Support this Upcoming Documentary "Color Outside the Lines"

Through my daily escapades on Twitter and Facebook I came across an Atlanta tattoo artist by the name of Miya Bailey (City of Ink). I became very impressed with a lot of his work and took an active interest in him as an artist.  I would later find out that Bailey has been actively working on a documentary regarding the black tattoo culture. Although I have personally not received a tattoo from him I have come to respect his work. And for those that know me I am an avid supporter of indie films/documentaries. So I had to spotlight this upcoming documentary.

On March 26th, 2011 via his blog MiyaBailey Blog Spot , Miya Bailey would announce a Tattoo film fundraiser for his documentary, Color Outside the Lines: A Tattoo Documentary.   

This is a film by Miya Bailey documenting the history of black tattoo artist and the culture itself. The documentary sheds light numerous topics including how when it comes to tattoos, most prefer quantity over quality. The film has been in the works for about 5 yrs now and is not yet finished. If you would like to see this project completed make a donation to support great art.

The film highlights the history of black tattoo culture and how it began in the south despite a heavily segregated climate for black artists seeking entry. We cover signature styles and how those styles have developed and influenced newer artists over the years. Tattooing in the media is another important aspect, as it is the biggest factor of how the cultures influence has spread. It is no secret that entertainers and athletes dictate the trends younger generations pick up on and tattooing is no different. What is suprising is despite the money these cultural icons have, some of their work is no better than the kid who got his in a basement down the street from his house. This further deludes the public as to what great artwork looks like and what is available to everyday people.

 Check out the video clip below...




For more information on "Color Outside the Lines" go to the following link.  Also check him out on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr .

Now you don't have to be someone who has tattoos to watch this, its a matter of respecting the culture!!

DVD Releases 3/29/2011

Check out what is set to hit shelves today...

Tangled (PG)

Black Swan (R)

Fair Game (PG-13)

Made in Dagenham (R)

All Good Things (R)

Any one of these going into your DVD library?

Director Kenneth Branagh speaks on 'Thor' controversy

Now if you do not know by now there has been a lot of controversy surrounding actor Idris Elba and him playing Norse God “Heimdall” in the upcoming summer action flick Thor. Well he decided to address this issue with Empire Magazine. See some excerpts below...

“Idris Elba is a fantastic actor – we were lucky to get him. He provides all the characteristics we need from Asgard’s gatekeeper, the man who says, “Thou shalt not pass”. When Idris Elba says that, you know you’re gonna have a problem. He’s smart, intelligent, handsome and an absolute joy to work with. If you have a chance to have a great actor in the part, everything else is irrelevant,” he said.

“If you’re going to say the colour of his skin matters in a story like this, look at 50 years of Thor comics to see how many ways great artists have bent alleged ‘rules’. Look at the Norse myths to see the way they confounded and contradicted themselves. That whole ‘controversy’ was a surprising – and daft – moment.”

I can definitely respect his thoughts on this matter, and he actually sheds some light when others may choose to say nothing. This is not the first, nor will it be the last comic book flick to give an alternative person for a particular role. For the full story on Thor and more from Branagh, pick up the new issue of Empire on Thursday.

Friday Line-Up 3/25/2011

Here's your Friday Movie line-up...

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (PG): 

Wimpy Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), now in seventh grade, thinks he has it all together. He has mastered middle school and gotten rid of the Cheese Touch. However, Greg's older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick), is itching to cut him down to size. He gets the perfect opportunity when their mother (Rachael Harris) tries to force the boys to bond. Rodrick may be Greg's chief tormentor, but he feels his constant pranks are just what his little brother needs to prepare him for life's hard knocks.

Sucker Punch (PG-13): 

The story of Alice in Wonderland receives a hyper-violent makeover in Watchmen and 300 director Zack Snyder's fantastical tale of a young psychiatric patient who escapes into a vivid world of fantasy after being committed to a mental hospital by her abusive stepfather. Set in the 1950s, Sucker Punch takes viewers on an incredible journey into the mind of Babydoll (Emily Browning), who finds herself at the mercy of her malevolent stepfather after her mother passes away.

The 5th Quarter (PG-13): 

When 15-year-old Luke Abbate (Stefan Guy) is killed in a tragic car accident, the loss leaves his close-knit family reeling with grief. Fueled by faith and their deep familial bond, the Abbates try to rebuild their lives without Luke, fulfilling his wish to help others by donating his organs to save the lives of five other people.

The Lion of Judah (PG): 

Follow the adventures of a bold lamb (Judah) and his stable friends as they try to avoid the sacrificial alter the week preceding the crucifixion of Christ.

