Monday, December 31, 2012

Black Savant Cinema's Fave Films of 2012


With the 2012 just hours away from being in the wind, Hollywood cinema has definitely made its mark. It should be easy to think about one movie that stays on your mind, whether good or bad. And in good fashion here are a few of Black Savant Cinema's most remembered films of 2012.

The Avengers
What's not to like when you put together a massive superhero team?!! This was the perfect movie to start my summer, as a matter of fact I had to see it twice in the theater!! I guess that's the superhero nerd in me.

The Dark Knight Rises
And just like The Avengers was a great way to start my summer movie experience, well The Dark Knight Rises was the perfect film to close out my summer movie experience. It was dark, moving, action-filled, emotional, stunning, and jaw-dropping just to name a few things. Nolan's last piece to the Dark Knight puzzle was brilliant. 

Middle of Nowhere
Amazing!! Spellbinding!! Touches your soul!! DuVernay's independent film gives Hollywood cinema hope that there are still good movies that exist. It's a story of love lost, trust, self-determination, and dreams!! This film gives you the total package acting, perfect storyline, passion, and a heart-breaking drama.

Django Unchained
Since this is still in the theaters I will keep my thoughts minimal. I will simply say this film is simply... BAAAADASSSS!! See for yourself.

Flight
Probably Denzel's best performance to date. The man has skills and he continues to prove this fact with each film that he stars in. 

Marley
Here is a documentary that paints a beautiful picture of musical icon, Bob Marley. A refreshing and fantastic biopic. As a viewer we get to see the good, bad, and ugly all in one masterpiece!

Central Park Five
An indie documentary that puts the New York legal system on blast. 
"This film is a powerful, clear-eyed look at the facts that ultimately reveal the way that these boys--and they were young boys-- were screwed." ~Ken Burns

Beast of the Southern Wild
By far one of the best films that I saw in 2012. This indie film tells the story of a little girl's survival to just be herself in another man's world. You will not get through this movie without shedding a tear or two. This fantasy-filled adventure story is a 'diamond in the rough' that Hollywood desperately needed!

Silver Linings Playbook
Life can really be interesting, especially for former mental institution patient Pat. This film takes us on a journey with Pat as we see him try to piece his life back together, despite the challenges that are presented in front of him. 

Cloud Atlas
A film that will make you think, step outside your reality, and reflect how the consequences and actions of one person can impact and change the past, present, and future.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Another book saga has come to an end...so whose team will we be on no, since there is no more Team Edward or Team Jacob...New life, new birth, new powers, new problems to face.

Life of Pi
Ang Lee has done it one again with this fantasy, adventure film. Roger Ebert said it best, Life of Pi is "a miraculous achievement of storytelling and a landmark of visual mastery."

Skyfall
For all that know me, 007 might as well be my code name! Daniel Craig and the Bond series rise to the occasion again. Action, mystery, death, new beginnings, laughter all take place in this one film. If you missed out on this one definitely get it at the Redbox or watch on Netflix.

Argo
"Tense, exciting, and often darkly comic, Argo recreates a historical event with vivid attention to detail and finely wrought characters."

Zero Dark Thirty
Oscar-winning director-producer team of Kathyrn Bigelow and Mark Boal have done it again with this American action-thriller. The film is simply a story of American soldiers efforts to capture or kill one of the world's most wanted men Osama bin Laden. 


These are just a few of my faves! What are some of yours?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Django Unchained: A Story Worth Revisiting!!


Prior to watching this film I was very much on the fence as to whether or not I was going to see it. However, once I saw it there was no question, this was a movie to see. Despite all the controversy and the overwhelmingly one-sided critics Quentin Tarantino's tenth directed film Django Unchained is right on the money. It might be one of his best yet. This is a film that has many roles to captivate, cultivate, amaze, shock, and everything in between.

Django Unchained is movie that is your typical American spaghetti western film, entertaining, funny, and even educational. It was obvious that Tarantino and his team clearly did their research with this film, as the viewer is presented with the subject of slavery right smack in your face (check out the actual/authentic masks that the slave had to wear). Not only do we see a clearly painted picture of the institution of slavery, but the film addressed specifically slave trading, code-switching, prostitution, and mandingo fighting. Even though the film is filled with violence and gore (at moments enough to make you cringe) one has to realize the context of the film...and let's not forget the fact that it is Tarantino's style...IJS.

