Forged by Fire

Author(s): Joshua
Location: NY

"Forged by Fire"

Directed by Spike Lee
Written by Antoine Fuqua
Produced by Spike Lee & Taylor Hackford
Based on the Novel by Sharon Draper

Main Cast

Don Cheadle - Jordan Sparks
Malcolm David Kelley - Gerald
Jada Pinkett Smith - Monique
Diahann Carroll - Aunt Queen
Lauryn Alisa McClain - Angel

Tagline: "Face your Demons"

Synopsis: From the acclaimed novel by Sharon Draper comes Forged by Fire. The film tells the story of Gerald who grew up with his drug addicting mother , Monique. One could say that Monique is a no good mother. She did drugs in front of her son , she yelled and hit him in public and left him alone in the house most of the time. One day Gerald was playing with a lighter he found and accidentally lit the drapes on fire. Help came fast , but Gerald could've died. Gerald is quickly taken away from his mother and put into the care of his elderly Aunt Queen who is disabled, stuck in a wheelchair but she cares for Gerald. She teaches Gerald everything that Monique never did, and Gerald felt happy by her side.

Years have past, and Gerald is in his teens. Aunt Queen is much older and not in good health. One day Gerald noticed she didn't wake up. She had died the night before in her sleep. Gerald, who just lost the one person he cared about in the world now had to go back to the life he once feared. There's no doubt that he wondered if his mother had changed her ways. Once they meet for the first time in years , they don't even hug. Monique wasn't alone. She now had a boyfriend named Jordan Sparks and a daughter , Angel. Gerald found that Angel was very sweet and he didn't mind having a step-sister , but Gerald was very disturbed by Jordan's presence. He reeked of cigarettes and drank all day , plus the drugs. He would demand Monique and Angel around and ignore Gerald. He would also let his fist do the talking. As days went by Gerald couldn't bare to see his mother go through the horror of Jordan. When Gerald found out about Jordan's sexual desires towards Angel , he knew he had to do something. Telling Monique didn't help , all he got was a slap in the face. Monique was clearly blinded by foolish love , So he had to go to the police. Jordan was of course given time. Gerald felt free without Jordan being around , he even saw that his mother was slowing down on her drugs. Gerald joined the basketball team at school and was very sucessful at it. But that happiness wouldn't last long. After months have past , Jordan is out of jail , and is back with Monique. Jordan hasn't changed one bit. He still takes the drugs , the liquor , and he still tries to bribe Angel to sex games. Gerald has had it and in an attempt to make him stop a physical confrantation occurs , leaving one dead.

What the Press would say:

Forged by Fire is clearly one of the best. The cast shines. Don Cheadle is outstanding as Jordan Sparks , a role like no other. He plays a man with no feelings. a man who's only concerned about his needs, and what's worse is that Sparks knows he is hurting lives, but of course one cannot stop the drugs and alcohol over night. Jordan will continue with his anger and will eventually cause his horrible fate. Malcolm David Kelley is remarkable as Gerald , a young boy who grew up feared and confused , and years later had to face those demons once again. But the performances that steal the show are the ones by Jada Pinkett Smith and Diahann Carroll. Jada in a role one couldn't even imagine her in , is great and deserves many recognition, She plays a woman who obviously didn't have a great childhood, she probaly was never loved or cared for as a child, so she treats her own son the same way and meets a man who beats her, but blinded love and fear is the only thing in the way of her breaking it off. The same recognition could be given to Carroll's performance. She is outstanding as Aunt Queen , a elderly woman who showed a young boy how its like to be cared and protected for. Even though she had to be very strict sometimes, she stills manages to give Gerald a life she knew he had never had. Spike Lee once again delivers a triumph.

FYC
Best Picture
Best Director - Spike Lee
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Don Cheadle
Best Actress in a Leading Role - Jada Pinkett Smith
Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Diahann Carroll
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Casting Choice - Jada Pinkett Smith