Miral (PG-13): 

From Julian Schnabel, director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Before Night Falls and Basquiat, comes MIRAL, the visceral, first-person diary of a young girl growing up in East Jerusalem as she confronts the effects of occupation and war in every corner of her life. Schnabel pieces together momentary fragments of Miral’s world – how she was formed, who influenced her, all that she experiences in her tumultuous early years – to create a raw, moving, poetic portrait of a woman whose small, personal story is inextricably woven into the bigger history unfolding all around her.

Peep World (NR): 

Revelations come to light when members (Michael C. Hall, Sarah Silverman) of a dysfunctional Jewish family gather to celebrate the patriarch's (Ron Rifkin) 70th birthday.

Potiche (R):  

POTICHE is a free adaptation of the 1970s eponymous hit comic play. Catherine Deneuve is Suzanne Pujol, a submissive, housebound 'trophy housewife' (or "potiche,") who steps in to manage her wealthy and tyrannical husband (Fabrice Lucchini)'s umbrella factory after the workers go on strike and take him hostage.

White Irish Drinkers (R): 

Two young men are looking for a better life but may have to go to the wrong side of the law to get it in this independent drama from director John Gray. Brian Leary (Nick Thurston) and Danny (Geoff Wigdor) are brothers living in a decaying Brooklyn neighborhood in 1975.

What will you be seeing?

For movie show times and more check out FANDANGO

Trailer Highlights and Updates...

Check out these latest trailers...

Captain America: The First Avenger

In theaters May 6th, 2011

Scream 4

In theaters April 15th, 2011

Friends With Benefits

In theaters July 22nd, 2011

Just a few to wet the palette...lol

For all my ATL Peeps!! Avery Brooks as Paul Robeson

Celebrated the world round as a singer and actor; blacklisted by his own country as an activist. Paul Robeson chronicles the life of a great American artist and civil rights advocate. A powerful look at the many facets of Robeson the man, as well as Robeson the star, this one-man show stars acclaimed actor Avery Brooks in this special one-week engagement.

 

Four Performances Only!

March 24 @ 10:00 a.m. (Student matinee)
March 25 & 26 @ 8:00 p.m.
March 27 @ 2:00 p.m.

Tickets start at $15.

Paul Robeson is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

Widely regarded as one of the leading stage actors of his generation, Brooks is known to millions from his work as Commander Sisko on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and in films such as "American History X". Avery Brooks is a former Artistic Director of Atlanta’s own NBAF, presenters of the National Black Arts Festival. Brooks has received much critical acclaim for his work in Paul Robeson, and pays excellent tribute to the life of Robeson. He’s performed in the role since 1982 at the Westwood Playhouse in Los Angeles, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Longacre Theater on Broadway. He also portrayed Robeson in "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?", both on and off-Broadway.

Also don't forget to SAVE THE DATE:   

2011 NATIONAL BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL: JULY 7TH - 17TH  for more details go to NBAF !!

Possible "Sparkle" Remake in the works

Sony Pictures is teaming up with the creative team behind the hit BET series "The Game" (Mara Brock Akil and husband Salim Akil) for a remake of the 1976 film musical, Sparkle.  Mara Brock Akil who is the creator and executive producer of "The Game" and "Girlfriends" will write the script and husand Salim Akil will direct. Interestingly enough producing this project will be Debra Martin Chase who has invested a lot of time developing this remake, she even at one time had Aaliyah to star.

The dynamic husband/wife team will also produce the film under their Akil Production Co. banner.

Now make note that Salim Akil is making his feature directorial debut with this spring's flick Jumping the Broom, which is set to open May 6. Sony was so impressed with this film that they wanted to make sure to partner with the Akil's for "Sparkle" remake.

As of right now there is no further information as to who will be playing the parts or when the film is expected to be made. But stay tuned as more deets might reveal themselves in due time.

Who do you think should be involved with this project?

This is definitely a favorite of mine a true classic, a little on the fence as to whether a remake is necessary but we shall see. Hopefully they will do justice to the film.

Check out this clip from the 1976 version...

Legendary Actress & Screen Icon Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79*

The London-born actress died early Wednesday at age 79. She died surrounded by family members at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, ABC News reported, quoting a statement issued by her publicist.

Taylor appeared in over 50 films, and would win Oscars for her performances in Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), in which she starred opposite ex husband Richard Burton.

By the time she was in her mid-20s she had become a screen goddess, teenage bride, mother, divorcee and widow. Taylor would endure near-death traumas, and many declared her a symbol of survival — with which she agreed. “I've been through it all, baby,” she once said. “I'm Mother Courage.”

“No actress ever had a more difficult job in getting critics to accept her onscreen as someone other than Elizabeth Taylor,” film historian Jeanine Basinger said. “Her persona ate her alive.”

