Really?

Pleeeeeasse, just like the story about Sanaa Lathan and that random football dude, don't let this be true.... I was just giving this girl props the other day:

A highly placed source close to actress Lauren London exclusively tells Bossip Lil Wayne recently slapped a “huge rock” on her finger and the two are engaged. The source tells Bossip “they have been on and off for years and have had an open relationship. Lauren is very hood and likes thugs”.

Lauren London has been linked to Baron Davis, T.I., and Pharrell before deciding to get serious with Weezy.

From IW: A) Weezy is extremely weird and B) he consistently dates Trina and Supahead (as well as boodie-calls Solange, Beyonce's Y-list sister). This situation would be a sad waste.

Update: Damn how could I possibly forget this one? Thembi also reminded me that his sexuality has been questioned a lot more than a few times.....c'mon, Lauren--I really thought you had it together--I'm hoping that this travesty is just a stupid rumor.

And here is a little taste on how most people feel about Lil Wayne aka Gollum:

Today In B'Days

The Cheadle is 43.

Robin Givens turned 43 yesterday.

Interesting....

Spotted this on AOL:

Most rappers take baby steps in the acting world before they even get recognition and respect, but for some, they are treated as if they were #1 draft pick. Take 50 Cent for example. His first film, 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'' was directed by acclaimed director Jim Sheridan, and his second film, 'Home of the Brave', had him co-starring with Samuel L. Jackson.

For his third role, and one that every actor would kill to be in, 50 Cent will be featured in 'Righteous Kill', which reunites two of the biggest actors of this era, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino star as a pair of veteran New York City police detectives on the trail of a vigilante serial killer in the adrenaline fueled psychological thriller "Righteous Kill", directed by Jon Avnet (Red Corner, Fried Green Tomatoes) and written by Russell Gewirtz (Inside Man). The cast also features hip-hop superstar Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson (Get Rich or Die Tryin'), Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Carla Gugino, Dan Futterman, Donnie Wahlberg, Rob Dyrdek, and Trilby Glover.

After 30 years as partners in the pressure cooker environment of the NYPD, highly decorated Detectives David Fisk and Thomas Cowan should be ready for retirement, but aren't. Before they can hang up their badges, they are called in to investigate the murder of a notorious pimp, which appears to have ties to a case they solved years before.

From IW: I can't wait to see 50 try to act his tiresome ass around DeNiro and Pacino...maybe it's a comedy!

Today In B'Days

She of the unusual name, S. Epatha Merkerson, is 55. I loved her in "Black Snake Moan" and "Lackawanna Blues".

This N' That

Got this in my email for those who may be interested:

Hey All -

At Flixster, we've always believed that we the people are the REAL critics.
In that spirit, Flixster has partnered with VH1 to send one of you to the 2008 Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles... and have your vote count in the awards!

You at the 2008 Critics Choice Awards!

All you have to do is make a video of yourself reviewing any movie from this year. The best video review wins.

That's it. Have fun and may the best critic win.

From IW: This is the link to enter: http://ecritic.vh1.com/

Here are 2 guys that did a review for "Why Did I Get Married"...wow. Let's just say my advice would be not to invest in any new luggage.


If you can't see the video click here.

"This Christmas" Update...

I neglected to write about "This Christmas " yesterday, which actually did a very respectable 2nd place over the holiday weekend behind "Enchanted" (??!!) a movie I only heard about the day before it came out. How did a film like that break records? But I digress...

When I first saw "This Christmas", I wasn't exactly bowled over by it. To me, it was an extra large helping of "Soul Food" (even Mekhi Phifer was in it!) with a side of "Mo Betta Blues" with "Waiting To Exhale" for dessert. But in hindsight, there were some elements that did bring some thoughtfulness (spoilers ahead):

- Why does every movie like this have a long suffering matriarch that always says "family is family, no matter what"?

-Why is there always so much drama at one family dinner? I don't know about y'all, but on a typical holiday get-together with my family no one is being chased by thugs for money, no one is AWOL from the armed services, no one is secretly married to a white girl with a baby on the way, no one gets caught having an affair within two days of said event, no one pushes a car off a cliff, no one pulls a gun out on somebody at a club, two siblings don't have a knock down drag out fight in the rain on the front lawn, and nobody gets caught trying to have sex in the closet. (Yes, all of these happened in a 2 day span in the movie). Even one of these factors would be enough for my family to talk about for the next 10 holidays.

- Was it wrong for me not to feel sorry for the YT secret wife when she showed up and her AWOL man was in jail? He ruined his whole military career over her, and from what I could tell, she had no discernible attributes that seemed worthy of ruin. She didn't seem to have a job, much less a career, no money, not particularly charming or charismatic...she wasn't even that pretty...I mean, could they have cast someone else? Even Paris Hilton would have been more interesting.

- Was it wrong that I thoroughly enjoyed the scene where Regina King hands down whupped her husband's ass with a belt and a ton of baby oil? (Sorry guy readers, haha)

-Lauren London is so very, very pretty....wow. Keith Robinson (Dreamgirls, Half & Half), on the other hand, always seems stiff and uncomfortable to me, tho this is the loosest I've ever seen him. Regina King has obviously been working out a lot--her body looks great.

-Who knew Sharon Leal could be so sassy and actually hold screen time? She seemed like an entirely different person. In "Why Did I Get Married" she was like a lump on a log. Maybe cause she had to kiss Tyler Perry in that film, instead of Mekhi, like in this one. I would've been sour too. LMAO at her line "You decided to be with that fraction of a man!"

