Rating: Summary: Frankie Lymon for Beginners Review: I never knew much about Frankie Lymon until I watched this movie. He was one of my father's favorites. This movie, while it did not cover everything and sometimes it was historically inaccurate, it gave a good review of Frankie's rise and fall as a doo-wop star. The acting by Halle Berry, Lorenz Tate, Vivica Fox, and Leah Rochon was superb!
Rating: Summary: I may be in the minority, because... Review: I really didn't care for this movie very much. It told you virtually nothing about young Frankie Lymon's career with the Teenagers, and the focus was on his three wives fighting over whom was most entitled to the small fortune he left behind when he died at age 26 of a heroin overdose in 1968. Instead of a true biography of this young man's tragic story, we got this. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" never really gives you the reason why Lymon (played by the talented actor Larenz Tate) was so very important in the history of R&B/rock and roll. Ignoring the fact that he was the first teenaged idol of rock and roll (like the little Michael Jackson of his era) and was an influence on other groups that would come after his, in this film Frankie was overwhelmingly portrayed as nothing more than some '50s rock music has-been who was a bigamist and a drug addict. On top of that, the three actresses who played his wives (Halle Berry, Lela Rochon, Vivica A. Fox) got more screen time than Larenz Tate did, and was billed over him. Excuse me, but wasn't this film supposed to be Frankie's story? I was not interested in seeing a movie about his wives. Tate did his best, and I had no problem with the rest of the cast...but the script was just not worthy of his talents. I gave it three stars for the musical performances, but I feel the definitive movie about Frankie's life has yet to be made.
Rating: Summary: An excellent movie Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, especially because of the acting talent. All three of Lorenz Tate's "wives" acted so well that at times I forgot I was watching a movie. The music was great too and only added authenticity to this biopic. Well done with excellent casting, this movie is a must-see.
Rating: Summary: drugs can really damage someone's life.... Review: i'm not normaly get involved into the movie, ( mentally ), but this one really touch on something. mr Frankie, his songs, good, but i've not idea, how old he was or suppose to be in 1955? I asked some old record stores, 14 ? 15 ? how the held that a tennage got involved with three women at 15? 18 ? anyhow, who ever got involved with him, suck..but, the songs are gooddd
Rating: Summary: Why use a jewel to play a fool Review: Loved this movie very much who would'nt. Superb acting (except for tates lip singing) All for the life of me why would you use a jewel like larenz tate, who surely is to become our future in dramatic movies, to play an unattractive junky who did'nt deserve the credit or the attention he got. I understand you need the best to attract the rest so on behave of all tates fans we forgive you. Would I put this in my collection by all means "YES"
Rating: Summary: Entertaining delight! Review: The filmmakers know you've heard this tale before - true life chronicle of a young singing star's rise and tragic fall - and so they wisely downplay the standard bio trappings and instead focus on a raucously entertaining ride through Frankie Lymon's woman troubles. The smart screenplay revolves around the court battle of Lymon's three wives (yes, three!) over song royalties, leading to vivid (and often humorously contradictory) flashbacks of their lives with the singer. Larenz Tate is magnetic playing the many different sides of the ever-changing lead character, but the film ultimately belongs to Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox and Lela Rochon as the wives. Each is allowed to shine as the trio portrays 30 years of changes in the women's lives, with Fox drop-dead hilarious as the most outrageous of the three. There's beautifully detailed '60s-era cinematography, sets, costuming and musical numbers, plus a side-splitting turn by Miguel Nunez as a young Little Richard. Major issues (such as '60s race relations) are barely glanced at, but what this film lacks in depth, it makes up for ten-fold in entertainment value. A winner! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rating: Summary: Great Supporting Role from Larentz Tate. Review: The Plot:About three beautiful woman(Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon) were married to a singer named Frankie Lymon(Tate), after his death. The problem is three wifes are fighting for his estate. The film is well written by Tina Andrews and an fine direction by Gregory Nava(Selana). DVD`s has a good looking anamorphic widescreen transer(1.85:1) and an fine Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Best extra:An running commentary track by the Director Nava, Writer Andrews and Producer Paul Hall. Grade:B+.
Rating: Summary: A Plesant Doumentry Review: The sharpest, and most hilirous movies, LOVE It. A- ***
Rating: Summary: Good movie. Review: The thing I found interesting about this true story was how all three of Frankie Lymon's wives were different in their own way. Like Elizabeth Waters (played by Vivica Fox) was like a ghetto tough girl from the streets, Zola Taylor (played by Halle Berry) was like a glamorous singer, and Emira Eagle (played by Lela Rochon) was like a goody two shoes, well-educated school teacher.
Rating: Summary: Love is Blind and So Are the Women! Review: The title fits the movie's subject because these women were foolish to falll in love with him. Despite his early career in music and rise to fame, he was on a path to destruction, which he could have controlled. Frankie Lymon, lead singer for the group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, had the voice that made girls across America scream. But watching the movie, he was also selfish because he used his own members, who were also his friends to pursue a solo career; which was never achieved. He married Zora Taylor, a member of The Platters, Elizabeth Waters, and Emira Eagle; none of whom he divorced. The movie got me to wonder if any of these women could see below the surface of this man. Why did they allow him to descend into drugs and self-loathing? If one really loves someone, they would either help them through or send them packing. It was obvious that he had them on a string. All three of them had to go to court to prove they were legally married to him and collect money from his estate. Unfortunately, the music industry wasn't as legally together as it is now. Therefore, any claim to what he sang is out of their reach. Lymon's music still lives on as a reminder of the "good old days" when music wasn't sexually explicit and musicians could actually sing.
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