Gratitude...

If you look at the top of my right sidebar, you'll see a little ditty that will connect you to the Black Weblog Awards. Now, this honor of being a finalist (much less being nominated) came as a complete a total shock to me, as I never once asked anyone to nominate me...I felt that maybe I would try next year.

But then I found out that it was YOU, my readers, that put me in the final 5 of all the Black film blogs in the world. And no matter what happens with this, I am forever humbled and grateful for that.

I promise (for real this time) to write more, as this is probably the most encouragement I could ever get, besides you standing by me and consistently sending emails, even when I wasn't blogging that much.

I love talking with you and not at you, and you have been so engaging, so encouraging, and really feel like friends through these past 3 years.

I don't know why I would very much like to win this particular award, I think maybe because it would be a validation that I am moving in the direction of life I was meant to go in. I have been laying plans for a huge Black Cinema project for the past year--a plan to bring it to the masses both Black and non, and to put award winning Black film blogger on top of that too would be...well you know.

OK, I'll stop the sap now--just show me LOVE and vote for me on the Black Weblog Finalist Award badge! You have from today until I believe August 30th to vote, but the earlier the better. For THIS blog, lol. Thanks, I promise I won't bug you about it--it's always a pleasure to have you here. And like Butta said, you don't have to be Black to vote...


Back tonight with a review of "Black Shampoo".

Wanna Talk Black Cinema?

Then please join me, Max Reddick, Rippa and Michele on Blog Talk Radio tonight, Sunday the 24th....we would love to hear your thoughts!

Blog Talk Radio – FTSR 1/24/10 9:00pm est – 60 minute show this week

Listener/Guest Dial In: 914/803-4881

This week’s topic: Is Black Entertainment Dead - Where did the nineties go? We had an explosion of music, movies, and television shows starring and written and produced by blacks in the nineties - where is this decades’ Love Jones, Different world and next Lauryn Hill coming from? is Precious this generation's Color Purple? Who killed Whitley Gilbert? Have all the Boyz left the Hood? The Jacks ain't New no more and no one is fighting the power. This week, Max, Rip and Michele wonder what happened to all of our 90s quality entertainment. Join us to discuss your favorites and where have they gone?

In Praise Of Precious....

This is a repost of a guest blog I did on my blogging brother Rippa, aka Rip Dem Up's spot: "The Intersection Of Madness and Reality". Please check him out...he mixes things up over there on a daily basis. Warning--he may piss you off and he loves to do that! PS Thanks to my new followers for doing so, tho I haven't posted in a millennium--love you!



I haven't blogged in a long time--it's not that I haven't wanted to, or had writers block, but somehow I couldn't seem to make the effort. Rippa challenged me to write my thoughts regarding the movie Precious, and the hoopla surrounding it, after reading my heartfelt tweets/anger about the sad folks that started a website to recruit people not to see the film. I mean WTF??

Listen people. I am what you would call the hugest Black Cinema enthusiast. I am completely involved in it every day, whether directly or indirectly via the internet. And for the life of me I cannot understand this backlash on Precious on any level--especially because the bulk of it seems to come from folks who've never even bothered to see it.

I have a blog on Black Cinema, entitled Black Cinema At Large...and on it we have discussed quite often and many times over the problem with Black film today. Most of the common complaints that I have read on my blog are actually addressed and handled beautifully in this film. Want some examples? Here we go:

All we ever get to represent us on screen is either a Tyler Perry film or a Black man in a dress.

This one is easy. Though Tyler Perry executive produced this film, there is absolutely no whiff whatsoever of any Perryism, and only real women play the women, and even 99% of them weren't wearing dresses.


1) Why can't we have a film starring Black people that is just a story? 2) Why do we always have film that puts our pain on screen?

The themes in Precious are universal. There are far, far too many people in the world that are suffering because of poverty and ignorance, not just us. Incest, poverty, and violence are real, in every culture, and happen every single day. Are they never to be addressed on film? This story could happen to anyone, and director Lee Daniels keeps the scenes involving the incest and violence to a minimum, if only just to show the challenges Precious had to break away from. The very focal point of the story is Precious' journey toward enlightenment from darkness. Would it have been easier to view if Precious was light, or was thin, or had long hair? Be honest when you answer that.


1) We are so tired of rappers and singers instead of Black Hollywood actors getting all of the roles in Black film. 2) We never get to see any up and comers given a chance, we see the same actors over and over.

Okay, so Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey are in it. But guess what? Their parts are small, and they actually added some good performances to the story. Lee Daniels made sure that they earned their place in his film--they were not missteps. The main roles are played by someone who has never sang or rapped, Mo'nique, and by newcomer Gabby Sidibe. As I'm sure you've heard or saw by now, both of these actresses put their FOOT in it. Even Paula Patton, who I've never been particularly impressed with as an actress, did an amazing job as Precious' teacher. The students, all unknowns, were completely natural and believable.



When we get a decent Black film made, it never gets any hype or publicity and fades away. All we are left with is coonery.

