Kings of the Evening

Rating PG Genre drama Starring Tyson Beckford, Glynn Turman, Lynn Whitfield, Reginald T. Dorsey, Bruce McGill, James Russo, Linara Washington, Steven Williams, Lou Myers Directed by Andrew P. Jones Publisher Indican Pictures External Links

“A man can look like a million, even if he doesn’t have dime…” So begins the story of Homer Hobbs, a man looking to start over after two years on a prison chain gang. In a bleak, Depression-era Southern city, Homer arrives with only his meager possessions and the five dollars given to him upon his release. He meets Benny, a hustler who hooks him up with a job and a room at a boarding house. There he’s thrown together with Lucy, a young woman running from her past, Clarence, a down-on-his-luck nobody and Miss Gracie, the despairing owner living with a secret. They eke out an existence, struggling to keep their heads above water. 

On Sunday nights, they shed their worries and head to the social club. The dingy hall offers a chance for a brief escape through dancing as well as the weekly “King of the Evening” contest. To compete, the men of the neighborhood piece together the finest outfits they can beg or borrow and strut across the stage in a serious fashion parade. The winner goes home with the biggest prize of the week as well as the feeling of being royalty. The real prize is the adoration of the crowd, the touch of a woman and the knowledge that they can rise above the bleakness of the Depression, even if it’s only for a brief moment in time.

Tyson Beckford (Zoolander, Biker Boyz) plays Homer. He gives a quietly compelling performance that is simply gorgeous, drawing the sympathy of the audience. We root for him as he struggles with life after prison. Glynn Turman(Men of Honor, How Stella Got Her Groove Back) shines as Clarence, a down-and-out man who longs to be somebody, to find his way. Linara Washington(Stranger Than Fiction, The Express) impresses as Lucy, a woman on the edge because she can’t outrun her past. The whole cast is simply wonderful, each one of them giving outstanding performances. 

Written and directed by Andrew P. Jones (Ghosts of Belgrave Hall, “Field Trip”) Kings is loosely based on the tradition of the oswenkas, an event in South Africa where men compete in a style and fashion contest in spite of their impoverished conditions. Jones co-wrote the screenplay with his father, award winning author and screenwriter, Robert Page Jones (That Man George). This story is at once bleak, but slowly the hope begins to appear, like peeling the layers away to uncover a treasure. It is a tight drama, well-written, with raw, honest dialogue. 

Kings is a masterfully shot film, the cinematography engaging from the opening shot right through to the end. The camera serves as a storyteller, taking the audience into the lives of these men and women. It does not feel like watching a movie at times, it feels as though we are part of the tale, experiencing everything right along with the characters.

I highly recommend this film. It is a loving, haunting snapshot of Depression-era America that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. It opened June 18th in Chicago and opens July 23rd in California.