Top 10 Historically Significant Black Films (Not According To Me)

Ok, here I is, lol. For those of you who like my blog, I am much, much, more active on Twitter (sadly) and my username is @BlkCinemaAtLarg. I guess I should put that on here, but I'm waiting for my new site design.

Anyhoo, while on the great twitterville I came across Entertainment Tonight's "10 Historically Significant African-American Films". And let me tell you, it was the best list I've seen so far from a mainstream outlet, which was surprising, cause I find ET about as deep and relevant to Blacks as Ryan Seacrest.

Here is the list:

Cooley High

Antwone Fisher

Ray

What's Love Got To Do With It

A Soldier's Story

Do The Right Thing

Eve's Bayou

Boyz N The Hood

A Raisin In The Sun

The Color Purple

This is a great list, admittedly. There are a couple on there though, that while I do think are significant, are not necessarily historical. In the Black community, maybe, but not universally, which I believe was ET's intended stance.

So I wanna talk about two a day, to kick off my theme weeks. I think I'll start with A Soldier's Story and Cooley High, since those two are grabbing me today.



A Soldier's Story

I agree with ET's assessment on this one. As a child who went to the movies with a father who was just as a voracious movie-lover as Ms. Invisibelle, I remember that this was the first post-70's drama that was well directed, well written, well photographed, and well acted. This was an excellent story that had elements of suspense, mystery, and drama. It addressed an array of factors; racism in the military, the pressure of even being in the military, and wearing masks to hide our true selves from others.

I was very young, but I was completely captivated by the story in front of me. It is also the first time I remember having on screen crushes; despite his personal life (that I found out about afterward), Howard Rollins was a very powerful and amazing presence, and for some reason I was drawn to a very nerdy-looking and bespectacled Denzel Washington way before he was really known for anything...I guess he was born with it.

This film opened up a door that relayed Black drama was just as compelling, intense, and brilliant as anything else that was out there in the 80's or any other decade. I think it's a shame that there are certain entities (that will remain unnamed) that will play "Soul Plane" ad nauseum as opposed to playing this even once.


Cooley High

What can I say about this film? For some reason I love everything about it, so I'm in agreement with ET. It is the only film that I have seen more than repeatedly next to "Friday", and I never get tired of seeing it. What Cooley High has is:

*A sense of nostalgia, even if you weren't alive or remember the time period

*Great music

*Characters that made you care

*Comedy and drama well-balanced--one was just as interesting and watchable as the other

*A very brief glimpse that, for at least one month, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs was fine as hell

*A very brief glimpse that, for at least one month, Glynn Turman was not weird and creepy as hell

*Arresting wardrobe and on-point set design

*The breeding ground of the classic song by Boyz To Men "It's So Hard To Say Good-Bye To Yesterday"

*A coming-of-age story that was realistic and relatable

This film was testament that a very fine, touching, and universally Black story could be made on a relatively small budget. This film speaks to generations, and everyone from your grandparents to your grandchildren love it, and I really can't think of another Black film like that.

Tomorrow two more.

Movie Milk Carton Alerts....

Last week I was wondering what happened to a certain film I'd written about a couple years ago. It was called "Frankie And Alice" (horrible title) and was to star Halle Berry as a woman with dual personalities, one of which was a white racist. Interesting concept, but when I saw the stills from the film, it looked like typical Halle fare; perfectly awful.

Right after I wondered what happened, I see an update from Tambay on Shadow And Act. Yes, old girl pulled the movie out of the drawer, and did it to be considered for an Oscar.

Alrighty then.


I don't want to talk about that movie really, but about other films that I wrote about and wondered what happened to....a couple I was actually looking forward to, like:

The "Martin" reunion on the big screen. Everyone would probably ask Martin why he now looks like a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade balloon. (wasn't looking forward to that one by the way)


The multiple Sammy Davis Jr. biopics, one starring Don Cheadle, one starring Andre 3000, and one starring Elijah Kelley. And where is Elijah Kelley? He was the "it" Black dude for exactly one minute.


Beyonce aka Beyaki playing Eartha Kitt. To which I say: bwahhahahahaha!!


The very unasked for sequel to "Four Brothers".


Jaime Foxx playing Mike Tyson in a biopic.


