Dennis Hopper Loses Battle to Cancer at 74

Dennis Hopper, the high-flying Hollywood wild man who had quite a memorable and erratic career has died. He was 74.

Hopper had a definite roller coaster of a life. He was not only an actor, he is a American Icon who became quite the star in his classic movies such as Easy Rider, Rebel Without A Cause, Hell Ride, and Swing Vote. That is just a few of his movies. (Here are few more memorable movies Hopper starred in: Hoosiers, Apocalypse Now, Boiling Point, The Pick Up Artist, and many more.)

Hopper died Saturday at his home in the Los Angeles beach community of Venice, surrounded by family and friends, family friend Alex Hitz said. Hopper's manager announced in October 2009 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
 
Dennis Hopper was a very distinguished looking man. He had a smile that melted your heart, sense of humor that made you laugh, and a sincere look in movies that made you feel full of suspense.
 

 
 
 

Date Set for 'Sherlock Holmes' sequel

Warner Bros. has scheduled "Sherlock Holmes 2" for a mid-December 2011 release and is also getting closer to giving the go-ahead for a movie about beloved DC Comics superhero "Flash."

In addition, WB chairman and CEO Barry Meyer has also released a list of more Warner films set to be released in 2011:

Red Riding Hood: April 22 

The Hangover 2: May 26 

Green Lantern (3D): June 17 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (3D): July 15
Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 (3D): Sept. 23 

Happy Feet 2 (3D): Nov. 18 

New Year's Eve: Dec. 9

It's already been said that 2011 seems to be the BIG year for films ALL-YEAR round, and this just solidifies that statement.

Mon'Nique to play Trailblazer Oscar-Winner Hattie McDaniel

Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Mo'Nique is set to star in a biopic of Hattie McDaniel's life as the trailblazer herself. Hollywood has already been buzzing about her performance in the movie Precious: Based on the novel PUSH. So this should be a treat to see what Mo'Nique can do!! This would be an ideal role and another role that just might bring her to the Oscar table again. Now just in case you didn't know, Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy, in the the film, Gone With The Wind.

She’s the reason that movie was what it was; in my humble opinion, she was the most intelligent character in it. What makes McDaniel’s story amazing goes beyond her standing as the first African-American to win an Academy Award. She took heat from both sides, the black community called her a sell-out to Hollywood. But those mammies were real – they were very real, and they took care of those white families. And Hattie did that role so well that white people couldn’t separate it from the actress playing her. Amazing. (The Baltimore Sun)


Lee Daniels, who also directed "Precious", is set to direct the biopic.

Check the video to hear Mo’Nique talk about the upcoming role. Fast foward to the 8:00 minute mark.

A New Spider -Man?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Director Marc Webb has been enticing actors in his web(b) as he searches for a new Peter Parker to star in Columbia's "Spider-Man" reboot. He has been meeting actors quietly for several months, but the list has narrowed in the past week or two.

See the candidates for the new web-slinger:

*Josh Hutcherson: The youngest actor of the bunch -- he turns 18 this year -- is also the one with the most experience. The past six years alone have seen the Kentucky-born kid rack up credits with key roles in Jon Favreau's Zathura, drama Bridge to Terabithia, the upcoming Red Dawn remake, and starred with Brendan Fraser in Journey to the Center of the Earth.

*Andrew Garfield: The L.A.-born actor had a short stint on a BBC TV series called "Sugar Rush," but gained notices for playing a young reporter in a gritty British TV movie trilogy titled "Red Riding." The 27-year-old also appeared in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

*Frank Dillane: The 19-year-old Brit's main credit is last year's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,  where he played a young Tom Riddle.

*Alden Ehrenreich: The 20-year-old Los Angeles native who was "discovered" by Spielberg, who saw a comedy video starring Ehrenreich at a bat mitzvah of his daughter's friend. A couple of TV appearances followed, but the actor's next big leap came when he was cast by Francis Ford Coppola in 2009's "Tetro."

