Ten Films You Should See If You Love Black People

FILM 2

from the Ebony/Jet site by Jacquie Jones:

Daughters of the Dust

Julie Dash

In my opinion, this film captures the unspeakably beautiful poetry of the black experience in America more successfully than any other film ever made. Period. When it came out in the early 1990s, most critics couldn’t get past its breathtakingly epic cinematography, which was meticulously choreographed by director of photography Arthur Jafa. Dash and Jafa broke new ground with this film, experimenting heavily with formal elements, such as frame rate, to express the unique way a black culture forged from forced migrations and slavery looks and moves. But Daughters is also a story of African Americans becoming just that, leaving a broken and painful past and embracing emerging identities as the twentieth century began. A second look now might reveal some insights about the transformations we are undergoing again as we shake off our civil rights era selves and try out a new, let’s hope, more international black self.

Old School Music Fridays

After writing that mess this morning, I need something to put me back in my ordinarily mellow mood.

I know I might be pushing the limit of "old school" with this one....

While reading Regina's blog this morning, she posted a video by the old school group "A Taste Of Honey". You know "boogie oogie oogie"? She stated that the bassist in the duo was Raphael Saadiq's sister. I have known the Tonys for years (they're from my hometown, Oakland), and never knew that. They have a huge family, most of them musically talented...amazing.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about them. And I've been thinking about Ms. Badu ever since her CD came out on Tuesday. This combines them both, with the ultimate homage to "old school hip-hop music". I absolutely adore this song and video in every way (way more than the movie it came from). Please excuse the beginning--it was the only clear embeddable version I could find. Check it.

1. Quick 2. Regina 3. Cassandra 4. Chocl8t 5. MarvalusOne 6. AJ 7. Rosemarie 8. Marcus LANGFORD 9. Lisa C 10. Kreative Talk 11. LaShonda 12. mrsgrapevine 13. sHaE-sHaE

This Shit Is NOT Funny!

You know I am pissed, cause I have never put a full on ugly curse word in the title of my posts. It's not Black Cinema, but it is related to why I started this blog; to help stop the negativity of our images in the media.

This irked me to no end. What the F--K is this?

While perusing Aunt Jemima's Revenge, I happened upon a story about some idiot whose stage name is Shirley Q. Liquor, VERY inappropriately and supposedly playing a "Black woman" in full on black-face. The blog says:

"Comedian Chuck Knipp aka Shirley Q. Liquor believes his parody of black women "was created in celebration of, not to downgrade, black women." I am stunned that this joker thinks black women would find this character as an uplifting tribute to them. I find it interesting that the same gay community that protested until Grey's Anatomy actor Isiah Washington was fired, can strongly support this guy's racist and sexist "Songs of the South" portrayal of a black woman."


From IW: Does this look like a celebration to you?

it's a celebration bitches!

The post goes on to state:

"To make matters worse, this person feels that he cannot be criticized for this horrific characterization by of all people, black women! Activist Jasmyne Cannick has been extremely critical of Mr. Knipp on her website and has successfully protested against his performance. Knipp has retaliated against Ms. Cannick by posting her personal phone number on his website and just recently he superimposed a photo of Ms. Cannick's face over another photo of an extremely obese and nude body of another unknown and unnamed African American woman. This attack on Ms. Cannick is typical of Knipp and the other racist and sexist images posted on his website."


From IW: The picture that he posted of the blogger Ms. Cannick was so sick and disrespectful that I have no words. I can't even post it.

To see this asshole's website--which made me want to hunt him down and put foot to ass, click HERE. Knipp describes Liquor as being “a welfare mother with nineteen kids (Cheeto, Orangello, Chlamydia, and Kmartina, etc.), who guzzles malt liquor, and drives a Caddy.” This fool makes close to six figures doing this "celebration and upliftment".

A sample of one of his "comedy" gems: “On the fifth day of Kwanzaa, my check came in the mail/AFDC!/Thank you, lawd!/Come on, kids/Let's go to the store/For some collard greens, ham hocks and cheese!" If you want to read another article about this piece of shit click HERE. It also has a link to the picture he posted of Ms. Cannick.

If you want to join Jasmyne Cannick, the Activist and Blogger he disrespected after she called him on the bullshit, and let him/her (Knipp) know we ain't havin' it click HERE. You can also view his/her youtubes there.

I highly encourage you to take the time to click on these links, and to write about, or at least mention this backwards ass mess on your blogs as well....I know my blogging sisters and brothers hear me out there!

Update: It seems that I am very much on the late train with this, as the always on top of things Undercover Black Man wrote about this last year on his blog HERE in a post entitled "Umgawa!". In my defense, this was before I had the pleasure of his acquaintance :-)

Update #2: Villager had this to say:

"Villagers, the Knipp-Roach is supported by his booking agents at Diva Central (7510 W. Sunset Blvd, Suite 1445; Los Angeles CA 90046).

You can reach out directly to Diva Central by phone (323.864-1933) or email (divasanddjs@aol.com) if you want to join us in expressing our disgust and protest over the racist Charles Knipp show. "

From IW: To read the rest of his post, click HERE.