-I love Chris Brown and all (as I stated in my Omarion comments the other day), but why do they keep sending a boy to do a man's job? First, a remake of a Donny Hathaway song, which is admirable, but let's be real, no one can eff with The Don. Then they have him sing "Try A Little Tenderness" originally sung by Otis Redding in the film? Painful! That song is to be sung by someone that looks like Idris Elba or Delroy Lindo (both in the film), not some teeny-bopper that makes it sound like a pop song. And what is up with the older women attraction for him? He looks like someone's 16 year old kid brother. Damn, Gabrielle Union.

-Speaking of Chris Brown, why is it in the first scene where he had his shirt off, all I could hear was WOOOOOO!!! By all males by the way. Interesting.

The positives are that everyone had something valuable to contribute to the world (except YT), the film looked crisp and professional, and there were no bad wigs and weaves (the make-up was on point, too). Cooning was kept to a bare minimum...as a matter of fact, I don't remember any to speak of. People had nice cars without rims, and no one seemed to live in the ghetto.

If anyone had time to see this, I would really like to know what you thought of it....sucio!

From Bad To Worse....

Last month I posted here about Tyrese being considered to play the Green Lantern in the new Justice League movie. The consensus was pretty equally divided; the men weren't too thrilled about it, the women just wanted to see Tyrese in a tight costume (including me, haha).

But who did they actually get to play G.L? Common of all people. Don't get me wrong, me love him and all, but superhero material? Maybe if the hero was named Wheatgrass & Incense Man.....good luck to him just the same.

WTF?.....Volume 11

Dayum, Snoop. I'm gonna really have to see the rest of this; I'm hoping this just looks hella crazy out of context.

Movies, Movies, And More Movies....

Hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday...I personally celebrate "Gratitude Day", out of affinity for my Native American brothers and sisters. Thank you to all who wished me well; back at you 100 fold :-)

I have folks in from Philly (whassup Thembi!), but I have been on a mini-marathon of films....I said last week that I would be watching some different types of films to mix it up, and since this blog is for my community and it's films, I'll make it brief:

Beowulf: Visually stunning, and was like reading those Greek mythology books you read when you were a kid....I loved it.

Video DVD of "Live Free and Die Harder": I love The Bruce, but put the leather jacket down, dude.

Lions For Lambs: I've always admired how Robert Redford makes movies for grown-ups. No matter what the critics say, it had a difference that is sorely missing in American film.

No Country For Old Men: The Cohen Brothers finally go back to their violent, dark comedy roots a la "Fargo" and I say welcome back....loved it.

And finally.....I rewatched "Talk To Me" on DVD. Damn. There were some parts where I was socializing in the lobby the first time..... I saw it in it's entirety this time. Ummm....let's address the scene where Don Cheadle and his girl Taraji P. Henson (Wilona on steroids) bust into the radio studio and demand a job? wtf???!!! I missed that scene the first time, and if I had seen it, I would have known that no matter happened afterward, this movie was doomed. Who goes to an office full of white folks and says ""F__k this s__t" , "F__k you!" and "What the f__k?" trying to get a job? Did this really happen? LMAO at justjudith talking about watching this movie with the captions on, and not only did they say "nigga" on film a hundred times over, the captions said "nigger" every time, and it drove her crazy. All in all, I really do think the dialogue coupled with Taraji P. Henson's cooning did this film in....better luck next time. Here is one of the reasons this movie didn't work:

Omarion (or Omari) And The Blogosphere

I saw this post article on an odd blog James Lamb Jr. via The Assault on Black Folk's Sanity. I can clearly see both sides, tho the first one (from Racialicious) is a lot funnier, I must admit:

james lamb:
After reading a recent post on Racialicious.com by founder Carmen Van Kerckhove on September 21, 2007, I Can't Wait to 'Feel the Noise', I wrote the following response. The comment didn't appear on the Racialicious site (probably a technical error because of its length) so I have reproduced the comment here.

[from racialicious]
Yesssssssssssssss!I can't wait to Netflix this. Long-time Racialicious readers will know how much I love movies with multiple dance-offs. But this movie looks extra-special because it stars that tiny little magical dancing machine, Omarion!

(My dream dance-off would be Omarion vs. Chris Brown. Omarion would crrrrrrush him.)

It must be so effortless to make these movies, since they all follow the exact same script.

A young man gets into trouble at home, so his parents send him away for a change of scenery. He sees a hot girl and is immediately infatuated. But even though she clearly wants him, she doesn't want to leave her evil boyfriend because he's powerful and handsome.

The troubled young man gets involved in the subculture (stepping, marching bands, breaking) of this new environment but fumbles, humiliating himself. He finds out about A Big Event (competition, tournament, talent show) that will allow him to redeem his honor.

After a montage of him training, interspersed with him flirting with the girl, the movie culminates with The Big Event. Just when you think he's about to lose, he delivers a crushing blow to the Evil Handsome Guy, winning his dignity and the girl! Woohoo!!


[comment from James Lamb, Jr.]
Tiny little magical dancing machine? ....

I know what's worse. The undeniable fact that Black male entertainers like Omarion routinely appear in moralistic minstrel shows greenlit by Hollywood to consume African American entertainment dollars by devolving Black masculinity to complicated precision dancing and/or baby-oil drenched Mandingo warrior swagger clearly presents a more disgusting problem than an uncritical throwaway reference that dehumanizes a Black man by calling him a 'tiny little magical dancing machine'.

I can't say that I care very much right now, though. I read Racialicious.com because it focuses on racist symbolism in popular culture, the very phenomenon with which so many supposedly liberal, supposedly anti-oppression people have trouble.

In their defense of the mainstream, these faux liberals offer the point that obvious fiction can't possibly tell us much about ourselves, so if John Q. American sometimes enjoys watching hip hop movies with hypersexualized thugs who sport shiny nickel-plated Glocks and scantily clad women of color bouncing their rounder portions, then maybe market forces dictate the only useful morality.

Racialicious.com opposes such cynical logic, and I've always respected that. So, after reading this post, I felt confused. Carmen, you rightly discuss the obvious formula in these Stomp the Last Dance or Die Tryin' flicks, but your attempt to characterize Omarion as a skilled dancer immediately conjured images of immense physical skill masked in blackface, and cast Omarion as a copasetic Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, skilled and subservient, whose fantastic entertainment forces forgetfulness of his personal political plight.

Omarion is not a machine. When we see acrobatic dancing from Black men, its all too easy to dissect the skill from the humanity, and focus on the skill alone. I find that dangerous, and believe that it only increases the gulf of racial difference that posits African Americans as the Other.

Maybe the real problem here remains the fact that entertainers like Omarion, Chris Brown, and Usher appear so happy to dance for mainstream audiences that cooning becomes an inevitable result for the American viewer. Every time people catch Chris Brown's genial smile during a performance - no small feat considering the rambunctious bouncing and epileptic jerking - I wonder if they mentally shade burnt cork and firetruck red Max Factor on Brown's broad smile. Perhaps people view Black male physical skill as something otherworldly and superhuman, so that Black male physical skill in general becomes something designed to entertain only, like a plastic toy from Mattel.

I don't think it matters though. It doesn't take much to remember the humanity of the Negro entertainer, and frankly, we have to. To lose that focus devolves athletic Black entertainers from shining examples of human focus and training to mechanical animals bred for mainstream merriment, and that's just a little too Dixie for my tastes.


From IW: Omarion is trying to pull a Larry/Laurence Fishburne on us and is letting us know lately that he might revert back to his gov'ment name, Omari (jeesh, what's the difference?). For those who didn't see my post on this gem of a movie--here is the formulaic trailer....if you've seen the trailer, basically you've seen the movie.

TERRENCE WATCH!-part VIII

Of course, you know my one-and-only is the only one that could wake this sleeping beauty out of her mini-vacation from the blogosphere...welcome back Terrence and IW!

I saw this from the New York Daily News:

Terrence Howard will make his Great White Way debut in February as Brick in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

"It's confirmed. We're there," the show's producer, Stephen Byrd, told me Tuesday. "Terrence and I were together last week; he's on board."

Other stellar names strongly tipped for the African-American production of Tennessee Williams' classic play include Phylicia Rashad, Giancarlo Esposito and James Earl Jones as Big Daddy.

Sources says the plum role of Maggie the Cat - immortalized by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1958 film version opposite Paul Newman - is coming down to either Anika Noni Rose or Kerry Washington. The play will open at the Broadhurst Theatre, after three weeks of previews, on March 6.

Now let's see whether director Debbie Allen makes Brick gay, or fudges it like in the movie!

From IW: That will be the bomb cast to watch, and I love seeing plays on Broadway...the big name black productions are always the hot hot hot tickets...guess I'll be going to NY in February or March. Unfortunately, they'll probably get Kerry Washington to play Maggie the Cat, tho I feel Anika Noni Rose would fit the role and what it entails much, much better. And I love Debbie Allen, but she can sometimes spread enough corn around to feed Somalia.

As for Terrence, some wonder if he can handle Broadway...but as I remember it, Brick was a monumentally self-centered, closeted homosexual knucklehead with a deep seated hatred of himself and women. In other words, Terrence may be getting his first Tony award soon, no problem...kudos!

Talking Turkey, Etc.....

Hey yall...I noticed in the past couple of days I've been sounding a bit cranky....I'm gonna take a little break and look at some different types of film and videos to mix it up a bit...I'm also in San Francisco and want to chill for a minute. I might not post till after the holiday (unless I feel like I have something important/self-important to say). I will be checking out everybody else's blogs, tho. A sad "aloha" to my comrade "Supernegro" who has decided to call it a day and discontinue his blog. May he and the Negro Justice League R.I.P.

Anyhoo--I will leave you with a couple bits of holiday shenanigans, this first one spotted over at "Celebrity Blitz".....whatever you do over the next week, hope it's all love!

With Thanksgiving approaching, here are some rules from Madea that should be observed: Print and give copy to each guest that enters your home.

10 RULES FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER AT MY HOUSE

1. Don't get in line asking questions about the food. "Who made the potato salad? Is it egg in there? Are the greens fresh? Is the meat in the greens turkey or pork? Who made the macaroni and cheese? What kind of pie is that? Who made it?" Ask one more question and I will punch you in your mouth, knocking out all your fronts so you won't be able to eat anything.

2. If you can't walk or are missing any limbs, sit your ass down until someone makes your plate for you. Dinner time is not the time for you to be independent. Nibble on them damn pecans and walnuts to hold you over until someone makes you a plate.

3. If you have kids under the age of twelve, I will escort their little asses to the basement and bring their food down to them. They are not gonna tear my damn house up this year. Tell them that they are not allowed upstairs until it's time for Uncle Butchie to start telling family stories about their mommas and papas. If they come upstairs for any reason except for that they are bleeding to death, I will break a foot off in their asses!

4. There is going to be one prayer for Thanksgiving dinner! JUST ONE! We do not care that you are thankful that your 13 year old daughter gave birth to a healthy baby or your nephew just got out of jail. Save that talk for somebody who gives a damn. The time limit for the prayer is one minute. If you are still talking after that one minute is up, you will feel something hard come across your lips and they will be swollen for approximately 20 minutes.

5. Finish everything on your plate before you go up for seconds! If you don't, you will be cursed out and asked to stay your greedy ass home next year!

6. BRING YOUR OWN TUPPERWARE!! Don't let me catch you fixing yourself a plate in my good Tupperware knowing damn well that I will never see it again! Furthermore, if you didn't bring anything over, don't let me catch you making a plate period or it will be a misunderstanding.

7. What you came with is what you should leave with!! Do not leave my house with anything that doesn't belong to you. EVERYBODY WILL BE SUBJECTED TO A BODY SEARCH COMING AND GOING OUT OF MY DOMAIN!!!

8. Do not leave your kids so you can go hopping from house to house. This is not a DAYCARE CENTER! There will be a kid-parent roll call every ten minutes. Any parent that is not present at the time of roll call, your child will be put outside until you come and get him or her. After 24 hours, I will call DHS on your ignorant ass!!

9. BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM BEFORE YOU COME INTO TOWN!! There will be no sleeping over at my house! You are to come and eat dinner and take your ass home or to your hotel room. EVERYBODY GETS KICKED THE HELL OUT AT 11:00 pm. You will get a 15 minute warning bell ring.

10. Last but not least! ONE PLATE PER PERSON!! This is not a soup kitchen. I am not trying to feed your family until Christmas dinner! You will be supervised when you fix your plate. Anything over the appropriate amount will be charged to you before you leave. There will be a cash register at the door. Thanks to Cousin Alfred and his greedy ass family, we now have a credit card machine! So VISA and MASTERCARD are now being accepted. NO FOOD STAMPS OR ACCESS CARDS YET!

Happy Holiday

I spoke a bit on "Friday" yesterday...I like the first and third installments; let's just act like the second never happened. Saw this the other day on "The Assault on Black Folk's Sanity". To me it's one of the funniest sequences in the movie "Friday After Next".....Terry Crews always makes me laugh, and no matter how pimped-out and un-p.c. Katt Williams is considered, that negro is hilarious. Here is some holiday cheer; love how they play "The Nutcracker Suite" in the background....

Trying To Cover "This Christmas", But...

I've been very lethargic about posting my experiences and opinions regarding black films and festivals as of late. I created this blog to speak of such things, as I thought they lacked proper coverage, but haven't given a lot of first person as I should.

Example: I went to a premiere of "This Christmas" the other day and didn't mention it yet. Yes, everybody and their momma was there, and I hadn't written about it. I think it's because I am so disappointed in film these days, not just Black Cinema, but in every genre. It seems people just throw a story together, get some high profile names and faces together, and call it a day. My favorite types of films are either witty, brilliant comedy (it can be lowbrow; one of my favorite movies is "Friday") or it has to have strong character development. Though the former can be found sometimes, the latter is severely lacking in today's films, and sad to say especially black film.

I think that was why I couldn't wholeheartedly love "American Gangster", "Why Did I Get Married?", and "This Christmas". I love a large Black Hollywood cast, yes, and I will always support, but I feel that we should be getting more for our support. Writers and directors should take the time to let us know the characters' backgrounds, what motivates them, what brought them to this point. It gives a story texture and richness, and allows it to be something that can be viewed decades from now with the same interest, i.e. Scorcese. You can still watch "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas", and whether it's your first time watching it or your 50th, it is still just as good and just as riveting. In another vein, I can quote every line of "Friday" verbatim. If you're not up to the task, at least make it engaging.

My point is, black filmmakers should not just rely on our allegiance for support in making a black film. Take the time to craft a story that will stand the test of time, one that we will want to rewatch 10 years from now. Having half of Black Hollywood in a movie is not enough, you have to give more. That way, our film festivals, our premieres, our stories will be paid attention to and taken seriously, giving us the Hollywood power we so deserve. It doesn't have to have a 30 million dollar budget, just thoughtfulness and genuine intent.

Not My List....

People magazine put out their annual list of "Sexiest Men Alive" and once again it's a big yawn. And once again Black Hollywood is practically invisible...I mean, is it really a risk putting Will Smith on the list every year?

Out of the top 15, maybe I can see Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt (kinda the same ol' same ol' tho). Ben Affleck is even OK as he looks like an old fashioned movie star from the 40's or 50's to me....but there are 50 Black Hollywood stars I would name before them, and they definitely aren't Will Smith and Shemar Moore (who was also named, wtf?)

I am convinced that these lists, just like the casting of much of mainstream Hollywood, are done by 130 lb queenie Ivy League graduates in tight jeans and girlie Fall Out Boy haircuts. In other words, completely out of touch. I don't get why they fail to see why magazine readership is down, TV viewership is down, and movie box office is down. You know why? Generic, uninspired ideas with zero diversity is NOT WORKING.

Btw: this is who was named sexiest man alive:
Update: I forgot to mention that Justin Timberfake is on this list....an automatic red flag that this list is one that I should take with a grain of salt.

Interesting....

Saw this on one of my fellow bloggers Seth Fine's site "freshplays". Tasha Smith, who played the hoojetta wife from hell in "Why Did I Get Married?" is set to play Donna Summer (luv her!) in an upcoming biopic.

Just like I said about the Wendy Williams/Robin Givens biopic, this is going to be really, really good, or really, really bad--no middle ground. From what I can tell tho, her wigs are ready to roll!

Milk Carton Alert!

Thinking of Bill Duke made me think of this one--what the eff happened to Victoria Dillard?

Dillard played the perennial girlfriend in many a black film, most notably "Deep Cover" a community favorite. It's rumored that Laurence Fishburne left his wife for her, then cheated again on Victoria and dropped her for someone else....but I digress.

In the new millennium she has played Betty Shabazz in "Ali" in 2001, and was in a bunch of "Spin City" episodes, which I wouldn't know about, since I never watched. All in all, I think a milkcarton is in dire need here....can't even find a decent picture of her on the net.

For the 3 of you that don't know about the black classic "Deep Cover" the synopsis is this from IMDB:

A black uniformed policeman is recruited by a devious drug enforcement agent to infiltrate a smuggling organization seeking to expand into designer drugs. This 'ugly side of the war on drugs' explores the context of race, identity and hypocrisy within a brutal and alienating investigation.

IW: I prefer to think of it as one of the sexiest movies ever, and it also made half of the black females in the nation fall in love with Jeff Goldblum, haha. Oh yeah, and Snoop was genuinely cool then.

Here is a clip from the movie...why is powder coming out of that dude's chest.....and was he in Full Force?




Here is a scene that I remember the whole theater saying in unison "OH SHIT!" Gangsta.

I Don't Wanna Play.....

Okay, I still haven't written about the American Black Film Festival, and at this rate it looks like I may never. I did see this little flick....I had to decide between this one and a Bill Duke (whom I adore) directed film called "Cover", and decided the Duke film subject matter was too depressing. Little did I know my experience with "Three Can Play That Game" would be even more depressing. I don't like to ruin things with my opinions before folks get a chance to see it, but, well, let's just say you won't see me recommending this one....here is a round-up from AOL:

Recently at the American Black Film Festival, the closing night film were actually two films that featured Vivica A. Fox. The first film was 'Cover', which was directed by Bill Duke. 'Cover' is an indie drama centering on a woman in a black family struggling with AIDS and faith issues; and the second was 'Three Can Play That Game', the sequel to 'Two Can Play That Game'.

Also starring in the film with Fox are Jason Winston George, Jaszmin Lewis, Tony Rock, Terri Vaughn, and Kellita Smith.

Within the film, Shante Smith (Fox) is a relationship expert who uses her knowledge of the male psyche to help women get what they want.

The film is directed by Mody Mod, and produced by the men who brought you 'Stomp The Yard', Will Packer and Rob Hardy.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition Group likely will release the feature as a straight-to-DVD title, though a theatrical release is possible.

From IW: I think straight to DVD is the much bigger possibility, but as Jesse would say "keep hope alive". Two things of note: I think I have a big crush on Tony Rock, and Kellita Smith really, really gets on my nerves.

This N' That

Sorry about not blogging the past couple days. I had an unbelievable incident with piece of s__t Southwest Airlines on Friday, and it has taken me this long to pretty much calm down. If you value anything, your life and time, your family, your loved ones and your luggage, DO NOT F__K WITH THIS AIRLINE. People warned me not to fool with them and I didn't listen; hopefully I can keep you from the same fate. SOUTHWEST=HOT GARBAGE.

Anyhoo, while I was going thru this ordeal, I saw Kimora Lee Simmons and her beautiful little girls in their chauffeur driven chromed-to-death SUV. She was being loud as usual, shouting something about Tupac, of all things, out the window. I've never been one to be envious about anything, but at that moment I would have given anything to trade places with her. I'm sure she was probably traveling by private jet, and had her minions taking care of everything...all while I was being treated like Kizzy from the plantation. Oh well, she does work hard, so good for her.


Ever date someone off and on for years and years? It's like you can't shake this person out of your system, and whenever you see them it's like a magnet. You lose touch for long stretches of time, hook up, lose touch again and repeat. These people are generally no good for you, and are in and out of your life for a reason. Mine was a nephew of Felix Mitchell, a fact that I really think he only mentioned maybe once or twice in passing, and it meant nothing to me as I didn't know who the eff Felix Mitchell was, until yesterday while watching BET. Holy s__t! I had no idea what kind of family he was really from; I just knew there were constant shananigans with his folkses--he told me one story about helicopters over his house once, with his mother forced to the ground face down at gunpoint. You would have thought that would have been enough for me to get it, but I used to be extremely dense about some things--the main thing being men, haha. At least now I know why he was so shady; he got it honest, as they say.

If you haven't seen it, try to catch it in reruns...."American Gangster: Felix Mitchell".

I have been a bit interested in where my blog traffic has been coming from lately, and saw that there are some pretty consistent (and somewhat disturbing) things that I seem to be the go-to person on Google for...among them:

• terrence howard, small penis
  
• sonny carleone, godfather, big penis
  
• large women, sex
  
• black women, sex
  
• invisible woman sex and invisible woman f__king
  
• malik yoba, chapped lips

What is most disturbing is probably knowing that there are people out there actually typing and looking for these things....scary.

Last, but not least, I would like to give a shout out to a new blog I discovered and think is pretty darned clever, "We Are Respectable Negroes". They had me at the banner....watch these guys, I think they're going to blow up like the H-Bomb. Check out their blog if you have a minute.

Blessings to yall whatever you may be doing this Veteran's Day!

New Flick For Van Peebles...

From AOL:

Mario Van Peebles has had his fair share of ups and downs in this business. While a few of his films like 'New Jack City', 'Panther', and 'Badaass' are considered considered cult classics, he's had some clunkers, like 'Jaws 4', 'Posse', 'Solo' and more than you can name, but you have to give him credit for keep trying.

In his latest venture, Peebles has signed on to direct his sci-fi screenplay 'The Uniter', which Don Kushner and Brad Wyman (Monster) are producing.

According to Variety, 'The Uniter' chronicles the journey of a political fugitive who escapes from the future back to the present to teach a 13-year-old how to use his powers to unite the warring factions of the world before it's too late for planet Earth.

From IW: They were speaking the gospel on ups and downs. Unfortunately, this new one looks like it's going to be solidly placed in the "down" category.

TERRENCE WATCH!-part seven

"We don't believe you, you need more people" as Fresh from C & D would say. Got this little item from Mrs. Grapevine regarding my Terrence Watch!-part 6:

Q: That shower scene – was that you running around naked?

Howard: No, that was a stand-in. I am much better endowed! Or it was a very cold day.

Q: How did you ease into that?

Howard: I didn’t ease into that. My friend Jim Sheridan was sitting there, struggling for two hours with a scene that he wanted. We tried to do it with coverings and all that and it was not a part of his vision. It was hurting him. I saw him sitting at the monitor just rubbing his head. I went to Jim and – I guess I should have been smarter and shouldn’t have done it.
I went to Jim and I said, ‘Can we do one more?’ He said, ‘I don’t know if it’s going to make a difference.’ I said, ‘You know what?’ I took my drawers off and I turned to 50 and I said, ‘This is us. This is who we are.’

He said, ‘Nigger, fuck you! I am not there. They ain’t gonna put a poster of you up. Me they gonna freeze frame and put a poster up and say, Look at 50’s bitch ass!’ I said, ‘Just try it. Jim really needs it.’ And he said, fuck it, took his drawers off, jumped right in. The other five people in the scene did it too, and then you saw Jim all excited again. He was all alive. I was happy.

read more at http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=interviews&id=4995

From IW: Alrighty then. btw, I did a little snooping, and that picture was on Concrete Loop two years ago, supposedly direct from someone who worked on the movie....hmmmm.

I Don't Think So.

While on one of my bloggin' buddies sites, Urban Observation, I came across this test to see which movie most fits your life: http://similarminds.com/movie.html. How they came up with this one I'll never know (wtf?); maybe I should take it again and answer more of the questions.

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

It's All About MEEEEEE.......

Okay, taking up some space for some "me" time. First, I was tagged by Ill Mami from Hopelessly Sarcastic, who forgot one of the cardinal rules of the tag.....let them know they've been tagged--haha. I found out by stopping by her blog. I live under the cloak of invisibility, but I guess I can give out a few random and weird facts without revealing my super identity :-)

1) I can read palms and tarot cards, and am very, very good at it. I started on a fluke by reading a few books that a roommate had years ago. I stopped doing it cause all of my friends were calling me every day for the most minute details, like I was Madame Cleo or something.

2) I've had more than a few careers, one of the first being a flight attendant for about 4 months (as Men on Film would say "hated it!") to being a stylist for music videos (interesting but tiresome).

3) Until I was about 14 I wanted to be a nun. When I was very young I was brought up Catholic, and typical of the guilt associated with it, I thought it would be the only way for me to get into heaven. Needless to say that thought is long gone.

4) I am kind of a nerd--the only TV shows that I go out of my way to watch are adult cartoons, and I watch them compulsively; South Park, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Adult Swim (like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Frisky Dingo), etc. I know, I have a problem. I also loathe reality shows and never, ever watch the news. I do get news from reading the blogs, tho!

5) I am a purse/handbag addict, and cannot resist buying when I see something beautiful, even when funds are low. You know you're an addict when you have about 50 purses and use the same getting-raggedy one every single day.

6) I love alt-rock, especially from the 90's; Stone Temple Pilots, Porno For Pyros, Velvet Revolver, Nirvana, etc.--I totally love them--more than a bit baffling to boyfriends, haha. I also used to be the biggest rap/hip-hop queen on the planet, which was also baffling for some cause you would never tell by looking at me. I even drank 40s with some of the rappers. Guys used to be shocked, and tell their friends "Yo-she knows rap like a ni__a!" This was when it was still PC to say that word of course. I guess they were too used to groupies.

7) I smoked off and on for years...I was a closet smoker, really hiding it, and generally did it when I had some cocktails. Now I can't even stand to smell them.

Anyway, enough about me. The people that I want to tag are:

Just Judith from Viva Voce

Coco LaRue aka Coco LaWall from Thursday Nite Fever (them bitches is ash and i'm lotion!)

Purple Zoe from Ultraviolet Underground

David from Undercover Black Man (tho he may be too highbrow for these types of shenanigans)

Ms. Hott Sauce of That's Not Hott!

Michelle from Colored Girls Who Have Considered

Sincere from Sincere Thoughts

The rules are this:

A) Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

B) Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.

C) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

D) Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Speaking of Ms. Hott Sauce, she and I are starting a blog book club called "Hog Head Cheese". Yes, that's the name. We are taking turns picking one book per month, and she is first, and she chose the book "Wifey". We officially start on the 15th, and I would love, love, love for you guys to join us. I'll post the link to our new site this weekend.

the picture at the very top was in google images under 'playing tag'...don't ask me what the powder faced woman and her kool-aid drinking baby are up to...

Ving Rhames Plays Sonny Liston...

Another interesting tidbit:

Ving Rhames has played tough guys before. In fact, most of his films tend to have him play a strong willed character, with the exception of a few such as 'I Pronounce You Chuck and Larry' and 'Holiday Heart'. In what will probably be his biggest role since playing famed boxing promoter Don King in 'Don King: Only in America', Rhames will play heavyweight boxer Sonny Liston in the biopic 'Phantom Punch', which Robert Townsend will direct.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Phantom" will chronicle Liston's rise to fame as a boxer and the single "phantom punch" he took at the hands of Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) that many believe led to the demise of his career. aol

From IW: I am all for any film that is about our historical heroes...we just don't have enough information about them these days, and I think it's sad. Also, it's good to see Robert Townsend doing something on the radar again. Maybe Ving can make up for single-handedly playing the worst looking transvestite in history, now and forever....

Gangsters Are America's Sweethearts

Kudos to American Gangster. A good post from AOL:

In the biggest film openers of their careers, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe saw their film 'American Gangster' be the #1 film of the week with about $46.3 million dollars. It was also the highest R rated film to gross that much this year, following '300', which did an astonishing $70 million when it opened in March.

As good as the number is, I can't help but think that the film would have easily made over $50 million if not for the crystal clear bootleg copies floating in the streets. It had to be Christmas for those street sellers when the they got theirs hands on the film and were able to sell it two weeks before the film came out. Folks from New York to Los Angeles had copies. Barbershops were playing the film on their DVDs to keep patrons happy while waiting to get cuts. At least there are people who still prefer to watch a good film on the big screen. We need to support films of color in the theater if we want them to succeed financially.

