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Filmed over a five-year period… for 4 generations, the Collins family was trapped in urban poverty, depending upon welfare and living in one of the oldest and most dangerous public housing projects in the USA - Chicago’s Henry Horner Homes. Yet, unlike tens of thousands in their situation, they found the community support structures – and internal spirit – to strengthen their family and transcend the economic and social conditions of their lives. Directed by Tod Lending.
H/T to Undercover Blackman (UBM) (aka David Mills), a sometimes commenter on this blog, who, by the way, has also been working with David Simon, the show’s creator, on the the New Orleans-set Treme. UBM also worked on both Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire, as a writer, with Simon. Treme debuts in April 11 on HBO. In short, the post-Katrina cable TV series is about musicians in New Orleans, and is set in (and named after) Treme, a New Orleans neighborhood that is home to many of the city’s musicians. It will “focus on the working class Treme neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.” We saw a teaser trailer a couple of months ago; here’s the first full trailer, although it still plays like a teaser: Continue reading Trailer For HBO’s “Treme” (David Simon’s Follow-Up Series To “The Wire”)
Studios now know for sure that films about the Iraq war don’t deliver at the box office. People don’t want to be reminded about how we f—-d up over there. If the war had been a blazing success we would have had a ton of Iraq war films right now. At least the film is sure to do extremely well overseas since films that make the U.S. look bad are always popular. Our Family Wedding did so-so in about 1500 theaters but that’s sure to drop off quickly once word gets around about it. The rest below…
More than a few people must think he’s a big deal, if the NY Times Profile of him I read this morning, is any indicator. The man apparently has America’s attention, as he plans to take TV, film and the web by storm. Anybody have an opinion on Mr Glover? Seen Mystery Team? Watched him on Community? Any recommendations on what I should watch that features some of his best work?
Actress Elise Neal is 44 years old today. She’s never really had a role that afforded her the opportunity to shine, although she’s been working somewhat consistently since 1992, both in TV, film, and theatre. Her IMDB resume shows that she has 5 projects in development – the most prominent being something called Love Ranch, which stars Helen Mirren, and is directed by Taylor Hackford (Ray). Tamara Tunie is 51 years old today. The Law & Order: SVU co-star’s resume is full of TV work mostly. She’s been on SVU for 10 long seasons (it’s a steady paycheck), and was on As The World Turns from 1987 through 2009. In 2002, she appeared on Fox’s 24 for 6 episodes. Ms Tunie just completed production on her feature film directorial debut – a project titled See You In September, which stars Estella Warren, Sandra Bernhard, and several other white people I’ve never heard of. The trailer follows below. The flick is to be released some time this year. Not sure in what format though. Quincy Jones is 77 years old today. I doubt the man needs much of an intro
We somehow missed this one earlier in the week… but nothing’s definite, so, the news isn’t getting around much. However, I’m sure you all would like to know, if you don’t already. We already know that Mo’Nique tipped her hat to Hattie McDaniel in her Oscar acceptance speech last week Sunday; however, I was made aware just earlier today that she later stated, on her weekly variety show, that she plans to play Hattie McDaniel in a film based on the life of the actress; specifically, her words were, “I own the rights to Hattie McDaniel’s life story & I can’t wait to tell that story, because that woman was absolutely amazing… She had to stand up to the adversity of black and white [society] at a time when we really weren’t accepted. Lee Daniels is going to direct it, of course & I’m going to be Miss Hattie McDaniel. I really hope I can do that woman justice.”
Other titles include Seven Songs for Malcolm X (1993), Martin Luther King: Days of Hope (1997) and The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong (1999). In 1982, he co-founded the Black Audio Film Collective, whose objective was to address issues of Black British identity. In the below 64-minute video, Akomfrah speaks with Alan Marcus for the University of Aberdeen’s Director’s Cut series, about his works, and his use of cinema to explore issues of racial strife and otherness. Click to play:
55 disappeared from a Los Angeles loading dock just days before the ceremony in 2000. All but two were recovered. In 1938, an unidentified man jumped onstage to accept an award on behalf of Best Supporting Actress winner Alice Brady, who was too ill to attend. The man was never seen again — and neither was Brady’s award. In 2002, UPS lost Whoopi Goldberg’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar when it was sent out for cleaning. It was later found in a trash can. And then there’s the case of Hattie McDaniel, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in the 1939 epic Gone With the Wind, making her the first African American to win an Academy Award. But that award has been missing for some 40 years! In the audio report below, NPR investigates… Continue reading The Curious Case Of Hattie McDaniels’ Missing Oscar I went on down to Blockbuster today and some titles asked for you. They all asked for you, well they even inquired about cha….
Hi, I took myself to the movies Wednesday night. I’ve been pretty weary about watching movies lately. I just want that old feeling back. You know when you see something that makes you want to tell everyone you know about it or have a discussion with a friend about it after.