This violet-eyed film goddess whose sultry screen life was often upstaged by her stormy personal life, also saw herself as a champion of the exploited or mistreated, including the pop singer Michael Jackson. She would help to make AIDS an issue of mainstream concern, saying her interest began when she was asked to chair a benefit for AIDS patients in Los Angeles in 1984. The next year, Rock Hudson, her friend and former co-star, died of AIDS. She was founding national chairman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research and started the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

In 1993, she received the Academy Awards’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and an American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. And in 2002 she would receive a Kennedy Center Honor for her film work, philanthropy and endurance in the American public eye.

Elizabeth Taylor Biography

R.I.P. Ms Taylor...


*Associated Press & Washington Post

On this day in movie history...

On today March 23rd....

*1950: Mercedes McCambridge becomes the first actor to win an Oscar for a debut performance. Winning the Best Supporting Actress statue for All the King's Men.

*1998: Titanic picks up 11 Oscars at the 70th Annual Academy Awards, matching the record set by Ben Hur in 1959.

*1990: Another fav movie of mine...Pretty Woman is released. This romantic comedy would star Richard Gere and Julia Roberts as the unlikely couple.

Limitless went above and beyond its own limits!!

"I can't work for you...you would end up being my b&%#@..." Trust me when I say this be the line of the year...its a classic in the making.

Limitless was that movie that sold me on first glance. I have always been impressed with the growth of Bradley Cooper as an actor, and then the fact that he is teamed up with Robert DeNiro...works for me!!

This a movie to go down in the history books. I have to admire the director Neil Burger (The Illusionist & The Lucky Ones) and executive producers for such a creative film. From the moment it begins we are glued to the screen.  This is the type of movie that I like to call "a funny, sci-fi thriller, I say that because it does have its serious moments, but there are fun parts thrown in the pile as well.

The story centers around this myth that humans really only use a small portion of our brains all at one time. And we have Cooper plays Edward Morra, a typical writer who lands a book contract but unfortunately has a terrible case of writers block. So within the first few minutes of the flick his whole life changes...more than once!! But then this infamous clear pill makes its debut and the roller coaster ride begins. And the more I watched this film the more I became enamored with this drug. I was truly amazed how one pill can do so much for one person and hold so much power.

Limitless is a film where you definitely must give kudos to the actors. I must admit Bradley Cooper is truly evolving as an actor (just think about where he started...Sex in the City, tv series). And the fact that he is working side by side with Robert De Niro, it can only improve his game.  Pure chemistry between the two of them, just seeing those two in a film together was enough to pique my interest. And the relationship that builds between the two of them is one to remember. In addition, all of the other characters also contribute their parts in a way that is very fitting. Each of them were able to have their own little show, yet still make it believable and realistic.

And let's not forget it is full of action, twists and turns, humor, and just some good on the edge of your seat viewing. If I give you too much it will spoil it so be like Nike and "Just Do It", see the movie!

All in all, the plot is so smooth that it could have ended before it did and still made a major impact.  Well you don't need me to rant and rave, just go see the film. It is worth every penny. After watching this film you can only just imagine if something like this really existed. However if it did it would truly be a hot commodity. For one week I wish I had what Eddie got, life might not be so bad!

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

The Lincoln Lawyer... "Not Guilty"

Let me just say my weekend was perfect as it relates to the movie world. After watching Limitless next on the list was Matthew McConaughey, The Lincoln Lawyer and let's just say I was thoroughly impressed. Based on the American novel by Micheal Connelly with the same name. If you like Fracture (with Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling) then you will enjoy this one too. Murder and Manipulation and then trying to prove that the guilty is guilty, gotta love it.

This is legal drama at its best. With this film I am glad the trailer only showed only just enough to make your mouth water. When dealing with a crime thriller the less you know from the trailer, the better. Kudo needs to go to the screenwriter John Romano who had the daunting task of condensing Michael Connelly's novel into a 2-hour film. He was able to maintain the suspense of the story without losing any of the tensions and debates about the jagged edges of the justice system. There is definitely a growth in the plot as we start from the bottom and then hit the apex by the end of the movie. Now the director Brad Furman must be applauded as well for using the skills of cinematographer Lukas Ettlin to show the less "Hollywood-esque" streets of Los Angeles but at the same time show the true "heart of of the city". Along with showing us the city of LA, we get a chance to see the true picture of the what takes place in the courtroom as well as the "attorney-client" relationship.