Ummm...even if you haven't seen this film, you know that it has gotten publicity in a major way, along with tons of major accolades. It broke box office records in it's limited release, and has slowly been expanded it all major markets. This film causes us to actually think, which Americans are probably not used to when watching a movie, and is a Black film that is completely coon free as well--can most wrap their mind around that?


The music and soundtracks in Black film are so awful--what happened to the soundtracks we wanted to buy in the 70's (and 90's)?

When I worked for The Studio That Will Henceforth Remained Unnamed, I was always saying that the soundtrack is an essential tool in creating and effective and compelling film. Daniels seriously knows the value in it as well, and weaves throughout the story added layers of amazing narrative through music; Labelle, Mary J. Blige (produced by Raphael Saadiq), Mahalia Jackson, Queen Latifah; all strong and talented women that came from humble beginnings. And he didn't take the easy way out by filling it with Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey.


The Black Hollywood elite never use their money or clout to back Black films.

Oprah and Tyler Perry? Nuff said



The fact is, if you are paying attention at all, you would know that Precious isn't all about pain, or being ghetto, or fathers raping their daughters, or Black stereotypes. It is about Precious breaking through a foundation of generations of ignorance. Her mother has no value for anything but the basest human functions--food, sex, and TV. Her mind cannot expand beyond what is happening inside of her house, and can barely expand beyond her own animal instincts and thought. Precious lives in the peripheral vision of her mother's mind, only to be recognized when she is hungry, angry, or horny.

The sheer weight of the legacy Precious has to handle, not alone her real weight, make her life almost unbearable. The only difference between Precious and her mother is that Precious has a small ray of hope (though she has no reason to), that she desperately clings to like a life preserver, hoping that one day someone will pull on it and lift her up. She escapes her real life through daydreams and fantasies, until the real life and daydreams start to meld. Yes, tragedy does bring her to a place of enlightenment, but isn't that the case with everyone on this planet? Isn't that why we're here? Does anyone learn anything from having it easy all the time? If you know someone like that, I would be interested to hear about it.

The ignorance of parents passed on to their children is absolutely real. I have been blessed in this life to have two parents that both have their master's degrees, and I have had some very hard and severe challenges in my life with both of them and in life, even on that foundation. But doing some volunteer work in West Oakland (historically a poverty ridden area for a few decades) years ago brought my awareness to a new level....I had always taken for granted so many things that the youth in the community had no knowledge of---the level of ignorance was absolutely crushing....it made me very sad, and very reflective for quite some time. Most of the sadness came from knowing that most of these kids were good, and had so much potential, but it would never be realized because these kids would never be able to move beyond the tools their parents gave them, which was barely above survival level. Most of them had never even been to San Francisco, across the bridge and only 4 miles away.


Precious was able to break free, and the joy of this film is seeing her journey--how when she hears her teacher and her lover speak, she says that "they sound like a channel I don't watch" and instead of being intimidated, strives to be more like them. We see her in a fantastic scene--where the images and sounds surrounding her from all angles; Malcolm X, Shirley Chisholm, the race and civil rights struggle--are slowly but surely chipping away her blindness. Her sheer determination and inexplicable force of will propel her to a life outside of the one she inherited, and though her life does not end up being challenge free, she is a testament that our lives are what we make them to be, and we are the ones solely responsible. And if that is cause for protest, then I got nothin'.

On an added note, anyone who knows anything about producer/director Lee Daniels knows that he consistently and repeatedly steps out of the box. I actually started my blog because of his film "Shadowboxer", because of the unfairness I felt is received from the critics. From that film (with elements of stepmother, son incest), to the very excellent and underrated "The Woodsman" (with pedophilia) to "Monster's Ball" (interracial love and sex) to Precious, Daniels creates images and themes that stir up a myriad of emotions in folks--admiration, reflection, sadness, excitement, anger--everyone has their own interpretation.....and after all, isn't that what art's ultimately supposed to do? If you can't support the content of his films, just be glad that something creative is being done by and for Black people--the studios are watching your every move!

To all of the people who still hate this film, and continue to be vocal about it, I invite you all to marinate on all of the recent studio greenlit Black films coming to a theater near you: Why Did I Get Married 2, Big Mamma's House 3, and Beverly Hills Cop 4---carry on!

Take A Gander....

How bout a couple of trailers? I wanted to post this last week, as I knew about this film before most (as I usually do) but I was too busy to post, so everyone looks like they have the scoop before me, as usual. I must step it up! For your perusal, "Takers" with Idris Elba, T.I., Chris Brown, Michael Ealy, and Zoe Saldana. Might be fun, but the poster, it's fair to say, is positively atrocious. Michael K. had this to say:

I have no clue what this Takers movie is about, but based on the poster I'm guessing the "something" everyone is after is NECKS! This shit should be called NECK TAKERS, because none of these motherfuckers on this poster have one! Paul Walker sort of has one, but it's hidden underneath that spandex turtleneck(?!!!?). I mean, what in the fuck?! My drunk computer-illiterate uncle, who thinks an ipod is a type of diaphragm (true story), could do a better Photoshop job than this!

