Transformations....

I'm sitting here watching "Car Wash"...dang, that soundtrack was fiyah, for reals! It's so interesting to see folks as they were 30 years ago...Antonio Fargas played the sweetest gay flame to a tee, Bill Duke was the young rebel, and The Pointer Sisters were the joint. Did you know that Joel Shumacher (director of The Lost Boys, Batman Forever, etc.) of all people, wrote this movie? By himself. He also wrote "Sparkle" and the screenplay for "The Wiz". Who knew?

There are many transformations that happen in 30 years, some for the better...some well....ummm, you know, not so hot.

Black film has gone through both extremes--the "not so hot" downgrades from the 70's with the Ice Cube legacy (see the upcoming film "Lottery Ticket" with said Cube and Bow Wow, and any "Are We Whatever Yet" films), and the upgrades being the new class of thoughtful Black films, i.e. "Medicine For Melancholy".

Saw a couple of pictures in the past few days that are prime examples of the upgrades and downgrades from the 70's.

Remember Freddy "Boom Boom" Washington? Remember Cochise? He was so fiiiiiine in "Cooley High", sexy, sexy, sexzay. To be fair, Laurence Hilton Jacobs was severely compromised even in the 90's; he chased after my redbone girlfriend for the longest, and she never even gave him the time of day....there were many more traces of Joe Jackson (whom he played in the "Jacksons" mini-series) than Cochise by that time. Here he is today--call me mean, but I'm sorry, it's disturbing.


On the other end of the spectrum is super super-model Iman, who called Michelle Obama "not a great beauty" (btw, I disagree). Well, if being a "great beauty" means wearing blond plastic Barbie hair against your dark African skin, with a couple of (or more) surgical facial procedures, along with wearing foundation lighter than your natural skin tone, she may have a point. Either way, still much better than 1975, yes?

Today In B'Days....

The man behind almost all of the Black Cinema I loathe, Ice-Cube, is 39. But I'll forgive him cause of "Friday" (tho that BS he has coming out, "Janky Promoters", may make me take that back).

Here he is talking about more of his depressing projects:

This And That....

Okay, feeling a bit lazy this week folks, so I'm gonna put a buncha stuff in this one post while I have the energy....

Let's start off with the Negro that is partially responsible for this week's sleepiness with Hollywood:


Ice Cube continues to build on his movie biz dynasty, recently inking a deal with Dimension Films to make "Janky Promoters", Cube's first script since the last installment of his Friday series.

According to Daily Variety, Ice Cube will write and act in the Janky Promoters, which he's also producing alongside Cube Vision partner Matt Alvarez.

Janky Promoters will star Cube and another actor as unprepared music promoters working to book a big-name hip-hop artist at a California venue where everything seems to go wrong.

A director will also soon be attached to the project and with casting expected to begin immediately, Dimension head Bob Weinstein is hoping to cast a marquee level rapper to star in the film.

"This feels a lot like Uptown Saturday Night to me, a caper film where you have these music promoters who are slightly shady but are good enough guys that you root for them," Weinstein told Daily Variety. "This is going to be R-rated, and it appeals right to the core of Cube's audience."

Weinstein also shared details about Cube's deal adding, "He's producing the movie, sharing in the funding, so it's more complicated than previous deals we've made with Cube. He's a brand, like Tyler Perry, and that's the direction he's headed in. We're happy to assist him in that because we believe in him."


From IW: Ummm, excuse me. Mr. Weinstein--can I talk to you for a second? Let's see here, how can I put this...WTF?!

This is wrong on so many levels, but too time consuming to talk about all the reasons why. So I'll start with the top 3:

A) Who keeps giving this Negro money to make these tired Larry, Curly and Moe movies?

B) "He's a brand, like Tyler Perry" Is this really what we need as a people? C'mon folkses!

C) "I see this as an Uptown Saturday Night" You wish! Keep chasing that rainbow, my friend.