First, let me say that action stories involving drugs and guns don’t usually make my day. Now that you know that you can understand where I am coming from as I review this film. I wasn’t moved. I didn’t dig the slick dialogue or the cop vs. dealers war. Ethan was really good though. Wesley and Don delivered. (you like how I refer to them by their first name only? ) Lela Rochon made a cameo. Shots with the character in focus and the background blurred showed up a few times. The last 30 minutes or so of the film was when it really picked up and this was the only part I really enjoyed. The film had a sort of Life is Hot in Cracktown ending. There were some other good scenes and shots but I won’t spoil them for you. The film was far from amazing but I think those of you who like this scenario will enjoy another film about cops and dealers. One more thing the film did take you into the mind of a cop and why some of them may do what they do (corrupt or reactionary) . For that it was cool and almost made me respect cops a bit more. ha MLM
Synopsis: Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert King spent almost a century between them in solitary confinement in Angola, the Louisiana State penitentiary. They are known as the Angola 3. Herman and Albert are still in solitary confinement after thirty seven years. In the Land of the Free… is a documentary feature narrated by Samuel L Jackson that examines the story of these extraordinary men who appear to have been targeted by the prison authorities for being members of the Black Panther party and because they fought against the terrible conditions and systematic sexual slavery that was rife in the prison. For a history on the Angola 3 and the legal cases, CLICK HERE. Here’s the trailer (h/t E Forde): Continue reading Preview “In The Land Of The Free…” (Documentary On The Angola 3)
BBC’s Mark Coles talks to Keith Shire (who started the London African Film Festival) on the work of Traore, particularly his films which addressed “the politics of women’s position in their societies.” Listen to the interview below, and then watch his 1975 film, Njangaan (The Disciple). The conversation starts at about the 13:20 mark. Continue reading RIP – Senegalese Filmmaker & FESPACO Founder Mahaman Johnson Traore Ya digging it? Yes/no? Continue reading Music Break – New Stuff From J*DaVeY (”Get Together”)
Model, TV host Toccara Jones is 29 years old today. The former America’s Next Top Model contestant has done a little acting for television, with bit parts in Girlfriends and All Of Us. But much of her work since her appearance on ANTM 6 years ago, in 2004, has comprised of mostly reality TV shows, and hosting duties for various BET events and programs. She also continues to model. Rapper/actor Common aka Lonnie Rashid Lynn, is 38 years old today. Rashid was last seen in 2009’s Terminator Salvation, and will next be seen alongside Queen Latifah, and Paula Patton in the romcom Just Wright, which will be in theatres later this year, and in the ensemble comedy, Date Night, out next month.
A new chapter in the Predator franchise, Predators was shot on location under Robert Rodriguez’s creative auspices, and is directed by Nimród Antal. The film stars Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and others as a group of elite warriors who come to realize they’ve been brought together on an alien planet… as prey. They are all cold-blooded killers – mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death squad members – human “predators” that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators. See it in theatres on July 7th. Although if you’re lucky enough to be at SXSW this month, you just might get to see it, because it will screen at the festival in a first-look deal. Watch the 2-minute sneak peak below:
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT: BEYOND HOMOPHOBIA IN BLACK HOLLYWOOD – African American writers, actors, directors, producers, and execs explore LGBT portrayals on TV and film. WHAT: Co-sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West’s Gay & Lesbian Writers Committee and Committee of Black Writers, FLIPPING THE SCRIPT: BEYOND HOMOPHOBIA IN BLACK HOLLYWOOD on Tuesday, March 23rd is set to be a revealing and enlightening look at key issues involving African American gay and lesbian characters on the big and small screens. The evening’s dialogue will explore both positive and negative portrayals of LGBT characters, recurring homophobia (within black society as well as among black filmmakers/producers) that has limited and/or informed such portrayals, stereotyping controversies and contradictions, and positive gains that have been made – and need to continue to be made – within the entertainment industry. Continue reading Beyond Homophobia In Black Hollywood (Event)
“For Luke Cage Noir, it was great to be able to design Cage to look more sophisticated in 1920s attire but still make him fashionable by today’s standards. It was also great to give Luke Cage hair. Today, the standard look for black characters seems to be bald with a goatee,” said Martinbrough, who’s African American by the way. Martinbrough is also thinking about crafting a retro Black Panther Noir series. Let’s see if any movie producer jumps on a Luke Cage Noir film adaptation. I’d see it! You can pick up the hard cover graphic novel at Amazon.com, HERE. Check out the preview images below: Continue reading Get Ready For “Luke Cage Noir” Set In 1920s Harlem