I wish Paul Walker would use his GIGANTIC hands to rip that hat off of Hayden Christensen's head, because SamRo has been asking for it.

And part of me hopes the movie is just like the poster. You know, a bunch of cardboard cut-outs hanging around together, boozing, smoking and TAKING!




Saw this over at my blog sis' spot, IssaRae.Com....Barry Jenkins, director of "Medicine For Melancholy" has this new short about interracial love, involving a Black woman and an Asian man:




How about a bit of hilarity, yes? "Tamika The Arrogant African American Professional - Who Cant Keep A Man" featuring some "Waiting To Exhale" concepts:




Oh, I almost forgot...here is director F. Gary Gray's (Friday, Set It Off) new one with Jamie Foxx, "Law Abiding Citizen::

When Worlds Collide....

Most bloggers live in two worlds, one of the blogosphere, and the one outside of it. How much is spent on one of the other is up to said person, but I have to admit, I worry about some folks. There are those who are on Twitter every single solitary time I log in, and some that I am actually shocked have children or a job, cause they tweet about 20 hours a day. It seems that for a lot of people, the two worlds are in tandem to become one.

Is it a dangerous thing? That is yet to be seen...for me, when True Blood is on, or like last night the Black Blogosphere was tweeting and riding on Republican dickwad Joe Wilson, I felt like I was hanging with some of my greatest homies....it is tremendously fun. But is it more fun than hanging with my friends at the beach? No.

But still, great things can come out of being in a certain circle of writers, observants, intellectuals, and out and out funny fools. While shopping in Ralph's yesterday, I saw a guy who looked very familiar to me---I recognized his face from a blog I read regularly. I stopped him and said "Excuse me, do you have a blog?" He said yes, and I exclaimed "Wonderman! I'm Invisible Woman!" I felt almost exhilarated...I know I probably surprised the sh*t out of him, haha. (btw, he is a very interesting and very smart blogger--you can check him out here)

I am also quite excited at the prospect of doing hood rat film stuff with my blogging sis-star Issa Rae, my partner at Soul Sis-Star Reviews...she moved from NY, and is now in LA. One event that I hope she can make (and any of my fellow Angelinos as well) is The Reel Black Men Film Festival, this Saturday the 12th at 6pm at the Chaplin Theater. Visit The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center for more info, folkses....it is being moderated by the director of "A Good Day To Be Black And Sexy", Dennis Dortch.

Eighteen Thousand One Hundred Sixty Five Days....

Is what Mike J. would have been today.

Please visit my blogging brother, Barry Michael Cooper (Sugar Hill, New Jack City) on his blog "Hooked On The American Dream" for his "Michael Jackson Agonistas: An American Pop'era in Three Acts", if you want to remember your love for Michael today here and here....

To my Brooklyn fam celebrating with Spike in Prospect Park today, drink one (or two) for me.

I Heart Prince....

It is the 25th anniversary of "Purple Rain", and I can't believe I haven't written anything about it. I've been listening to "Parade", the soundtrack to "Under The Cherry Moon" (which secretly I love more than the soundtrack to "Purple Rain") for the past few days, and I can't get over the brilliance of it.

Shall we honor Prince with a little game? It is the weekend, and if you would like something to do for a minute, please indulge me. There is a blog I adore "Cowgirl In Sand", (there is something about it) and she had this thing going on...hope you'd like to do it while I make my transition back to L.A.:

Instructions: Using only song titles from ONE ARTIST OR BAND, answer these questions. Pass it on to 12 people and include me (from iw: of course don't do that part). You can't use the artist or band I used. Do not repeat a song title. Repost as "My Life According to (ARTIST OR BAND NAME) I was tagged by the awesome Little Miss Nobody.

This is Cowgirl's, aka Josephine, all about Neil Young:

Are you a male or female?: Cinnamon Girl
Describe yourself: Cowgirl in the sand
How do you feel: Vampire Blues
Describe where you currently live: Rockin' In The Freeworld
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Sugar Mountain
Your favorite form of transportation: Mustang
Your best friend is: Like a Hurricane
Your favorite color is: Blue Eden
What's the weather like: See The Sky About To Rain
Favorite time of the day: Harvest Moon
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: Fallin' Off The Face Of The Earth
What is life to you: Living With War
Your relationships: A Dream That Can Last
Your fear: Slowly Burning
What is the best advice you have to give: Don't Let It Bring You Down
If you could change your name, you would change it to: Cortez The Killer
Thought for the Day: Are you passionate?
How I would like to die: Razor Love
My soul's present condition:Mr. Disappointment
My Motto: Let's Roll



This is mine, Ms. Invisible's, dedicated to the man himself:

Are you a male or female?: The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

Describe yourself: Beautiful, Loved, And Blessed

How do you feel: Delirious

Describe where you currently live: Uptown

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Erotic City

Your favorite form of transportation: Little Red Corvette (easy)

Your best friend is: Cinnamon Girl (he made it too, lol)

Your favorite color is: Peach

What's the weather like: Purple Rain

Favorite time of the day: Dinner With Delores

If your life was a TV show,
What would it be called: Pop Life

What is life to you: New Power Generation

Your relationships: Strange Relationship

Your fear: The Future

What is the best advice you have to give: Letitgo

If you could change your name, you would change it to: Dorothy Parker

Thought for the Day: I Wish U Heaven

How I would like to die: Under The Cherry Moon

My soul's present condition: Chaos And Disorder

My Motto: Let's Go Crazy!


What artist can you do?

THE ORIGINAL FRENCH "Kiss"
Uploaded by smakiss. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

Movies Revisited...Mo Better Blues

This is a repost from my other blog "Soul Sis-Star Reviews" (Movies Revisited), where Issa Rae and I give our two cents on Black Film we've watched. Please join us over there and give your two cents as well :-)


Even though this movie was highly anticipated when it came out, and I did indeed see it then, there were only a few details I remembered...the beautiful clothes, how pretty everyone looked, slightly crushing on Wesley Snipes (long gone, of course). But watching it again brought me a bit past my original superficial thoughts on the film.

For those of you who don't know, the plot synopsis is this (from IMDB--not a very good one, sorry):
"Opens with Bleek as a child learning to play the trumpet, his friends want him to come out and play but mother insists he finish his lessons. Bleek grows into adulthood and forms his own band - The Bleek Gilliam Quartet. The story of Bleek's and Shadow's friendly rivalry on stage which spills into their professional relationship and threatens to tear apart the quartet."

Like many of Spike's films, I found parts of Mo Better Blues to be pretentious and cartoony, edging on corniness--the dialogue of the children in the scene where Bleek Gilliam, the main character played by Denzel Washington was a child, the overly studied and propped shots of "the hood" that would even be too much for a photograph, the very familiar moving dolly shots that were part of Spike's trademark.

For some reason this time around they were endearing to me, maybe because it was a woeful reminder that there is a severe absence in trademarks or style in today's Black Cinema. There are some up and coming directors that are notable, to be sure, but none of them have established a familiarity of like, say, a Spike, Tim Burton, or Wes Bentley. Earnest Dickerson, the cinematographer on this film, was also on top of his game here--the colors, the crisp, professional look of the film, the surreal atmospheres, the intimacy of the jazz club, the way he made everyone look so lush and beautiful...even Spike almost had a handsome look in this one.

I got lost in the beauty of the movie, and wondered why I never crushed on Denzel back in the day. When I worked for The Studio That Will Henceforth Remained Unnamed, Denzel's production offices were right downstairs, and I was never even remotely curious. After viewing this film, I wondered for the rest of the day what planet I must have been on....yes, he was deserving of the sex symbol hype he garnered in the 90's--Denzel was hot as fish grease on the sun in this.


If this film were made today it would do gangbusters--the different moods of the film, from brooding, to comedic, to romantic flow very well together. The storylines--Bleek's sometimes acrimonious relationship with his right hand and sax player Shadow (Wesley), the shenanigans and gambling issues of his manager, Giant (Spike), the two timing love relationships that he had with his women, Clarke (Cynda Williams) and Indigo (c'mon, really, Indigo?) played by the one mega-weak link in the film (besides Cynda's anticlimatic "big" singing debut), Joie Lee, Spike's sister...the storylines mesh and never overwhelm each other.

I understand Spike has love for his sis, but I believe this would have been an infinitely even better film if a stronger, or at least more interesting actress would have been cast in ger role. Joie's personality (and I use that term loosely) seems to fade into the background; her look is different and while attractive in it's own right, is not particularly big screen worthy. In her love scenes with Denzel she has zero sex appeal--she made kissing on him look like a chore...what was up with that? Maybe she was uncomfortable with her brother shooting her that way...if that was the case, someone really should have let the Assistant Director step in.

I must admit, because of the dearth of interesting Black film (interesting to me, anyway) I have found that lately, rewatching film that are 10, 20, 30 years old, that I have a much deeper appreciation for the work, time, and creativity for movies such as this one. Mo Betta Blues has moved up more than a few notches in my book--if you haven't seen it, rent immediately--if only to reminisce on the comedic stylings of the late Robin Harris, the house comedian in the jazz club and to enjoy the jazzy score. Here is the trailer:

Psssst....

Hey guys...I'm back for a sec to tell you about a site that me and my girl Issa Rae from Black Film Academy started up...its called Soul Sis-Star Reviews, and it's all Black Cinema reviews for films old and new--from two minds that are probably just as twisted as the other, haha! Check us out HERE...we are still under construction so bear with us--love you!

PS: I am not leaving this blog, don't worry :-)

OK, Y'all....

While the rest of the world is trying to figure out if Oprah really wears a weave (she says no), or why your cousins minstreled it up to the highest power over some Popeye's for Earth Day (hilarious post!) and for some KFC last week, and why any type of moisture whatsoever is kryptonite to Gary Coleman (see picture above), Ms. Invisible tries to stay sane through the arts, but even I have succumbed a bit. But even as I try to stay afloat these days, please believe that I will never, ever, be as crazy as this chick right here:



Because of the changes I have been navigating, I wanted to be fair and let folks know what is going on. When I started this blog, I compiled a 'Negro Justice League' of bloggers, which consisted of me (of course), Undercover Black Man, Afronerd, PurpleZoe, and Supernegro, with Just Judith as our loyal Gal Friday. Well, two folded up their capes to do wonderful things; Supernegro aka Jeffrey L. Wilson, also a tech writer, went off to write a book, and Undercover Black Man, aka David Mills, just shut down shop to write with David Simon (The Wire) on a new HBO show that was greenlit called "Treme" (watch for it next year, read about it HERE).


Anyhoo, I thought about taking their route. If you want to be strong and leave the blogosphere, it is almost like quitting drugs, honestly. But I am not able to do it cold turkey. I love and enjoy my readers too much, and y'all know I love talking about film too much. So rather than have you guys keep checking for a new post that isn't there, I will be going on hiatus with this blog for an extended period.

Thank you to the readers that have encouraged me to keep it open and not shut down-- specifically the wonderful commenters, those who have started "following" my blog even in the absence of fresh posts, and my amazing brother and sister bloggers--big up to 4 of them who all gave me a "SPLASH AWARD" (yes 3 separate ones! see the award pic above) in the past 2 weeks--Professor Tracey of "Aunt Jemima's Revenge", Ms. Marvalus of "Opinionated Black Woman" and "Conversations With Marva" (who ALWAYS has my back through thick and thin!), and Aaron and Alaine from "A Political Season". All of these bloggers are super-duper intelligent Negroes on every level, so it was quite the honor, to say the least.

But fear not, while I am away from this blog, I will be contributing to another wonderful Black Cinema blog--"Shadow And Act". It is collaboration of me, Tambay Obenson from "The Obenson Report", my beloved Sergio from Ebony/Jet, and my Black Cinema comrades of "Must Love Movies", "Black Film Academy" and "The Black Box Office". Please join us daily over there, because unlike me, there are some overachievers there that actually have the nerve to post more than once a day, every day. Can you imagine?


Keep those martinis flowing... and stay woke! :-)


I WILL be back....until then......SHADOW AND ACT

Things That Make Me Laugh....

--Willona Woods aka Mary J. Blige in Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad By Myself"

--Aunt Jemima's Revenge

--This blog based wholly on loony-tune blogger Sandra Rose (thanks sergio) lovingly referred to as "Crusty": http://sandraroseisahater.blogspot.com/

--This unfortunate trailer for the low budget, not even DVD worthy movie "Peaches" (thanks sergio):




--"Others" who wander onto this blog by some happenstance and say: "You and everyone on this blog are a bunch of racists!" And then proceed to break down how "inferior" we are in so many ways, and how we are just a bunch of ignorant apes, monkeys, or some other variance of primate. Folks that are also obviously completely and blissfully unaware of the term and meaning of "irony".

Obama Fingers. With curry dip. In front of the Golden Gate Bridge. Just why?

This N' That

I have just come out of a "Throwback Heaven" stupor. TV One is just all about the Black Cinema, and today I watched the Blaxploitation flix "Three The Hard Way" and "Friday Foster". I have been meaning to write about the evolution of Pam Grier for some time, as she was a singularly awful actress back in the day and has come to something a lot more substantial. But what did that matter in the 70's when you looked like Pocahontas with perfect clear skin, white teeth, a small waist and perfect big tits (all before the boon of plastic surgery)? Not a lot, I tell ya, and not too much has changed in 3 decades. I will do a proper post eventually, as she is the gatekeeper of this blog. Here is the trailer:



The same with "Three The Hard Way". I'm sure at the time this was an explosive movie of Black Power and puttin' foot to ass on "the man", but now one is just bemused. And though it was directed by one of my faves, Gordon Parks Jr., the plot and actions scenes are wholly ridiculous at best. It is the story of some Aryan/Nazi power group that has invented some type of poison that kills only Negroes. It looks like Kool-Aid, so I guess that was smart. The target cities? D.C., Detroit, and Los Angeles and their water supply. All they needed was NY and Oakland and 99% of the Black population would have been goners.

Jim Brown stomping around saying he has to find "his woman" (who the bad guys kidnapped) seems positively caveman and archaic now, as well as Jim Kelly mowing down a whole police force that have guns by just shouting "OU-EEE!" and karate chopping and kicking. I really didn't pay attention to how they were taking everyone out with simple handguns, while the bad guys outnumbered them 10 to one and had machine guns, cause I was hypnotized by Fred Williamson's ass. I could eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on that thing...haha!


Check out TV One tomorrow. Though they showed the hot (but watchable) garbage that is "Trois 2, Pandora's Box" today, tomorrow they have Maya Angelou's "Sister, Sister", starring Diahann Carroll ("Claudine)", Rosalind Cash ("Uptown Saturday Night"), and Irene Cara ("Fame") as sisters dealing with interfighting, jealousies, and baggage. Also offered tomorrow is "Funny Valentines" starring what seem to be favorites of this blog's readers, Alfre Woodard and Loretta Divine. It is directed by Julie Dash, who also directed the wonderful "Daughters of the Dust", and is described as this : "A woman returns to her home town to sort out her troubled marriage and finds new happiness in the rekindling of a broken friendship with her cousin."


Now on to a few things. Have any of you picked up on the podcasts over at Tambay's "Obenson Report"? Interesting discussions going on over there on Black Cinema--the last one featured up and coming director Pete Chatmon. Did you know that Jackie Robinson was in the 761st battalion, which is the subject of one of Chatmon's film? Jackie is an icon of inspiration for reals, for reals. Go on over to his blog and click on the links to listen.


Speaking of new-jack directors, Dennis Dortch (whose interview with me will be up in a few days) has a site up that consists of his Black & Sexy merchandise...tees, boy shorts, etc. are to be had, along with the amazing soundtrack from the film. Get you a piece my Black and sexy readers (you YT's too!, haha). Click HERE to see his stuff.


Are we ready for a new generation of Wayons? Hmmm...I dunno, as this generation is still grating the nerves a bit---i.e. "Dance Flick". Saw this on Black Film Academy:

'The prolific Wayans clan has begun to turn out a second generation of multihyphenate comic performers. UTA has just signed Damien Dante Wayans — nephew of filmmaker Keenen Ivory (”White Chicks”) — for representation in all areas, and Craig and Damon Jr. are set to co-star in Damien’s directing debut, “Dance Flick,” a Paramount comedy to be released May 22.

Damien is a co-writer (along with Craig, Keenen, Shawn and Marlon) and executive producer of the movie as well. Older-generation siblings Shawn, Marlon, Kim and Keenen all appear in the film.'

From IW: Alrighty then. At least the genes aren't bad in the looks department in that family....can't speak on the comedic one tho.


Have seen this trailer floating around the blogs---it is a documentary of the life of Mike Tyson. His life really needs to be a straight up soap opera, for real. I wonder if Jamie Foxx is still going to play him in a biopic as was rumored last year? Here is the trailer:




There seems to be an interest in things Henry Lennix these days. I never paid that much attention, one way or the other. I remember him as being very low key in the "The Five Heartbeats" and not much else. But based on the posts and comments on "Must Love Movies" ruminations "Roger Guenveur Smith vs. Harry Lennix" and "The Black Snob" who writes "I Suffer for Harry Lennix's Art" (and also turns it into an absolutely perfect commentary on the state of Black Hollywood and it's actors--to read click HERE), he definitely has a fanbase. Maybe the light skin-ded dudes are making a comeback. Hollywood, are you listening? Of course you aren't.



And a very, very heart felt thanks the beautiful Naturally Sophia (ATLians stand up!) , and the only person that I know that watches more movies than me, Reel Whore (I love his blog). They awarded me with the Kreativ Blog Award and The Dardos Award, respectively . The Dardos Award is given for "cultural, literary, and personal values in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing appreciation and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web". Of course you are supposed to give these awards to others, but....yes...I'm slacking again. What I can say is that when I get these, they positively make my day; there is nothing quite as great as being recognized by your blogging peers---Thank You So Much!!!




PS: Thanks to all of those who have started following my blog in the past few days...don't think I haven't noticed and read your blogs as well :-)

This N' That....

I have a lot to talk about, but will only post about a few things, cause I don't wanna spend 3 hours on a post.

Did you know that Idris Elba was joining "The Office"? From Eurweb (thanks Sergio):

"While details are being kept under wraps, NBC did say the actor will play a no-nonsense hire at Dunder Mifflin's corporate office who rankles Scranton branch manager Michael Scott, played by star Steve Carell."

From IW: Considering the unfortunate film choices Mr. Chocolate makes, maybe he should make TV his home. We'll see how he does on the small screen again. Here is the tired poster for "Obsessed":



For those of you that are curious to see "Medicine For Melancholy", a film I reviewed and in addition did an interview with the director, Barry Jenkins, here is some news:

'IFC Films is still working out the details of our theatrical release. We open in New York on January 30. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit and Seattle will follow in February. Check our website in the next couple weeks for details. You can also catch M4M at home with IFC In Theaters (Video on demand) starting Feb. 4.'

From IW: If you've had the blues regarding the state of Black Cinema, you must see this movie. This week I will also be posting about 2 other indie Black films, "Diary Of A Tired Black Man" and "A Good Day To Be Black And Sexy". To read Sergio's reveiw of Medicine For Melancholy from Ebony/Jet.Com click HERE.


I want to get serious for a moment and say a peaceful journey to the founder and director of The San Francisco Black Film Festival, Ave Montague (that's her in the middle in the picture above). She passed away last week. For a very, very, very brief time, I was the Assistant Director of this festival. While Ave faced many personal challenges, she genuinely lived her life trying to give exposure to little known Black Cinema, as well as giving awards and accolades to our established greats. I hope the festival will be able to carry on, as Ave was the festival....I wish it well.