This was an interesting role for Matthew McConaughey, although he has yet to disappoint me (even with flicks like Sahara and Edtv to name a few). And you gotta admit there's something about a high profile lawyer who conducts the majority of his business from the backseat of his Lincoln. (He could be my lawyer...lol). Playing the role of Mickey Haller we are able to witness this slick, southern drawl charming attorney whose expertise lies in negotiating plea bargains through finding loopholes that can get crucial evidence thrown out of court. McConaughey plays the role well, and gives a intriguing performance. I must say Ryan Phillippe can play the hell out of a "bad guy", it just works so naturally for him. Because he had me convinced from the beginning, but then the tides would shift. It says something when you are able to convince your audience and then within a moments notice, they now hate you...that's pretty much the main job of the antagonist. In addition there are some solid performances from William H. Macy, John Leguizamo, Michael Pena, and others  who just give even more substance to this thought-provoking film. We even get a treat of a performance from "Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston. Now I am still not a fan of Marisa Tomei as a serious actress, but it was not like she was featured a whole lot in this movie (thank goodness).

 
Now in addition to a great plot, good characters, the music was DA BOMB!! Please believe a sista was jamming to a little bit of blues mixed with hip-hop (the original Bobby 'Blue' Bland "Ain't No Love In the Heart of the City", Erick Sermon's "Music", Erik B & Rakim feat. Marvin Gaye "Don't Sweat the Technique", and top it off with Gangstarr's "Moment of Truth").

Put it like this The Lincoln Lawyer was able to convince me that all hope is not gone for the movies this season.I just may even go get the book, since the movie didn't disappoint I would assume the book would not either.

I got three words for you that sum up this flick...Twisted, Addictive, and Manipulative. It was the perfect flick to round out my weekend.

Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Friday Releases 3/18/2011

Check out what is set to hit theaters today...

Limitless (PG-13)

Facing unemployment and his girlfriend's rejection, writer Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is convinced that he has no future. That all changes when an old friend introduces him to MDT, a drug that produces enhanced mental abilities.

Lincoln Lawyer (R)

A lawyer conducts business from the back of his Lincoln town car while representing a high-profile client in Beverly Hills. What initially appears to be a straightforward case with a big money pay-off swiftly develops into a deadly match between two masters of manipulation and a crisis of conscience.

Paul (R)

Two sci-fi comic geeks embark upon a pilgrimage in a RV to the center of America's UFO heartland: Nevada's infamous Area 51. While in the middle of the desert, the two friends encounter a fugitive alien by the name of Paul.

Cracks (NR)

In an austere and remote all-girls boarding school, the most elite students are the illustrious members of the schools’ diving team.

Win Win (R)

Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is a struggling, though not overly ambitious, lawyer. As the court-appointed attorney of Leo Poplar (Burt Young), an old man afflicted with dementia, Mike sees an opportunity to take things easy for awhile by volunteering to become Leo's legal guardian and thereby gain control of the man's monthly stipend. The unexpected arrival of Leo's grandson complicates Mike's plans, until he learns that the youth is a champion wrestler who can help the team Mike coaches.

The Butcher, the Chef, and the Swordsman (PG-13)

A tale of revenge, honor and greed follows a group of misfits that get involved with a kitchen cleaver made from the top five swords of the martial arts world in this wild and brash action comedy.

The Music Never Stopped (PG)

Almost 20 years after their teenage son Gabriel ran away from home, Henry and Helen Sawyer learn that he has turned up in a hospital. Although benign, a brain tumor has damaged his memory, rendering past and present indistinguishable.

Alabama Moon (PG)

An eleven-year-old boy raised in the wilderness adapts to life in the modern world.

Winter in Wartime (R)

A boy joins a resistance during World War II and learns the difference between reality and fantasy. 

Desert Flower  (R)

Waris Dirie (Liya Kebede) escapes the horrors of Somalia to work in London, where a photographer (Timothy Spall) and an agent (Juliet Stevenson) turn her into a top supermodel.

Lord of the Dance (G)

In Theaters for One Week Only! Since its premiere in 1996, millions of people around the world have been enchanted by Lord of the Dance. However, no one has ever had the opportunity to experience the magic, excitement, and passion by being part of the performance, until now.

I Am (NR)

I Am recounts what happened to the filmmaker after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good. Though he ultimately recovered, he emerged a changed man. Disillusioned with life on the A-list, he sold his house, moved to a mobile home community, and decided to start life anew.

For show times and more go to FANDANGO !!

DVD Releases 3/15/2011

Check out this week's DVD releases...

The Fighter (R)

Hereafter (PG-13)

The Switch (PG-13)

I already know one that will be added to my collection.

"Night Catches Us"

Although this flick is not in theaters anymore, it just recently hit Netflix and I knew I had to seize the opportunity to watch this film.  And actually I was quite pleased with the film. Night Catches Us is a film I like to call a "sleeper",  why because it didn't stay in the theaters long and it fell under the radar to the point where many missed out on a golden quality film.

