both of those portraits are accurate is a tribute to the makers of this TV movie, especially director Robert Townsend (Hollywood Shuffle) and Leon in the title role (Little Richard himself was an executive producer). Sure, it's a bit heavy on the melodrama, especially Richard's volatile relationship with his demanding father, and light on the music ("Tutti Frutti," "Lucille," and Richard's other hits are heard, with Leon lip-syncing to the original recordings, but there's no clue as to how Richard actually forged his style), but hey, that's TV for you. By and large, Little Richard is an entertaining ride, even without any DVD bonus material. --Sam Graham
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