On to some other type of fodder. Here is the trailer for Eddie Murphy's new one...the story is described as this:

"Eddie Murphy stars as a successful financial executive who has more time for his blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter (Yara Shahidi). When he has a crisis of confidence and his career starts going down the drain, however, he finds the solution to all his problems in his daughter's imaginary world."



Sergio said this about the trailer: "maybe I'm getting senile in my old age but this one looks like it might be cute. I recall the original title was Nowhereland and it was shot almost two years ago".

Ms. Invisible says no comment. But that little girl is all kindsa cute.


And finally, thank you ever so much to Ugly Black John who gave me a helping hand award (as well as 6 others). Mine was for helping him to understand Black Cinema...hmmm...UBJ seems pretty smart to me--I don't think he needs my help. By the way, I am curious to know just how Black and ugly this John really is...I have the sneaking suspicion that he's not so very ugly at all, haha :-)

Here I Is...

^To quote the late, great, Notorious B.I.G.

Thank you so very much for my birthday wishes. Between my fasting and prosperity journey with my good pal Sistah C., my job, personal boring responsibilities, my quest to triple my fundage, and my new found E-Bay addiction for low priced but hellacious clothing (yes, I'm late on that), I haven't really felt like blogging. I always say if blogging feels like a job, or a duty, no es fun anymore. If I take breaks from time to time, Ms. Invisible can keep rollin'. I love Black Film, and I feel lots of good things are coming this year, so I want to be here with you to discuss most of it....

Anyhoo, after an unplanned absence I usually come back with an Old School Music Friday, which I haven't done in eons. This week's theme is Originals Vs. Remakes, and I'd like to take it back to my origin of making mine Black Cinema related.

Here is the first, true original one, and the one that I really enjoy most. The remakes get progresionally...ummm...questionable, but it is always an amazing song no matter who is singing it:



The next is of Aretha Franklin singing it. She is skinny, with some short blondish (sort of) nappylicious hair, and she has seemed to maintain her apparent complete and total disdain for any type of boobage support for decades. But girl can sing, what can I say?



The last is En Vogue, who actually did a wonderful homage to the original in their 90's video of the remake. I always feel an affinity to them cause I went to school with Dawn Robinson, and we admitted years later that we had always admired each others style, even back then. Unfortunately, the original video is nowhere to be found on youtube (and I was too lazy to look elsewhere), but I did find many different versions shot on many niggaratti cell phones. Here is one--peep the wardrobe as well; how the mighty have fallen.... :-(



PS: Who are the people supposed to be in the poster above? Awful! Please visit my other OSF fam for their choices on this meme:

AJ - http://overanalyzeit.wordpress.com/Believer 1964 - http://ruhoffman.blogspot.com/BklynQueen’86 - http://vanitydark.blogspot.com/CC Groovy - http://ccgroovy.blogspot.com/Chocl8t - http://thechocl8tdiaries.wordpress.com/Cooper - http://wonderlandornot.net/Shawn - http://dallassouthblog.com/Danielle Vyas - http://modernmusings.com/Dee - http://donotcolorme.blogspot.com/DP - http://therealready.blogspot.com/Fresh and Fab - http://freshandfab.blogspot.com/Hagar’s Daughters – http://hagarsdaughters.blogspot.com/Invisible Woman - http://invisible-cinema.blogspot.com/John - http://altjirangamitjina.blogspot.com/Kevin - http://slanttruth.com/Kim - http://thepunkin-patch.blogspot.com/LaKeisha - http://kreativetalk.blogspot.com/LaShonda - http://thee-biz.blogspot.com/Lil Creole Pimp - http://creolepimp.blogspot.com/Lisa C - http://lisacwrites.blogspot.com/Mahogany - http://www.mahoganydymond.net/Malcolm - http://popculturedish.blogspot.com/Marcus - http://marcuslangford.com/MarvalusOne - http://themarvalusview.com/Mike - http://thehappygoluckybachelor.blogspot.com/Mrs. Grapevine - http://mrsgrapevine.com/MsLadyDeborah - http://msladydeborah.blogspot.com/Pjazzypar - http://www.tracesofastream.blogspot.com/Pop Art Diva - http://popartdiva.blogspot.com/Quick - http://thequickcatchup.blogspot.com/Regina - http://reginasfamilyseasons.blogspot.com/Shae-Shae - http://heyshae.com/blogSharon - http://thetrueurbanqueen.blogspot.com/SJP - http://sojournersplace.blogspot.com/Thembi - http://whatwouldthembido.blogspot.com/Villager - http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/Vivrant Thang - http://songsinthekeyoflife.wordpress.com/Zenobia - http://from-the-battlefield.blogspot.com/

Random Movie News....

First of all, I must say welcome back to "The Obenson Report" and it's podcast. Tambay Obenson's blog was supposedly out of business, but I knew he'd be back! Please check him out for "serious" black film news, as well as his amusing perspectives on Black Cinema. His blog is all the things I wish I had the wherewithal to do....

On my last visit there, I see now that the classic "Hollywood Shuffle" is on Hulu. For the readers of this blog who were too young to see it the first time out, or those who never got around to it, you can view the full movie below, or go to Hulu. It is a must see about a struggling actor and his trials and tribulations in his personal life, and having to deal with playing stereotypes in Hollywood. It is also very funny.