*Jaime Bell: The 24-year-old English actor, who made his film debut playing the title character in "Billy Elliot," has been doing the proper British actor thing in period movies such as Nicholas Nickleby and Jane Eyre (he's also appeared in Hollywood movies such as Peter Jackson's King Kong and Ed Zwick's Defiance).

The group of actors seems to fall in line with what Webb has been looking to do with his take on Spider-Man, which is to cast relative unknowns in a story that roots Parker back in high school. The movie will be an angst-ridden tale of a teen dealing with the knowledge that his uncle died even though he had the power to stop it. Columbia wants to begin production by year's end, but Webb and the studio are taking their time choosing the actor while scribe Alvin Sargent gets the script in spider-shape.

So you mean to tell me they are trying to revamp Spider-Man kind of like how they did The Incredible Hulk? I guess Tobey McGuire was getting a little boring, a fresh, young face was needed. Hmmmmm we shall see....

New Film 'Takers' to premiere at American Black Film Festival

Recent reports have just found out that the new summer flick Takers will be the opening night film for the 14th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), which will run in Miami from June 23-26, 2010.

Produced by Will Packer of Rainforest Films (Stomp The Yard, Obsessed), the film stars Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Zoe Saldana, Jay Hernandez, Tip "T.I." Harris, Michael Ealy, Chris Brown, and Hayden Christensen.

Takers revolves around a notorious group of criminals (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Michael Ealy, Chris Brown, and Hayden Christensen) who continue to battle police by pulling off perfectly executed bank robberies. They are in and out like clockwork, leaving no evidence behind and laying low in between heists. But when they attempt to pull off one last job with more money at stake than ever before, the crew may find their plans interrupted by a hardened detective (Matt Dillon) who is hell-bent on solving the case.



Screen Gems will release the film in theaters on August 20th, 2010.

Sex And The City 2 Gets Jazzy!!

Well these movies are on a roll for the Summer. They are coming in and taking no prisoners!! Upon entering into the the theater you could feel the energy of all the anxious fans awaiting to see the much anticipated Spring flick Sex And The City 2. Women and surprisingly many men have been waiting for the follow-up of the 2008 film. I came into this movie already knowing that there were mixed reviews, however I came with an open mind ready to be entertained.

We get a chance to see into the lives of our four favorite NY divas two years later. They are moving forward and have aged quite gracefully.The audience is able to fall right back in love again with the story that we have grown to love and cherish from the original HBO tv series. So grab your manolo's, some of your best girlfriends, a cosmo or martini and enjoy the ride.

Director and writer Michael Patrick King does another great job weaving a tale of love, faith, religion and humanity within a cinematic time frame of  2 and half hours (probably my only gripe), and at the same time he manages to pull out a compelling and riveting  human drama of innocence based on pure emotion. With this screenplay, he is able to drop hypocritical and moral ambitions to make you see the relevancy of the comments on the modern outlook of the world. This in itself makes the movie rise several notches above anything attempted in Hollywood.

I can appreciate the fact that we get a chance to see growth in the characters, we even get a flashback to how it all began. We get a closer look at the lives of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha and what has happened in the past two years. The themes carried out through this move really make you take a look at your own self and your relationships. And top it off we get a little bit of international flavor. Each character is able to play off of the other, complimenting who they are in this story. When watching the series I would always wonder what it would be like for them to step outside their comfort zone of NYC and travel across the seas. With this film you get a chance to see that. Not only that, we get to see the true survival skills in action as the ladies have to embark upon a new set of rules unlike what they are used to.

SATC2 is a movie appropriate for its time. The movie is able to deal with some serious themes of complacency, getting older, family/marriage, commitment, change, and most importantly stepping out on faith; however it's told with humor (Samantha and menopause...hysterical) and entertainment. At the end of the film there is this sense of empowerment that makes you just want to step up your game!! And most importantly they do not disappoint with the fashion...love it!!

Some stories are built on passion, some on courage and some on hope. With every sequel there should be growth and I think SATC2 did that successfully. Very rarely do you come across a love story that encompasses itself around a journey.Whether you are married, engaged, or single you can still find some enjoyment with Sex And The City 2.

Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Throwback Thursday: Monster's Ball

 After watching this week's episode of Inside the Actor's Studio (featuring Sean "Diddy" Combs) on the Bravo channel I felt compelled to feature one of the greatest and powerful films Monster's Ball. Interestingly enough the title in itself leaves you speechless. The title comes from a custom in medieval England where prisoners awaiting execution were called monsters. The night before their execution, their jailers would hold a feast known as a monster's ball as their final farewell. How fitting...



This 2001 drama film, is definitely one that will ALWAYS be talked about for years to come. The mere mention of the title stirs up controversy and discussion. Watching the trailer just send chills up my spine....

Monster's Ball is one of those types of films that I had to watch twice to really soak it all in from beginning to end. At first glance, I am a bit disturbed but intrigued at the same time. The movie draws you in making you want to unwrap each layer scene by scene. Granted the film is laced with racial undertones through out the film, yet it tells a story of just wanting to be loved. It even gives the mystique of the 1962 film To Kill A Mockingbird. This is a movie that you hate to love, but you can't help it! Marc Foster as director and with Lee Daniels as producer, they give us an epic story of survival. Would you do the same? Many really cannot give a clear answer to that question. So just imagine Halle Berry's character Leticia Torres felt.

Although many have criticized why Halle Berry won the Academy award for Best Actress I see clear as day why she did. She did more than just lay down with this man, she gave of her soul every ounce of it. Think about, she is an actress and that's what they do, play a role! Berry stepped out of her comfort zone and showcased another side of her acting skills. I honestly think that was a role that one would have to mature into. Who says that you have to be miss goody goody to win an Oscar, didn't Heath Ledger win for his role as the The Joker in The Dark Knight.

Now in the midst  of everyone talking about Halle and Billy Bob, there was another character who by far stunned me with his performance. Coronji Calhoun who plays the role of Tyrell Musgrove, the ill-fated son of Lawrence and Leticia, was chosen from an open casting call and to many "perhaps one of the most affecting performances of the year." A 10-year-old Louisiana fourth-grader who has never acted before or studied the craft but somehow made a statement with the few words that spoke, his actions were so compelling your heart automatically reaches out to him. The flood gates of tears just come rushing in.

As a matter fact each character provided a piece that was critical to the greatness of the film. Billy Bob Thornton's character (Hank Grotowski) showed us the difficulty of trying to hold everyone else but himself on his shoulders. He is somewhat of a coward, but in a weird twisted way he is trying to be better.  Heath Ledger (Sonny Grotowski) and Sean Combs (Lawrence Musgrave) character's both demonstrate what needs to be left in the past in order to move forward. Even the father plays a critical role, he is an example of a term I like to call "nagging truth". You don't want to hear it, but cannot deny its words.

At the end of the film, as you watched the credits roll by you are just caught up in the moment. An array of mixed feelings rushes through you. And just like Leticia you speak no words but just acknowledge what is yet to come...

This is an example of independent filming at its finest!! Sometimes the underdog does win first place...

In theaters Friday 5/28/2010

Well its Memorial Day weekend and summer is right around the corner! This weekend hopefully will not disappoint with the upcoming flicks!! Check them out and see!

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PG-13) 

A prince must stop a despot from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy all mankind. 

Sex and the City 2 (R) 

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) crosses paths with Aidan while on vacation with the gals in Abu Dhabi.[This actually hits theaters on 5/27/2010]

George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead (R)

Residents of an island battle a zombie epidemic while searching for a cure. 

Solitary Man (R) 

A once successful Manhattan mogul who owned a chain of car dealerships finds himself on the brink of a fantastic comeback. 

Micmacs (R) 

A man and his friends devise a plan to blow up two weapons factories. 

Agora (NR) 

A slave turns to Christianity and falls in love with philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria. 

I know where I will be!! What about you?!!

NBAF to show film on L.A. Black Panther Story

For all my folks who will be hitting up the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA (July 14th-18th, 2010) make sure to tune into this great documentary film, 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the LA Black Panthers. 