Update #3: Focused Purpose wrote a blurb today about it HERE on her blog.

Update #4: Michael Crawford from Bloggernista (who I believe is gay) just wrote about this travesty HERE.

Semi-Pro

R | 1 hr 30 mins | Comedy, Sports, Period Movie
A one-hit wonder uses the profits from the success of his chart-topping song "Love Me Sexy" to achieve his dream of owning a basketball team.
Synopsis:
In 1976, the maverick ABA is a fast-paced, wild and crazy basketball league that rivals the NBA and makes a name for itself with innovations like the three-point shot and slam dunk contest. Jackie Moon is a one-hit wonder who used the profits from the success of his chart-topping song "Love Me Sexy" to achieve his dream of owning a basketball team. But Moon''s franchise, the Flint Michigan Tropics, is the worst team in the league and in danger of folding when the ABA announces its plans to merge with the NBA. If they want to survive, Jackie and the Tropics must now do the seemingly impossible--win.

Director : Kent Alterman
Starring : Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000), Jay Phillips, Will Arnett, Josh Braaten, Rob Corddry

Movie Trailer Semi-Pro

You're Being Watched Malcolm Lee...

Found a great new blog (new to me anyway) called "postbourgie". Lots of great stuff over there, including this analysis of Malcolm Lee's films. I think this blog is gonna give me a run for my money on the movie front:

Malcolm D. Lee, Cinematic Chameleon

When Malcolm D. Lee arrived on the cinematic scene with 1999’s The Best Man, audiences marked his arrival by awarding him 34,074,900 of their hard-earned movie-going dollars over the course of the film’s run. A respectable showing for any debut film, this gross afforded Lee a bit of clout coming out of the gate. Perhaps it was timing. The Best Man opened two years after Theodore Witcher’s Love Jones (another film that featured artsy, middle-class black folks and Nia Long as the star-crossed object of some writer’s affection). Audiences had been primed for the emergence of yet another African American film subgenre (hot on the heels of the fizzling “gangsta/hood film” niche) and it seemed that bohemian-swanky Black films were the natural forerunner.

Or maybe Lee’s PR were responsible for The Best Man’s decent debut, with their dogged insistence on letting everyone know that—funny we should ask, but yes—Malcolm D. Lee is related to Spike Lee; they’re cousins! Interesting little tidbit, that. Spike had been a part of Black American filmgoers’ consciousness since 1986, when She’s Gotta Have It hit the screen. We knew him; he’d given us intense, complicated, poignant, and sometimes baffling cinema for thirteen years before his cousin cropped up. Linking Spike and Malcolm as relatives undoubtedly set up some firm, if unvoiced, expectations. And knowing that Spike’s 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks helped bring The Best Man to fruition only solidified those ideas.

Whatever the cause of the film’s gross, after viewing it, we had to reassess whatever presumptions we’d formed regarding Malcolm’s similarity to Spike. Malcolm, it seemed, had a lighter touch. He wasn’t as heavy-handed or “Message!”-driven as his cousin. His treatment of women was just as confounding as his cousin’s, but he also seemed willing to give them a bit more to do onscreen. And his sense of humor was firmly in tact–the film’s jokes weren’t as smarmy or tongue-in-cheek as those of, say, Giant character’s in Mo’ Better Blues.

In short: Malcolm D. Lee was broader than Spike. He was more accessible. For anyone who was starting to find Spike’s work a little pretentious, here was a revised Lee model–now with 50% less Agenda!

Three years passed before Lee ventured a sophomore project. His offering: Undercover Brother, a Blaxploitation parody of sorts that saw Eddie Griffin as the titular secret agent, angling to keep The Man from achieving world domination. Perhaps you remember it?


It involved the notoriously awful Denise Richards as a rival agent, who puts the moves on the afroed, fist-raising militant and temporarily subdues him with her assimilating influence. It wasn’t awful. And it certainly was unlike anything we’d seen since I’m Gonna Get You Sucka (the Blaxploitation parody film to end them all, really). But it also threw us off our mark a bit.

Here we were, thinking Malcolm D. Lee would be bringing us a filmography full of straightforwardly upscale African American characters in various states of romantic and professional unrest. And then he follows himself up with a parody film. Hmm. Black parodies are rare and successful executions of black parodies are even rarer. We admired his pluck for attempting to tap into that market–and his business acumen; Undercover Brother grossed $38,230,435. But we still wondered where he was going.


In 2005, we’d find out, when Roll Bounce opened. A period dramedy about competitive preteen/teen roller-skating wars in the ’70s—with Shad “Bow Wow” Morris at the fore, Roll Bounce marked Lee’s first commercial disappointment. Its opening weekend gross was only $7,570,366. The film would go on to make $17,378,977, halfing the overall earnings of The Best Man. To add insult to injury, ATL would open a year later, tackling similar subject matter with older characters, better writing/acting, and superior box office results ($21,160,089). Even so, Roll Bounce was yet another intriguing turn for the Georgetown-educated Lee, whose work kept refusing to fit into any set Black film mold.