Speaking of Hollywood Shuffle, I saw a movie about an actor with similar dilemmas over the weekend called "Premium". You may be able to catch it on cable this month--it is also out on DVD.

Dorian Missick, who I was not familiar with before, plays the struggling protagonist/actor, who is helplessly in love with Zoe Saldana. Unfortunately, Hill Harper is her buppie fiance, creating quite the love triangle.

I wasn't expecting much, so I was very surprised that it turned out to be a film about the subtleties and matureness of love, and how we don't always end up with the person we'd like to be with, cause love in and of itself is realistically not enough. It was refreshing to see the men appreciate Saldana for qualities other than her "big butt and a smile" to paraphrase Bell Biv Davoe, as we've seen in a thousand low budget Black films. It was also the first time I've seen Hill being all manly and acting with a real passion.

I have to say that Zoe Saldana is very much on my radar now; she is like a prettier, less hard, less grating, and more talented version of Jada Pinkett. There is a naturalness to her acting that is very intriguing...I think I may actually allow myself to be OK with her playing Uhura in the "Star Trek" remake, lol. Check the movie "Premium" out--which is written, directed, and produced by Pete Chatmon (kind of a hottie)--on a lazy Sunday afternoon.



Speaking of Pete Chatmon, did you know that he wrote and directed a film about Black soldiers fighting in WWII way before Spike's "Miracle At St. Anna"? It's called "761st". The synopsis is this:

The 761st Tank Battalion was activated on April 1, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana and deployed to Europe, landing at Omaha Beach in France on October 10, 1944. Over the course of 183 days of continuous fighting (including action in the Battle of the Bulge) the "Black Panthers" became the first African-American armored unit to enter combat. With the motto "Come Out Fighting!" they faced racism at home and death overseas in a war for many freedoms they did not enjoy in America.

Sound familiar? I wonder if dude is ready to put foot to ass over the clamoring of Spike's film, while his gets completely overlooked. Kinda f'd up, imho.



I guess you've all heard that they are remaking "Fame"...I'm guessing to capitalize on the popularity of the High School Musical franchise. **yawn**




Got this from Sergio:

IW

After reading the comments about Tsotsi, like a dope I forgot to tell you this film I saw a few months ago Heart of Fire about a young girl's experience as a child solider in Eritrea, which I think BLOWS AWAY "Tsotsi". It's a German/Italian co-production made by a Italian director but it's awesome. [Hopefully] you'll mention it on your blog.

Duly mentioned...sounds really interesting. To read a bit more about it, click HERE.


Some questions...am I the only one who has zero desire to see "Twilight"? Am I the only one super curious to see how Taraji P. Henson does in "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button"? Am I the only one who wonders why they keep giving that walking corpse Nicole Kidman work? Just askin'.




And finally, thanks ever so much (gosh, shucks) from my folkses at "The Marvalus View" and "The Happy Go Lucky Bachelor", who each gave me the "Uber Amazing Blog" award. You know, what can I say? I completely deserve it....I keed! It is an award for a blog that

inspires you
makes you smile and laugh
gives amazing information
is a great read
has an amazing design
and/or any other reason that makes them Uber Amazing

It's wonderful to know they feel about me the same way I feel about them. Thanks guys! :-) All of the blogs on my blogroll on my side bar I feel the same way about...so if you want to post this award on your blog, tell your readers I gave it to you!

In A State Of Grace....

I wanted to write this yesterday, but I was in Limoncello Heaven, so it's a day late. Though I don't celebrate Thanksgiving out of respect for the Native Americans, I do think about what I am grateful for.

My goal for some time has been to live my life in a state of grace; completely calm, with security, peace, and beauty deeply permeating my life on the daily (which, of course, means not going near Black Friday).

I'm not completely there yet, but the drama in my life (of which used to be almost unbearable) is no more. My home exudes peace, and I can focus on things that are important to me. Music being one (I was listening to Sylvester yesterday--whatcha know 'bout dat?) and the importance of friendships being another.

this is sylvester, or one of his album covers to be exact

I am so very grateful for the amazing and awesome friends that I have, and even more grateful that my circle is increasing on a strong foundation. I even found one of my dearest long term friends I lost contact with on the internets last week, bringing my grace factor up 100%! Please check her out at her blog Sistah Goddess; she is living her whole life in grace in a major way.

And speaking of friendships and the internets, I thank the most high for your presence here. Taking the time to read my sometimes crotchety opinions, laughing with me at the ridiculousness, leaving amazing and well thought out comments--I really love you guys (and no it's not the vodka talking, that was last night!) Folks like Ms. Marvalus, sdg1844, Madame Z, and the Happy Go Lucky Bachelor seem like cousins that I like hanging out with--I just name them cause they are here every day without fail. For all of you that are here every day, or once a week, or once a month even, please know you are truly appreciated by the author of this blog.

Be blessed and prosper your azz off in the '09!