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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

This And That....

Okay, just a reminder that posting will be spotty as I make my way back to Cali (yay!)....no disrespect to my Southern blog brothers Yobachi and The Happy Go Lucky Bachelor, who both told me to quit crying in my empty Martini glass and find a moonshiner, haha.

I leave you some random news, movie and otherwise....

First up--I had some high hopes for this movie when I first wrote about it (Notorious), now I'm not so sure. From the looks of this picture, I'm not feeling that Derek Luke can handle his Puffy duties, as well as these other assorted, umm "actors" handling theirs:



Finally some good news! I am hoping this becomes the norm from now on. A subject that comes up here quite frequently is the question why various Black actors and/or athletes don't get together and start funding films. There is hope on the horizon. from AOL:

With most of the cast of Showtime's cancelled show Soul Food now doing films and theater, Rockmond Dunbar is stepping up his game and taking it to another level by producing and making his directorial film debut with the indie film 'Pastor Brown'.

Dunbar is producing with Carol Ann Shine and Re'Shaun Frear. Rock Capital Films' Steve Belser, Shaun Livingston of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers and former NBA player Charles Oakley are on board as executive producers, states the Hollywood Reporter.

Now filming in Atlanta, 'Pastor,' penned by Rhonda Freeman-Baraka, is a twist on the prodigal son story. It follows a wayward pastor's daughter, Jesse Brown, as she returns from a life as an exotic dancer to make amends with her family and teen son and eventually lead her father's parish, becoming Pastor Brown.


From IW: About time! Say what you want about the premise, at least it's a start, and may the independent funding trend flourish and stay well.

While reading AOL I spotted this picture of Kadeem Hardison with news that he is in some random movie.....uhhh...at least he looks healthy.



Also news from one of my blog favorites, Soulbounce:

Oprah Winfrey has confirmed that Alicia Keys is set to play Lena Horne in an upcoming biopic about the legendary entertainer's life. The media mogul chatted about the upcoming project while working the red carpet at the premiere of The Great Debaters. Oprah will produce the Horne bio, and a script has already been written for the movie slated to start filming in '08.

If done right, this Lena Horne role could do for Alicia Keys what playing Dorothy Dandridge did for Halle Berry. Let's just hope that Keys doesn't resort to showing her berries and other assorted goodies on film like the latter.


From IW: Hmmm....I'll reserve judgement on this one for now. I will say that while I think Alicia is a wonderful woman, I find her music a tad boring, and don't really feel she's sassy enough to play curse-like-a sailor (as sometimes yours truly does) Lena. But I can't think of anyone else at the moment who could play her, and at least it's not Halle Berry.


And finally, thank you to my blog folkses Yobachi at blackperspective.net and Ms. Marvelous Opinionated Black Woman for giving me two more "E For Excellence" awards--both of these bloggers are very serious, so it is an honor that they take the time to read and recognize my random indulgences over here...thanks, guys! :-)

I also want to take the time to thank every single person that takes the time to read my blog, and your comments mean a lot to me. Sometimes they make my day, haha. (You lurkers are alright with me too...)

My blog keeps growing every month, and I feel truly blessed that some enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Big love to all y'all!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

@IW: I think Alicia is a lot more "sassy" that we think. You know she belongs to the 'Clive Davis School of Image Enhancing'.

I think Paula Patton could play Lena Horne. Paula has the goods, I think she hasn't been given THE role yet to really show her range.

IMO, I don't have a problem with multi-talented people but when good actors and actresses are over-looked for roles given to the "hot" singer of the moment...

Lenoxave said...

Glad to see some folk getting together and producing outside the H'Weird machine. It's a step in the right direction.

I like Alicia. She seems like a nice young lady. She's a NY chick from Hell's Kitchen, so she can DEF be sassy. LOL

We'll see what happens. Lots of love for Miss Lena.

tamara s brown said...

Wasn't Janet Jackson considered for this piece before? And didn't the possibility get snatched away after Nipplegate? Lookswise, Janet could be Lena, but Alicia qualifies too. Congrats to her :)

Shelia said...

I think that this Alicia Keys/Lena Horne thing is going to be a winner! I'm looking forward to it. Alicia has that deep throaty voice like Lena also.

And IW, girl I feel your pain! I let my husband trick me years ago into following his a** as he worked on a couple of post graduate degrees. I can't even begin to number the issues I've encountered. The worst of all being that the people call me Shee-ler or Shill-la instead of Shelia. *shivers*.

Fortunately I'm only an our from D.C., so I can get my shop on, drink on, and metropolitan life on up there weekly.

It ain't the South Bay where I grew up and went to Gardena High, but it suffices. (I threw Gardena in there because I knew you would know what I'm talking about.)

focusedpurpose said...

