Get on the Bus

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This article is about the 1996 film. For the Destiny's Child song, see Get on the Bus (song).

Get on the Bus

Directed by	Spike Lee
Produced by	Spike Lee
Written by	Reggie Rock Bythewood
Starring	Richard Belzer De'aundre Bonds Andre Braugher Thomas Jefferson Byrd Gabriel Casseus Albert Hall Hill Harper Harry J. Lennix Bernie Mac Wendell Pierce Roger Guenveur Smith Isaiah Washington Ossie Davis Charles S. Dutton
Music by	Terence Blanchard
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	October 16, 1996 (USA)
Running time	120 min.
Language	English
Budget	$2,400,000
IMDb profile

Get on the Bus is a 1996 film about a group of African-American men who are taking a cross-country bus trip in order to participate in the Million Man March. The film was directed by Spike Lee and premiered on the one-year anniversary of the march.

1 Plot
2 Trivia
3 Additional cast
4 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The trip begins in Los Angeles, California and ends in Washington, DC where the March is being held.

The members of the group are:

George (Charles S. Dutton), the bus driver and trip organizer
Jeremiah (Ossie Davis), a downsized senior citizen who is an expert on African-American history
Evan and Evan Jr. (Thomas Jefferson Byrd and De'aundre Bonds), an estranged father and son who are court ordered to be shackled together after Junior's arrest for petty theft
Kyle and Randall (Isaiah Washington and Harry J. Lennix), a gay couple in the midst of breaking up
Flip (Andre Braugher), a self-centered actor
Gary (Roger Guenveur Smith), a police officer who is half black
Xavier (Hill Harper), a UCLA Film School student who is making a documentary
Jamal (Gabriel Casseus), a former gangster turned Muslim seeking redemption
Jay (Bernie Mac), a black bubble gum company owner
Mike (Steve White), a member of the Nation of Islam
Craig (Albert Hall), the bus driver

Along the way, the men get to know each other and discuss various topics including their personal lives, their political beliefs and even the O.J. Simpson murder case. The stately Jeremiah reveals that after he lost his job, he became an alcoholic and eventually lost his family. He hopes the March will revitalize him and inspire him to turn his life around. Evan Jr., who fancies himself as a gangster named 'Smooth', manages to escape from his father at one point. In a visual reference to African-American slavery, he is running through the woods with his chains still attached. Evan Sr. finds Junior and realizes that he ran away from his son. He expresses regret and promises to make a sincere effort to be there for Junior.

Kyle is a Gulf War veteran who reveals that he was purposely shot by his own platoon because of his race and sexual orientation. Being gay, African-American and Republican, he feels persecution from all sides which has made him bitter. Although they are having problems in their relationship, Randall, tries to comfort his lover. But the homophobic Flip fuels their anger with his anti-gay rants. Flip seems more concerned with boasting of his sexual prowess and getting a film role opposite Denzel Washington than the purpose of the March. A heated argument between Flip and Randall turns violent when Flip punches Randall. In the resulting fistfight, Randall is victorious and Flip is embarrassed. Flip also picks on Gary. Gary's very light complexion and his profession has often made him a target of resentment from other African-Americans. He was inspired to become a policeman after his father was killed by a gangster. He questions whether Jamal can truly change his ways. Since his conversion to Islam, Jamal works with children in his community to prevent them from joining gangs. In a tense conversation, the two debate over the causes of gang violence and the limits of repentance and forgiveness. When Jamal reveals that he committed murder and rape in his past, Gary states that he intends to arrest Jamal when they return to Los Angeles. Xavier captures as much as he can on his camcorder but the group often dismisses the earnest amateur filmmaker as "Spike Lee Jr." The level-headed George acts as sort of a referee and a counselor throughout the trip.

During the trip the bus breaks down and the group board a new bus. The new driver is Rick (Richard Belzer), who is Jewish. Eventually, he feels the need to speak out against Louis Farrakhan's Anti-Semitic statements. Rick talks about his parents' and other Jews' participation in the Civil Rights Movement but some members of the group fight back using Jewish stereotypes. At a rest stop, Rick quits the trip in protest telling George: "I wouldn't expect you to drive a bus to a Klan meeting." George drives the bus for the rest of the trip, with help from Evan Sr. who, while not licensed a bus driver, has experience driving trucks.

The group meet various people at rest stops including fellow travelers, White American Southerners (who, to the group's surprise, are friendly) and women (with whom Flip tries to flirt). At a diner, the group meets Wendell (Wendell Pierce), a Lexus salesman whom they invite to join them. While driving through Tennessee, the bus is pulled over by state troopers (Randy Quaid in an uncredited cameo) and searched with drug-sniffing dogs. The subtly racist incident triggers Wendell to reveal himself as a self-loathing bigot who only hopes to make business deals in Washington. He is physically thrown off the bus.

As the bus approaches Washington, DC, Xavier discovers Jeremiah slumped over and unconscious in his seat. They rush him to a hospital and watch the beginning of March on television as they await word on Jeremiah. A doctor later informs the group that Jeremiah has died of heart disease. The men are shocked and saddened by Jeremiah's death. They end up watching the rest of the March from the hospital. George tells the men that the March should be seen as merely the beginning of a larger movement.

[edit] Trivia

In an effort to reflect the spirit of the March, the budget for the film was financed entirely by contributions from wealthy African-American men. Among the contributors were Will Smith, Danny Glover, Wesley Snipes, Robert Guillaume, Charles D. Smith and Johnnie Cochran.

Although Louis Farrakhan headed the Million Man March and is talked about throughout the film, he is seen only very briefly from the back in the archive footage of the March.

The end credits song, "On The Line", is composed by Babyface, sung by Michael Jackson and was recorded for this movie. It wasn't part of the soundtrack CD and later versions were released only on a special edition boxset for Michael Jackson's "Ghosts" (1997), and then again on his limited edition boxset "The Ultimate Collection" (2004).