Jamel
Shabazz: Street Photographer (2013/Oscilloscope DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B- Film: B
PLEASE
NOTE: This release is a limited edition; only 500 have
been produced!
Highlighting
the work of an incredible New York photographer, Jamel Shabazz, Jamel
Shabazz: Street Photographer (2013) highlights his incredible
work that captures life in New York in the 1980's and the originality
and look of the feel in the infancy of the Hip Hop movement. This
edition of the film features an incredible fold out paper cover that
features some of Shabazz's images and new extras thanks to our
friends at Oscilloscope Entertainment.
Directed
by Charlie Ahearn (Wild Style, reviewed elsewhere on this
site) the film pays tribute to both Shabazz and those who defined
hip-hop before it had definition. More than just vintage shots of
kids rocking sneakers and savvy street style in Times Square and Fort
Greene Park, Shabazz's photographs have hundreds of stories behind
them. Ahearn's film gives voice to these images with intimate
interviews with Shabazz himself, graffiti pioneer and hip-hop
historian Fred ''Fab 5 Freddy'' Brathwaite, legendary rapper KRS-One,
and many others.
The
sharply made film features hundreds of great interviews some
featuring Shabazz himself and those who love and appreciate his work
from all walks of life. It succeeds in telling an interesting story
along with several fun anecdotes and gives it viewer a true
appreciation for life in New York.
Presented
in standard definition, the film looks and sounds fine for the DVD
format with a 1.33:1 full frame aspect ratio and a lossy 2.0 Dolby
Stereo track.
Special
Features include...
New
extras by director Charlie Ahearn
Ahearn
talks Shabazz
Jamel
Shabazz reflects on his photos
Outtakes
from the film: Jamel Shabazz, Fred Brathwaite, James Van Der Zee and
The Source, and a graffiti mural homage to the photographs
Collectible
case and slip cover.
The
film has a lot of heart and great imagery. If you are a Hip Hop fan
or even just an appreciator of great photography, then this is worth
a look.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