41ST & CENTRAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE L.A. BLACK PANTHERS is the first part in a documentary series that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. Despite the Party’s formation of free medical clinics and a successful breakfast program for children, the L.A. chapter was also known as the most violent Black political group in the United States. 41ST & CENTRAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE L.A. BLACK PANTHERS explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the US Organization, as well as the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter. 41ST & CENTRAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE L.A. BLACK PANTHERS contains interviews with former Black Panther Party members along with archival footage detailing the history of racism in Los Angeles, including the Watt’s uprising from the perspective of the participants who “engaged with the L.A.P.D.” 41ST & CENTRAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE L.A. BLACK PANTHERS is the most in-depth study ever of the L.A. Chapter founder Alpretice “Bunchy Carter” and features first hand accounts of the Party’s formation as told by the original surviving members.

This film gives the viewer an eyewitness account of Bunchy and John Huggins murders at U.C.L.A. in 1968 and includes exclusive interviews with Black Panther Party leaders Geronimo Ji Jagga and Elaine Brown.

The film will also include Kathleen Cleaver, Ericka Huggins, Roland Freeman, Wayne Pharr, and Jeffrey Everett.

I am very anxious to see this film, as is the public. Many are excited to see a true-life viewing of this once powerful organization. And what an appropriate place to showcase it at, the 2010 National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA.

Here's the trailer:


Check the website for more information: http://41central.com/ as well as the NBAF website http://nbaf.org/programs/film/ .

Weekly Trailer Updates

Check out this week's new trailer updates!!

The Last Exorcism

In theaters August 27th, 2010

Going the Distance

In theaters August 27th, 2010

Megamind

November 5th, 2010

Charlie St. Cloud

In theaters July 30th, 2010

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

In theaters June 11th, 2010

Enjoy!!

Girlfriends Star Khalil Kain added to the roster of Tyler Perry's 'For Colored Girls' movie

It has been recently reported that Khalil Kain (Girlfriends, Love Jones, Juice, Renaissance Man) has been casted in Tyler Perry's adaptation of 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Enuf'.

According to sources, his character will be paired with Tony Award winning 'Princess and the Frog' star Anika Noni Rose. He will join fellow actors Omari Hardwick, Isaiah Mustafa, and Richard Lawson as the men in the film.

Based on Ntozake Shange's award-winning 1975 play, 'Colored Girls' is scheduled to shoot in June 1st, 2010 in New York with a release date of  January 14, 2011.

Structurally, For Colored Girls is a series of 20 poems, referred collectively as a "choreopoem", performed through a cast of nameless women, each known only by a color: "Lady in Yellow", "Lady in Purple", etc.. The poems deal with love, abandonment, rape, and abortion. The performances of the seven actresses are focused on their specific stories;

Already cast in the movie are janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whoopi Goldberg, Phylicia Rashad, Jurnee Smollett, Kimberly Elise, Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, and Macy Gray. Other actors to be named later.

Kain broke out with his feature film debut playing opposite rapper Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps in Ernest Dickerson's Juice, which is considered to many as a hip hop classic.

I'm really excited about this film. As a huge fan and viewer of Shange and the play I am interested to see how will develop on the big screen! Such a powerful collection of stories that needs to be brought to the masses.

DVD Releases 5/25/2010

Here are this week's DVD releases:

Dear John (PG-13)

The Road (R)

Short and simple, but sweet!

Orlando Bloom to play villain in new 3D 'Three Musketeers' film

Orlando Bloom has signed on to join the ensemble cast of Paul W.S. Anderson's "The Three Musketeers." British actor James Corden has also joined the 3D movie, which will shoot late this summer for a summer 2011 release.

Bloom will play the Duke of Buckingham, the arch-nemesis to the Musketeers who is described as "so cool that you can chop him into cubes and serve with vodka." The Elizabethtown star joins a cast which includes Christoph Waltz as Cardinal Richelieu, Logan Lerman as D'Artagnan, Matthew MacFadyen as Athos, Ray Stevenson as Porthos, Luke Evans as Aramis, Milla Jovovich as Lady De Winter, James Corden as Planchet and Mads Mikkelsen as Rochefort.

