A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey.
Forest Whitaker
Reverend Cornell Cobbs
Angela Bassett
Aretha Cobbs
Jennifer Hudson
Naima
Tyrese Gibson
Loot / Tyson
Jacob Latimore
Langston
Mary J. Blige
Platinum Fro
Nas
Street Prophet (Isaiah)
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Pawnbroker
Grace Gibson
Maria / Mary
J. Mallory McCree
Kyle
Rotimi
Officer Butch McDaniels
Michael Dale
Innkeeper
Doug Willen
Chic Man
Henry Hunter Hall
Snoopy
Marija Abney
Nativity Dancer
Jevon McFerrin
Bus Singer #2 (uncredited)
Amyrh Harris
Church Goer (uncredited)
Paugh Shadow
Bethlehem / Modern Day Thug Hallucination (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Kasi Lemmons
Theatre Play
Langston Hughes
May 2, 2021
6
I was, for the most part, feeling pleasant enough about this... until that ending.
It's not that <em>'Black Nativity'</em> ends badly, it's just so incredibly forced and cringeworthy. It's a Christmas film so I guess I could cut it some slack, but I feel it could've concluded things much better. Some of the character decisions felt odd at times, also.
One of the reasons as to why I was actually finding this satisfactory throughout is the cast - loads of recognisable and likeable faces. Forest Whitaker (Cornell) is honestly great, his performance is the only one I'd class as anything over 'good'. Jacob Latimore (Langston) and Angela Bassett (Aretha) are the best of the rest, though I always like watching <em>'Fast & Furious'</em> star Tyrese Gibson act too.
All in all, nothing positive or negative... just average.