Random Movie News--Pimp Chronicles Edition

As I've stated before, I love movies about pimps. Yes, I may have a problem. There has been some random pimp related movie news that I've been meaning to post, but have been slacking. You may have read this stuff on other blogs, but that's what I get for procrastinating.

First up--Rihanna pimpin' or getting pimped? Sergio sent this over:

ICEBERG SLIM'S 'BLACK WIDOW' HEADED TO BIG SCREEN: Rihanna to make film debut opposite Mos Def, Macy Gray and Anthony Anderson.

"Mama Black Widow," the 1969 novel from "Iceberg Slim" writer Robert Beck, is being adapted into a movie with rapper Mos Def in the starring role and pop star Rihanna in her feature film debut.

With the backdrop of a black family's migration from Southern Mississippi to Chicago in the 1930s, the story follows Otis Tilson's struggle to keep his family together as they navigate through a world of alcoholism, pimping, homosexuality and racial degradation.

Other members of the cast include Brian J. White and Kerry Washington.

The movie is currently in pre-production under director Darren Grant for a 2009 release.

From IW: Mos Def can sometimes be very interesting as an actor. At the very least, he's watchable. I've enjoyed every Macy Gray in everything I've seen her in. It will be interesting to see Rihanna emote, as she is the only singer I've ever seen that performs with expression in her voice, but absolutely none on her face. Ever.

I just wonder how Kerry Washington fits into all this.

Speaking of Iceberg Slim, Ice-T announced that he is supposed to play the man himself in an upcoming biopic. I have a few problems with this. One, dude at 50 is way too old to be going there. Two, he is way too corny to be going there. And three, tho he has declared himself a pimp loudly to anyone who will listen, have we seen any evidence of said pimping except whatever airhead he is currently in a relationship with (I only know of two, and they were one at a time, including boobage challenged Coco).

Anyway, wasn't Ice Cube supposed to play Iceberg Slim in a film directed by Bill Duke? What happened to that? I guess the same thing that happened with Cube playing Mr. T in the A-Team big screen adaptation...he's going to be played by Tyrese (?!!)



Spotted this on Tambay's blog from the Cracked site; thank goodness this disaster was averted:

If you've seen the original Dolemite, then you know that it's a completely bug-fuck insane mix of classic blaxploitation, bad kung fu, pimping and some kind of bizarre poetry about monkeys, lions and the Titanic.

If you haven't seen the original Dolemite, feel free to go ahead and do that now. We'll wait.

What Went Wrong?

We could go on all day about the immense bitchslap involved in casting particularly-unlikable plank of wood LL Cool J as the Human Fucking Tornado, but that's not the worst that this project had going for it.

No, the worst was that some clever devil at Dimension Films (possibly screenwriter Buddy Johnson of Scary Movie and several episodes of the Wayans Brothers) decided that Dolemite would be a much better character if he wasn't a pimp, and if he was framed for a crime he didn't commit, and if he had three female sidekicks who most definitely were not hookers. Apparently if he really, really sucked.

What Went Right?
Delays. Fallout Entertainment has picked up the rights to Dolemite (though it seems no amount of money would be sufficient to buy them). LL Cool J is no longer attached to the project, and rumors have the infinitely more appropriate Snoop Dogg in the running for the lead.

What You Can Watch Instead:
The Dolemite Explosion.


And finally, for your daily dose of pimp juice, here is a video I found on youtube of a real-life pimp getting pimp-slapped by a civilian...enjoy!