From IW: While this film isn't what I would exactly call a classic, I am a true sucker for any big budget movie with a large black cast. And it sure wasn't boring. For 2 really good reviews I thought hit the nail on the head, click here to read one from my favorite (and black) movie critic Wesley Morris from the Boston Globe, and here for one from Cinema Blend.

Did any of you guys get to see it? Please let me know what you thought.....

Master P. Continues His Coontastic Crusade....

I guess his movie "Black Supa Man" didn't quite work out; so he's back to making music I'm sure 3 of you care about...his budget is reflective of that. Saw this on Craigslist:

Master P Music Video Extras Needed $ and Food

Reply to: ********@craigslist.org

Date: 2007-11-01, 11:55AM PDT

We need the following for our Video shoot taking place Monday, November 5th: 10 "redneck" looking males, between 25 and 60 years old (please email us with shoe and clothe size); 10 African American children; and 50 African American Adults, with the men in black suits and bowties, and the women in conservative dresses. We're paying $25 plus food and drink. You'll meet lots of people, have fun, and make connections in the entertainment industry. Email quickly is these spaces fill up fast.

Compensation: $25 plus meals.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

From IW: Connections?

Today In B'Days

A woman who has a style that I just love, Thandie Newton, is 35.

A Week Of Positive Blogging...

There is a blog that I check on the regular called "Hochmah and Musar". It is very unique, about a brother who is a Black Jew in Israel and his experiences both past and present. He has a project that starts today called "A Week Of Positive Blogging". Even tho I don't feel like I can join in, as my blog is not really classified as personal, I would like to support his endeavor in reaching out to all brown bloggers. I know some of you complain of writer's block; this is an excellent thing to participate in and get your creative juices flowing, as well as revealing to your readers a bit about yourself, and to create something positive. I'm posting this a bit late, but it doesn't matter...even if you start tomorrow I'm sure it will be OK. Blog love!

As I mentioned in the previous post, We Could Be Heroes, I was recently inspired with an idea of a week of positive blogging. I am still working out the idea, but here are the bare bones of the idea. As I decide on my precise details I will make another post, or this may serve as the initial inspiration.

The Rules:

The week I have chosen is Nov. 4th to Nov. 10th 2007. This gives a full week to come up with ideas. Also, spread the word and get people involved. Start preparing stories for your blog to start posting on Nov. 4th. You can post as many as you like. I have put a section on my site for a list of the bloggers who are taking part. Once the week is up I will create a link list of the stories of all who took part.

You can participate for as few or as many days as you like. Just read all the instructions below so we are all on the same page, so to speak.Be imaginative, creative, and thoughtful with your posts. Use whatever theme makes your blog special. Your angle is what is important when considering the topics below.

The purpose is to show the world that good things are happening all around us even while bad things are happening. There is also the idea that each of us has a role on this earth, and each of can do something to change the world. Pictures, videos, etc. that help tell a story are good. You have complete freedom to write about what you like.

Needs: A Week of Positive Blogging Logo

Use this logo on your blog during the week at the top of every post that you do for the week.You can link back to this article.Below is the schedule and topic for you to discuss.

The Schedule:

Nov. 4th 2007 (Sunday) Post with discussions of your positive memories, writings, thoughts, and images that you have come across in your life. It could be a place, it could be a photo, it could be a film, it could be anything.

Nov. 5th 2007 (Monday) Posts about a person who inspired you to excel in life or who actually saved your life.

Nov. 6th 2007 (Tuesday) Post about some good news that has taken place in your city, community, etc. that has happened in the last 3 months?

Nov. 7th 2007 (Wednesday) If you had 3 months with which to spend $ 30 Million in order to change the world what would you do?

Nov. 8th 2007 (Thursday) Discuss a time in your life when you helped someone or saved someone's life.

Nov. 9th 2007 (Friday) Before you take your last breath in life, what words of wisdom would you want to impart to the next generation.

Nov. 10th 2007 (Saturday) After blogging about positive things for a week, what affect has it had on you and your life? What blogs that took part did you find the most inspiring? What do you plan to do to inspire the world going forward?If you are interested in taking part please leave a message at this post and I will add you to a list of bloggers who want to take part.

Thanks to Herve Kabla we now have a Facebook group to connect everyone who is involved. For those who want to participate please go to Facebook and join.

TV One Comes Wit It Hard Today...

Now that I'm in L.A., I have to get used to the new TV schedule and channels...I also have Direct TV now, which I think was commissioned from the devil. I get frustrated, so I'm barely watching, and almost missed this throwback heaven marathon today (sorry for the late post).

Aaron Loves Angela: A movie I have always been aware of, but will be watching for the first time today....stars a young pre-White Shadow Kevin Hooks and Irene (Fame, Sparkle) Cara. The IMDB plot is this:

Aaron and Angela, two young adults living in the ghetto of New York City, are deeply in love with each other. The only thing standing in the way of their love is their families. Aaron is black, while Angela is Puerto Rican, and neither family wants one of their own to associate the others. As the pair rebel against the prejudices of their families, they soon find the conflict spreading out to their friends and neighbors, until the hatred threatens to spiral out of control.

Sounds like a 70's "West Side Story"....it was directed by Gordon Parks (my hero!) and also has Moses Gunn, a classic black actor, and Kevin's fine-ass father, Robert Hooks, playing a pimp/pusher or something like that (he's wearing a big hat and says "solid" a lot--not good). I'm watching the opening as I blog, and one of the basketball teams is named "The Puerto Rican Devils" in New York (how un-PC)....it can't possibly end well. Oh, just saw basketball legend Walt Frazier badly acting his four lines with a fur coat and driving his 70's Rolls! Oh, just saw a commercial break segment on the Turks & Caicos festival...Jasmine Guy now looks 90 instead of 70!

Next up is "Sparkle", nuff said.

