Conceived as a television miniseries, this portrait of the epochal Motown vocal group scores as one of the most detailed re-creations of the '60s pop milieu ever filmed. Told largely through the eyes of founding member Otis Williams (Charles Malik Whitfield), The Temptations portrays its protagonists as soul Everymen whose early triumphs closely followed, and helped expand, Motown Records' emergence as "the Sound of Young America," providing an inspirational fable for black Americans.
Inevitably, of course, the story is also a cautionary tale about the price of success for both the Temps and their mentor, Motown founder Berry Gordy (Obba Babatunde). With hit records and tours, Williams and his partners grapple with drugs, alcohol, depression, jealousy, and delusions of grandeur. In particular, the galvanic lead singer David Ruffin (Leon) serves as both a focal strength and potential destroyer for the group, as his ego combines with a mounting cocaine habit to create a monster. At the same time, Gordy's eventual decision to leave his and the label's home, Detroit, for Los Angeles marks a loss of innocence for the group and their label-mates. The film provides ample insider detail about how the former Ford assembly-line worker created and controlled his unique hit factory.
Based on the biography coauthored by Williams and former manager Shelly Berger, the project gets a vital boost from behind the camera, thanks to executive producer Suzanne DePasse, herself a former Motown exec, and director Allan Arkush (Rock 'n' Roll High School). That lineage probably pulls some punches in terms of individual characters and Gordy's machinations, but it also affords The Temptations its convincing detail, as does the generous running time--a mixed blessing, due to the original two-part broadcast, which might have benefited from tightening for this video version. Giving the show its greatest kick are the group's original hits, performed and choreographed convincingly in lip-synched sequences. --Sam Sutherland
2.
Musically oriented filmmaker Allan Arkush directs this fine biopic which tracks the legendary career of The Temptations. One of R&B's most influential, revered bands, the five men enjoyed overnight success and helped define the Motown period. Like many other success stories, though, this one has a dark side -- with self-destructive impulses and personal problems threatening to destroy the band's reign. In addition to capturing the drama of the group's rise and fall, THE TEMPTATIONS features eight of the classic songs which made them legendary, including "My Girl," "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone," and "Get Ready."
3.
the unforgettable story of one of Motown's hottest acts.
They were a rhythm and blues sensation, five singers who created a sound and style that redefined the boundaries of popular song. But there was a price to be paid for their meteoric rise, and when the pressures of staying in the spotlight became too great to bear, egos flared, giving rise to rivalries that threatened to tear them apart forever. But through it all, from tragedy to triumph, The Temptations forged a musical legacy that brought a country together - and audiences to their feet.
Features eight classic Motown songs including:
My Girl
(I Know) I'm Losing You
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
Ball of Confusion
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Get Ready
Just My Imagination
Cloud Nine
Includes the never-heard-before debut song by Smokey Robinson, "I'm Really Going To Miss You."
Mooviees.com is not the official site for this film.
All editorial views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only.
<>
Movie Database
In Theaters