Beyaki playing Angela Davis in a biopic. To which I say: bwahhahahahaha!!


Wesley Snipes playing James Brown in a biopic (I'm seeing a pattern here).


Will Smith and Denzel Washington in a remake of "Uptown Saturday Night" (which I pray never sees the light of day).


Mos Def and Erykah Badu in a film that was described thustly:

Mos Def and Erykah Badu have signed on to star in the indie drama 'Bobby Zero'; a film focused upon the life of fictional struggling artist Bobby Zero as he hits rock bottom before going corporate with a job in advertising. Badu will play his girlfriend who is afflicted with agoraphobia.

Lots of questions. No answers.

Old School Flicks 101

Hey all. I think I'm finally over my twitter obsession and can get back to blogging. Well, that's not entirely accurate. I know I said I wanted to start blogging regularly as a tribute to David Mills, but the biggest truth is that I've been uninspired. Yes.

There hasn't been a Black film this year that I've been excited about or in anticipation to see. I think I want to see them, then when they actually come out, I'm like "meh", and go about my business. Cases in point, "The Book Of Eli", with its overdone to death premise, "American Violet", "Death At A Funeral" (fine-ass James Marsden nonwithstanding), and don't even get me started on "Why Did I Get Married Too" or "Law Abiding Citizen". The one film that I was really looking forward to--"Brooklyn's Finest" was a major disappointment of epic proportions. I just watched "New Jack City" for about the 20th time yesterday, and it was still more gripping and compelling than Brooklyn's Finest.

And what is to look forward to? "Just Wright" with King Latifah and Common in a "romantic" relationship? Gimme a freaking break! To be fair, YT cinema hasn't been all that fantastic either--just saw a screener of "Chloe" with Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore, which was like an extremely watered down "Fatal Attraction" seen through fogged up glasses.

To be honest, the only Black films that have excited me lately are actually all from the archives. I know that some follow this blog to check on the latest happenings, but around here I kinda just write about what I'm feeling at the time. What I've been feeling are some fantastic films from the 70's, which I think are a must see for everyone, Black or non. And some not so fantastic ones that I think some should just flat out view to see the sheer nerve of some producers and directors in the 70's.

Each day I will talk about one of these films; "The Spook Who Sat By The Door", "Chameleon Street", "Mandingo", "The Legend Of Nigger Charlie" and the amazing and freaking fantastic "Ganja And Hess", a jewel of a film by a country mile.

So tune in once a day, every day, for the rest of the week and I will have some films on here that you can learn about, or if you've already seen them, discuss with me (I love, love, love your comments). A huge thanks to those who have stuck with me, and to my new followers who have come on board though I've been seriously M.I.A. See you tomorrow!

The Denzel Principle...

The Book of Eli opens this weekend...and Denzel Washington plays yet another rigid character who expresses his emotions through his hatwear, eyewear and stubble. That's been a recurring theme throughout the Oscar winner's career, as evidenced by this handy diagram (click pic to get a better view):




thanks sergio!

This N' That....

Yes, I am a bad girl. I admit it. But really and truly, when I am away, I really miss you guys. I wish there was some kind of device that would write all of the Black Cinema thoughts in my head automatically....but alas, there isn't, so you are stuck with Number One Supreme Slacker, aka Ms. Invisible. But please know that I love you, and your comments make life worth living! haha

OK, had to come back about this "Uptown Saturday Night" thing. For those of you that have been paying attention, that is one of my favorite films of all time, Black or non. I wrote maybe about a year ago that Will Smith would be in the remake. 15 years ago, that wouldn't have been such a major disappointment as it is now. But then this added tidbit--Denzel Washington is rumored to be in talks to be in it as well. Of course, Denzel is probably playing the Poitier role, and Will the Bill Cosby one, but wouldn't it be so much more interesting if it were the other way around?

Okay, my seventh husband The RZA aka Bobby Digital seems to be adding to our future family fortune by getting into filmmaking. I laughed my ass off when I saw this uber-serious profile on him from The New York Times, I guess to give someone even a small clue who doesn't know anything about him (aka YT):

As founding father of the hard-core Staten Island rap collective Wu-Tang Clan, RZA (pronounced "rizza," given name: Robert Diggs) conflated the spiritual enlightenment found in '70s kung fu movies with racially incendiary teachings from the Five-Percent Nation of Islam, adding to the mix references to Taoism and comic books, numerology and snippets of mafia don movie dialogue, articulating a plaintive yet hard-bitten ghetto cri de coeur.