Okay, I'm too grouchy for this mess this morning. I also got maximum level April Fool punked by the folks over at O Hell Nawl! They staged a phony corporate buyout of their site, and folks were heated, including me. You guys might want to check it out--it was genius, but I hate them so very, very, much.

love y'all

Let me post something to cheer me up--I wrote a "Milk Carton Alert" a couple months back about Michael Wright. I had a bonus Milk Carton Alert for Tico Wells and Troy Beyer. Well, look what I found in my mailbox:

Dearest Invisible Woman:

I had the great fortune of stumbling upon your website tonight. I want to acknowledge you for your commitment to keeping it current and real. Like you (smile) I have been invisible over the years,transforming my life and truly finding my gift so that I may be a gift to others. Over the last six years, I've earned my degree in Ontology and I've been leading transformational seminars for a global organization. In addition, I've recently completed my first book "Ex-Free", I'm earning my PhD in Psychology and my talk show is scheduled to begin airing in six months, "Troy Talk." I am forever grateful to anyone who cares enough to wonder where I went. I went to the mountain top after ruffling through the valleys but I'm back and again, thank you for wondering. I will bookmark your site and check you out often. Keep on keeping up!

Godspeed!

Troy

From IW: She is the sweetest sweetie-pie....I love to read about people who have done so very many different things in their lives; all of them awesome. If she can go from being an actor, to a screenwriter, to director, to leading seminars on global organization, to getting a Ph.D, to having her own talk show, I think some of us out here can step it up too, yes?

Very inspiring, to say the least. Now you can quit looking for her Thembi and Cassandra :-)

Also, if you guys get a chance, check out some amazing Black Cinema posters here:

http://www.bennettauctions.com/2007/120207_posters2/12.02.07.session2.blax.html

I put some up on here yesterday...thanks for the tip Mike G.

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!

This N' That

Posting is going to be spotty for the rest of the month; I've been splitting time between here (San Francisco) and Los Angeles, and am making a permanent move to LA this month. There will be a lot of real life drudgery which will impede a bit on blogging.

Anyhoo....watched the first 25 minutes of "First Sunday", and struggled to even do that, as I wanted to have an informed opinion by watching the whole thing. I didn't make it tho, and HATED. EVERY. SINGLE. SOLITARY. SECOND. of this movie. They should make watching this a requirement in Hell for murderers, rapers, and molesters. It is that painful to watch.

I had to stop watching, cause I was really starting to hate Ice Cube, too, for continuing to make some of the most horrible s--t I've ever seen. I realize that Sergio is a classy guy, and was being kind in his review. I, however, feel absolutely no need to do so. For a review more aligned with how I feel about this dreck, click here. Oh, and Cube...the new beard? Hate that too!

"First Sunday" did finish in second place tho, with $19 mil, right after the "Bucket List", which to my surprise came in at #1. My geriatric 4th husband, Morgan Freeman, has alas become even too geriatric for me, and is now an ex-husband. But I am glad he is still doing well and still bankable. A blog that I read called "News As Gossip" had a funny blurb about the movie:

Hey elderly people! If you're in the mood to smile weakly, then walk - don't run - to see "The Bucket List!" Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two guys who never saw the NBC show "Thirty Good Years" where two older men decide to do everything they were never able to do in life. The film is inspirational - Like me, you'll be inspired to die before the ending.

FYI, "The bucket list" refers to a list of things to do before you die, and not a list of actual buckets, which would have been more exciting.

Oh, and if it makes things even more enticing - in the movie, both of these guys have terminal cancer.

From IW: OK, that's kinda mean, but that's why I like that blog. For those of you looking for a palate cleanser after "First Sunday", you might want to check this movie out below. I received this email from Sergio today:

HEY!

'I've just come from a screening of "How She Move" which Paramount Vantage is releasing on Jan. 25. Believe me, just when you think there's no more hope for black films this gem comes along to put your faith back in it. (No surprise it's Canadian movie not American).

Sure you've seen the story before 1000 times (It takes from Flashdance, West Side Story and 20 other films) and you know the plot points well before they happen, [but] it's really well made and written, great cinematography and well acted.