In 1976, after years of mysterious absence, Marcus returns to the Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age in the midst of the Black Power movement. While his arrival raises suspicion among his family and former neighbors, he finds acceptance from his old friend Patricia and her daughter. However, Marcus quickly finds himself at odds with the organization he once embraced, whose members suspect he orchestrated the slaying of their former comrade-in-arms. In a startling sequence of events, Marcus must protect a secret that could shatter everyone’s beliefs, as he rediscovers his forbidden passion for Patricia. Magnolia Pictures

Director and writer Tanya Hamilton does an excellent job of shedding light on a period in which many have their own rumors, speculations,  and opinions about. However, Hamilton is able to focus in on two main characters Marcus (ex-Panther and accused "snitch") and Patricia (former Panther turned attorney) and their struggle to make it through the latter part of the 1970's Black Panther Era.

Night Catches Us spotlights a great deal of the personal and political situations during this time. After watching this film you realize how much of a painful experience that took place in American during the 60s and 70s. With police brutality increasingly on the rise and the Black Panther movement truly transforming itself, this film examines a core group of individuals who have all evolved into somewhat different people from when they initially knew each other. And to think one tragic event impacted so many characters in so many ways. Hamilton must be commended for giving us her definition of the meaning of the Black Panther movement, and hopefully you will leave with a greater respect for how much of a national and international impact that it had on US history. When it is all said and one, I begin to wonder if people today would put their lives on the line in quite the same way that these characters do in this film.

It goes without saying that this is not an easy film to watch especially if you were involved in any of the movements, or around during this time, you kind of take a personal hit. This is a period of time where this is a lot of pain, struggles, strife, and destruction. This film further does a good job in making you appreciate the Black Panther organization as a movement versus just focusing on the individuals. Once you finish watching the film you begin to ask several questions, are you willing to go above and beyond in order to survive and at what risk, who would you choose to take on your journey, what kind of sacrifices would make in life, what choices do you make under pressure and how would you act, and are you prepared to live with the aftermath of your decisions.

The one thing that I cannot deny with this film is that Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie give remarkable performances, but I expect nothing less from them. Each of them embodied their character on the screen, so that us the viewer can appreciate their performance. They truly have an undeniable chemistry that plays out very well on the screen (if you recall they seem to have good working chemistry She Hate Me). The friendship/love relationship that they possess for each other is a conflict but at the same time we the viewer have a moment of clarity. We get to see both Marcus and Patricia's journey of identifying who they are and what they have become over time. In addition, we get a chance to see how this movement effects the children through the eyes of Iris (Amari Cheatom/Patricia's daughter) a wonderful portrayal in which you can't help but empathize what she is going through during this time.

My one minor hang-up with the film is the ending, it was somewhat abrupt and open-ended. Now maybe that was the intention, so that the viewers could come to their own conclusion, but maybe that was not the best route. If there is a highlight to this approach, its that you leave the theater still asking those same question from above, several days later. However, on the flip side the complete musical score is done by Philadelphia's own The Roots, and the added the perfect touch to an enlightening film. Each song was perfectly placed and smoothly played out.

All in all, when it is said and done this was good flick that just didn't get enough attention. But hopefully if you were not able to catch it in the theaters you can catch it on Netflix, or even buy it on DVD.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

"I Will Follow"...A MUST SEE FILM!!

"If you walkaway, walkaway...I walkaway, walkaway...I will follow"

With much anticipation, I along with a girlfriend of mine went to Phipps Plaza in Atlanta, GA to go see the new independent film I Will Follow. Award-Winning director Ava DuVernay does an awesome job of painting a picture of the personal struggles with grief and loss. 

This movie was phenomenal, you can't help but look at your own self and family and see big or small pieces of your own life. I could totally relate with the main character Maye, when you invest so much emotionally into a something or someone, you can drain every bit of existence. But somehow that light at the end of tunnel becomes a little clearer and you can begin the fight again!

Amazing how the 12 people that come into the main character's life on this one day, give her these individual moments of clarity whether directly or indirectly. I am still in awe with the fact that in one day you can lose something, but on the flip side can gain sooooo much. You could feel that true honesty that was evoked within the film whether good or bad, it was the TRUTH!!

I must say each character played their role quite impressively. I can't think of any other set of actors/actresses to play each of these roles. Maye (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) who plays the protagonist, exemplifies the ideal women (regardless of race). She tries to do everything in her power to bring happiness and peace to others, but is lacking that same happiness for herself. Her story is one that may can and have identified with in today's society. Then you have Blair Underwood's character (Evan), even with distance playing a factor you learn the lesson that everything is not always about you! For me the character of Troy (Omari Hardwick) portrays the glowing past, and the realization of what could've been. He presents the straightforwardness that we want in a man, but sometimes cannot always handle. Now probably the most powerful role was that of Amanda (Beverly Todd), even though we don't get to formally meet her, we are introduced to the lasting spirit that she leaves behind. It's the little moments that we get to see of her by herself as well as with Maye that just melt your heart. As my mom would say, "they showed out!!"