"We are definitely modernizing 'The Three Musketeers' without compromising the fun of shooting a period piece," Anderson said of his version of the classic film. "In our film, corsets and feathered hats don't take center stage. Our version is rich in eye-popping action, romance and adventure."

The film is to begin shooting in the fall, with a 3-D release date of Summer 2011.

Successful Movie Franchises 'Harry Potter vs. James Bond'

Each of these movies listed comprise of at least 3 or more in its series...What makes them unique is that they have been able to generate numerous dollars to the Hollywood Box Office...Check out my Top 20 successful movie franchises.

Heavy Hitters
Harry Potter series $5,412,504,276
James Bond series $5,029,014,110
Star Wars series $4,384,857,465
Just recently the 'Harry Potter' series moved ahead of James Bond, however things could change considering both are expecting new films between 2010-2012.

On the Takeover Rise

The Lord of the Rings series $2,915,155,189
Pirates of the Caribbean $2,700,000,000
Batman series $2,627,550,764
Spider-Man series $2,496,346,518
Indiana Jones series $1,978,055,564
Jurassic Park series $1,902,110,923
X-Men series $1,565,000,000
Rocky series $1,126,350,503
The Twilight Saga series $1,118,484,711
Star Trek series $1,013,325,741
The Bourne series $945,358,579
The Fast and Furious series $959,790,838
Back to the Future series $957,587,347
Rush Hour series $860,748,065
Jaws series $798,415,075
American Pie series $754,000,000
The Godfather series $463,464,983
Underworld series $300,929,165
The Transporter series $231,498,869

Honorable Mention

Transformers series $1,546,007,008
Iron Man series $1,519,265,000 (and counting)

Keep in mind it is one thing to put some movies together one after the other, but the true movie skills come when ALL of the are successful! Sometimes it only takes two films before they are rolling with the big dawgs (see the Honorable Mentions)!! Meanwhile, Director James Cameron is reportedly working on two "Avatar" sequels, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Another 2011 Summer Film: 'Fast Five'

A sequel to be entitled Fast Five is to star Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, TJ Hassan, Don Omar, and Tego Calderon, Chris Morgan, and Justin Lin also to return as writer and director, respectively.

Back in March 2010, producer Neal H. Moritz revealed in an interview that Fast Five will film this Summer in Brazil, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles and Atlanta. He also stated that the sixth installment of the series is also being developed, but both films will not be shot back-to-back.

The release date has been announced as June 10, 2011

Robin Hood...SMH

Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe team up again with what I thought would be the second coming of Gladiator. But to my dismay it didn't even come close (major let-down).

After watching the trailer earlier in the year, I will admit I had high expectations of the film, only for them to be brutally shot down. One can say that Ridley Scott did set the bar pretty high for himself with Gladiator and so as a viewer seeing the him team up once again with Crowe, for Robin Hood, pretty much had me on pins and needles hoping for something equally as exciting and brilliant, and however it would only lead to disappointment. Keeping in mind the last quality Robin Hood film came out in 1991 (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner), so we were in a sense long overdue.

There was nothing out the box, everything was pretty much expected, leaving the audience bored and craving for more. The effort was definitely their but unfortunately failed on execution. Robin Hood was a perfect example of a convoluted plot that lacked simplicity, no passion, and poor editing; there were times when it felt blotchy and disjointed.

Robin Hood is one of those movies where it is definitely a professionally made film with great actors, great production design, great images, but that's about it. I felt like it never picked the full speed that was anticipated.And the nail in the coffin is the piss-poor ending. Clearly it was thrown together in a matter of five minutes, leaving the audiences shaking their heads disgrace.

Maybe next time Ridley!!

Rating: 2 out of 4 stars

Top Grossing Animated Films!!

With Shrek Forever After hitting the theaters on today, I figured I would take a look at the Top Grossing Animated Films*. Animated films/movies are definitely becoming more popular to everyone, not just children. They can not pretty much compete with any type of movie now!! Times are truly changing!!