A British film we’ve previously profiled on this blog (read both posts HERE & HERE). It’s called Shank, set in a London of the future, 2015, where the gap between rich and poor has grown to epic proportions and food has replaced drugs and guns as a priceless commodity. Junior (Kedar Williams-Sterling) and his gang the Paper Chaserz trade in “munchies” but stay away from the territory disputes and the violence. A tip-off about a food delivery leads to a conflict with a rival gang and the death of one of their own. Now Junior has to decide whether to stay true to his principles or whether to drag them all into a quest for revenge that could get them killed. Below is a trailer as a reminder, and underneath that is an exclusive clip from the film (it hits UK theatres March 26th; don’t know about elsewhere yet): Continue reading Watch An Exclusive Clip From “Shank” (Futuristic UK-Set Gang Drama) Martin Scorsese in a recent interview on his Frank Sinatra project:
Hmm… an unsanitized Sinatra may not go over well in the Italian American community; as reported by the NY Post, the Sinatra clan ain’t too happy with the direction Scorsese wants to take the film. Specifically, when it was announced last year that the Academy Award-winning director had signed on to direct the life story of Ol’ Blue Eyes, it was stated that Scorsese wanted the film to be “hard-hitting and showcase the violent, sexually charged, hard-drinking Frank.” But Sinatra’s daughter, Tina Sinatra, speaking for the family, would prefer to show “the softer side” of her father, and let “the focus be on the music.” Ya know, I still haven’t seen this. Some trusted sources saw it and told me that I’d be disappointed, so I thought I’d hold off and see it later. Well, it’s later, and I haven’t made the time to see it. So, the below clip means little to me, but it might to those of you who have seen the film: Continue reading “Brooklyn’s Finest” Director Antoine Fuqua Explains Why He Changed The Ending
He’ll be presented with the award next week Wednesday at the ShoWest convention when Karate Kid will also screen for theatre owners. “Jaden Smith is an exceptional young actor who has delivered a true breakout performance with his portrayal of Dre Parker in ‘The Karate Kid,’ ” Robert Sunshine, managing director of the event said. So, what is ShoWest anyway? It’s a movie theater industry trade show established by NATO (The National Association of Theatre Owners) whose members are the owners of the nation’s movie theaters. It’s considered the largest and most important gathering of theatre operators in the world, and a powerful and influential one in the industry too! Congrat’s Jaden! Like I said in a previous post… I predict that Jaden Smith will win an Academy Award before his father does via THR
The film had the potential to be significantly more valuable than what ended up on screen. The premise engages to start with: in its most simplistic form, a young interracial couple (white man/black woman) moves into their first home, right next door to an older black man a (single father) who despises interracial couples of their specific makeup. But it’s much more than that! The screenplay introduces several themes, but, unfortunately, none is really, fully explored. If anything, the original race-based premise as I laid out above takes a back seat to a play on masculinity, as mental and physical confrontations between both men (the white husband played by baby-faced Patrick Wilson, and the black neighbor, played by the harsh-edged Samuel L Jackson) dominate the film. It becomes a kind of chess match between the two, with Jackson’s Abel Turner, having the upper-hand for much of the game. In essence, it’s a power struggle between a white man and a black man, with much more than just a house and a woman on the line. Their entire world, as it exists in the film, and who controls it, is really what’s at stake here. And it could be easy to choose sides based on racial solidarity; but Samuel Jackson’s character is so spiteful to the point of being somewhat unrealistic, that the audience really has no choice but to dislike him. Continue reading Flashback To 2008 – “Lakeview Terrace” Investigated
Critical consensus indicates that it’s not a good movie. It’s scoring an abysmally low 14% on RottenTomatoes.com, with 36 of the 40 critics who’ve seen it, giving it a thumbs down! If you have seen it, or are planning on seeing it, I hope you’ll share your reaction to it with us, right here, below in the comments section. It looks like the weekend will belong to Matt Damon’s Green Zone, which just looks like a 4th Bourne movie, especially with Paul Greengrass’ trademark frenetic visual work. I’ll pass on it as well. Instead, look for my review of Bong Joon-ho’s lauded suspense drama, Mother, which opens in limited release today. I’ll be seeing that some time over the weekend.
One other thing that people who believe she has a huge acting career ahead of her also tend to forget is that, when it comes to who will play the female lead in a film, the final decision is often left to up to the leading man, and let’s be perfectly honest, what actor would want to have Sidibe play his co-star? I can’t see Chris Rock or Will Smith choosing her. And once again, as I’ve said before, if you don’t like what I say then go ahead and revile me, and call me every name in the book. I feed on hate. |
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I’ll admit I’ll be watching HBO’s new ten part series The Pacific, which premieres tonight, because I love films about World War II; but no doubt it’s going to be a major disappointment for me. I’ve read all the rave, ecstatic reviews for the program, and seen clips from it and, unless it’s an oversight which I doubt, the extraordinary and heroic contributions of black soldiers in the Pacific Theater will be totally ignored. The same complaints were made about HBO’s previous WWII series Band of Brothers, about the war in Europe against the Nazis, so you would think that they would have corrected it this time around but…. OOPS! Seems like they forgot again.
According today to gossip columnist Bill Zwecker today in his Chicago Sun Times column, people close to BD are advising her that something needs to be done about her weight, not only for her career but for health issues as well. He states that:
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