Another highlight to the film, was the music! Everything was so fitting and it just flowed oh so naturally!! It just had a soothing effect, that just relaxed your mind. I think its brilliant how the name of the movie, is named after a great U2 song, quite fitting. Music almost becomes a hidden theme, because the music is what seems to be the glue that holds everything together. Throughout the film we are surrounded by musical analogies, that just take the film to another level! Just outstanding!

I Will Follow is not a film with a lot of bells and whistles but it doesn't need it, the stands on its own and with ease. If you get nothing else out of this film, hopefully you become more aware about breast cancer, and the various journeys that the women partake. There needs to be more films like this so that we can truly benefit and appreciate the arts.

A MUST SEE!!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (One of the few movies that I give a perfect score too!!)

Friday Line-up 3/11/2011

Check what is set to hit theaters on today...

Battle: Los Angeles (PG-13)

Mars Needs Moms (PG)

Red Riding Hood (PG-13)

Black Death (R)

Certified Copy (NR)

Elektra Luxx (R)

Harvest (R)

Jane Eyre (PG-13)

Kill the Irishman (R)

Making the Boys (NR)

Monogamy (NR)

Redland (NR)

I Will Follow (NR)

And a special shout out for my ATL, NY, Cali, and NJ folks...PLEASE CHECK OUT the new indie flick I Will Follow in select AMC Theaters!!!

Theatre Locations	Showtimes	Tickets
AMC - New York 34th Street IMAX 312 W 34th Street, between 8th and 9th	10:45am | 1:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:30pm | 7:45pm | 10:00pm	tickets
AMC - Santa Monica Criterion 6 Theatres 1313 Third Street Promenade Santa Monica, CA 90401	10:30am | 12:40pm | 2:55pm | 5:10pm | 7:30pm | 9:45pm	tickets
AMC Phipps Plaza 14 3500 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30326	11:15am | 1:30pm | 3:40pm | 5:50pm | 8:05pm | 10:15pm	tickets
AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 2121 Route 38 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002	10:05am | 12:20pm | 2:35pm | 4:55pm | 7:20pm | 9:50pm	tickets
AMC Southcenter 16 3600 Southcenter Mall Tukwila, WA 98188	10:15am | 12:30pm | 2:45pm | 5:00pm | 7:15pm | 9:30pm | 11:45pm	tickets

For more showtimes go to Fandango.com !!

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

In honor of  "National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day", I have a little flashback HBO film that you may have seen if not its worth checking out! This 2007 film Life Support premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and would later be shown on HBO. 


The true-life story of a mother who overcame an addiction to crack and became a positive role model and an AIDS activist in the black community.It is also loosely based on the true life story of Andrea Williams an HIV-positive black woman. I commend the writers (Nelson George, Jim McKay, and Hannah Weyer) for writing this movie which explores the impact of AIDS on the black community.

Check out a clip here...



Queen Latifah would go on to win Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries at the 14th Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2008. And the film itself would be nominated for 2 Emmys in 2007 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special.

So I'm going to get on my soapbox for just a sec and say this, "Talk to your daughters, your mothers, sisters, auties and girlfriends about protecting themselves from HIV/AIDS and other STI's." GET TESTED! Be safe. Educate yourself and your community. For more information, check out the following site NWGHAAD. And especially for my ATL folks check out SisterLove for more information. 

This is a serious matter, that cannot be ignored!!

Harry Belafonte "Sing Your Song" Documentary to be picked up by HBO

Sing Your Song which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, will now be seen right in the comfort of your home. Just moments ago it was mentioned that HBO will be premiering the documentary. The documentary film will profile singer/activist Harry Belafonte.

Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the civil rights movement in America and to social justice globally. 

Michael Cohl, the film's producer had this to say about the film being picked up by HBO..."HBO is the best home I know of for documentaries in this country. They have a long track record of presenting great non-fiction programming, I’m thrilled that SING YOUR SONG will have its broadcast premiere on HBO.”

Here is a little taste of what to expect...


Sing Your Song will debut this fall.

Can you believe "New Jack City" is 20 years old?!

Today’s flashback feature is definitely going to bring back some memories. This is a throwback sure to knock you off your feet! What is it you ask…New Jack City!! As a matter of fact, March 8th, 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the film New Jack City.

This 1991 crime-thriller/neo-noir film which starred Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson and Chris Rock marked a new era as it relates to African Americans. Snipes stars as Nino Brown, a rising drug dealer and crime lord in New York City during the crack epidemic. This is a role that Snipes truly put his heart and soul into, and it is evident when you watch the film. He would not just portray the stereotypical drug dealer,  but a highly intelligent man who you can’t help but think what if used his intelligence to more productive pursuits. And on the flip side, this would be a major role for Ice-T, who plays a detective who vows to stop Nino’s criminal activity, this would just jump-start his career in the acting world.