IW-

i love your sweet, upbeat, perky thoughts. visits to your house make me laugh out loud loudly, elevates my perspective, informs me. thank you and congrats on your excellence award:-)

i am happy to hear that those that make millions will make those millions make more. i will keep my eyes open so i can support the cause.

blessings sis,
focusedpurpose

Anonymous said...

Alicia Keys as Lena. Just because she has the physical looks of LH does not mean that she can pull it off. If her acting is anything like that of her videos, I am deeply worried!

Anonymous said...

Been saying for a while that Alicia as Lena (at least physicalluy) seemed a no-brainer. Glad it's happening. Just hope it's good.

Anonymous said...

I think AK is a far better pick to play Lena Horne than JJ ever was!!! Closer resemblance, better vocals and just about anyone can act FAR better than JJ!! :)

The Fitness Diva said...

Ewwww....Kadeem Hardison has not aged very well...

Anyway, Alicia Keys as Lena is a perfect fit! I hadn't noticed how closely they resemble each other until now. With Alicia now flexing her acting chops, this looks to be quite promising!

MissOMyGoodnezz said...

Alicia could play Lena Horne. She can be very sassy (ie - Smoking Aces). I've even seen her in concert where she did a whole Lena Horne / Billie Holiday type thing and she was very good. Alicia can do it, it could be worse.

Anonymous said...

"FROM IW: About time! Say what you want about the premise, at least it's a start, and may the independent funding trend flourish and stay well."


I agree!

Anonymous said...

I really think an unknown would be a better bet for Lena ... even when they were talking about Janet doing it - and I ADORE Janet - I didn't think that was a good look. Lena's too iconic for a big name to play her. I think a fresh face would do the trick. But, we'll see ...

Eb the Celeb said...

I wasnt feeling Derek Luke playing Puff from the beginning... but my roommate is an extra in the movie and said that it should turn out great... that for the most part everyone looks like everyone... that they really found great look alikes that can actually act... its going to work because Derek Luke really can act... but then it might not because obviously he is going to have to dumb his self down for this role because seriously how hard is it to "act" liek diddy.

Anonymous said...

Alicia looks like Lena, but although she changed her style of dress she still doesn't come across feminine to me, she still looks uncomfortable.

Wonder Man said...

I can see Miss Keys in this role. It's about time Lena gets some Hollywood love...just hope it's done right.

Anonymous said...

that movie with alicia keys needs to hurry up and come out! can't wait to see that one.

LISA VAZQUEZ said...

Hi there! {waves}

I hope that Alicia Keys will do a wonderful job playing Lena Horne!

Everyone scoffed at Cher when she stepped into the role of actress 20+ years ago and she showed EVERYONE that she had some huge acting talents!

I hope Alicia can do the same! If not, I'll give her a nod for stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something new!

(smiles)
Lisa

http://blackwomenblowthetrumpet.blogspot.com

Invisible Woman said...

@nic: paula patton would be a good coice. I think she has that feline sexiness like Lena, which I don't think alicia has.

@ danielle: I know what you mean, but rough doesn't exactly equal sassy to me. Sassy has a combined element of smarts and sexiness. I don't see that in Alicia. (imho)

@madame z: Janet? Oh hell naw!

@shelia: I am now so grateful for so many things that I completely took for granted. The south is lovely in many ways, but I am strictly an urban girl, and it will be a loooong time before I visit Dixie again! Hope you make it back to Cali eventually...

Invisible Woman said...

@focused purpose: thanks so much girl! I think all of us black bloggers are doing important work--I learn something new at your spot all the time. Forgive me for lurking there, but sometimes I am too much of a slacker to comment!

@aulelia: thank you! finally someone who agrees with me! maybe I have the mind of a Brit, haha

@e Eater: yes, physically she's on point, but....I dunno. I hope she pulls it off tho.

@chocl8t: oh Janet Jackson acts?
[insert sarcasm here]

Invisible Woman said...

@the fitness diva: it's not looking so good for Dwayne Wayne, yes? As far as Alicia, she better act her ass off in this one.

@miss omg: reading your comment gives me some encouragement, tho I didn't think the smokin' aces part was so great. I think they should have put a real actress in that one.

@tba: I hope that film works out really well, so we can FINALLY start seeing others do the same...

@sflemming: I agree. An unknown would be less distracting, but at least we can be thankful that it wasn't Janet...

Invisible Woman said...

@eb the celeb: hi there :-) I know I'm backlogged on commenting, but even Puffy said Derek was doing a good job...there might be some hope, we'll see. Hope your roomate gets some screentime

@anonymous: oh my goodness! I have said that very same thing more than a few times!

@wonderman: I LOVE Lena. I hope it is the right project too...they've waited so long to give her her due, I just hope it's great.

@martine; hi there. when you see it, let me know what you think

@bwt: you know, you have a great point. but Cher was very interesting from the beginning...alicia is a tad bland to me.