Black Nativity (2013)

A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey.

Director:

Kasi Lemmons

Writers:

Langston Hughes (based on the play by), Kasi Lemmons (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Forest Whitaker	...	Reverend Cornell Cobbs
Angela Bassett	...	Aretha Cobbs
Jennifer Hudson	...	Naima
Tyrese Gibson	...	Loot / Tyson
Jacob Latimore	...	Langston
Mary J. Blige	...	Angel
Nas	...	Street Prophet (Isaiah) (as Nasir Jones)
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Pawnbroker (as Vondie Curtis Hall)
Luke James	...	Jo-Jo / Joseph
Grace Gibson	...	Maria / Mary
Rotimi	...	Officer Butch McDaniels
J. Mallory McCree	...	Kyle
Henry Hunter Hall	...	Snoopy (as H. Hunter Hall)
Michael Dale	...	Innkeeper
Doug Willen	...	Chic Man

Storyline

In a contemporary adaptation of Langston Hughes' celebrated play, the holiday musical drama BLACK NATIVITY follows Langston (Jacob Latimore), a street-wise teen from Baltimore raised by a single mother, as he journeys to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett). Unwilling to live by the imposing Reverend Cobbs' rules, a frustrated Langston is determined to return home to his mother, Naima (Jennifer Hudson). Langston embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey and along with his new friends, and a little divine intervention, he discovers the true meaning of faith, healing, and family.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | nativity | f rated | color in title | based on the bible | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Music | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material, language and a menacing situation.

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker's second collaboration. Their first was "Waiting to Exhale" (1995), which Whitaker directed and in which Bassett starred.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Out of the Furnace/Black Nativity (2013)

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Soundtracks

Can't Stop Praising His Name
Written by Rickey Grundy and Herman Netter
Performed by Forest Whitaker
Additional Lyrics by Taura Stinson
Arranged by Taura Stinson and Raphael Saadiq
Choral Arrangement by Taura Stinson
Choir Conducted by Mike Anthony

User Reviews

Blacktastic!

What can I say of this wonderful piece of cinematic gold? I was hooked from the inaugural bundle of photons emitted from that silver screen which darted across the darkened theater, striking my rods and cones, stimulating my visual cortex into effervescent fits of orgiastic black biblical entertainment.

Not since Tyler Perry's latest classic have I witness such an incredible ensemble of all black Christian-rivisionism, which adheres in no way to Christian theological scholarship.

This film, I'm convinced, along with Tyler Perry's eschatological works, will forever be remembered as the uniting impetus which was portended in the great words of Malcolm X, "There can be no black-white unity until there is first some black unity."

TL;DR - Black science, black "christian" folk customs, tyler perry, malcolm x, fist.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 November 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Nativity

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,669,530, 1 December 2013

Gross USA:

$7,018,189

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,454,185

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bob Industries, Maven Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1