We didn’t know what would be next from him—whether it would be innocuously watchable like The Best Man, cornily eye-roll inducing (even as it elicited involuntary chuckles) like Undercover Brother or fraught with bad acting and a weak plot like Roll Bounce. But we knew that, at the very least, it’d be interesting and unexpected.

In keeping with his every-three-years trend, Malcolm D. Lee has unveils his latest project this weekend. We know what you’re thinking, “Wait. I haven’t heard anything about an interesting Black film opening today….” And you’re right. There isn’t an interesting Black film opening today. But you know what is hitting screens this weekend?


Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins.

Of all the places Malcolm D. Lee has taken us during his relatively short career, the terrain of the broad, slapstick Black comedy hasn’t been one of them. Until now. No matter where we imagined Lee would take us next, it’s likely we didn’t expect a “You done forgot where you caaame from!”/”Mah-muuuuh!” kind of flick with Mo’Nique prominently featured in the trailer. In fact, in a September 2005 interview with Blackfilm.com, Lee stated that films fusing drama and comedy for realism’s sake are “the types of films he likes to make.”

We’re not saying that a broad/slapstick comedy can’t have effectively poignant moments. We’re just saying that in perusing early reviews, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins reeeeally doesn’t. It’s too bad, too, because this is a premise we would’ve expected Lee to do a bit more with. Hometown boy makes good, then grudgingly comes home and finds himself unexpectedly humbled and awed by his roots. It’s an age-old tale (and terribly cliche), but it could’ve been well-executed. Instead it went for skunk-spraying and baseballs to the head of the grey-haired matriarch and, well, Mo’Nique’s typically unfunny punch lines.

So we have to wonder: is he just doing this to recoup some of his monetary losses (if any) from the Roll Bounce flop? Is this a quick way to gain a little revenue to pour into his next film, Soul Men? Soul Men sounds like a return to form (if any pattern can be found in Lee’s work thus far), as it will see Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac play two estranged ’70s band members, grudgingly uniting at the Apollo for a tribute show for their deceased bandleader.

Here’s hoping this Roscoe Jenkins thing was just a glitch in Malcolm’s Matrix.

10,000 B.C.

PG-13 | Drama, Adventure, Period Movie
A 21-year-old hunter from a primitive tribe must hunt mammoth to survive.
Synopsis:
In a remote mountain tribe, the young hunter D’Leh has found his heart’s passion--the beautiful Evolet. But when a band of mysterious warlords raid his village and kidnap Evolet, D’Leh leads a small group of hunters to pursue the warlords to the end of the world to save her. As they venture into unknown lands for the first time, the group discovers there are civilizations beyond their own and that mankind’s reach is far greater than they ever knew. At each encounter the group is joined by other tribes who have been attacked by the slave raiders, turning D’Leh’s once small band into an army.Driven by destiny, the unlikely warriors must battle prehistoric predators while braving the harshest elements. At their heroic journey’s end, they uncover a lost civilization and learn their ultimate fate lies in an empire beyond imagination, where great pyramids reach into the skies. Here they will take their stand against a tyrannical god who has brutally enslaved their own. And it is here that D’Leh finally comes to understand that he has been called to save not only Evolet but all of civilization.

Director : Roland Emmerich
Starring : Omar Sharif, Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Marco Khan, Cliff Curtis, Nathanael Baring

10,000 B.C. Movie Trailer

Spectacular View of 10.000 BC

Welcoming one of the heavily digitized films from Rolland Emmerich this March 7, “10.000 BC” has offered some of its spectacular scenes by the film images and trailers. Sabertooths and mammoths battle will be a very promising movie experience that so very worthy to be waiting for. The story itself is set in a time when man and beast were untamed and the mighty mammoth roamed the earth. A time when ideas and beliefs were born that forever shaped mankind. A sweeping odyssey into a mythical age of prophesies and gods, when spirits rule the land and mighty mammoths shake the earth. In a remote

WATCH MORE >>>

Random Movie News...

From Filmwad:

"News is slow following Oscar Sunday, but deals are still being made out there. The latest is that Max Thieriot, Bow Wow, Evan Ross, Chi McBride and Gabrielle Anwar have been recruited to co-star in Driving Lessons, a black comedy directed by newcomer Vivi Friedman.

The rather complicated plot, according to The Hollywood Reporter, reads as follows:

Thieriot (Kit Kittredge) will play the religious, right-wing teenage son of Bunnie (Hope Davis), a woman given a second chance at her unhappy marriage to Jack (Dermot Mulroney) after losing her memory. It conveniently helps her forget an interracial affair with her burly next-door neighbor Simon (McBride).

Selma Blair will play a sarcastic lesbian high school teacher having an affair with a student (Madeline Zima). Anwar will play Jack's sexy, power-crazed co-worker, and Brittany Robertson is cast as his sexually adventurous daughter.

Ross will play Simon's son, and actor-rapper Bow Wow and Jermaine Williams will play wannabe thugs who complicate everyone's lives. John Patrick Amedori also stars. "

From IW: Huh?