Huh? Anyway, I never really considered Wu-Tang "hard-core", but thanks for the name pronunciation clarification.

I know Sergio wrote a snippet on this already, and I tweeted about this the other day (the picture above came up when I image Googled NAACP--it seemed apropos). How the holy f*ck can the NAACP Image Awards nominate Michael Jackson's Funeral as "Best Variety Show"? If I wasn't already done and buried with them for almost a decade, this f*cktastic f*ckery would have definitely sealed the deal anyway. The founders of the NAACP must be spinning in their graves at 100 mph. Oh, and by the way, they also nominated Sandra Bullock as "Best Actress". And here I was thinking she wasn't Black the whole time...silly me.

How many of you saw the film "Four Brothers"? I did, just to see Andre 3000, who, by the way, was a complete and total dud in it. I do not believe acting is among his many talents. But Tyrese, whom I normally don't pay much attention to, looked eyeball-breakingly foin in it. Good try, but really, do we honestly need a sequel? That is what I have been reading. I vote no.

Speaking of stupid sequels, Laurence Fishburne is doing one for "Predator" 23 years after the first. Really, Larry? Mortgage payments are a bitch, I tells ya....more sigh inducing tidbits; Rashida Jones signed on to do the film based on Facebook (yes, you read right), and someone had the nerve to approach the Hughes Brothers to do a fourth installment of "Pirates Of The Caribbean". Thank the Lord they did not jump at that, but is anyone looking forward to "The Book Of Eli"? I am curious, strictly because of the Hughes Brothers, cause as far as Denzel goes, it looks like the same ol' same ol'. I hope I'm wrong.

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:

This N' That....

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

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

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





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

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

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

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

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



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



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



Is Kelly Rowland's new man a ghost?



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




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




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

The Good, The Kinda Bad, And The Completely Wack.....

I went on one of my "mmm's" this weekend (mini movie marathons). So here are my mini reviews of what I saw.....


First up, The Good:


City Of God


I have read so very, very many wonderful things about this film. I have avoided it before, as I am ashamed to admit, sometimes I do not feel like reading subtitles. There I said it.

But my laziness has made me late on a completely amazing film on every level. It is a story of young hoodlums trying to rise above their poor and desperate hardscrabble life in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. But it is so much more than that. There were twists and turns and multiple storylines everywhere, and it worked. Beautifully.

It conjures up memories of Scorsese's "Gangs Of New York", and Quentin Tarantino when he is good. It sometimes has the look and feel of a spectacular 70's black exploitation flick, and the high tension "anything could happen at any time" dread of "The Sopranos". Yet though you are reminded of all of these things, this film has a look and voice that is completely unique.

I once took an Italian Neo-Realism film class (not to sound uppity, but it's relevant). These films were well noted worldwide because it was the first time that cinema was shown in a ultra realistic way, and not Hollywood script style, right after WWII. They showed the human condition in a way that was in your face and unflinching, and the actors did not seem like actors at all, but folks really living the experience.

City Of God is like that; it shows Brazil in all it's beauty and it's seedy ugliness of the poor and working poor--the people are amazing to look at in this film (Brazilians are legendary for their diverse beauty, with good reason) from the darkest black to pale ginger red heads. It shows how people are forced to make choices out of desperation, cause they don't want to be left behind in a bleak hopeless world that they had no part in making, and how those choices can be so very f**ked up, to say the least.

To put it simply, this film was the s**t, the kind that you think about for days after you see it.




Also on The Good:


The Great Debaters


Yes, I finally broke down and saw it. In my opinion, though the film had high quality content, I think it would have been an even better film sans the overly sappy soundtrack. I'm just being honest.

I think one of the reasons I am such a fan of independent film is that it's lacking the swelling, manipulative music that is a staple of the Hollywood Machine. You know, the Disney-esque crescendo of the orchestra "happy music-feel happy here!" "serious, slow, tender music-feel sad here!" "uplifting loud music-feel happy again here, especially at the end!"

You know what I'm saying. That type of sound is preachy and tiresome. And I think The Great Debaters would have been a very solid film, taken a bit more seriously, and been a little longer lasting without it.

I felt the same about "Talk To Me". Just my opinion.




Next up, The Kinda Bad:



Meet The Browns


I don't want to straight out call this film bad, cause it wasn't. But it wasn't what you would call good either. Meet The Browns was pretty much everything you expect from a Tyler Perry movie, but this time with a couple of minor attention grabbing aspects.

Angela Bassett gave one of her Angela Bassett performances, and she can't help it---she is soooo serious. Even scenes that call for her to laugh light-heartedly seem very forced and unnatural. But she keeps your attention at all times, something that Tyler Perry's movies haven't really been able to do for me before. Seeing her very well toned body, jaunty, well placed hair scarves, and calm, sensible demeanor really didn't fit in that "Good Times" style project apartment she lived in either. Also lmao off at the babysitter scolding Angela multiple times, talking about "You young mothers these days". Ummmm.....Angela is 50?

Of course there is the "family-and-friends-sitting-around-the-dinner-table-while-major-life- changing-revelations-are-brought-to-life" scene (that honestly I am beginning to loathe). The one in this film is particularly out there and over the top, even for Tyler Perry.

Insert everything else from every other Perry film, and you have this one. It's almost comforting in it's sameness: a good man is a cure for all a woman's ills, the sassy/nosy/blunt neighbor/relative, the moral of "Put your faith in the Lord first", and the ever classic "Family is family, no matter what".

On a side note, even though he really hasn't done anything at all for me in the past, Rick Fox was looking mighty...."magically delicious" in this film. In other words...that negro was fine as hell! haha




*sigh* On to The Completely Wack (and inexplicable)




"Alvin And The Chipmunks"


Don't ask.




Miss B's Hair Salon


Holy sh*t. I don't even know what to say about this one. Let's first start off with the fact that the women on the DVD cover were nowhere to be found in the movie. It seemed like it was one of those films advertised on Craigslist calling for actors and crew with the line "no pay, but food and credit will be given!" They then proceed to film the movie on the cinematic equivalent of a camera phone, have everyone change "costumes" at the Exxon gas station, and have the movie take place in one room, two at the most. The script and dialogue seems like it was self-generated and wrote itself, as no breathing human being could possibly be this talentless. It makes Vivica Fox's "The Salon" look like "There Will Be Blood".

It was about a bunch of very badly done stereotypes and cliches rounded up in some sort of scary beauty shop, with Tiny Lister somehow involved. He is the only person with even a glimmer of recognition in the whole movie. The almost hypnotically insane side story was about some dude whose face they never showed-- only his crusty, blackened, weed smoked lips that he kept licking and crooked teeth, who had a parade of women coming to this house, supposedly lusting after him. He would proceed to have some type of level 3 sex offender type pre-coitus dialogue with them, all the while brushing his nappy chest hair above his open to the navel shirt (?!!) with a wig brush (?!!) as he was talking. WTF?!

This film was "written" and "directed" by some dude named Jean-Claude La Marre , who is a repeat offender on the horrible Black Cinema list. He has brought us such classics as "Don't Touch Me If You Ain't Prayed", "Gang Of Roses", "Voodoo Curse", and "Nora's Hair Salon".

Two abhorrently dismal hair salon movies? Someone arrest this man before he writes/produces/directs again!

End Of The Year This N' That....

Hey all....sentimental last post of the year and all that, blah, blah, blah...

I had great fun last night talking to Afronerd and black film lover Sergio, who directs a Black Film Festival in Chicago called "Black Harvest" every August. If you want to hear us in the interview, click here....there is kind of a long music intro, but it's there.

Sergio revealed to us last night (which is probably old news today) that Tyler Perry is in the upcoming "Star Trek" movie. From AOL:

Talk about a casting coup! When Zoe Saldana was cast to play Uhuru, which was originally played by Nichelle Nichols, in the new Star Trek film, I'm sure some folks wondered if there would be more Blacks in the film. Well, low and behold, of all the marketing moves the producers could have done to insure that the African American market was represented, they have cast one of the hottest movers and shakers in the media world to appear in the film, Tyler Perry.