Also I can't remember the last time I've seen so many dark skinned women in a movie and not one Alicia Keys type or mixed one in the bunch. Then again the director is not black but an Indian based in London, Ian Iqbal Rashid.'

From IW: Interesting. And last but not least don't forget to vote for me for Blogger's Choice on the sidebar; you can vote once a day, every day, until it's over, so make it like your daily routine--brush teeth, take vitamins, vote for my blog! haha

Dodging A Bullet....

Okay...I've had an advance copy of "First Sunday" for about a week, and haven't even looked at it since I put it on my bookshelf. Even if I do get around to watching it, I don't really think I'll want to talk about it. I think I made my feelings known when I wrote about it here in July.

So here is wonderful Black Cinema lover and comrade Sergio Mims, who writes reviews for Ebony/Jet.Com to take the bullet for me with a great review:

First Sunday

theatre vet david talbert takes it to the multiplex

Review By Sergio Mims

Someone recently remarked that when it comes to movies black people have two different standards. If it’s your usual mainstream all (or mostly) white Hollywood movie, black audiences, like any audience, expect an entertaining, well-made film for their money. But when it comes to a black film, black folks are willing to accept less than perfect and tolerate even the slipshod and ragged. Perhaps knowing the impossible odds against making a film and wanting to support their own, or just happy to see black people on the big screen instead of yet another movie with Ms. Box Office Poison, Nicole Kidman, black audiences are too willing to forgive whatever shortcomings there may be in directing, acting, writing or technically just to give a pat on the back and hope for a better film next time.

After a 12 year career writing, producing and directing his own hugely popular chitlin’ circuit plays which are still touring today David E. Talbert directed his first feature film. Unfortunately, First Sunday won’t give black audiences anything to cheer about. Light years removed from the far superior The Great Debaters, First Sunday falls back on shop worn clichés, telegraphed well in advance of their appearance onscreen. Add to the mix the usual broad acting, hyperactive antics, a loud incessant hip-hop soundtrack, hissabale villains, a couple of flamboyant gay characters and lots of inspiring messages and homespun homilies.

Cube and Tracy Morgan are a pair of best buddy losers up against the wall. Morgan is in over his head with some Jamaican criminals after a disastrous attempt to sell some pimped out wheelchairs and Cube, an ex-con who can’t get work because of his criminal past, is desperate to keep his baby mama (Hall) from moving to Atlanta with his son.

After a last minute visit to a church and seeing the huge piles of money in the collection plates, they hatch a lame brained scheme to break into the church at night and take off with the loot. Of course, they pick the one night when the pastor (McBride), his daughter (Malinda Williams, wearing, fortunately for all the red blooded men in the audience, the tightest dress ever worn by a church parishioner) the church secretary (Devine), the deacon (Beach), the choir director (Katt Williams) and several others happen to be there. What follows is a sort of low rent Dog Day Afternoon with Cube and Morgan keeping everyone hostages as they reveal themselves to each other, discover painful pasts and haunted memories, and figure out who the secret embezzler in the church is during a raucous court trial , before forgiveness and the dawn of a new life approaches.

Talbert, to his credit, displays a genuine cinematic flair in his film. His use of dramatic close-ups, creative framing of scenes and the tight rhythmic interplay in several scenes shows that he’s someone who’s comfortable behind the camera and definitely has a lot of potential. He’s also a confident director of actors giving them space to breathe and allowing their characters to display some honest emotion, though his tendency to let them overact as if they’re performing on stage for the person in the top balcony is annoying. Occasional sloppiness seeps in, particularly in a tasteless character of a retarded man played for laughs who’s one of the hostages yet mysteriously disappears from the rest of the film no doubt to be resurrected in the deleted scenes feature extras on the DVD.

First Sunday is at best a very minor film of very modest diversions and can’t escape its hackneyed predictability. Though it’s mildly amusing one wonders if with a little more effort it could have been something much more. Which can only mean one thing: It'll be a big hit at the box office.

