Jesse Jackson Movies

Actor Richard Dreyfuss narrates this documentary examining the life and career of Stanley Sheinbaum, an anti-war activist who helped to set up the police force of South Vietnam during the 1950s, and subsequently landed on President Richard M. Nixon's enemies list for his efforts in revealing the truth about America's questionable foreign affairs. A rather poor student in high school, Sheinbaum used the GI bill to earn his doctorate in economics at Stanford, eventually landing a teaching job at Michigan State University in 1954, where he landed a position as co-director of the Vietnam Project, as well. His responsibilities as part of the Vietnam Project included hiring men to travel to South Vietnam and set up a police force, but during a trip to Saigon, Sheinbaum realized that not only had he unknowingly become a puppet for the CIA, but that his own men were using torture techniques to interrogate Vietcong prisoners. Confronted by journalist Robert Scheer about the incident nearly a decade later, Sheinbaum joined his accuser in traveling to Saigon and revealing the truth about his past blunder. In 1967, Sheinbaum proved that Andres Papandreou, future Prime Minister of Greece, has been framed by the junta during a military coup, though it was his efforts in organizing the defense of Daniel Ellsberg that landed the outspoken advocate a coveted spot on President Nixon's Most Wanted list. Two decades later, Sheinbaum made history by convincing Yassir Arafat to denounce terrorism and recognize the state of Israel before he UN, and it was Sheinbaum's efforts in removing Los Angeles Police Chief Darryl Gates from power following the Rodney King incident that finally prompted Californians to conclude that justice was served. Enlisted by President Bill Clinton to serve as a diplomatic back-channel to Syria, Sheinbaum's efforts in supporting the Middle East peace process continue well into the early 21st century. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Actors and political activists come together to take a long, hard look at the State of the Union during the 2000 U.S. Presidential election in this documentary, a follow-up to 1993's The Last Party, in which actor Robert Downey Jr. followed the 1992 presidential campaign. In The Last Party 2000, with Robert Downey Jr. unavailable due to drug convictions (he does make a brief appearance, and his legal problems as well as the current state of American drug laws are discussed), Philip Seymour Hoffman takes his place as he visits the 2000 Democratic and Republican National Conventions and talks to politicians and activists both famous and obscure as a pitched battle is fought between supporters of democratic candidate Al Gore, republican nominee George W. Bush, and the many voices who believed neither candidate represented a worthwhile or reasonable choice. Along with Downey and Hoffman, celebrities speaking out on the issues in this film include Courtney Love, Rosie O'Donnell, Reese Witherspoon, and David Crosby; the rock band Stone Temple Pilots also appear at a political rally. The Last Party 2000 was directed by actor and musician Donovan Leitch, who served as a producer on the first film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Mahalia Jackson was arguably the finest and most important performer in the history of gospel music; her rich and expressive vocal style proved massively influential, and she was the first African-American gospel artist to sell over a million copies of a record (with the superb "Move on up a Little Higher"), bringing sacred music to a wider audience than it had ever known before. Mahalia Jackson: The Power and the Glory is a documentary that examines the life and music of this watershed artist; author Studs Terkel and activist the Reverend Jesse Jackson share their memories of Jackson as a musician and a friend, and a number of rare film clips of Jackson performing are included, including TV appearances with Louis Armstrong and Dinah Shore. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Rev. Jesse Jackson arrives at Hillman College to deliver a lecture, taking time out to encourage Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) in his bid for Student Council president. Meanwhile, Dwayne's opponent Ron (Darryl M. Bell) attempts to "win dirty" by fraudulently claiming to have Rev. Jackson's endorsement. Elsewhere, Freddie (Cree Summer) proves to be very difficult to surprise as she approaches her 18th birthday. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This is a filmed documentary of a black music festival held on August 20, 1972 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, sponsored by Stax Records and Schlitz Beer. The L.A./Watts riots demonstrated the community's urgent needs to the black show-business community. All the proceeds from the concert and this movie went to charity. Among the better-known performers were Isaac Hayes, The Emotions, The Staple Singers, Little Milton and Luther Ingram. Richard Pryor, at the peak of his form, hosts and provides scatological and satiric comic relief. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide