Documentary

 

Hip hop fans know just what a remarkable impact the late Notorious B.I.G. had on the world of modern music, and in this documentary filmmakers come closer to uncovering the man behind the myth than ever before. His loose, silky smooth flow and unique rhyme style made him stand well apart from the pack, yet despite his success Notorious B.I.G. would eventually become an unfortunate victim of the violent East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud. With seldom seen home video footage, newly-released interview captured shortly before his death, footage of the crime scene, and recollections from such close friends and collaborators as Easy Mo Bee, Raekwon, Ditty, and Method Man, this comprehensive portrait of a hip hop superstar will have fans dusting off their old copies of Life After Death for another, nostalgic listen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Outkast: Dare to Be Different documents the history of the popular hip-hop band that rose to prominence in the Atlanta music scene before dominating the charts with their mega-smash single "Hey Ya!" The film explains how Big Boi and Dre formed their partnership and survived their difficult early years together in the Dirty South scene. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Lear what good can come when you truly follow your dreams as fifteen of America's most high-profile African Americans reveal the secrets of their remarkable success in this installment of Russell Simmons' "Higher Self Series." From multiple Grammy-winner Isaac Hayes' enduring career to the obstacles overcome by author Terry McMillan just to get her books on store shelves, these inspirational success stories prove without a doubt that where there's a will to succeed, the road to fame is clearly illuminated. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Documentary filmmaker Thomas Gibson directed this investigation into the rise of the Republican right wing in America, and how this has impacted the African-American community. Letter to the President explores the different way in which the policies Reagan and Bush administrations have damaged the lives of black youth, from the government-approved distribution of crack cocaine in inner-city neighborhoods to economic policies that have widened the divide between the rich and the poor. Gibson's film also parallels this phenomenon with the rise of rap and hip-hop music, and how these styles have provided a voice for disenfranchised youth. Letter to the President includes interviews with KRS-One, 50 Cent, Damon Dash, Ghostface Killah, Dick Gregory, Amiri Baraka, and many more; Snoop Dogg narrates. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Free At Last: Civil Rights Heroes offers a look at some of the people who figured prominently in the struggle for civil rights. Among the people showcased in this video are Medgar Evers, Rev. James Rebb, Jimmy Lee Jackson, and Vernon Dahmer. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

British director Isaac Julien takes on the Blaxploitation era of the '70s in the hour-long documentary Baadasssss Cinema. With archive film clips and interviews, this brief look at a frequently overlooked historical period of filmmaking acts as an introduction rather than a complete record. Features interviews with some of the genre's biggest stars, like Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, and Richard Roundtree. Director Melvin Van Peebles discusses the historical importance of his landmark film Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song. For a contemporary perspective, the excitable Quentin Tarantino offers his spirited commentary and author/critic bell hooks provides some scholarly social analysis. The music of Blaxploitation movies is rightfully discussed, focusing on Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly" and Isaac Hayes' "Shaft." Also features interviews with writer/director Larry Cohen and film historian Armond White. Baadasssss Cinema was originally shown on the Independent Film Channel in August of 2002 as part of a week-long Blaxploitation film festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Hosted by Obba Babatunde, this documentary from Passport Productions studies the life and career of African American entertainer Dorothy Dandridge. Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty features interviews with such Dandridge admirers as Brock Peters, Lawrence Fishburne, and Academy Award winner Halle Berry who received an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the ill-fated actress and singer in the film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Essentially a cinematic love letter to the game of basketball, this documentary was helmed by filmmaker Leon Gast, the Academy Award-winning director of When We Were Kings. Featuring such basketball luminaries as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant, the film explores the game's modern roots on the blacktop courts of urban America and charts its rise to one of the most popular sports in the world. 1 Love screened at Norway's 2003 Filmquart Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

A young boy and his best friend learn that a simple choice can alter the entire course of a lifetime in this introspective English-language drama from South African filmmaker Ntshavheni Wa Luruli. When Madiba and Sipho discover the dead body of a man clutching a briefcase that contains a gun and a video camera, Sipho's fate is sealed when he reaches for the gun and the introverted Madiba's artistic aspirations are unlocked when he begins to see a new world through the lens of the video camera. As Sipho descends into a life of crime, the challenges of life in post-apartheid South Africa slowly begin to come into focus for young Madiba. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Part of the World Music Portraits series from Shanachie, this release is a profile of legendary Cuban guitarist Compay Segundo. This hour-long title contains a brief profile of the man along with musical performances. He plays "La Terera," "Fidelidad," and "Chan Chan"along with other members of the Buena Vista Social Club. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi