Just Why, Hollywood?

Is this why they picked Terrence Howard to play Nelson Mandela in "Winnie"? I do see a resemblance, and for the life of me I see absolutely no other reason why they did.

Pretty flimsy excuse for casting someone to play such a monumental man...I don't believe he's up to the task. Exhibit A:




ps: why does he still have that quivering, crybaby voice thing going even in his atrocious south african accent? and why does jennifer hudson sound like count chocula?

A Peaceful Journey....

To Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew who were killed at the hands of some lunatic last week. Sick, sad, and tragic beyond measure.

Really, Jennifer?

You probably already know this, but Jennifer Hudson got engaged to be married to Punk from "I Love New York 2" over the weekend.


pic from bossip

This N' That....

This post is just a mish mash of things...feel free to wonder why I'm going off on different tangents....

First off, I listened to a couple of Terrence Howard's songs. I had the same approach as when you go into a deep, cold pool; just take a deep breath and hold it, then jump in. And. Oh. My. God. I actually liked it! I thought it was very different, and it kinda had a 70's soul sound to it. Believe me, it gives me no pleasure to admit this--it is tantamount to admitting to my boss that I shoot up heroin in the bathroom during lunch....who woulda thunk? Not me, that's for sure.....these are truly the last days.

Speaking of music, why is Solange's hair always so mountainous, and when will Andre 3000 stop wearing that stupid hat? Note to Andre Benjamin: that ish is NOT the business--let it go!





I'm glad to see that The Hughes Brothers are doing something besides that pimp mess. From Black Talent News:

Oscar winner Denzel Washington has signed on to star in the post-apocalyptic drama "The Book of Eli" for directing duo Allen and Albert Hughes ("From Hell).

Gary Whitta wrote the original story, with rewrites by Andrew Peckham. The story takes place in the not-so-distant future where America is a wasteland and a lone warrior (Washington) fights to bring society the knowledge that is key to its redemption.

"This is an epic tale, a thriller set in a future uninviting yet hopeful, and its hero could not be batter suited to Denzel Washington," Alcon's Johnson and Kosove told Variety. "The Hughes brothers will bring a bold, contemporary edge to the story and we're excited to have this be our next film."

From IW: Hopefully Denzel and the Hughes' can bring something new to this 'been there, done it too many times' genre.



And speaking of 'been there, done that' do we really need a sequel to "Inside Man"? Me love Clive Owen and all, but....



And speaking of Spike, why is he saying that talkin' greasy about Clint Eastwood will cost him the Oscar for "Miracle At St. Anna"? Ummm...note to Spike: Maybe your movie will prevent you from getting an Oscar, yes? Nobody's even seen it yet...damn.



Is Kelly Rowland's new man a ghost?



Urbanworld Film Festival in The Big Apple, y'all. It starts TODAY. I don't know if it's still the same, but I've been a couple of times and it was very exciting and energizing. Check out all the details HERE.




Why Janet and Jennifer? Not the look, girls....




And finally thank you so much Dirty Red from a "Black Man's View" for giving me this tasty award; "The Brilliante Blog Award". Thought I forgot about you, huh Red? I did forget about the tag, tho (accidentally on purpose! :-) )

Score For Hudson and Perry

He's lucky to get her, she's lucky to work for him. From Filmwad:

Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson is finally getting back into the movie business in full force after nearly a year of silence. The Dreamgirls star has lined up projects like the Sex and The City Movie, The Secret Life of Bees, and Winged Creatures. Now she'll be collaborating with Tyler Perry, reigning king of feel-good, middle-class, African American cinema (the first adjective disqualifies Spike Lee and Charles Burnett). Perry's new film is called The Family That Preys, and it focuses on "two families from different sides of the tracks that become intimately involved in love and business."

Sanaa Lathan, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard and Rockmond Dunbar are all aboard already. The film begins shooting on March 2nd at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Perry wrote, directed, and will star in the film. Like his films or not, you've got to give him credit for his almost surprising independence and popularity. He's really become the Orson Welles of black cinema. But early Orson Welles, when he could do whatever he wanted and before he had to resort to drunkenly shilling for Paul Masson wine.


From IW: Interesting.

Latifah, Hudson, And Maybe Some Keys....

Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), and Jennifer Hudson have joined the cast of "The Secret Life of Bees", a drama for Fox Searchlight. Dakota Fanning had already been attached to play Lily Owens, a fourteen year-old girl, living in 1964, who runs away from her abusive father and is taken in by three beekeeping sisters (Latifah, Okonedo, and potentially Alicia Keys). Hudson will play the girl's "caregiver and only friend" who runs away with her to South Carolina.

Variety reports that the film is based on a 2002 bestseller by Sue Monk Kidd. Gina Prince-Blythewood (Love & Basketball) is directing. Lauren Shuler Donner and Jack Leslie are producing alongside James Lassiter, Will Smith and Joe Pichirallo.

That's some heavyweight material, both literally and figuratively.