Cast: Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett, Forest Whitaker, Anthony "Treach" Criss, Suzzanne Douglas,
Bokeem Woodbine
Director: Doug McHenry
Producers: Doug McHenry and George Jackson
Screenplay: Bobby Smith Jr.
Cinematography: Francis Kenny
Music: Afrika and Matt Noble
U.S. Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
Doug McHenry's tale of life for an urban black family is an extraordinary achievement, filled with passion, romance, and complex tragedy. Jason's Lyric is not so much a poem as a saga, and there is no part of this motion picture that ever feels contrived or forced.
For those in search of a "real" movie amidst more traditional movie fare, Jason's Lyric is the perfect solution. It packs the emotional punch of Boyz 'N the Hood, has the same unflinching perspective as Menace II Society, and adds to these one of the most heartfelt, genuine romances in recent films. Gone are the fanciful trappings of a Sleepless in Seattle. Jason's Lyric shows how it is when people really fall in love.
This film is about many kinds of love, and the rage and jealousy that often go hand-in-hand with them. Only the strongest of emotions can provoke a violent reaction, and this is a truth that Jason's Lyric illustrates. A common adage states that there's a fine line between l ove and hate. If that's true, the characters in this film cross over and back several times.
Unlike many similarly-themes films, this one does not take place in New York City or Los Angeles. Instead, the setting is Houston. We are introduced to the two young sons of Gloria Alexander (Suzzanne Douglas): Jason (played as an adult by Allen Payne), the elder, and Joshua (played as an adult by Bokeem Woodbine), the younger. As children, the two are forced to defend their mother when their drunken father Maddog (Forest Whitaker) storms into the house in a rage.
A decade and a half later, Joshua has become a criminal and Jason is living life on the "straight- and-narrow." The two could not be more dissimilar, but the ties binding them are stronger than their differences. Until Jason falls in love, that is. The object of his affection is Lyric Greer (Jada Pinkett), the sister of a local drug kingpin (Anthony "Treach" Criss). As soon as Joshua recognizes that this woman could come between his brother and him, he develops an powerful dislike of her.
As rich a story as this is, it would never have attained such an impact without a spate of strong performances. From Bokeem Woodbine, who plays the haunted, angry Joshua, to Forest Whitaker, as a man whose soul was lost in Vietnam, to Suzzanne Douglas, the torn mother, there isn't an instance of weak or sub-par acting. Allen Payne and Jada Pinkett, playing the title characters, possess that rare chemistry that so many screen couples lack. Their interaction drives Jason's Lyric to its inevitable climax.
The cinematography is accomplished, framing every scene effectively, often making the scenery an extra character. When Jason and Lyric have their first tender moment, the nearby lake is as much a part of the moment as the two people. Colored flowers and breezy fields present a contrast to the grit and grime of the inner city.
Whether love is healing or destructive, any giving of this emotion demands opening one's heart, and an open heart can easily be broken. Jason's Lyric is about consequences -- those that come about as a result of trusting, loving, and even living. The result showcases the talent of all involved, and weaves one of 1994's rare unforgettable stories.
© 1994 James Berardinelli