1. Snow White (1937) $866,550,000
2. 101 Dalmatians (1961) $794,342,100
3. Fantasia (1940) $660,195,600
4. The Lion King (1994) $613,992,700
5. The Jungle Book (1967) $585,755,300
6. Shrek 2 (2004) $564,854,900
7. Pinocchio (1940) $535,856,500
8. Bambi (1942) $506, 514,000
9. Finding Nemo (2003) $447,882,900
10. Lady and the Tramp (1955) $443,092,300

*Adjusted for Inflation

Looks like the older Disney movies are holding tight to the top 10! But then again that's why they are classics!!

Friday Movie Line-Up 5/21/2010

Check out the flicks coming out on today!

Shrek Forever After (PG): 

Shrek (Mike Myers) finds himself in a twisted version of Far Far Away, where he and Fiona never met. 

MacGruber (R): 

A clueless soldier-of-fortune (Will Forte) must retrieve a stolen nuke from his sworn enemy

After the Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United (NR): 

An Arab team represents Israel in a European competition for the first time. 

Holy Rollers (R): 

An Orthodox Jew (Jesse Eisenberg) becomes a drug mule for his best friend's older brother. 

Kites (NR): 

A supremely romantic tale of star-crossed lovers destined to be together but doomed to be apart, KITES is Bollywood as you’ve never seen it before.

Solitary Man (R): 

A disgraced car dealer accompanies his girlfriend's daughter on a trip to his alma mater.

Enjoy your weekend!

Villain revealed for 'Men in Black III'

Now the the stage is set for 'Men In Black III' to be a huge blockbuster for the franchise. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have both signed contracts agreeing to return for the sequel. And now the rumor mill has been brewing that a villain has been named for the third installment.

Sources have reported that Jermaine Clement is slated to play "Boris", an extraterrestrial that is described as both “charmy and creepy at the same time.” He is reportedly one of several new alien villains that will be be making life hard for Agents Jay and Kay.

'Men in Black III' is scheduled to hit theaters in Summer 2012, a season that will see such blockbuster sequels such as 'Batman 3' and 'Star Trek 2' hit the big screen.

Breaking News!! Megan Fox Dropped from 'Transformers 3'

According to Access Hollywood, 'Transformers 1 & 2' star Megan Fox has been cut from the third 'Transformers' installment.

A source at Paramount, the studio behind the film, told Access that Megan, who played star Shia LaBeouf 's love interest in the franchise, would not return for the third movie.

The source said that in order to take Shia's character "Samuel James Witwicky" in a new direction, it was better if Sam wasn't tied down to a love interest.


'Transformers 3' has reportedly already begun filming.

Weekly Trailers 5/19/2010

Got a pretty good line-up of movies to look forward to... check them out!

Get Him to the Greek

In theaters June 4th, 2010

The Karate Kid

In theaters June 11th, 2010


Countdown to Zero

In theaters July 23rd, 2010

Salt

In theaters July 23rd, 2010


The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

In theaters June 30th, 2010

Knight and Day

In theaters June 25th, 2010

Super 8

In theaters Summer 2011


Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema

In theaters June 11th, 2010

Blue Valentine

In theaters December 31st, 2010

June appears to be the month of movies...well it is Summer time! Enjoy I know I will!!

This Week DVD Releases 5/18/2010

Check out this week's DVD releases:

Valentine's Day (PG-13)

Invictus (PG-13)

The Spy Next Door (PG)

Extraordinary Measures (PG)

The Messenger (R)

Great line-up! A little bit of this and a little bit of that!

New Movie Grading System!

Starting next week I am going to switch it up with my grading system. I figure instead of using letter grades, might as well use the traditional star method.

Nothing major just a minor adjustment.

So stay tuned!

Just Wright was Just Right

It's 12:01(midnight) at Phipps Plaza and RemarkableFashion and I are ready for the first screening in Atlanta for the new flick Just Wright starring Common, Queen Latifah, Paula Patton, and many others. Let me first start out by saying that whoever was their marketing team, they did an excellent job. One cannot help but know that this movie was coming out May 14th, and the pub was worth it!

Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is a straight-shooting physical therapist who gets the gig of a lifetime working with NBA All-Star Scott McKnight (Common). All is going well until Leslie finds herself falling for Scott, forcing her to choose between the gig and the tug-of-war inside her heart. Oblivious to her romantic overtures, McKnight is instead drawn to the affections of Leslie's childhood friend Morgan (Paula Patton), who has her sights set on being an NBA trophy wife.

Just Wright is the type of movie that does multiply things, it makes you think, cry, laugh, and most importantly it entertains the audience. This movie gives a glance in how relationships in love begin, and the steps it takes to get there. After watching this flick it makes you want to do better and elevate yourself instead of being stagnant and conforming. You never know who or what awaits you on the other side. And persistence is key!

Latifah who plays Leslie Wright definitely holds her own again, I think with each movie that she plays in an additional layer of talent is revealed. Although some may have pity for her character, I think she represents a group of people who are truly caught in that triangle. Paula Patton (Morgan) does it again, by contributing her tremendous acting skill of being able to adapt to any character she plays. As the aspiring NBA trophy wife, we get a chance to see a glimpse of what starving for stardom is really like.

Along with a great cast I can appreciate the fact they did not use the same well-known actors/actress, as the audience we get to see some new and even a few vets in the hollywood game.With actors like Laz Alonso (Fast & Furious, This Christmas, Miracle at St. Anna), newcomer Mechad Brooks (Desperate Housewives, The Game, True Blood), James Pickens Jr. (Grey's Anatomy, The Practice, The X-Files), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown, Coffy, Posse), and Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun, The Cosby Show), you really can't go wrong. Each of them contributes a balance that makes this film a MUST SEE!

Now if I had one flaw it was a scene toward the end of the film, there's a part that is a bit cheesy and cliche', nonetheless gets the point across. There are some parts (very few) where you are like, "no you didn't", but nothing so drastic to sway you to dislike the movie. Beside that the storyline was real, believable, and different, "something new". Although the basis is your typical romantic comedy, it still had a somewhat originality to it. It makes you wonder could something like this really exist maybe, maybe not (you be the judge).

One thing I really liked about this movie is that Common gets a chance to really show us that he is capable of being a leading man and he did not disappoint. I have to say that Common truly blew me out the water with his role in this movie. With this movie you get to see a softer side of him versus the rugged, hard characters he has played in previous films (Smokin' Aces, Wanted, Date Night). You almost believe that he might be a NBA player, just might need a little more height (lol). He truly embodied his character, so much that I really believed he was "Scott McKnight" from the New Jersey Nets.

Director Sanaa Hamri (Something New, The Sisterhood of Travelling Pants 2) brings a new flavor and twist with this movie. She definitely knows how to make you think and enagage your thoughts and beliefs. This is a movie that I think both men and women can appreciate. It's not just about falling in love with the "right" person, but making the sacrifices to find out who and what you really are. 

Grade: A-/B+

*As a side note, Common sure knows how to make a suit look good!!

Friday Movie Line-Up 5/14/2010

Need something to do this weekend well check out these new flicks set to hit theaters Friday!

Just Wright (PG): 

A physical therapist falls in love with her patient, a professional basketball player. 

Looking for Eric (NR):  

Manchester United star Eric Cantona helps a fan (Steve Evets) sort out his chaotic life. 

Robin Hood (PG-13): 

 Expert archer Robin Hood leads a band of marauders to lead an uprising against the English crown. 

Best Worst Movie (NR):  

A former child actor and cast member of ``Troll 2'' examines the film's cult status. 

Daddy Longlegs (NR): 

An irresponsible divorced man spends two weeks with his young sons (Ronald Bronstein, Sage Ranaldo).

Letters to Juliet (PG):  

An American (Amanda Seyfried) joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice on love.

Enjoy!!

Throwback Thursday: The Nutty Professor

This week's Throwback Thursday was highly recommend by a good friend of mine, so I figure why not showcase The Nutty Professor.




The Nutty Professor is a 1996 American science fiction-romantic comedy film starring Eddie Murphy. It is a remake of the 1963 film of the same name, starring Jerry Lewis.