Stop The Madness--Part 2

Okay, can somebody bring me some A) News I wanna see about Black Cinema B) Something that doesn't make me want to chuck this blog in a dumpster? Jeesh, a woman can only take so much!

From Filmwad:

Rapper-actor Ice Cube is reportedly in talks to join the cast of the John Singleton-directed adaptation of The A-Team. Though this is not yet a done deal, there are few other bankable actors out there would could semi-convincingly replace Mr. T as Sergeant B.A. Baracus.

Here's what he told Blackfilm on the character:

I wouldn't try to duplicate what Mr. T did, but I will have the same impact on you when you were little watching the TV show. I'm going to bring my own flavor to it and I am going to do the mohawk.

When asked if the role is "definite" for him:

I don't know. They want me to do it if all the business works out right. I was a fan as a kid and that would be, not a dream come true, but it's definitely a good thing to do and I would put it on my resume for sure.

In the famous words of Keenan Thompson:

WHY???!!!!

last picture ganked from A Black Man's View

Top 10 Worst Black Films Of 2007

Alrighty then. Hope you guys had an awesome day yesterday, no matter what you chose to do. I was going to do one of those standard end of the year "Top 10 Best Films of 2007" lists for black film, but guess what? Surprise, surprise, I couldn't think of ten. The really sad part is I couldn't even think of five. Damn.

The big ticket black films of the year, "Why Did I Get Married?" and "American Gangster" were amusing to watch, but nothing more. The fact that they are considering Denzel's performance for a Golden Globe and other such awards just underscores how bare our cupboards are to me.

Here is to hoping 2008 will be a banner year for Black Cinema.....

Anyhoo, I did however have enough fodder for a "Top 10 Worst Black Films of 2007". Surprise, surprise, again (not). These are in no particular order, as I think they were all pretty much equally atrocious. Some of them kinda walk the line for "Black Cinema", but I included them because of their casts, their hype, and high visibility in the Black Blogosphere:

#1

I Think I Love My Wife

When, when, when is Chris Rock finally going to get it that he does not need to ever be in a film of his own making? Just produce (and for heaven's sake no more directing!), or star in a movie that someone, anyone else, wrote. This was a remake of a non-black film that I've seen called "Chloe In The Afternoon", and it was so mangled in it's interpretation that I didn't even know it until I read that fact yesterday.....so he can't even translate someone else's material. Here is a short clip of him talking about how he came to make this film...LMBAO acting like there was some kind of artistic thought/process behind this bulls--t:

#2

Code Name: The Cleaner

The whole time I was watching this (and for the life of me I don't know why I watched it till the end) I kept saying to myself "Why would Cedric make this movie?". It'll be a happy day when Cedric The Entertainer finds a film or a T.V. show that matches his hilarious abilities in his stand-up. As of now--not even close. This is a clip of the one kinda (operative word kinda) funny scene in the movie. If this is the best it had to offer, you can just imagine how dismal the rest was if you haven't seen it:

#3

The Salon

One of the most stock, stereotypical, lazy black films in quite some time, and that's saying a lot. I wrote about it here. They could've had robots make this movie and no one would have noticed the difference. Some foolio named Mike Brooks had a short clip on "youtube" and it looks like he has a very, very small part as "Street Vendor" in the film, and used this scene for his acting reel/resume. It is a perfect snapshot of everything that is wrong in this movie:

#4

Daddy Day Camp

Cuba Gooding. A script even Eddie Murphy wouldn't touch. An already worn to death premise. 'Nuff said. Here is some New York guido with a clip called "What's Going On Cuba?" The ish is low budget and unscripted, but dude is funny as hayell and completely on point:

#5

Confessions Of A Call Girl

Tho this one had an extremely limited release (with good reason) and zero hype, I included it anyway cause Tamala Jones was in it, as was Lynn Whitfield, who must have absolutely nothing else going on whatsoever. This movie was supposed to be a drama, but was so freakin' laughable that I think they need to rethink the genre and make it comedy. I wrote about all the painful details here. I tried to find a clip of this movie, but all that kept coming up was this tired picture, but in a way it's apropos, so here you go....for those of you who don't know, this is Karinne "Superhead" Stefans, infamous groupie, hoe, and bubblehead:

#6

Who's Your Caddy?

