The Jacksons - An American Dream (The Complete Miniseries) (1992)
The Jacksons - An American Dream (The Complete Miniseries) (1992)
The Jackson’s - The American Dream
This review is from: The Jacksons - An American Dream [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This movie…. is the movie for all ages. My kids love it. When I first saw this movie I fell in love with it. I had tape both parts had it for years, then it got lost. I took it over to someon’s house and they could never find it. I’ve always tried to tape it again but never had the opportunity to do so. Evey character is this movie was casted well. I was not disappointed at no time.
This movie is a classic, and all Black Americans should have this movie in their homes. I would like to get my hand on the video for purchase, but every-where I go says that it’s not availible. Why?, I do not know. This movie should be in high demand. Why doesn’t the publisher make more availible to us. Why is it that this particular video is hard to get a hold of? If anyone out there, publisher, someone that has knowledge to how I could get a hold to this video, please let me know. I would really appreciate it. I’ve been looking off and on for about 3years, so if you know anything please e-mail me with the information.
Entertaining and well acted family bio
Joe Jackson had dreams as a young man. He wanted to be a boxer and musician and go to California. But he got his girlfriend, Katherine, pregnant and he did the honorable thing–he married her. He tabled his dreams for his family, working in the steel mills of Gary, Indiana, to put foood on the table. A religious and principled man (the Jacksons were Jehovah Witnesses), he took family seriously and since he didn’t believe in birth control or abortion, he had a lot of kids–9 altogether. On occasion he was brutal–but if any of you are parents, can you imagine how brutal you might get having 10 people depending on you?
Gossip and badmouthing from the kids paint Joe Jackson as a tyrant–and he may have some very large flaws–but one thing is very clear: he never abandoned his family. He transformed his dreams to fit the talent of his children and took all of them out of a probable bleak destiny in Gary to the height of world recognition. I’m amazed by that, frankly.
This movie is definitely worth watching for many reasons. Though poor, this was a close knit family smothered in love and support by both parents. Angela Bassett is touching as usual, all mothery and love, but able to stand up to Joe when he gets a little too tough with the boys. Her children are still devoted to her. Lawrence Tillman as Joe Jackson gives a multi-dimensioned father. Proud of his children, a stern taskmaster, a visionary–as much a visionary as Berry Gordy–a family man who is complex and flawed. I loved the scene at the Apollo where he embraces Michael and gets off to his children performing Twist and Shout. We also see the music business during the Motown Age and the inner workings of Berry Gordy’s Motown at the height of its success. Now Billy Dee Williams gives Gordy way too much sex appeal…but I enjoyed the charm anyway.
The boy who played preteen Michael was simply adorable and highly talented as singer and dancer. His singing of Kansas City and Twist and Shout in the first half had me moving. The second half, when the family is breaking up as Michael’s star ascends was somewhat painful. The father loses control over his creation, Hollywood values destroy family unity, Katherine suffers from empty nest. But what an achievement.
I loved the fact that this is 4 hours long–it’s like a good book you don’t want to end. No doubt this story will be retold in fuller detail, but I suspect that story would take 8 hours. I’m looking forward to it.