Way back 30 years ago this offbeat musical comedy came out. It was the brainchild of director and screenwriter Spike Lee. Only his second feature film (She’s Gotta Have It was his first in 1986), he has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek as he take on university and fraternity life.
Because this is a Spike Lee joint (that is what it says on the front of the blu-ray) there is plenty of underlying social commentary going on. Within the laughs, singing and dancing. Did really expect anything different? We hear about skin colour, education and hair. So, while there is plenty of laughs and off center stuff happening it is at the same time provocative and challenging of commonly held beliefs.
Keep your eyes peeled as there are plenty of familiar faces amongst the cast. You get Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Jasmine Guy, Ossie Davis, Branford Marsalis, Kasi Lemmons, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kadeem Hardison.
Special Features:
- 2018 Q&A with Spike Lee and select cast and crew members, with some special guests
- Commentary with Spike Lee
- Cast Commentary with Tisha Campbell-Martin, Rusty Cundieff, Bill Nunn, Darryl Bell and Kadeem Hardison
- Three Featurettes:
- “Birth of a Nation”
- “College Daze”
- “Making a Mark”
- Music Videos:
- “Be Alone Tonight” from the Rays
- “Be One” from Phyllis Hyman
- “Da Butt” by EU