Murphy plays benevolent university professor Sherman Klump, who is morbidly obese. He invents a miracle weight-loss potion and, hoping to win the affection of the girl of his dreams, tries it on himself. Social situations demand that he call himself by a different name while he is using the potion, and his slim self becomes an independent personality. Like the original film's Julius Kelp, Klump's trim and stylish, but arrogant, alter ego is also named Buddy Love. Murphy plays a total of seven characters in the film, including Sherman, most of Sherman's family (except for his nephew, Ernie "Hercules" Klump Jr. played by actor Jamal Mixon) and an over-the-top parody of Richard Simmons. You got to see it to believe it!

The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of comedy...lol

The Nutty Professor was definitely a real showcase for Eddie Murphy. This is Eddie Murphy at his brilliant best playing seven different characters in the one movie.We got a chance to see him expand (no pun intended) his acting skills in a way that showed off his comedic skills. Each of the characters he plays is so believable, its almost as though you are drawn in to each one of their personalities. Very few actors could have pulled this off with the same success as Murphy.In addition to the hilarious acting, the special effects are amazing, when he changes from small to big its almost completely flawless, better yet it never looks fake. And to top it off it even has a little message of "not trying to be someone who you are not."

A classic scene...

He's at is best when he's at the dinner table playing everyone but the older nephew and kid.

The Nutty Professor is easily deserving of being mentioned with the funniest movies of all time. I'm just laughing thinking about this movie!! Plenty of laughs to go around!

All-star cast to come together for 'Horrible Bosses' movie

According to THR (The Hollywood Reporter) Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia star Charlie Day are currently in negotiations for the upcoming flick 'Horrible Bosses' , a comedy by director Seth Gordon (King of Kong). 

If the actors sign on, Bateman and Day will play two of three best friends who are miserable at work and decide to kill each others bosses. Aniston, as well as Colin Farrell (also in talks), will play two of the three bosses. 

In just recent news, Jamie Foxx has joined the all-star cast. In a more comedic turn for the actor, Foxx will play a scam artist named 'Motherfucker Jones' (hmm very interesting) who offers murder advice to the three pals. Not sure how I feel about that one.

Hip-HopArtist/Rappers turned Actors

With the new movie Just Wright, featuring rappers/artist Common and Queen Latifah, hitting theaters tomorrow I figured I would do a little showcase of some rappers who have turned to acting. Take a look-see:

Fredro Starr- Sunset Park, Save the Last Dance, Clockers

Ice Cube- Higher Learning, Boyz in the Hood, Are We There Yet?, Barbershop

Ice-T- New Jack City, Trespass, Ricochet

Busta Rhymes- Finding Forrester, Shaft, Higher Learning

Queen Latifah- Set It Off, Hairspray, Chicago, Mad Money

Common- Smoking Aces, Wanted, American Gangster, Terminator Salvation

Big Boi & Andre 3000- Idlewild, Who's Your Caddy, ATL / Semi-Pro, Four Brother, Be Cool

 








Will Smith- I Robot, Men in Black I/II, Seven Pounds, Bad Boys I/II

Bow Wow- Roll Bounce, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Like Mike, Johnson Family Vacation

50 Cent- Righteous Kill, Get Rich or Die Tryin'

DMX- Cradle to the Grave, Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds

LL Cool J- Deep Blue Sea, Slow Burn, Any Given Sunday, S.W.A.T 

T.I.- ATL, American Gangster

The Game- Waist Deep

Eminem- 8 Mile

Tupac Shakur- Juice, Poetic Justice, Above the Rim 

Snoop Dogg- Baby Boy, Starsky and Hutch

Nas- Belly 

Ludacris- Crash, Max Payne, Fred Claus, Hustle & Flow, RocknRolla

Mos Def- Cadillac Records, Next Day Air, Be Kind Rewind, Italian Job, 16 Blocks

Q-Tip- She Hate Me, Poetic Justice

RZA- Ghostdog, American Gangster, Derailed

Amazing the range of films that have been covered by this group of artists. And who says Rappers can't act, well I got a list here that says different. It's really all about the skill, you either have it or you don't.