This excellent screenplay was co-written by journalist-turned-screenwriter Barry Michael Cooper, who also scripted 1994′s Above The Rim, and Sugar Hill, which also starred Snipes. And interestingly enough, Cooper would be the first African-American screenwriter in history to not only have two films produced in one year–Sugar Hill was released on February 25th, 1994 by Beacon-20th Century Fox Pictures, and Above The Rim was released on March 23rd,1994, by New Line Cinema–but a month apart from each other.

The story revolved around the 20th anniversary of the 1967 riots in Detroit, and in its wake, the rise of crack cocaine gangs in the mid-to-late 1980s, like Young Boys Inc., and the Chambers Brothers. Some of the most memorable lines in the film were ad-libbed by the actors – especially Ice-T and Wesley Snipes – encouraged by director Van Peebles to improvise in a free-flowing naturalistic style.

It received a favorable reception by film critics for its cast, storyline and soundtrack. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three and a half stars of four, writing:

“Truffaut once said it was impossible to make an anti-war movie, because the war sequences would inevitably be exciting and get the audience involved on one side or the other. It is almost as difficult to make an anti-drug movie, since the lifestyle and money of the drug dealers looks like fun, at least until they’re killed. This movie pulls off that tricky achievement. Nino, who looks at the dead body of Scarface and laughs, does not get the last laugh.”

And not to forget it would do quite well as it pertains to the box-office numbers/dollars, considering it was produced on an estimated $8,000,000 budget. The film initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 1991, before being released nationally on March 8, 1991; it grossed $7,039,622 during its opening weekend. It became the highest grossing independent film of 1992, grossing a total of $47,624,253 domestically.

Not only would the movie itself do well the but the soundtrack would be a hit on the market as well. There are several classic songs that come from this film that we are still jamming to today (“I’m Dreaming”, “For the Love of Money/Living for the City”). As a matter of fact the soundtrack reached #1 on Billboard’s “Top R&B Albums” chart, and #2 on “The Billboard 200.”  To this day one can watch this movie and probably quote the movie word for word, and recite the soundtrack lyric by lyric.

This would be one of those movies that MUST go into your black classic’s collection. Although it does borrow from some previous gangster films, it still is able to hold its own. When it all boils down it is just as relevant today as it was back in 1991.

New Jack City (Theatrical Trailer)
Uploaded by NakedBrotha2007. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

Trailer & Poster Alert: "Fast Five"

Dominic Torretto and his crew find themselves on the wrong side of the law once again as they try to switch the lanes between a ruthless Brazilian drug lord and a relentless FBI agent.

Looks like there's going to be some more cars, some added ammunition, more women and action....hmmmm sounds about right!

This Justin Lin directed movie is the fifth film in The Fast and the Furious film series and the fourth installment in terms of chronology preceding The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).

And to top it off this will be the first one in the series to be released in IMAX!

Check out the trailer here...

Set to be released in theaters on April 29, 2011

DVD Releases 3/8/2011

Check out what DVD's are hitting the shelves today...

Jackass 3 (R)

Morning Glory (PG-13)

The Next Three Days (PG-13)

Another short and to the point list....

In Honor of Women's History Month...

In honor of Women's History Month, I wanted to showcase a film analysis of the 1966 film Black Girl written and directed by Ousmane Sembène , starring Mbissine Thérèse Diop. Although the film is written and directed by a man, he uses this image of an African woman to address numerous themes such as the effects of colonialism, racism, and post-colonial identity in Africa and Europe. Many have even considered this film the "first Sub-Saharan African film from an African filmmaker that would receive international attention".

“History teaches us that, in certain circumstances, it is very easy for the foreigner to impose his domination on people. But it also teaches us that, whatever may be the material aspects of this domination, it can be maintained only by the permanent organized repression of the cultural life of the people concerned.”   -Amilcar Cabral, "Return to the Source"

            After viewing the film “Black Girl” I was able to realize that this was the type of movie that is designed to educate people on the existing conditions while at the same time chartering new political and cultural alternatives. It is important to note that knowledge of film history and its theories would truly be incomplete without dealing with Third World cinema, and Ousmane Sembene’s film is a prime example of this type of cinema. “Black Girl” is a perfect example of a visually graphic film that discusses race, poverty, deception, human trafficking, and loss. In addition, there are several other issues, the use of silence as a resistance factor and the postcolonial & colonial representation, that are brought to light regarding the interpretation of one of Sembene’s most common films. 

