VeteranLight
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Francene Odetta
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
dunsuls-1
Being a white kid from Brooklyn there's no way I can know how accurate this movie is although it's based on a book by a real member of the group and withstood court suits from other family members of the group.Once I heard a quote,"If it ant't that way,it should have been"and so it is with this film.Released in 1998 and running 150 minutes it was first a TV miniseries and now a DVD.Besides the great music of the Temps,the acting is so fine it's divine. Leon IS David Ruffin and Terron Brooks IS Eddie Kendricks .Everyone else is fine as well.The movie starts out at HS in Detroit and ends with a funeral of a member with a cameo of Smokey singing at the burial.In between is the story of 2 groups members forming what became the temps and all the ups and downs that went with it.You listen to the music and stay for the story.The story only touched briefly on the various infidelities of members while focusing more on the group dynamics and lack there of.My favorite scene was the group stopping down south on a bus tour at a segregated HS dance,complete with a rope across the gym to keep whites and blacks separate while both sides enjoyed the music.Sad to think it was once really like that.
ShaKaarii Melendez
GREAT COMMENTS. love to see most are promising,positive and true to heart comments,as i am watching it again today with a friend on VH-1 and i love it each time it come on.I shall order it finally on DVD this 2011.love it! my teen girl,actually love it just as much as i.she realize what as she say"real music is mommie"she knows! even if i was born not till in the 70s i see what and Understand,being a nyc artist/songwriter myself,know what REAL music is,and beyond the tragedy etc.that real music is the temptation songs throughout,as well as a few other great groups,but they are clearly at the top,RIP to all who have died,as i think 1 is left,so glad they left us with such great musica por vida,siempre...por eternidad.A beyond great film.1 of the best,ever,and i mean EVER done.Period.....so i give it 10 stars easy. adios!
njmollo
The Temptations (1998)This is an very good "bio-pic" about The Temptations. All of the performances are excellent. The performance by Leon as David Ruffin is particularly engaging. While the character of Ruffin is sometimes ugly, the performance by Leon injects sympathy for the man while never being apologetic. Leon is an outstanding talent.The "bio-pic" formula sometimes plays loose with the real history and while The Temptations does have many omissions and distortions these are made possible because the writers really knew their subject.It can be said that this is a revisionist history according to Otis Williams and some scenes do venerate the man, such as his parting scenes with his Mother and Mama Rose. Yet the character of Otis as played by Charles Malik Whitfield is not that sympathetic. He cheats on his wife, fires band members and appears solely interested in the Temptations continued success even at the detriment of those around him.If one aspect of The Temptations is lacking it is with the groups relationship with their hugely talented producer Norman Whitfield. Whitfield only features in the story quite late in the day, when in fact he was a great part of their initial and continued success. A single scene tries to encapsulate, not too unsuccessfully, The Temptation's relationship with their all-important producer but Whitfield is portrayed as no more than a musical pimp, which is unfortunate because he really should be regarded as the George Martin and Phil Spector of R&B production. If there is one single genius attached to the legacy of The Temptations then it is most certainly Norman Whitfield. The director also allows the music to speak for itself and it permeates the whole movie, which is a really good thing. The performance by the actors of famous Temptation performances are very well done. The director also does a very good job at disguising the limited production budget.If you are a fan of Motown and The Temptations then this is an excellent celebration of their music and career. Highly recommended.
mo_price
I loved this movie, I have seen it 3 times. At the end when Smokey Robinson sings "goodbye my buddy, goodbye my friend"..........oh my gosh the tears just roll!!!! I would watch it again. To see these men work so hard to get where they got was so satisfying. ANd the characters looked so much like the real people. I just loved the whole thing....and you could just see the bond that they had. They loved each other, even through the bad times. When David Ruffin fell on hard times, they still loved him. Otis was only looking out for the group, you could see in his face he hated sending him away. SO to the Temptations, may you always be in our hearts..........