This is not simply a story about a former slave who is trying to rescue his long lost wife and seek revenge towards her slave master, this is a game of winner take all, literally. Sometimes you have to go for the gold, "by any means necessary". And just in Tarantino style the writing is over the top brutal, genius and hilarious. A movie clearly written on his own terms. His style of dialogue and perfect scenery is a true trademark of a fine filmmaker. Grant it I will admit there are moment where the film comes off botchy and stagnant, but not enough to ruin the film. Interestingly the film has a running time of 165 minutes, however it actually moves quite swiftly.
 

Thankfully with this film Tarantino and the casting director offer a great balance of actors. Each character in this film contributed a great deal to the success of this film. Obviously each actor really had to step outside of who they are as an individual in order to play their respective roles. The acting is actually quite stellar. They truly make you believe them from the talk, walk, and dress!! He pulled out the big guns with this one. I even got chills watching them it was just so real. (Also the fact that the main part of the movie took place not to far from where my family is from, Greenville, MS.)

Playing the lead role of Django Freeman, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx delivers on all levels playing this former slave. Clearly playing a character like Django for Foxx is not easy, it is actually very evident and fitting. It actually makes the role seem more real. His discomfort adds to the authenticity. With this character Foxx walks a very thin line between sadistic and empathetic. It takes a special character to play this role and I think Foxx embodies it well (maybe it was a good thing Will Smith turned it down, not sure I would be convinced seeing him play Django). And then here come the high rollers. Now you gotta love a character who is a former German dentist turned bounty hunter, Dr. King Schulz (Christoph Waltz). This is definitely a standout role for him, nailing every nuance of his complex, obsessive character. Opposite of character personality is Calvin Candie (aka Monsieur Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who is ruthless plantation owner and slave master. In this role DiCaprio is delightfully vicious and strangely comfortable in his role...kinda of scary. Both Schulz and Candie are quite impressive and add the perfect touch to what the film needed.


Now what would a film be without an uppity negro slave, and Samuel L. Jackson fills the role perfectly. Jackson's role in this film is brilliant, think of him as an extreme Uncle Ruckus character. Here he plays the quintessential "Uncle Tom".  Jackson truly nailed this role. I have never had such a love hate relationship for a character like Stephen since Denzel Washington in Training Day. It is as though in a weird and twisted way, he appeared to be enjoying playing the role, almost borderline parody-like. And then there is the dame. Although her role is the driving force of the main character Django, Broomhilda (played by Kerry Washington) what we get to see of her acting wise is rather limited. She is actually rather riveting maybe even dreamlike. Through Washington's character we get to see the dynamics of the house and field slave and those who are there simply for pleasure sake. You feel her pain, her passion, and her love and devotion for Django.


As you will see there are several big names, but many of the characters in this film are not veterans. And that is ok sometimes the veterans do not need to outnumber the rookies. In this case with many of the actors having limited roles it makes the viewer really appreciate and pay attention to each interaction. Little words can be just as significant as several words. And for all my folks who have seen the original Django (1966) film, you will be pleased to see a cameo appearance from the main man himself, Franco Nero.

Overall with a great script and a close to perfect cast, the only thing left to be mesmerized and entertained with is the cinematography and the musical score. The scenery is absolutely amazing and scarily beautiful. I can only imagine what it felt like to walk on the plantations in the steps of former slaves and slave masters. The spirit of the ancestors I'm sure loomed over on a daily basis. The score and soundtrack is just as stunning. As a whole is quite classic using such songs as Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "La Corsa", and Ennio Morricone's "Sister Sara's Theme". And the icing on the cake, it's nothing like watching a fighting scene and hearing Tupac and Rick Ross...oh how fitting!! When you hear you will know exactly what I am talking about, trust me.

