Bobby Womack: Across 110th Street

‘When you hear Bobby Womack, there’s such a mixture of heaven and hell coming at you.’ Pertinent words from Chuck D and this documentary does a good job of illuminating the myriad twists and turns of an extraordinary life.

Womack has always followed his instincts, with far-reaching consequences. He gave up the church for the nightclub. He outraged the black community by taking up with Sam Cooke’s wife shortly after the soul legend died. He even went country at the height of disco.

Still, he’s a survivor and, as the interview segments of this film suggest, a wise and witty one at that. Other testimonies to his genius come from Ronnie Wood, Damon Albarn and his daughter who, it seems, we can thank for his recent comeback. Good, solid Friday night entertainment.