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Just Wright Is Such A Good Movie - A Review

How often is the full-figured beauty the romantic lead? How often does she get the handsome guy? Never!!

Come on, you know how it goes. The exponentially shallow, unlikable BUT pretty and skinny lead falls for guy, some misunderstanding happens and later on they work it out and fall in love. Where is the more intelligent, fun, sophisticated and wise full-figured friend? On the sidelines, cheering her skinny friend on. Oh, and if the big girl gets some love, it's with Mr. Boogie Wolf or Sir Snaggle Tooth himself.

Not in Just Wright.

Common is the man. I mean his deliver of his lines is so smooth. It reminded me of Denzel Washington's portrayal of Bleek Gilliam in Mo' Better Blues. And no, I am not exaggerating. I think it's the MC in him.  If a single movie can transform a man into Denzel Washington material, Just Wright just did it.

I never thought of Common as a sex symbol. I think it was the hazy glow created by all of his high yellowness. lol. I know that's wrong but Morris Chestnut and all of his chocolatey greatness makes it hard for men of Common's hue to get their respective sexy on but by Jove, I've think he's got it!

Queen Latifah is a star - pure and simple. She radiates on screen. She has a quiet confidence that announces, yes, the Queen has arrived, whenever the camera is on her.

For example, she shares the screen with the incredibly beautiful Paula Patton. When they are in the same screen shot, Queen Latifah garners your attention. I don't know how she does it but I want to learn.

I won't ruin the ending for you but let's just say the audience applauded!! (This was in the multi-cultural bougie part of town, too!! lol)

Go see it and leave a comment!

P.S. There are a lot of great cameos, including my latest obsession, Laz Alonso.

Thanks!

Jill Scott on the Tyler Perry Show

I love Jilly from Philly. She inspires me to be bold in my full figured-ness and my natural hair-ness. I really cannot wait to see this movie.

 

 

So I Finally Saw Avatar - My Review

and it was aiight. lol

If you want a visually stimulating experience, GO SEE AVATAR.

However; if you want quality storyline, engaging dialogue, logical progression - um, go see something else.

I will keep this short because AVATAR is something you have already seen before regardless if you have purchased a ticket.

Imagine the storyline of Apocalypto, with the over-the-top machinery of Transformers, with the science fiction of the Matrix, with the white-savior complex of Dances with Wolves, with the graphics of Shrek 3-D and you have the jumble-lya that is AVATAR.

The love story is out of any movie you have ever seen!

My final rating - eh *shrugs shoulders*

Am I off base here?

A Streetcar Named Desire - My Thoughts

As a freshman in undergrad, I began taking a lot of fiction classes. One particular year I was on a serious Tennessee Williams kick. I read everything I could find; The Glass Menagerie, Summer and Smoke, The Sweet Bird of Youth. Later when I became obsessed with old movies, I got into A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Paul Newman was BRILLIANT as Brick Pollitt) and  Sweet Bird of Youth (also starring Paul Newman).

I watched A Streetcar Named Desire last night and it was disturbingly good. Vivien Leigh is brilliant in her insanity as Blanche DuBois. Marlon Brando is genius as brutish husband Stanley Kowalski.

I have to admit that I was a pretty naive back then. I totally missed the overarching themes of homosexuality in William's plays. I totally missed the fact that he himself was homosexual. He frequently wrote from his life experiences- his mother being a hysteric, his sister's mental illness and lobotomy, his father's preference for his more masculine brother.

Williams was also the brand of writer who chose to live life in order to write about it. He moved to New Orleans which became the setting for A Streetcar Named Desire. I , too, suffer from this malady. I am trying to balance practicality with the desire to experience as much as I can. If I had a million dollars, I would so travel the countryside, travel the world with nothing but a camera and a notebook.

Although a dreamer, I don't suffer from mental illness. So,writing about adventure and escape will have to do for now. I have a semester to finish and a career to launch.

You can read more about Tennessee Williams here.

So I Saw The Princess and the Frog Today and . . .

. . .I realized that I am not a child anymore. So, I was a little annoyed by the children in the theater. LOL. Did they not get the message that this particular movie-going experience was about me re-living my childhood. Thank you!

I did, however, enjoy the film.

What I Liked During the Movie?

1. I really loved Princess Tiana - the animated figure and Anika Noni Rose's voice. I credit Rose's voice for keeping me emotionally interested when the beautiful Tiana morphs into a green amphibian.
2. I loved hearing Terrence Howard's smooth vocals as the dad.  I found out later that Oprah voiced the mother. Kudos Oprah I did not recognize Miss Sophia while watching the film. 
3. Great music, jazz, and color! I love color. There is beautiful scenery and something other than pink decor of Cinderella. Tiana dons amazing blues and rich greens that complement her brown skin.

What Disappointed me?

1. The princess is a freakin' frog! My hidden racism detector was approaching Danger Danger! status before I hit the OFF button. I mean, it is a movie for kids and not hypersensitive adults. I must say, I say the movie on Christmas day. I was the only AA in the theater and the children there LOVED this movie. At the end of the movie, this little girl started clapping and yelling YEAH!!!! It was the cutest thing.
2. The animation seemed low-budget in parts. I am not the only one to notice this. A.O. Scott describes most of TPATF as looking like Disney's straight to DVD features as opposed to it's animated classics. It alternates between great colorful animation to something akin to Woody Wood Pecker sketches. I doubt the kids noticed but I did.

