Passing Strange: The Movie

Director Spike Lee deftly captures a staged performance of the Tony Award–winning rock opera Passing Strange in this highly entertaining feature film. Drawing from his own life story, Stew (born Mark Stewart), front man for the band The Negro Problem, narrates as a versatile combination of actors and musicians act out his travels from South Central L.A. to Europe and back in his quest for “the real.” Stew presents his younger self (Daniel Breaker) as an aspiring bohemian who glimpses another world in music through Franklin (Colman Domingo), the leader of his church choir (De'Adre Aziza, Chad Goodridge, and Rebecca Naomi Jones round out the cast). From there, Stew moves on to pot, punk, acid, speed, sex, and love as he travels, writes songs, and tries on different personas. In the end, Stew's story isn't all that unique, but what makes it special is the eloquent yet also earthy manner in which he tells it. If anything, Stew is harder on himself than most other artists who broke a few hearts—including, in this case, that of his dedicated mother (Eisa Davis)—while pursuing their ambitions. The sets are minimalist, but the lighting is often spectacular, and the music is an appealing mélange of gospel, funk, and pop (and Lee even brings viewers backstage, following the cast during intermission). Highly recommended. (K. Fennessy)