What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said? It came from the "Our Stories" production company that is supposed to be our savior, and make "wholesome, family oriented films that are a reflection of us and our community" (their words). If this movie is a reflection of us, we might as well pack it in right now. The fact that this film, after all of it's extensive hype, only made $2.9 million in it's opening weekend spoke volumes. Here is a clip of some of the actors and Tracey Edmonds talking about some of the scenes like this crapfest was "Goodfellas" or something---SMH. At the end, Tracey says "This summer, there is nothing like our film coming out". Truer words were never spoken.

#7

Perfect Stranger

Halle Berry continues to make horrible film after horrible film, but is still considered A-List. In fact, has she ever, ever, starred in a great film? In a good one? Even a decent one? I'm talking a theatrical release, not television. The state of mainstream acting seems to be that your acting abilities equate to how the public views your face. The more beautiful the perception is, the better actress you are. Makes perfect sense to me (insert sarcasm). Nicole Kidman and Keira Knightly, anyone? Here is a clever mash-up of Halle's movie and the sitcom "Perfect Strangers" with Balki:

#9

Are We Done Yet?

Admittedly, I haven't seen this film, but the Good Lord knows I don't have to to include it on this list. Here is a so-called "Blooper Reel", which is ironic, as this is what this whole film seems to be. It also shows off Nia Long's super-amazing acting abilities:

#9

Smokin' Aces

Not technically "Black Cinema", but a large portion of the main cast was. After the huge hype of Alicia Keys, Common, and Taraji P. Henson being in it, it was a HUGE letdown, from the beginning to the closing credits. I kept waiting for it to get better, and it never did. I didn't even feel like looking for something interesting associated with this movie, so here is the trailer:

#10

First Sunday

I know it hasn't come out yet, but let's just get it over with to make more room for next year's list, kay? Since I posted the trailer the other day, here it is with some super dramatic music some funny genius uploaded on youtube. It changes the tone and context entirely....kinda goes back with what I say sometimes about how important a soundtrack can be to a film:

Btw, "Rush Hour 3" might've taken spots 1 through 6 if it was considered Black Cinema and not a mainstream summer blockbuster. Congrats to Ice Cube, who made this list twice.

Just....damn.

**sigh**

(part one)

John Singleton is set to direct a feature adaptation of "The A-Team".

Et tu, John?

**sigh**

(part 2, a.k.a. douche alert)

Jamie Foxx at his "40th" (for the third or fourth time) birthday party.




**sigh**

(part 3)

What is really going on, Jasmine? I need the truth, and I need it now.

**sigh**

(part 4)

"First Sunday" with Ice Cube, Tracy Morgan, and Katt Williams. Forget just damn....just...why?





thanks celebrity blitz and undercover black man for nos. #1 and #4, respectively.

Today In B'Days

Tyra Banks is a suspicious 34. I used to see her around in the days of "Higher Learning", and she wasn't some fresh-faced teenager, that's for sure...but that's all I'll say about that, cause she was always nice.

I tried to find a clip of "Higher Learning" on the net but couldn't....it could be because notorious meanie and human moleman John Singleton shuts any infringement down, or because the movie was so tired no one bothered to upload it. I haven't seen the movie since it was in theaters, and it made such an impression on me (not) that I didn't even remember that Ice Cube, Regina King, and Jennifer Connelly were in it.

Following is a clip some college students made reenacting one of the scenes in the film...lmao that they're acting all "urban" with cockney and African accents--pure comedy!

Happy Holiday

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

Ummm....okay

From Black Talent News:

Limp Bizkit rocker Fred Durst is in negotiations to direct Ice Cube in Dimension Films' inspirational sports drama, "Comeback." Based on real events, "Comeback" is the story of a former high school football star (Ice Cube) who takes his niece under his wing as she becomes the first female quarterback in Pop Warner football history. The 11-year-old QB, Jasmine Plummer, led her team, the Harvey Colts, to the Pop Warner tournament, and became the first female to play in the tournament's 56-year history.