That's right - Tyler Perry. According to the website UGO, they are reporting that Perry, who has never appeared in a film that he didn't write, direct, or produce, will be featured in the film as the head of Starfleet Academy, and in a human form, instead of looking like some alien. Tyler's character is overseeing some kind of Starfleet courtroom/ assembly event where young Kirk is facing expulsion from Starfleet.

From IW: I feel like this role may be well suited for Perry, as his non-Madea acting is very stiff and unnatural, just like a legal prosecutor.

Here is the poster for "Hancock", a film starring Will Smith as a down and out former superhero. Original subject matter...I'm sure it will do well and add $25 million more dollars to the Smiths already overstuffed bank account.

"The Great Debaters" is being touted as coming in at 11th place in the box office, giving it the illusion of failure, but DO NOT be fooled. This movie was in a very limited number of theaters, less than half of what the holiday blockbusters are normally booked into. So in actuality, this film did very well, just not compared to a film that was released in 3,500 theaters instead of 1,171. Feel me?

And last, but not least, Invisible Woman is going to be a little cliche and give her end of the year thank you to you all....my blog has grown 13,000% since I first started....at the beginning I was so worried that no one would find it/read it that I almost didn't go thru with starting it. I don't want to slight anyone, so know that every single blog that is linked on my sidebar is truly, truly appreciated through and through, as well as my non-blogging readers. May your 2008 blow up like 92 tons of dynamite!

trivia; btw, "auld lang syne" means "a long time ago" in scottish. a bit depressing, no? i think i'll ring in my new year with something a little more uplifting, like kanye, haha

Today In B'Days

Denzel Washington is 53. The dude in this picture is supposed to be a "Denzel Washington impersonator". Uh, yeah...good luck with that.

Nichelle Nichols is 75. Wonder how she feels about Zoe Saldana playing her role in the upcoming "Star Trek" movie?

Since we're on the subject of Nichelle, here is a clip where she played a hardcore pimpette in the Isaac Hayes Blackexploitation classic "Truck Turner". I'm thinking maybe it's a good thing that this may be the only movie she ever made other than Star Trek....some people should just never attempt to utter a cuss word. LMBAO at the line: "They call her Turnpike, cause you gotta pay to get on, and pay to get off!":

Also, just missing the "WTF Volumes".....there was some huge poll done in the UK the BFI (British Film Institute) did on the top 100 Black Film Icons. First of all, there are 100? Are they including cartoon voices?

In the Black Male category, the top three are Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Sidney Poitier. Okay, check, everything seems to be in good order there.

But in the Black Female category, the top 3 are as follows:

Nichelle Nichols

Dorothy Dandridge

Hattie McDaniels

I mean, WTF? Of course I have no problem with Ms. Dandridge, but Nichelle? Ummmm, she's a TV actress---hello? And I won't even begin to comment on that Hattie McDaniels bulls--t. Don't even get me started. To be fair, tho, they misspelled Nichelle's name in the poll, so what do they really know?

F'd up invisibility and screwed up Black perceptions have a passport all over the world.

"Debaters" is Debatable For Me....

OK, this is a repost of "Yawn" (with an addendum), a ditty I wrote back in June (yes, your Black Cinemist is always on top of it) on "The Great Debaters":

Oprah Winfrey is set to produce "The Great Debaters" directed by and starring Denzel Washington. Now before you panic, this isn't Winfrey's first time producing. She's produced a number of films to include Their Eyes Were Watching God, Halle Berry's project for ABC, a few years back. The movie is based on the true story of an underdog debate team that went on to beat Harvard's team.

As for Washington, this is his second directorial job following the 2002 film Antoine Fisher, in which he also served as one of the producers. Written by Robert Eisele and Suzan-Lori Parks, The Great Debaters is based on a true story of Melvin B. Tolson. As a professor at Wiley College in East Texas, he has been inspires by his students to create the college’s first debating team, which successfully conquered Harvard in the national championships.

"The Great Debaters", features Washington as Mel Tolson, along with other cast members such as Jermaine Williams as Hamilton Burgess, Nate Parker as Henry Lowe, J.D. Evermore as Captain Wainwright, Justice Leak as Harland Osbourne, Breon Pugh as Wiley Student, Charissa Allen as Benita, and Robert X. Golphin as Dunbar Reed among others.