Rahasia Bintang (Secrets of a Star)

Film Indonesia, Thriller Movie
The story of this suspense thriller will flow to evoke audience’s emotions and feelings.
Synopsis:
Laras (Desi Florita) and Aria (Dimas Seto), they are journalists, try to uncover a murder case that causes one whole family murdered. Laras who have sixth sense got help from ghost name Sheila (Griselda Agatha) in their investigation. Who is killer?

Director : Yulianto Krisbiantoro
Starring : Tio Pakusadewo, Desi Florita, Dimas Seto, Sandy Nayoan, Griselda Agatha, Mona Ratuliu, Cut Keke,

Movie Trailer Rahasia Bintang : -

Be Kind Rewind

PG-13 | 1 hr 41 mins | Comedy Movie
A man becomes accidentally magnetized and erases all the tapes in the video store where his best friend works. To save the store, the duo re-enact and re-film every movie in the store.
Synopsis:
Jerry is a junkyard worker who attempts to sabotage a power plant that he believes is melting his brain. But when his plan goes awry, the magnetic field that he creates accidentally erases all of the videotapes in a local video store where his best friend Mike works. Fearing that the mishap will cost Mike his job, the two friends team up to keep the store’s only loyal customer – a little old lady with a tenuous grasp on reality – from realizing what has happened by recreating and re-filming every movie that she decides to rent. From "Back to the Future," to "Robocop," to "Rush Hour," to "The Lion King," Jerry and Mike become the biggest stars in their neighborhood by starring in the biggest movies ever made.

Director : Michel Gondry
Starring : Jack Black, Dante Smith, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz, Chandler Parker

Movie Trailer Be Kind Rewind

Do I Need To Start An Eddie Watch?

Sorry, I'm in one of those gossipy moods today....

What kind of cryptic sh*t is this? From Bossip:

Tracey Edmonds had a little bit to say on Johnny Gill’s claims that her guests were being inappropriate at the “wedding”:

“I was very shocked and disappointed to hear of Johnny Gill’s false spin on the chain of events surrounding our wedding. His outrageous lies were clearly a very desperate and pathetic attempt to clean up his reputation at my expense. I would appreciate it if Mr. Gill would refrain from continuing to spread false gossip and lies to the public, and allow everyone involved to move on with their lives. We all know the real truth.”

From IW: Dayum! I have absolutely no problem with Eddie being seen as suspect--I know a few thangs...but Johnny? I just always thought that it was part of that "everybody that's famous is gay" rumor ish. That ensemble in the picture really isn't helping his case.

But all of Eddie's women, Tracey, Scary, and Nicole have made allusions to his "lifestyle" and how hard it was to deal with, without being direct.

Hmmmm.....

By The Way...

Did anybody see the TV version of "A Raisin In The Sun"? What were your thoughts? Please let me know...

Terrence Watch! Part 11

Wow. My Terrence has been veeeery quiet these days. I guess he's been too busy with his Broadway play "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" for any shenanigans.

He did take time out to lecture at Temple University in a pimp suit from the Ving Rhames/Stacy Adams collection, though. Very appropriate attire for lecturing, I'd say.


pic from c&d

Charlie Bartlett

R | 1 hr 37 mins | Comedy, Teen Movie
A rich kid becomes the self-appointed psychiatrist to the student body of his new high school.
Synopsis:
Charlie Bartlett has been kicked out of every private school he ever attended. And now that he''s moved on to public school, he''s simply getting pummeled. But when Charlie discovers that the kids who surround him--the outcast and the popular alike--are secretly in desperate need, his entrepreneurial spirit takes over. Hanging up his shingle in the Boys'' restroom, Charlie becomes an underground, not to mention under-aged, shrink who only listens to the private confessions of his schoolmates, and makes the imprudent decision to hand out the pills he''s proffered from his own psychiatric sessions. Meanwhile, at home, Charlie keeps charming his way out of an inevitable confrontation his adoring but utterly overwhelmed mother Marilyn. Then, Charlie Bartlett makes his big mistake--falling in love with the beautiful and bold daughter of the school''s increasingly disenchanted Principal, who is hot on his trail. As Charlie Bartlett''s world and fledgling psychiatric practice unravel, he begins to discover there''s a whole lot more to making a difference than handing out pills.

Director : Jon Poll
Starring : Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Kat Dennings, Tyler Hilton

Movie Trailer Charlie Bartlett

WTF?....Volume 12

Jamie Foxx's career is starting to sound like a practical joke. First "From G's To Gents", now this.

Jamie is set to portray Mike Tyson in his biopic. Says Iron Mike (read this in his lispy voice):

“Jamie Foxx and I will be working together. He will play me in the film about my life. We already talked about it several times.” Tyson also insists he is finally free of drugs for the first time in years, admitting he was never completely sober - even in his boxing heyday.

Says IW: Just.....damn. Wonder if Jamie is drug-free.

No Oscar For Young Men

...Coz old men have got it, yes, the violent drama "No Country For Old Men" won four Academy Awards on Sunday, more than any other film, including best movie, director and adapted screenplay for brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. The film's fourth award, for best supporting actor, went to Spain's Javier Bardem for playing a killer of few words. It was the first Oscar for a Spanish performer in the 80-year history of the world's premier cinema awards. The Coens' brooding, bloody tale of violence

WATCH MORE >>>

Witless Protection

PG-13 | 1 hr 37 mins | Comedy, Crime Movie
A sheriff and a beautiful woman must grapple with angry FBI agents, quack doctors, and Chicago high society.
Synopsis:
During a routine day spent patrolling his small town, sheriff Larry witnesses a beautiful, high-class woman, Madeleine, being held against her will by four mysterious, black-suited men. Recognizing the opportunity to save the day, Larry “kidnaps” her, only to learn that Madeleine is actually a key witness in a high-stakes Chicago crime case and her captors are FBI agents assigned to protect her. Madeleine is furious. But Larry, who rightly suspects the agents are crooked and Madeleine is in danger, forces her on a harebrained trip to Chicago to solve the case himself. Together, the mismatched duo must grapple with angry FBI agents, quack doctors and Chicago high society.
Director : Charles Robert Carner
Starring : Larry the Cable Guy, Jenny McCarthy, Ivana Milicevic, Yaphet Kotto, Peter Stormare, Joe Mantegna

Movie Trailer Witless Protection (2008)

For Those in The ATL...

Sorry for the late posting, but if you're looking for something to do tonight, you might want to check this out--it's new Black Cinema, and best of all, it's free:

Urban Film Review Presents:
Premiere of Father of Lies

DATE: Monday,February 25,2008

TIME: 7:00pm

LOCATION: Woodruff Arts Center1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309Parking for all Woodruff Arts Center events is available at our state-of the-art Parking Garage located on Arts Center Way, Colony Square, 1293 Peachtree Street, as well as the Promenade building on 15th Street.

ADMISSION: FREE - Arrive early, seating is limited and available on a first come basis.

Father of Lies is a classic story of good vs. evil. Bishop Calvin Jacobs (Clifton Powell) is a well-meaning pastor whose drive and passion raised the profile of his church through serving his the needs of the congregation. Fortune takes a sudden turn one day during a board meeting, in which it is discovered that the church's funds have been mysteriously depleted. With the church's existence in danger, he is forced to resort to desperate means to save his church community. He accepts a high-stakes loan from an international tycoon, who is involved in more than just normal business practices. Setting off a chain of events that involve international political scandal and even the death of one of the church's leaders, the Bishop calls on the higher power to rise above these struggles. Starring: Clifton Powell, Vivica Fox and DMX

Weekend BO

WEEKEND B.O. (Thanks Sergio)
Feb. 22-24 2008


1. Vantage Point - $22.4 Million

2. Spiderwick Chronicles - $13M Total: $43.9M

3. Jumper - $12.2M - Total: $55.7M

4. Step Up 2 the Streets - $8.2M - Total: $39.8M

5. Fool's Gold - $6.4M Total: $52.5M

6. Definitely Maybe - $5M Total: $21.5M

7. Juno - $4.07M Total: $130.3M

8. Be Kind, Rewind - $3.65M

9. Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins - $3.6M Total: $35.1M

10. U2-3D - $3.36M - Total: $7.2M


From IW: There is not one movie on this list that I have any enthusiasm for. Why is "Definitely Maybe" still on it? Do you know anyone who saw that, or wanted to?

I saw 15 minutes of "Be Kind, Rewind" and the DVD was turned off...even Mos Def and Danny Glover couldn't save this sh*t that should have never hit the screen in the first place.

Vantage Point

PG-13 | 1 hr 30 mins | Drama, Thriller Movie
An attempted assassination of the president is told from five different points of view.
Synopsis:
Thomas Barnes and Kent Taylor are two Secret Service agents assigned to protect President Ashton at a landmark summit on the global war on terror. When President Ashton is shot moments after his arrival in Spain, chaos ensues and disparate lives collide. In the crowd is Howard Lewis, an American tourist videotaping the historic event to show his kids when he returns home. Also there is Rex, an American TV news producer who is reporting on the conference. It''s only as we follow each person''s perspective of the same 15 minutes to and immediately after the shooting so that the terrifying truth behind the assassination attempt is revealed.

Director: Pete Travis
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, Matthew Fox, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver
Movie Trailer Vantage Point

Love - Indonesia Movie

This indonesian movie story is about 5 lover. Rama (Fauzi Baadilla) and Iin (Acha Septriasa) who fall in love at first sight, Lestari (Widyawati) and Nugroho (Sophan Sophiaan), Tere (Luna Maya) and Awin (Darius Sinathrya) who meets a shop attendant in a bookstore, Restu (Irwansyah) and Dinda (Laudya Chintya Bella) and Gilang (Surya Saputra) and Miranda (Wulan Guritno). It was fate that make they meet...and guide by Love

Director: Khabir Bhatia
Starring : Acha Septriasa, Darius Sinathrya, Fauzi Baadilla, Irwansyah, Laudya Chintya Bella, Luna Maya, Sophan Sophiaan, Surya Saputra, Widyawati, Wulan Guritno

Join the Thrilling Ride of The Chaser

Korean cinema once again showing that they were also an expert in creating a good thriller film, after some of the titles such as, “Memories of Murder”, “Voice of Murderer” and “Seven Days” had received best achievement from the audience. Now they bring the latest film of the genre which is came from a debut director, Na Hong-jin. With a not so famous cast, newly director and a fairly low budget, expectations were initially pretty low for the film that titled “The Chaser”, but word is spreading quickly about how well made and suspenseful it is. What happen then is the film has sold about 800,000 tickets in just five days since its

WATCH MORE >>>

Oscar Sunday This N' That....

