Documentary Alert!! No! The Rape Documentary

The one thing  I like about films/movies is that they can serve multiple purposes to entertain, to inform, to educate, etc. Well here is a film that will definitely inform and educate as well.

Rape and sexual violence/assault is a topic of discussion that is mentioned and talked about but is it really talked about enough?! The featured documentary No! The Rape Documentary delves into this topic head first and no holds barred!!

"...Aishah Shahidah Simmons, producer, writer, and director of NO! The Rape Documentary, boldly confronts the scourge of racial, gender, and sexual oppression, and its violent manifestations. Simmons, who understands the power of mass media, almost single-handedly put together a film that utilizes individual testimonials, scholarship, spirituality, activism, and culture to bring the reality of rape and other forms of sexual and physical abuse to the forefront of public conversation." --Thomas Burrell,

Check out the trailer here:


 It's never too late to inform the masses and spread the word!! Any and everyone can contribute!! For more information about the documentary and the filmmaker check go to NO! The Rape Doc

"The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975" is coming to a theater near you!!

"A roughly chronological collage that restores a complex human dimension to the racial history of the era." - NY Times

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 is coming to a theatre near you!

The Black Power Mixtape is a compilation feature documentary film that displays the story of the African-American community 1967-1975, the people, the society and the style that fueled a change. Told with sparkling, beautiful and deep footage, lost in the archives in Sweden for 30 years.

The film features such folks as Eldridge Cleaver, Kathleen Cleaver, Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, Emile de Antonio, William Kunstler and Angela Davis. Along with audio commentary by Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Talib Kweli, Melvin Van Peebles, and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.

Check to see if it will be in a theater near you...This film has been receiving raving reviews and definitely takes you on a journey through a period of time that will always be remembered forever!

For more information on the film go to The Black Power Mixtape Facebook
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September 23
San Francisco, MI - Lumiere
Los Angeles, CA - Nuart
Berkeley, CA - Shattuck

September 30
Cambridge, MA - Kendall Square
Washington D.C., WDC - E Street

October 7
Nashville, TN - Belcourt Theatre

October 14
Chicago, IL - Music Box Theatre
Detroit, MI - Main Art
Philadelphia, PA - Ritz At The Bourse
Atlanta, GA - Midtown Art
Seattle, WA - Varsity

October 21
New Haven, CT - Criterion Cinemas
San Diego, CA - Ken

October 28
Minneapolis, MN - Lagoon
Omaha, NE - Ruth Sokoof Theatre
St. Louis, MO - Tivoli

November 4
Denver, CO - Chez Artiste
Portland, OR - Cinema 21 Theatre
Salt Lake City, UT - Tower Theatre
Tucson, AZ - Loft Cinema

November 11
Kansas City, MO - Tivoli Cinemas
Boise, ID - The Flicks

Calling All my ATL folks Especially GSU!! SAVE THE DATE: October 12th, 2011

For all my comic book and hip fans here in the ATL here is an opportunity that you do not want to miss out on!! 

The Department of African American Studies at Georgia State University will be presenting a documentary viewing and discussion on "Black Masculinity in Comic Books and Hip Hop Animation" (Moderators Neil Schultz & Jonathan Gayles).

The award winning documentary White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in American Comic Books (New Name ) will be the featured showing. Now if you missed it when it came to the National Black Arts Festival then you will have another opportunity to watch this exemplary film. For my review check it out here Masculinity & Comic Books .

Black Savant Cinema will be on hand covering the event with live feeds, tweets, and updates!!

It will take place on Wednesday October 12th, 2011 5-8 PM at the Cinefest at GSU (66 Courtland Street SE Suite 240, Atlanta, GA 30303)

And also check out the the director's website Blacksuperherodoc and the new Facebook Page FBBlackSupermen .

DVD Releases 9/20/2011

Check out this week's DVD releases...

Bridesmaids (R)

Interestingly enough, this is the only DVD to be released this week! Lucky Ladies!!

NBAF Presents: NBAF Fall Film Series at Southwest Arts Center Sept. 30 - Oct. 2

 

Mark your calendar for Fall for Film, a weekend film series at Southwest Arts Center, September 30-October 2, 2011, presented by NBAF with support from the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts & Culture.  Curated by Leatrice Ellzy. 

Three days, seven films, so many stories.  This series includes features, documentaries, family films and a surprise or two that you won't want to miss.  

Tickets are $10 and available at www.NBAF.org.

"The Debt": A Spy Espionage Thriller

The story is centered around a 1965 mission of a trio of Mossad agents. Mossad is Israel's CIA. These three agents, Rachel (Jessica Chastain), Stephan (Marton Csokas) and David (Sam Worthington) are to capture the notorious Nazi war criminal, the Surgeon of Birkenau (Jesper Christensen), and bring him back for a proper trial of war time atrocities.

The Debt is the type of movie that can be summed up as "a Nazi hunt/spy thriller all rolled into one". I took notice of this film because of the sheer fact that Helen Mirren is in it! I mean the lady is a genius on the screen. It was refreshing to see a film such as this one showcase a serious subject matter in such a thrilling way. This film really does not require much to review in the fact that you don't want to give any spoilers, its kind of like one of those films that you will have to take a chance on.

There are so many elements to this film that you almost have to rely on a combination of the characters and the trailer. You might have to do a small bit of background on the film but not really much. As far as the characters go of course Helen Mirren stands her ground above and beyond, as expected. And then you have Jesper Christensen who plays is a believable psycho and ideal antagonist. This guy really made my skin crawl in so many ways, you can't help but want to see him go down in flames!! Then you have Sam Worthington who was not all that impressive with his role, just enough really to get by (not one of his better films). Now I also must make mention that this film was not meant to be "historical fiction" so if you plan to see it, make sure you take that expectation out of your mind. The film has a way of toying with your perception and expectation of the events in which you feel like you are going in every direction, but the one you want to go in. And the fact that the plot was able to go back and forth (using flashbacks) between the present and past was done in such a fluid manner makes the film that much more exciting and intriguing.

The Debt will keep you wondering from scene to scene what is going to happen next, or what this character is going to say or do. For just about the entire film, I was at the edge of my seat wondering what surprise would come next as the story would unfold. The one thing that it should be commended for is the fact that the characters as well as the story are not driven by a need for special effects and action. Sometimes a good storyline is all you need to make a film enjoyable. Here is a perfect example of a well written thriller/drama. In a sense it kind of reminded me of Munich and The Tourist.  

My only concern with this film was the pace throughout the entire film and the ending (slightly disappointing). It was a bit slow at times, and then it would pick up at other times.The film give off a very dark and menacing feel, and then when you least expect it... a nice little plot twist. Don't rely heavily on the trailer, trust me there is much more to offer!! This film is what I would call "compelling and watchable"...see for yourself!

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Weekend Box Office Numbers 9/16-9/18

Here are this weekend's box office numbers...

1. The Lion King 3D $29,300,000

2. Contagion $14,480,000

3. Drive $11,019,000

4. The Help $6,438,000

5. Straw Dogs $5,000,000

6. I Don't Know How She Does It $4,502,000

Looks like the King has reclaimed his throne!! 

Works for me, a soon to be classic film that deserves to be on top!!