From Invisible Woman: Sorry, but as Homer Simpson would say.... booorrrriiiing. I have as much patience for these Stand and Deliver/Dangerous Minds/Freedom Writers/Whatever That Movie Terrance Howard Was In movies as I do TV remakes. NEWS FLASH! When inner city kids are given the same resources, materials, attention, focus, and opportunities as "suburban" or private schools, guess what? They can excel JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE! Hollywood (Oprah and Denzel included) can we get a movie with some risky/dark/interesting/sexy subject matter? I'm just sayin'.....

I.W. 12/18: OK, maybe I rushed to judgement on that, but 6 months later, I still don't want to see that ish. Yeah, I said it. So, I'll give love to D. Yobachi Boswell, who wrote about it on his blog "Black Perspective":

The Great Debaters--By D. Yobachi Boswell

Is the Great Debaters another in a long line of Lean On Me wanna-be movies gone bad? Mmmm, probably not. For one it takes place 70 years ago, so you don’t have the cliché’ ‘gang riddled school with graffiti tatted walls’ thing going. Also unlike all the ‘teacher rescues the natives’ movies we’ve been cursed with since Lean On Me starring Morgan Freeman as our protagonist and Stand And Deliver starring Edwards James Olmos in the position of youth inspirer; we don’t have the great white hope condescension of some do-gooder whitey coming from outside to save the Blacks and Hispanics.

Here the protagonist is played by Denzel Washington, and as he is, his students are Black. He comes from their community. Furthermore, these aren’t wayward young folks, looking to run the streets, who’s parents don’t understand the importance of education; where the protagonist must bring them along. These are Black college students in the 1930s; they really choose to be there. From what I’m reading this film leans more Dead Poets Society than Dangerous Minds.

And good. I’m from Hip Hop and I could do without the pimped out low riders and 2 hours filled with “ya know what I’m saying” for once.

There’s a decent review of the movie here .

The film is the second directed by Denzel Washington, following Antwone Fisher, and also stars Forrest Whitaker and a grow up Jurnee Smollett who you might remember as Eve in Eve’s Bayou.

I don’t know if it’s a good movie quality wise, I haven’t seen it; but it seems like worth giving a chance at least as much as the numerous crappy movies made by white people that we flock to spend our money on; and then complain about how we get no love in the movies.

You vote with your dollars baby.

The film opens on Christmas.

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.....

Speaking Of Frank Lucas....

Is the new movie "American Gangster" taking even more than the normal Hollywood liberties? Reader Cassandra sent over an article of interest involving Frank Lucas and Bumpy Johnson's widow. For those who don't know, Bumpy was Frank Lucas' mentor and was the subject of the Bill Duke directed "Hoodlum", played by Laurence Fishburne. She contends that Frank is a big fat phony, for lack of a better phrase:

Frank Lucas, the dope-dealer portrayed by Denzel Washington in the upcoming movie, American Gangster, is a low-down good-for-nothing liar. This according to someone whom would know -- Mayme Johnson.

Johnson is the 93-year-old widow of the infamous Harlem gangster Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson -- the man whom Lucas says was his mentor and who taught him everything he knows. Lucas goes on to say that he was Bumpy's second-in-command, and that Bumpy died in his arms in 1968.

"Frank wasn't nothing but a flunky, and one that Bumpy never did really trust," says Johnson, author of the upcoming book, Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson. "Bumpy would let Frank drive him around, but you'd better believe that he was never in any important meetings or anything. Bumpy figured Frank as a liar, and he would say you can trust a thief quicker than a liar, because a thief steals because he needs money, while a liar lies for the hell of it."

Johnson says she was furious when she first found out that Lucas told a magazine writer that Bumpy died in his arms. Lucas, she says, was nowhere around the night that Bumpy died from a heart attack while dining at the famous Wells Restaurant on Seventh Avenue in Harlem. She says Lucas probably thought he could get away with the lie because he figured everyone who was around Bumpy at the time is now dead.

"Junie Byrd's gone, Nat Pettigrew's gone, Sonny Chance is gone, and Finley Hoskin's gone. Frank would never have said any garbage like that if one of them were alive because he'd know they'd come after him," Johnson says. "I bet he thought I was gone, too, but I'm not. I'm 93, and I don't have Alzheimer's or dementia, and I'm not senile. Frank Lucas is a damn liar and I want the world to know it."