Hopefully people will not just believe the hype and truly make their own opinion about this film. To be honest, it is a perfect discussion starter regarding such issues as the use of the 'n-word' (if you really think about it the use of the 'n-word' in the film is actually more historically correct than in previous Tarantino films), double consciousness (wearing the mask, the veil), drapetomania, and the unique science of phrenology (measurement of the skull). And speaking as someone who is an African American woman there was no point in the film where I felt disrespected or made to look like a fool. I imagine the goal of this film is not to bring or keep Blacks down, but rather to re-introduce a myth/story of a classic narrative to make us aware of what DID happen over some 300+ years ago. Anytime when a film deals with such a controversial and touchy topic as slavery there is always this feeling that it is a conspiracy from "the man".

Slavery is a reality!! You can run from it, but there is no hiding the truth. Tarantino said it best in the 2007 The Daily Telegraph, "I wanted to do movies that deal with America's horrible past with slavery and stuff but do them like spaghetti westerns, not like big issues movies. I want to do them like they're genre films, but they deal with everything that America has never dealt with because it's ashamed of it, and other countries don't really deal with because they don't feel they have the right to."
   
Sometimes it really is just simply a movie. One thing that I will say is that Tarantino is one exceptional genius! Django Unchained is a point blank awesome and brilliant film! A definite must see folks! [Oh by the way the 'D' is silent :-) ]


Rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Happy Holidays from Black Savant Cinema!!


Season's Greetings, Merry Christmas
Happy Kwanzaa
Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays!!


From Black Savant Cinema!! Enjoy and Be Safe!!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Who ya gonna call?!..."Get Jack Reacher!!"

Well what a way to start off the holiday movie season. Nothing like a good Tom Cruise action flick. Going into this flick I really did not have any expectations, just hoping for a solid flick. And it was just that a good, solid flick! It always amazes me how good a film can be when the military is involved, it just seems to make the plot and storyline even more engaging.

So we have Jack Reacher, "A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained  military sniper who shot five random victims." Now that's a whole lot in one statement...

This action thriller is nothing that we have not seen from any other films, it is just that "it brings that ol' thing back'. Nothing like seeing something familiar, but just amped up to the next level. Now let me say this is not "Mission Impossible", nor James Bond but it will keep you entertained and glued to the screen. However, it is an excellent mix between an ideal action and thriller film in its own unique way.

So let's get to the thick of it, Tom Cruise who plays main character Jack Reacher is based on a series of novels from author Lee Child. Reacher is an ex-Military Police detective who pretty much lives as a gypsy and or vagabond and has been summoned to come into town to help investigate five sniper shootings.

Living as a drifter, and after spending a lifetime on military bases all over the world he now lives a life with no responsibilities, no job, no house, no family, no possessions. Now the only problem here is that the character that Tom Cruise is portraying (Jack Reacher) is actually 6'5'' and 250 lbs...hmmm well you can do the math. Despite that slight flaw he did do the character justice.


Then we have supporting actors Rosamund Pike (Helen) who plays the female lead and attorney in charge of the investigation. I will say this if you are expecting some type of fling think again, let's just say the romance is kept to an all-time low. To be honest her presence in the film is nothing more than to fill the role of 'bait' and to some 'eye candy'. Her character allows Reacher (Cruise) to bounce off ideas and provide the missing links to the puzzle. And with features from rising actor David Oyelowo and veterans Robert Duvall, Robert Jenkins, and known director Werner Herzog (who makes an appearance) there is a lot of flavor added to the stew. As you watch this film, you will be mesmerized with each scene wondering who is talking to who, or who is coming around the corner. Nothing is expected at all. There is just so much to say about this film, but NO SPOILERS!!

Now as far as the plot goes, the story grabs you from the beginning...trust me!! I will say though, there were moments when it seemed a bit slow and dragged along, but in the end it did seem to come together. At times a a bit cheesy, but overall a decent plot, and believable acting. Each action scene whether a car chase, a fight scene, or a shoot out is vivid enough to not hit the border of being to cliche'. With a cohesive plot and a good mix of characters this could lead to a promising franchise.

What I really liked about this film was that you were always guessing about what would be the next move. Just when you think you knew who the bad guy was, you quickly changed your mind. Even with the CGI the film does not rely on the special effects, in a way it kind of has an old school feel to it. And let me just say Tom Cruise seems to never age, but I guess that's a good thing. (Let the money roll in for ya.) I just may have to read the books....hmmm if time allows lol.

