Feature film of renowned gospel musical Black Nativity gets mixed reviews

THE FEATURE film based on the 1960s stage play by Langston Hughes, Black Nativity, which played a major part in the expansion of popularity of African-American gospel music, has received mixed reviews. Wrote the StarTribune newspaper, "The film miscalculates by planting this African-American interpretation of the nativity story at the centre of an angsty, troubled-teen melodrama that, from mean-streets prologue to Christmas Eve climax, simply fails to inspire belief. Still, its faith-based thrust and highly marketable musical elements should connect with viewers inclined to welcome the momentary transformation of their movie theatre into a church - specifically, a black Baptist church energetically presided over by the Rev Cornell Cobbs (Forest Whitaker), one of the principal characters in this fractious family drama."

A soundtrack album of the movie has been released by RCA Records. It features performances by Jennifer Hudson, Mary J Blige, Jacob Latimore, Forest Whitaker, Tyrese Gibson and others. CR

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