Dirty Laundry (2006)

i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Patrick (Rockmond Dunbar) has created a whole new back-story after leaving his Southern family. Back home after being told to take a leave of absence by his boss, Sheldon (Rockmond Dunbar) finds he has a son and his family is jumping all over him for his Northern elitism.Things get really interesting when Ryan (Joey Costello) shows up, and the family finds out why Sheldon is now Patrick. But, it is still the elitism that bothers them more than his sexual identity.I was having computer problems and tuned into this while I tried to fix them. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed Dunbar's performance. Costello was also good, and they both managed to help out members of the family, while they united with the family.Loretta Devine was great as his momma, Terri J. Vaughn enjoyable as his sister, and Maurice Jamal did a really good job as his brother.It was funny, sweet, and what I really imagine as an accurate portrayal of Black Southern life.

I saw this movie twice this morning, love it already. I love the story line and all the characters were in place. I think the writer/director Jamal did a wonderful job w. his first project out the running gate. I'm not impressed by much, but I do enjoy great films. Wish I had of supported this film on the big screen. (I didn't see any trailers on it) Jamal, be prepared for the haters to roll in...jealous because they don't have anything out there and you did it! It's what every household goes through. I know I did w. my family. As my own cheerleader, I left Mn. to pursue my dream as a filmmaker/writer in Hollywood. I had to do it. I to barely speak w. my family...(just my four kids) Sometimes people don't see your vision and their not supposed to. Your dreams and visions are your and no one else's. But if we don't get away to pursue our dreams you you will slowly die inside. Sometimes we can be our own interruptions.So I say to you, good job Jamal. I hope to meet you soon and work w. you in the near future.AN MAYS

Dirty Laundry was hysterical! It certainly puts you in the mindset of a typical Southern family gathering. There were definitely some hints of Tyler Perry influence.Loretta Devine is always a joy to watch. She carries herself with a great deal of charisma and dignity. Jenifer Lewis is the grand-dam of divas! She carries herself in a manner that dares someone to challenge her authority.Dunbar and Jamal certainly carried themselves in a very classy, self assured manner. The entire cast was well chosen to give an even balance, varied perspectives, and display of skills and talents.I am even more impressed by the boldness of the production team to step out as independents and produce such a powerful product. Bravo! Hope to see more from you!

I got the chance to see a rough cut of writer/director/actor Malcolm Jamal's film at the Castro Theatre during the 2006 San Francisco Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. As an openly gay black man, he lends a particularly unique and contemporary perspective on the Prodigal Son parable with this tale of a class-conscious New York-based magazine writer whose discovery of a ten-year old son leads him back to the family he left behind years ago in his hometown of Paris, Georgia. Those who have seen Cameron Crowe's "Elizabethtown" or Harvey Fierstein's "Torch Song Trilogy" will recognize the fish-out-of-water comedy that dominates the first half of the movie. However, the movie gradually congeals into a more resonant drama of acceptance and forgiveness without foregoing the humor.Despite his bare-bones production budget and a sometimes too facile approach to easy laughs, Jamal has a keen eye for his Deep South setting and especially his characters that manage to sidestep stereotypical treatment. What I particularly like about the family interactions is how Jamal chooses to emphasize the son's elitism that has alienated the family, not as much his sexual orientation. Rockmond Dunbar brings a sympathetic core to the uptight son, Patrick in his current life but Sheldon to his family. However, it's Loretta Devine who shines as his mother Evelyn, a hardened, alcoholic washerwoman who holds her own secrets and rails against her son with fervor. She seizes a great movie moment as she delivers a near-soliloquy at the dinner table near the end. With her foghorn, female-impersonator delivery, veteran scene-stealer Jenifer Lewis plays judgmental Aunt Lettuce with her usual gusto and provides the film's biggest laughs.Most of the cast is terrific - Terri J. Vaughn's supportive sister Jackie, Filipino comedian Alec Mapa as the overzealous metrosexual friend, Sommore's throaty turn as the sassy daughter-in-law, and Jamal's own performance as Sheldon's straight, dim-bulb brother who runs the local butcher shop. The one major fly in the ointment is Joey Costello who comes across far too flighty and naïve as Patrick's partner Ryan. The film has a too-pat though forgivable ending. In a concluding Q&A, Jamal said he just filmed the production in April and is touring this movie in select major cities in special showings through the summer. He hopes for a Christmas release at which point I say check it out. Jamal is a most idiosyncratic comedy talent.