From IW: Fred Durst? Alrighty then....can't say I'm excited about the storyline either, sorry.

Some New Stuff and Needless Remake #2,065

From Black Talent News:

Ice Cube will produce and star in a live-action adaptation of Shannon Eric Denton and Keith Giffen's graphic novel "10" for Dimension Films, according to Variety. The story is about a guy who gets a letter saying he's in a competition with nine others and that whoever gets out alive wins. He thinks it's just junk mail until a man toting an ax shows up at his door.
Gustin Nash and Jesse Cale are writing the screenplay. No director has been hired yet.
Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez of CubeVision are set to produce along with David Alpert and Rick Jacobs of Circle of Confusion. Cube's Dimension-based company is also working on a movie adaptation of "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "Tough Love." The rapper-turned-actor is currently filming "First Sunday" for Screen Gems.

From I.W.: Three words: Welcome Back Kotter?

The Glass Shield aka The Bermuda Triangle

Just rewatched the Charles Burnett film "The Glass Shield" last night (on-demand is a good platform for that), which I haven't viewed since it's 1994 release. Sometimes it's good to rewatch a film that you were too young to really appreciate the first time around, or just weren't paying attention to.

Charles Burnett, in my opinion, has always been the most thoughtful of the Black Hollywood directors, never really getting his due, and flying just below the radar. His films are very character driven...you get to know them as flesh and blood, and actually get what motivates them, something that is sorely missing in 80% of the films out there. I've always said that character driven films are usually the best films, because you care about the story, and it usually makes you forget you're watching a movie. It gives a film richness and texture. Martin Scorcese can be placed in that category.

The film is about a fresh out of the police academy rookie (Micheal Boatman, who looks about 12) as the only black officer in a department deeply embedded in racism and politics. He teams up with the only female officer in the department, who has been treated just as unfairly as he, to reverse an injustice thrown upon an innocent man (Ice Cube), who is a victim of circumstance and prejudice, accused of murder. The officer has to deal with his loyalties as an officer, and his heart as a black man.

Anyhoo, Mr. Burnett does not make films too often, and when he does, you can be guaranteed that they will be the realest. So real, in fact, that sometimes they are almost painful to watch, but it's like a trainwreck--you can't look away. Whether you're black or non-black, he digs deep into our social issues and fears unflinchingly. What makes it more painful is that he doesn't judge, or try to hit you over the head with a statement...he just presents it. And he always presents it in a way we recognize and feel on the deepest levels.....probably the #1 reason Hollywood hasn't welcomed him with open arms. But he never sells out, and I really respect that.

Charles Burnett also directed "Killer of Sheep" and "To Sleep With Anger". Tired of the summer blockbusters? Rent any of his films, but prepare to think. I call this film the Bermuda Triangle, as it was the last I'd heard from him, Victoria Dillard (the girlfriend in "Deep Cover"), the boss from "The Bionic Woman", Bernie Casey(who I used to have a crush on), the "Chicken McNugget Head" from "She's Gotta Have It", Lori Petty (Tank Girl, then nothing), and Michael Boatman, who jumped ship to TV (Spin City). At least we know Ice Cube and Elliott Gould (the new "Ocean's" films) are still alive.

Tell Me If You've Heard This One Before....

I don't know if I've seen this plot before or not, but even if I haven't, it seems familiar already. I could probably write the same script before even seeing it.

Katt Williams (love him!), Tracy Morgan and Malinda Williams have signed on to star opposite Ice Cube in "First Sunday," a Screen Gems comedy about two petty thieves who try to rip off a church. The cast also includes Regina Hall, Chi McBride and Loretta Devine. Shooting began in May. There are plans to put the film in theaters next year during the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.

Ice Cube has gone from a "Nigga With Attitude" to "King of the Chitlin' Circuit" (my apologies to those who enjoyed "Are We There Yet?")