Watch Red Hook Summer

Red Hook Summer is an independent drama film released in 2012. It was directed by Spike Lee and written by James McBride. The movie captures the events of a summer in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where a young boy from Atlanta, Flik Royale (Jules Brown), is sent to live with his grandfather, Bishop Enoch Rouse (Clarke Peters), for the first time. Flik is not happy about the arrangement and is known for his iPad, headphones, and cold attitude. He is not thrilled about attending church, where his grandfather preaches as much as he tries to make him feel comfortable.

Bishop Rouse is a local preacher in the Red Hook community who is trying to save his church (Lil' Piece of Heaven Baptist Church) from being taken over by real estate developers. In addition to his duties at the church, Bishop Rouse runs a small shop, where he often spends his time preaching to anyone who walks through the door.

Flik, who is used to the suburban comfort of his life in Atlanta, feels completely out of place in Red Hook. The only person that he gets along with is Chazz Morningstar (Toni Lysaith), a young girl who shows him around the neighborhood and talks to him about his grandfather's past.

As the movie progresses, Flik and Bishop Rouse's relationship takes a turn. They both hold on to secrets that slowly unravel throughout the movie, and this revelation causes some tension between the two. Bishop Rouse is not the perfect Christian that he appears to be, and Flik realizes that he may not be the only one holding secrets.

The movie's themes revolve around family, community, and faith. It explores the differences between generations and the struggle to coexist in a world that is rapidly changing. As Bishop Rouse tries to keep his church alive, he faces many challenges, including the rising gentrification of the neighborhood and his complicated past that resurfaces.

Red Hook Summer features a strong cast, including Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Nate Parker, and Clarke Peters, who portrays Bishop Rouse realistically, with hints of growth and reflections on his life. Jules Brown delivers an impressive performance as Flik, portraying his character's angst and insecurities well. Toni Lysaith's performance as Chazz is vibrant, offering some of the movie's most captivating scenes with her warm and friendly charm.

The cinematography of the movie is exceptional, highlighting the beauty of the neighborhood and creating the perfect atmosphere of a small, tight-knit community living in changing times. Lee does an excellent job of capturing the natural energy and feel of the neighborhood, making the viewer feel like a spectator standing on the sidelines of the action.

The movie's narrative is slow-paced, and the story's threads take some time focusing on the lives of the community before addressing conflicts. Despite being a 121-minute movie, the movie runs smoothly, thanks to the well-structured script.

In conclusion, Red Hook Summer is an emotionally charged and thought-provoking drama that portrays the complexities of family ties, race, religion, and community in a changing society. Spike Lee's film is a moving portrayal of a community at a crossroads and an exceptional addition to the director's impressive catalogue. The movie may not appeal to everyone due to its slow pacing and heavy religious themes, yet it tells a compelling story with strong performances and direction.

Red Hook Summer is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3 and a MetaScore of 48.