Johnson says she thinks it's a shame that Lucas was able to fool Hollywood into believing that he's a bigger shot than he really is, and points out that if he lied about his relationship with Bumpy there's no telling what else he may have lied about in the movie. As far as she's concerned, Johnson states, everything in the movie is now suspect.

"That's why I'm writing this book after all this time," Johnson explains. "There have been legends, myths, and rumors flying around about Bumpy for decades, and I've never spoken to confirm or deny anything -- even when the movie Hoodlum was released in 1997 and contained all kinds of factual errors about the man I loved. You see I never thought the errors were malicious, they just didn't know better. But this . . . well, Frank does know better.

"So now I've finally decided to speak out. To set the record straight. To tell the truth and damn the devil. To let the world know about the real Bumpy Johnson."

From IW: In Frank's defense, even by her own admission Mayme was not the angel she was portrayed as in "Hoodlum" by Vanessa Williams. And whose to say she doesn't have an agenda of her own since, as she says, she and Frank are the only ones who are still around to know? Interesting just the same. If you would like to see the rest of her story, click here.

Countdown To American Gangster....

Saw a screener of "American Gangster" today. I don't really want to review and spoil it for folks, (I'll post my thoughts later) but I will give a few odd and end tidbits....

-Scary hair everywhere, from RZA's receding lopsided fro, to Russell Crowe's partner's Hall and Oates shag, to the worst parted wig and fake mustache in movie history on Joe Morton.

-Common plays T.I.'s father (?!)

-Somebody gets their ass whipped with a piano (don't ask).

-"Across 110th Street" is still the jam.

-Roger Guenveur Smith's eyes are actually open and alert looking.

-Chiwetel Ejiofor is starting to look miiiighty fine.

That is all.

this is a picture of the real frank lucas...a bit of a stretch from denzel, yes?

A Little Eye Candy For The Ladies...

Idris Elba and Denzel Washington at a premier for "American Gangster".

is it me or is denzel getting a bit...."healthy"?

The Other Heroin Dealer....

When I get new readers, they may sometimes think I'm on the late train with a current movie that I haven't really mentioned...the truth is, I might have talked about it a couple of months ago, i.e. "American Gangster".

By now everyone knows about the film, but what about the man the movie is based on, Frank Lucas (along with Bumpy Johnson and Nicky Barnes)? cgwhc from Colored Girls Who Have Considered forwarded me a link to an absorbing biographical article on him that appeared in New York Magazine entitled "The Return Of Superfly" (which the movie is supposedly based on). And unlike Nicky Barnes, he actually seems like he might have learned something from his experiences. If you'd like to read the article click here.

trivia: cuba gooding is playing nicky barnes in american gangster. also, the original title of the movie was going to be "the return of superfly" thank goodness for that change.

Black Hollywood Bringing You The Word....

Wow. While snooping around, I came upon a list of the cast of the Bible Experience (which Simo from Angie B. News informed me Wesley Snipes couldn't join cause of his "issues").

Tisha is on this, as well as these others:

Blair Underwood

Denzel Washington

Angela Bassett

Common

Tatyana Ali

Samuel Jackson (of course)

Mo'Nique

Faith Evans

Meagan Good

Cuba Gooding

The "Bible Experience" is described as this:

The Bible Experience is an inspiring audio Bible that features an unprecedented cast of nearly 200 of today's distinguished Hollywood actors, actresses, and musicians. It also features movie-quality sound effects and background music. This fully dramatized version of the TNIV New Testament was developed by entertainment veterans, and is a ground-breaking undertaking. The phenomenal quality draws you into Scripture and makes the Bible come alive in a new way you have never experienced before.

The Black Hollywood Trinity....

This came from one of my favorite fellow blogger's homes, Funky Fly Fresh, whose comments are titled "Cop, Gangster, Outsider":

Jamie. Denzel. Fresh Pri… er, Will. When’s the last time you remember three black actors at point in three major Hollywood movies coming out in the same season? Could be we need to save this moment in a time capsule or something. ‘Course, as my #1 homie in the world Invisible Woman tracks, the sistahs still struggle to be repped fairly on the screen. And while I haven’t seen any preview screenings of these films, when I look at the roles that the current Black Hollywood Trinity are playing, I gotta wonder how far we’ve really come.