:Let me get this out right away...if you are looking for news, commentary, and coverage on the Oscars, this is not the place to go. I make no secret of my distaste for award shows...the fact that "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead" didn't get one Oscar nod, and "Juno" did pretty much puts the final nail in an already tightly sealed coffin for me..

I wonder why the secret "Black Oscars" decided to stop meeting the year before a sympathy nod goes to Ruby Dee and "Norbit" gets a nod for make-up. That's it for our community this year, as far as I know--doesn't really seem like progress to me. From The Obenson Report:

Did You Know...

... From around 1982 until 2007, African-American actors, directors, producers and executives held a secret ceremony on the night before Oscar night, to celebrate black performers, calling the event, the Black Oscars. Every talent, from the likes of Samuel L. Jackson to Will Smith, participated in this event, which was considered a moment for black Hollywood to honor its own. In 2007, the "Friends of the Black Oscars," the secretive group that sponsored the event, decided that the Black Oscars had finally become obsolete, thanks in large part to the recent increases in the presence of black performers in the race for Oscar - Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith and Djimon Hounsou, notably.

From IW: Interesting.




Speaking of Obenson, he and I will be on Afronerd Radio tonight (Sunday), giving our thoughts on Ofay Oscar (my view) and Black Cinema's early days. It will be on at 8pm EST, and if you'd like to call in and give your thoughts and opinions as well the number is 646-915-9620. For more info click HERE. Take a listen if you are anti-Oscar, or if you just need a little break from the BS fest.



And speaking of podcasts, I got this in my email (thanks Slaus!):

NPR's Tony Cox talks with Neema Barnette — director of Civil Brand and All You've Got — and actor/director Kasi Lemmons, whose films include Eve's Bayou and Talk to Me, about the challenges they face and the unique perspective they bring to the big-screen.

Take a listen to this clip:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19234733&ft=1&f=11


IW: Invisiblewoman says check it out. Me love Kasi Lemmons.




The wonderful blog "Charcoal Ink" had an new twist on Hattie McDaniel (who most write off as a tired mammy stereotype) as the first Black to win an Academy Award:


"The Oscars are this Sunday and I was thinking about the ceremony and the symbolism of having an Oscar. Hattie McDaniel was the first black person ever to receive one and according to imdb.com, she may have been the first African-American woman to sing on radio.

Here are some other McDaniel facts from imdb.com:

- She willed her Oscar to Howard University, but the Oscar was lost during the race riots at Howard during the 1960s. It has never been found.

- Despite the fact Clark Gable played a joke on her during the filming of Gone with the Wind (1939) (he put real brandy in the decanter instead of iced tea during the Bonnie Blue birth celebration scene), McDaniel and Gable were actually good friends. Gable later threatened to boycott the premiere in Atlanta because McDaniel was not invited, but later relented when she convinced him to go.

She was also quoted saying “I’d rather play a maid than be one.”

This woman is so incredibly important. Of course, she played stereotypical characters that are cringe worthy but you can actually see that she was just an amazing actress and what if she had been given better material ? Who knows — to survive such racism and make your mark none the less is commendable and admirable."

And last, but by no means least, I received a "Spread The Love" award from Vanessa at Vanessa Unplugged.!

I love her for this, sincerely, cause what she wrote on her blog is almost identical to how I feel. I was in the mode this week of chucking this blog, and just starting a semi-political one, as I sometimes grow weary of the haterade (completely unwarrented), the link competitions that I get mysteriously dropped from, etc. I just love film and don't really want to get caught up in the side effects of blogging. If I do, though, of course it's nobodies fault but my own.

But when someone takes time out of their day to show you love, and demonstrate that they appreciate what you do, whether it's an award, an email, or a comment, it regenerates your batteries like the Energizer Bunny. And I give thanks for that, y'all.

I want to spread the love for folks that have shown mad love to me lately:

Mrs Grapevine

The Black Actor

Danielle

Ms. Marvelous

Qadree

Darkbrotha

The Oh Hell Nawl! crew

An award back to Vanessa too for her other blog :-)


I would give one to Sergio, but he doesn't have a blog (hint, hint). You guys can post the award on your blog and spread some love too, if you're so inclined. To these beautiful people and to my wonderful readers, have a fantastic day!

When Worlds Collide...

I was rewatching "Pulp Fiction" 2 days ago, and marveled at how different (and not good) Ving Rhames looked.

While in Atlanta yesterday (hello ATLians!) I marveled at the men with the cleanest gators, the freshest brims, and the unnatural fiber clothing all colors of the rainbow; lavender seeming to be a big favorite. It is a phenomenon completely unseen in California.