After that, "School Daze"...a messy, ambitious, Spike Lee directed hodge-podge of everything and everybody black and alive at the time. After 20 years, I am still trying to piece this movie together in a way that sits easy, haha.

J.D. Walker the Boss Talker...

While reading an article on the supposed "Top 10 Black Horror Films" I came across this pantheon of ridiculosity that I had completely forgotten about, "J.D's Revenge". This is Glenn Turman at his most undignified (and I think when he was married to Aretha Franklin) and blackexploitation at it's exploitiest. The convoluted plot from AOL:

The story centers around a Isaac (portrayed by Glynn Turman), a young college student studying law in New Orleans. During a hypnosis act, he becomes an unwilling host for the restless spirit of J.D. Walker, a hustler killed during the 40s. J.D. Walker ran numbers during World War II and was murdered by Theotis Bliss, who also murdered his sister, Betty Jo, because of the secret she held about her baby daughter. After being discovered with Betty Jo's lifeless body, Elija Bliss (Louis Gossett Jr.), the thought to be father of Betty Jo's child and brother of Theotis, accused J.D. of being the killer and was gunned down by the real killer. J.D. returns 20 years to reveal the truth to Elija and to kill the murderer.

From IW: Hmmm...I think they need to look into a new copy writer...anyway, here is a clip (with some weird inappropriately dubbed music from the youtube poster) from the movie-you might wanna mute the sound...I remember when I first saw this scene asking why dude kept going after J.D. If things made sense in this film, though, there wouldn't have been a movie.

TERRENCE WATCH!-part six

This explains so very, very, much. From RWS:

Terrence Howard's penis had a small part in 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Trying. You can click the pic to make the photo bigger, but curiously his part stays small.

From IW: Following is a sampling of the comments...too funny!

Naw man... Not Terrence-got to be something in the water ...
11:55 AM
Anonymous said...
It's smaller than the lint on my laptop screen! Dang!
12:07 PM
Anonymous said...
It's like a dot.
12:36 PM
I ain't mad at him said...
So that's why he only date white women. They used to men with little peen's. Good for you Terrence.
12:37 PM
Anonymous said...
Yikes!
1:32 PM
Anonymous said...
Man he is giving Little Danny Bonaduce a run for his money. Why would he get in a video and expose that? Some things are better kept secret. Now everytime we see him looking all good and tough in a movie it spoils the plot... Yuck hated it!!!
1:44 PM
BronxStateOfMind said...
Maybe he should have had a stand in penis since the word around town is he's packing a vienna sausage.
1:52 PM
Anonymous said...
i am so very disappointed. NEXXXT!
2:06 PM
bee-mice elf said...
You know he was using some zesty fresh soap.
2:29 PM
Anonymous said...
Now Bronx, don't you be scared of a little ol' peepee.It won't hurt you. Especially not one THAT small LOL!!!!
2:39 PM
Anonymous said...
IT LOOKS LIKE A VAGINA WITH A BIRTHMARK WTF!
3:56 PM
Anonymous said...
Okay!! forget how small it is... well maybe not!!! But what the hell is all that bushhhhhhh YUK!!!! He needs to get a clipper & pass a # 2 on that!!! For real!!!!
4:50 PM
BronxStateOfMind said...
Ok, ok I got one..........WOW thats a big clitoris!!!!!!!
5:14 PM
Anonymous said...
the water must have been really cold! its shrunk like a frightened turtle
5:27 PM
halile said...
Of course its small thats why he carries a man purse

5:31 PM
Anonymous said...
Maybe he's a grower, not a show'r. (that's a big MAYBE!)
5:33 PM
Mo'Ree said...
i can't see it :( not seirously i can't see nothing...is something wrong with my puter??? I mean i see him...but it looks like a hair monster ate his pee pee:(
6:13 PM
Anonymous said...
NO WONDER HIS ASS STAY MAD ABOUT SHIT!
7:00 PM
Opinionated Diva said...
It looks inverted!
7:19 PM
BETTYEJ said...
Guys, I am from Texas and can truly say that I have never seen nothing that small, so tell me, will it get bigger in time?
7:24 PM
Anonymous said...
That's what you call a "Starter Model."Helps get you up to speed for the big stuff later on.
7:41 PM
Wry Beauty said...
Aw...it's so tiny and sad. He wouldn't even be worth buying baby wipes for.
7:42 PM
bee-mice-elf said...
If he were to shave, might that make it look bigger?

A Little Blog Break...

This has absolutely nothing to do with Black Cinema, but I do that from time to time. Besides, I think I need a little breaky-break for the next couple days (bear with me).

Thembi had a post on which she had a link to the 90's song "Here We Go" by Portrait, which I used to love. It made me think of this song, which I remember well, but not so much dude's Morris Day hair and Terrence Trent D'Arby 'fit. Some songs are better heard than seen....

Taking The Day Off....

Hey guys...I was gonna write about my time at the American Black Film Festival today, but to be quite honest I don't feel like it...or writing about anything else for that matter.

In the meantime, check out the Negro Justice League member Undercover Black Man's post below; I know I will be looking at his recommendations today, and if Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes are of interest for you, you should be looking too:

So... do “American Gangster” and “Mr. Untouchable” have you curious to know more about the Harlem underworld?

Tonight’s premiere of the History Channel series “Gangland” is also devoted to Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas, the rival heroin bosses of 1970s New York.

The History Channel interviewed both men (each of whom ended up in prison and then snitched out a hundred other drug dealers apiece and now they’re free).

Showtime is 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, 8 p.m. Central. The episode will repeat on Friday, Monday and Tuesday.

And if you want even more of the Nicky and Frank show, New York magazine has published the transcript of a three-way conference call between Nicky Barnes, Frank Lucas and journalist Mark Jacobson, looking back on old times. It’s rather comical.