The Kingdom (out Sept 28): I like that Michael Mann is producing this project, I think he’s one of the most underrated filmmakers in the country (I even dug the much maligned Miami Vice movie). He’s always done right with black characters in my mind, and he obviously had a hand in casting Foxx for this flick. And I believe Mann’s influence means that the story will at least try to bring some kind of critical thinking about US intervention in the middle east to the folks that will be going to see explosions and ‘evil arabs’. The problem is, I don’t find Foxx all that interesting as an actor. He can mimic Ray Charles real good, but I thought he was just kinda boring in Vice and Jarhead. And I wonder what he’s doing taking all these military/cop roles lately… he seems to be copying Wesley Snipes’ unfortunate career arc.

American Gangster (out Nov 2): Aw yeah, homie, our very own black Scarface! Chocolate Godfather! Just what we need. I wanna like this movie. I can’t wait to see Denzel and Crowe chew up the screen together. I’m never one to say that a film about a black drug-dealer/gangster is automatically going to be bad. I just don’t think that this is the story. Sure, Frank Lucas played the system, ingeniously smuggling drugs into Harlem in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam. And he got away with it for long enough to make millions, probably because the authorities could not believe that a country black boy could ever work it like he did. But anyone who knows a little about the real Lucas (POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!) knows he got caught (not very dramatically). And he served less than nine years of his sentence, which means he must have rolled (not very gangster). And he now lives the quiet life, a happy old man who still keeps in touch with one of the prosecutors that put him away (not very Scarface). I’m more afraid of the possible wasted talent on this project than the negative stereotypes.

I am Legend (out Dec 14): There are a lot of nasty posts on imdb’s forums with outraged armchair racists raging about a black man playing the lead character Robert Neville in this latest version of Richard Matheson’s 1954 novella. It sucks that I gotta agree with these assholes, although for very different reasons.Reason one: I can’t stand Will Smith (sorry ladies). The only thing I’ve seen where it felt like he was actually acting was Ali, and I give all the credit to Mann’s direction. And don’t even ask me what I think of his rapping skills.Reason Two: I’ve read the book, and if they stick to the original ending (POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!), there’s gonna be a lynching a’coming at the end, although it’ll be vampire/zombies doing it instead of rednecks. Even if they do change the ending to Smith saving the day with some snappy catch-phrase (he can reuse some of the ones from Independence Day, I’m sure no one will notice), Neville is still becomes a misguided rebel/terrorist trying to take down society from the outside. Suddenly casting a black man in the role doesn’t seem so progressive.Of course, they’ll probably add in some hot girl character immune to the zombie-virus that Neville will have to rescue, they defeat the zombies, and ride off to do the nasty in order to save the human race (insert catch-phrase here). If this is the case, it probably ain’t a movie I’ll wanna see regardless of the color of the lead actor.

From IW: I am looking forward to seeing two out of three of these...guess which ones?

Saturday Morning Crush.....

In keeping with my pact with Purple Zoe, we decided to go high school groupie style and talk about our celebrity crushes...I have a few, but seeing that this is a Black Cinema blog, I'll keep it focused on that area...

As I've said in an earlier post, one thing that turns me off about mainstream Hollywood is the lack of "manly men" and what seems to be a current infatuation with using small, boyish, effeminate looking leads. Black Hollywood fortunately, imo, doesn't have that problem, and I think that contributes to our invisibility at the box office....here are a few I think are of note (at least of serious note to me!)

As you can see, I'm an equal opportunity blogger....it's not always about looks; manliness means alot. Thank goodness Common is now an actor...quite honestly this post could have been all about him alone, haha. I know that putting Denzel on the list is generic, but in my defense I was very much on the late train with him...just crushing in the past two years. I appreciate the strength and intelligence he brings to his roles...

Anyhoo-I'm in L.A. until Wednesday. If I see any of my husbands I'll let you know. To see Purple Zoe's crushes, click here; it should be up sometime today.

(as a side note, blessings to Ving Rhames, I hope he works his current situation out; it's very tragic)