Today I marveled at this ad that brings both together---I present to you Ving Rhames for Stacy Adams:




Piiiimpin', pimpin', as Katt Williams would say.

Ten Films You Should See If You Love Black People

On Fridays I will also present a film a week taken from a great article on The Ebony/Jet site. It was entitled: "Ten Films You Should See If You Love Black People" by Jacquie Jones. This is the intro and number one:

I know it’s hard these days to figure out what a black film really is: Norbit? The Inside Man? Hustle and Flow? Even the “independent” films that turn up at festivals like the Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles, the American Black Film Festival or Urban World in New York, are all starting to feel like dress rehearsals for Hollywood rather than independent visions of African American history, culture or experience.

Well, here are a few of my favorite things … movies, that is, that capture the struggles and style of our explorations in this world, big and small, from the perspective of people who actually do walk in our shoes.

To Sleep With Anger/Killer of Sheep

Charles Burnett

To Sleep With Anger, which stars Danny Glover, Mary Alice, and Carl Lumly is easy to see. You can pick it up at Netflix or any neighborhood Blockbuster. After a long absence from the indie film circuit, Killer of Sheep will soon be released on DVD. Both share not only the simple genius of their director, Mac Arthur “genius” Fellowship Recipient Charles Burnett, but also the patient, unflinching gaze on black people at their most ordinary and profound. Family, migration, loss, unity, tradition – all spoken quietly, like a secret. Burnett’s real masterpiece, Killer of Sheep, might initially be hard to find. But, really, you should see anything by Charles Burnett you possibly can.

From IW: I've read a lot of what male bloggers feel about this Killer of Sheep; I hope some women can get to see it too. The original was remastered and rereleased by Steven Soderbergh of the "Ocean's" trilogy, among other things. It is a true testament to black life and black love.

Old School Music Fridays

I am doing an old school music meme with some other bloggers...of course mine will always feature songs from Black Cinema.

First up is a live performance of Bobby Womack (who had definitely seen better days) doing the blackploitation classic "Across 110th Street". His voice is still tight, tho.




Here is a clip from the original movie, for those who think the song was from "Jackie Brown". Can you believe Anthony Quinn was in this? He was about 80 years old beating up every Negro in Harlem....

1. Quick
2. Regina
3. Cassandra
4. Chocl8t
5. MarvalusOne
6. aj
7. Rosemarie
8. Marcus LANGFORD
9. Lisa C
10. Mrs. Grapevine
11. Kreative Talk

Be Kind To Rewind The Vantage Point

This movie title loosely will describe on how the film will tells the same story from various different perspectives, or how we will get to see one sequence being rewind over and over again, from every angle but with just a bit more being added to each replay until some puzzle parts of the story can be guessed and how would this way of storytelling could be so fun to watch? The screenwriter Barry Levy was attempted to giving his script some of the textures of the best Academy Awards film, “Crash” but with the Rashomon narrative style where the audience can’t figure out the truth because of contradicting

WATCH MORE >>>

The Spiderwick-Chronicles

PG | 1 hr 37 mins | Fantasy, Children, Adaptation Movie
Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures
Synopsis:
Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what''s really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.

Director: Mark Waters
Starring : Freddie Highmore, Andrew McCarthy, Nick Nolte, Sarah Bolger
The Spiderwick-Chronicles Trailer

This N' That

While writing about Sidney yesterday, I got nostalgic for the times when I would look forward to seeing a black film. Now I go in super suspicious from the get. I know it's not fair, but so little of it moves me. A couple of readers co-signed with reader "darkside's" comment on Madea:

"Although I'm not a Tyler Perry fan. I do give him props. I just wish we had someone who could also make very artistic & very well acted & very well written films, black themed films that don't fall under a message film, comedy, or urban crime film. "

I have said variations on this, but he sums it up pretty well. You know why we don't have people taking time to search out new talent and quality? Cause they are sticking to the formula for awhile. Hollywood is always in the mindset of "If it makes money and it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Set yourself down for more agonizing "family is family, no matter what" extended family-sitting-around-the-dinner-table-revealing-revelations type movies. The trailers for "Meet The Browns" is a perfect example of this.



*sigh*



Reader ma'at also made a great point, and I don't know why I didn't pay attention to it before:

"I cannot for the life of me understand why, in T.P.'s book, a man is the cause and cure for every issue a woman has. Why for instance does Jill Scott's character lose weight because of a man and not because the extra weight is killing her or heyell even just personally embarrassing... but enough I'll go on all day."

How true, how true. You can be on crack, obese, a bad mother, or addicted to spousal abuse, and all you need is a good man and all of the ills of your life disappear. I think Tyler Perry needs to start a dating service. Wait, I take that back, let's not give him any ideas.



You know why he and his type of film is not going away for a looong time? This is the main reason:

Tyler Perry's latest Lionsgate DVD release "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?," debuted at number one on the North American DVD charts this past week with over two million units already sold. The accompanying DVD release of his stage play "What's Done in the Dark" also debuted in the top 10.