            The opening sequence of the film introduces the viewer to a ship arriving on a harbor in the South a France, and on the ship is Diouna who has left her home country of Senegal to take up work with this French couple. It should also be noted that although Diouana and her nation have gained independence, she still feels obligated to look to France for employment and a future.  Little to her surprise this is not a joyous escape. Her expectation of coming to France and the expectation of the French couple is one that is incomplete and disjointed. Thus this leads to Diouna becoming a silent and withdrawn. This “silence” leads to a two-fold situation, one of resistance and the other a lack of communication. When she wears a pretty dress and high heels to do housework because of its small pleasure, a rare chance for self-expression and probably her only occasion to wear them, Madame screams at her and tells her to dress more appropriately.  Her life becomes a sad and dreary routine of cooking, cleaning in this small apartment which literally drives her insane. Now what is actually quite interesting is the very thing that gets her the job is the same that brings her to abysmal demise, and that is her silence. The fact that she becomes silent serves as a symbol of post-colonial counter-representation.  Film scholars can see how Sembene uses this film, specifically its main character Diouana to adequately represent an indigenous people by showing how they react to the oppressing colonizers. It is definitely obvious that Sembene makes a very strong argument about how the main character Diouana and the couple she lives with are placed in parallel positions as it relates to colonialism.

Not only does Diouana’s silence serve as a symbol, but the Senegales monkey mask also serves as a central symbol in the film.  It is important to point out that the mask is another key player with a non-speaking role. The mask serves a bridge between Diouana and her employers, which represents the unfortunate as well as an inevitable lack of connection. Just like Diouana, the mask hangs alone on a white wall in the apartment in Antibes, dejected and separated from its companions in the African house. Much like Diouana, it is secluded and out of context. In the process, they wear masks of their colonial roles as the cruel oppressor and the outraged oppressed. In a sense, both of them need the mask: for Diouana it is a piece of home that she gave away as an appreciative equal, happy to work but expecting respect and pay; for Madame, the mask symbolizes her formerly exalted status in Africa, when she was benevolent and powerful white mistress.

Throughout the film, the mask as well as Diouana’s silence takes on several different meanings throughout its journey. The fact that she has no contact and makes no effort to make contact with her family symbolizes disconnect and defeat. Diouana sees no need to communicate with neither her family in Africa nor her employers in France. As a result, there is a permanent separation of her oppressor and her homeland. On the other hand, the masks journey is of one that travels to and from Africa to the colonial bondage of France, before returning back to its home once again. When the Monsieur returns the mask to the Senegalese boy who in fact is the original owner it highlights the division between the colonizer and the formerly colonized. In the end the boy chasing the Monsieur through the street wearing the mask indicates the mask becoming a threatening symbol of a free Africa.

All in all, the main focus of  “Black Girl” is Diouana’s sad odyssey in France  and the emotional core which Diop provides in an intense performance, which is strengthened further by Sembene’s quietly observant camera. Among the diversity stylistic tactics Sembene employs are the following: self-reflexivity, satire, irony, and experimentation with cinematic structural components, such as montage. He blends traditional African “storytelling” devices with experimental film language. He fuses a form of neorealism with a critique of the “real”. 

Here is a clip from this remarkable film...

CALLING ALL MY ATL FOLKS!!!

Where are all my ATL Black Independent Cinema Fans?!!! Well here is an opportunity for you to show your love and appreciation.

African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM), in concert with BronzeLens, presents a full-run theatrical engagement of the award-winning drama I WILL FOLLOW in AMC Theaters beginning March 11. 

I WILL FOLLOW is the first release of the landmark black film distribution collective known as the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM).

The cast includes such names as Salli Richardson-Whitfield with Omari Hardwick, Tracie Thoms, Dijon Talton, Michole White, Royale Watkins, Damone Roberts, Phalana Tiller, Ramon Leon, Owen Smith and Blair Underwood and Beverly Todd.

Check out the trailer here...


I Will Follow - Trailer from AFFRM on Vimeo.

I WILL FOLLOW chronicles a day in the life of a grieving woman (Richardson-Whitfield), and the twelve visitors who help her move forward.

Now we all know for a movie to really be able to hit its peak, it needs the support of you on its first two days that it premieres. So the goal is to make sure to SELL OUT all the shows during the opening weekend!! I have watched the trailer, and that was enough for me to say its a MUST SEE!!

You can RSVP on the following links: FACEBOOK and TWITTER

And you can go ahead and purchase tickets at I WILL FOLLOW- AMC !!

So make you make sure you spread the word and go check it out March 11th-13th!!

DVD Releases 3/1/2011

It's the 1st of the Month what DVDs will be going into your collection, well here are a few for you to choose from...

Burlesque (PG-13)

Love & Other Drugs (R)

Faster (R)

127 Hours (R)

Although its a short list it is definitely a jammed packed one!!