Jack Reacher is the type of solid movie that will make you laugh, keep you on your toes, and make you think twice about the characters next move. Cruise definitely does not disappoint with this one. So go ahead and check it out!

Happy Holidays!!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 stars

Friday, December 21, 2012

One more for you to catch on Netflix...


Just in case you missed it in the theaters Spike Lee's summer joint 'Red Hook Summer' is now streaming on Netflix. Check it out if you can. An intriguing, controversial film.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Next on the docket for Tyler Perry... "Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor"


Temptation: Confession of a Marriage Counselor is a comedy-drama that tells the story of a bold exploration of the intrigue and perils of infidelity.

Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor is a compelling love story that dives straight into the heart of obsessive passion. “It's about a woman who starts to get restless in her relationship and her choice to be with another man has a huge effect on the rest of her life," explains screenwriter/producer/director Tyler Perry. "She goes on a journey – in her career and in her marriage – and she ends up in a very different place than she expected." In a departure from his previous dramas, this explosive film finds Perry exploring the nature of desire – and just how powerful and dangerous a taste of the forbidden can be. 

"This is definitely one of the most provocative movies – sexually and otherwise – that I've made," says the director. "There are a lot of people who struggle in their relationships. They make bad choices about their marriages. They get divorced. And so many of them don't step out of their situation and really think about the consequences of what they're doing. This movie asks, 'Are you sure you want to do this?’ It sends up a flag." 

This star-studded cast includes Lance Gross, Brandy Norwood, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Vanessa Williams, Jerry Stiller, Kim Kardashian, and others.

The film is set to hit theaters March 29th, 2013.


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Some Flicks to watch on Netflix!!


So just in case you are having the winter blues or you just cannot quite make it to the movie theater here are some flicks on Netflix that you may want to consider...


First up is Brooklyn Boheme...this film is "a love letter to a vibrant African American artistic community who resided in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill Brooklyn during the 80's and 90's that included the great Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Branford Marsalis, Rosie Perez, Saul Williams, Lorna Simpson, Talib Kweli just to name a few."

The documentary celebrates "'Brooklyn's equivalent of the Harlem Renaissance' and follows the rise of a new kind of African American artist, the Brooklyn Boheme."




Next is a film that for my folks interested in a comprehensive history of cinema, The Story of Film: An Odyssey (I warn you it is rather lengthy, but definitely worth...you may not want to watch it all in one sitting).

"The Story of Film presents the history of the movies in a way never told before. Director and film critic Mark Cousins uses weaving personalities, technology, and production with engaging descriptions of ground breaking scenes to tell the story."



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And finally...A Man's Story: The Ozwald Boateng Story chronicles the life London-born (Ghanaian decent) Saville Row designer Ozwald Boateng. Boateng is a designer who has dressed for such male celebs as Spike Lee, Don Cheadle, Russell Crowe, Chris Rock, Daniel Day Lewis, Will Smill, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Wesley Snipes, among others.

A Man's Story is a film with a message of faith and hard work combined can help one to achieve their dreams.
A Man's Story Trailer from Trinity film on Vimeo.

And these are just a few of the streaming films on deck!! So if you don't have Netflix now you may want to purchase or borrow the membership!! It's worth every penny!!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Sci-Fi Film Explosion


It appears that Sci-fi flicks are becoming very popular these days in the film industry. British star Idris Elba is set play a role in the new fast-paced sci-fi thriller, Pacific Rim. The film is directed by Guillermo del Toro and set in San Francisco.

Pacific Rim a film set in a world where soldiers piloting giant robots battle against giant monsters who have mysteriously risen from beneath the ocean. The film will be an homage to Japanese giant monster films, known as Kaiju worldwide. according to del Toro the film will be "a beautiful poem to giant monsters."

Adding movies such as this one to his resume are reasons why Idris Elba remains an actor that is constantly on the watch list.

Think of this film as Transformers meets Cloverfield...Pacific Rim is set to hit theaters July 12th, 2013. Another potential box-office hit for the summer!!


G-Breezy's Favorite Movies

  • Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum
  • Die Hard series
  • Do the Right Thing
  • Fracture
  • Idlewild
  • Imitation of Life
  • Inside Man
  • James Bond series
  • Love Jones
  • Malcolm X