Proving to be an unstoppable force in Hollywood, Tyler Perry releases -- including theatrical blockbusters "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "Madea's Family Reunion," along with many of his most popular plays -- have sold over 23 million units to date. "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" debuted at number one at the North American box office when it was released theatrically in October 2007 and grossed more than $55 million. Lionsgate will look to continue its Tyler Perry run as it gears up for the theatrical debut of its fifth Tyler Perry film -- "Meet the Browns" -- which hits theatres March 21.

"Tyler Perry is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon," said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate Home Entertainment General Manager and Executive Vice President. "He has an enormously loyal following, which continues to grow with each new theatrical and DVD release. His way of delivering incredibly strong moral messages with laughter, heart and soul is something that is unique among today's filmmakers. We look forward to releasing many more films and DVDs based on his works as we continue to build our powerful Tyler Perry franchise."
source

From IW: like readers qadree and aj say, we are on our way to Madea action figures, lunchboxes and backpacks. Dolla dolla bill, y'all. Bottom line

*sigh*



Also sigh-inducing is the news that she that will not go away, Beyonce, will be in "Cadillac Records" playing Etta James....it was not confirmed before. I had such high hopes for this movie--Jeffery Wright and Beyonce go together like salad and dog s**t.

(i posted this picture cause when i googled beyonce images, aretha kept coming up, and frankly I am very tired of looking at bey)




On to some good news, yes? All of you out there *Obenson* cough, cough *orville* cough cough and others who have fine projects in limbo but no financing...get yourself out of the "Soul Food" Hollywood trap:

The Los Angeles Film Festival Fast Track Program, designed to connect filmmakers and their current projects with financiers, production companies and other industry professionals, is currently looking for new films in development in order to help get them made. This highly selective program is open to established as well as up-and-coming filmmakers with exceptional projects still seeking funding.

The Fast Track program is being re-launched as a Film Financing Market -- now open to all filmmakers who have a film they want to get fast-tracked in production. In past years, the program was restricted to alumni of the Los Angeles Film Festival and graduates of Film Independent’s Talent Development Programs – the Filmmaker Labs, Project: Involve, and the Spirit Award grant winners. Selected filmmakers would get a pass to the festival and one day of industry meetings. This year, he program is open to all filmmakers, both national and international, who have strong feature films seeking their financing.

The filmmakers chosen for the 2008 Fast Track program will receive an Industry pass to the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival, three days of intensive, high-level industry meetings, a pass to the 2008 Financing Conference that takes place during the Festival, a pass to the Filmmaker Forum, which runs in the fall of 2008, complimentary membership in Film Independent, and year-round support from Film Independent.

Download the application (due March 31) at: http://www.filmindependent.org/index.php/talent_development/fasttrack

BTW: please forgive all of my spelling mistakes...after 2 or 3 weeks, Blogger spellcheck is still NOT WORKING. How bout concentrating on that Blogger instead of translating to Filipino? I'm just sayin.

Today In B'Days

Sidney Poitier is 81. Damn!

Me love Sidney. I talked about my huge crush on him and how I used to sneak down the hall at The Studio That Will Henceforth Remain Unnamed (TWHRU) to see him here. His daughter, also named Sidney, is an actor too, but after seeing her perfomance in "Grindhouse", I use that term very loosely.

Where do I start? He is a legend in every single sense of the word. From the early days of playing a Moor in 'The Long Ships" with Richard Widmark, to "To Sir With Love" to his being the first black man to win an Oscar for "Lilies Of The Field" with a bunch of nuns, to "Guess Who's' Coming to Dinner" and "A Patch Of Blue" showing some of the very first onscreen interracial relationships, to "In The Heat Of The Night", which I believe is the first film showing a black man laying the smack down on YT, to "Buck and The Preacher" which he starred in and directed, to the movies he starred in with Bill Cosby--"Uptown Saturday Night" being my favorite.

You get the idea.

Here is a clip from the classic "Porgy And Bess" that he starred in with the late Dorothy Dandridge, who oddly looks a bit like Kerry Washington in this film. This was what spawned the jazz classic "Summertime". I saw this when I was a very little girl with my father on TV, and was confused about so many things; why was Sidney with no legs on a push-cart? Why were they so poor? Why did everyone seem so fearful? How could Dorothy love a man that had no legs? But I remember feeling the raw power of their blackness after all these years, and that power came from Black Love. Check it:

Step Up 2 The Streets (2008)

PG-13 | 1 hr 38 mins | Drama, Dance, Sequel Movie
Romantic sparks occur between two dance students from different backgrounds at the Maryland School of the Arts.
Synopsis:
When rebellious street dancer Andie lands at the elite Maryland School of the Arts, she finds herself fighting to fit in while also trying to hold onto her old life. When she joins forces with the school’s hottest dancer Chase to form a crew of classmate outcasts to compete in Baltimore’s underground dance battle The Streets, she ultimately finds a way to live her dream while building a bridge between her two separate worlds.

Director: Jon Chu
Starring : Robert Hoffman, Briana Evigan, Telisha Shaw, Will Kemp


Movie Trailers - Step Up 2 the Streets

Did You Know...

That they are making a 22 episode cartoon series about Tyler Perry's Madea?*

*somebody get Sergio a fan and a glass of water, haha!