What I appreciate after the fact?

1. The "Almost There" song sequence - The art style changes to a stylized "art-deco" as Tiana sings about getting closer to her dream. I found out later that this art style is a tribute to Aaron Douglas, the most famous artist during the Harlem Renaissance. Remember the episode of the Cosby Show in which Claire wants this painting. They go to the auction and spend $11,000 on it. That one is by Aaron Douglass.

1. Anika Noni Rose's voice - Granted she was over shadowed in Dreamgirls by Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson but she has a beautiful voice. She, ironically, beat out both Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Tyra Banks, and Alicia Keys for the role of Tiana.
2. Tiana, unlike princesses before her, doesn't just wish on a star - she works hard! That's a great message for any child to see.

3. Overall, it's a must-see. I happen to like 2-D cartoons. The Princess and the Frog is a throwback to that era. Don't listen to those looking for hidden racism in a cartoon. Most of those naysayers have NOT SEEN the movie. My advice is to let go and let your inner child imagine.

   What are your thoughts?
 

 

R.I.P. Alaina Reed Hall

Best known for her stint as Rose on 227 from 1985-1990, I remember Alaina Reed Hall as Olivia on Sesame Street - the Sesame Street I loved in my youth before Elmo. ELMO!!!!!!!!!

It is sad to hear of her passing, she was only 63.

During her life she accomplished many acting feats. She began her career on Broadway starring in Hair and Chicago. She landed the role as Olivia on Sesame Street in 1976. Throughout the years, she had a few guest spots including ER and Ally McBeal. She also did many commercials.

Whitney Houston Still Has It

I know it is en vogue to make fun of Whitney Houston's downfall but that woman has a gift from GOD himself. My mom always says that a gift comes without repentance. That used to annoy me but I think I get what she meant by it.

Anyway, you have to applaud a woman who still sings all of her performances LIVE flaws and all. Everytime I hear her voice, I get a little teary-eyed.

Check out a recent moscow performance:

 

 

I Guess We Have To Defend Watching Tyler Perry Movies Now

There is no monolithic black experience. PERIOD.

So no one individual, experience, or point of view represents all of us. Agreed?

With that said, why does all the Tyler Perry hatred center on - he is perpetuating negative stereotypes, he is a "coon", other talented black producers can't catch a break, he is BAD FOR BLACK PEOPLE. Really?

Where does this come from? I just read Siditty's blog.I love this blogger and she makes some valid points but girl lighten up. Everything is not a race movement. LOL

Tyler Perry writes from one perspective of the black experience. His movies have not been artistic masterpieces but darn it they are not funny. I know at least I will laugh, cry and probably be annoyed all in the same film.

Read my review of his latest.

One more point, other black director's should learn from TP and TD Jakes. They built up a LOYAL fan base through plays (TP) and books, church(TD) and then launched movies.

All of you high-browed people who claim other directors don't get a brake, did you actually pay to see their films? Are they breaking the marketing mold or simply rehashing the same broken formula? What other director would make Kimberly Elise (a very brown-skinned girl) the love interest in a romantic comedy?

Fans can make or break directors not lofty philosophical arguments and brow beating.

The Secret Life of Bees - A Review

Loved it!

Like the honey these bees produce, TSLOB is syrupy sweet and quite the tear jerker. The movie is cast for the perfect musical but there is little singing in this tale of womanhood and strength.

Dakota Fanningis formidable as the emotionally injured Lily Owens on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Jennifer Hudson is standout as her physically injured and equally searching sidekick. Jennifer is shaping up to be quite the actress. She is so believable as Rosaleen.

Queen Latifah doesn't have to prove anything to anybody. She is definitely a fine actress in her own right. Alicia Keys had that sister-with-an-attitude style on lock.

I won't give too much away. I will tell you this is a movie worth seeing but I must forewarn you to bring your tissues. I heard so many sniffles in the movie theater, but you will feel good in the end.

Something New - A Review

I know this movie is a bit dated but Oxygen has been playing it for the last couple of days. So, I decided to write a quick review.

This is the classic fish out of water tale with Simon Baker (Brian) as the hunk du jour and Sanaa Lathan (Kenya) as the guarded women who can't find love. The twist, Brian is white and Kenya is black.

Even more of a twist, Brian is a working class landscaper who gets set up on a blind date with the snobbish upper-crust Kenya. They both go through this awkward dance of he's attracted to her without reservation and she is attracted to him but worried what other people think. 

I wanted to like this movie but as with any movie you have to actually buy into the plot. I did not. Brian is a gorgeous, really nice guy and Kenya is a snob. She brushes him off so many times and is constantly in 'black against the world' mode. She puts him out because he asks her why she wears a hair weave. She is mistreated at work and complains ad nauseum about this to Brian who in frustration tells her in an argument he basically doesn't want to hear it. Kenya of course breaks up with him. Enters Blair Underwood, who is hot chocolate incarnate. Rich, debonair, willing and ready to marry. Of course Kenya dumps him because she misses Brian.

This is where I must suspend all belief in order to follow the rest of the movie. I don't know too many women, let alone black women, who are mid-thirties and unmarried who would turn down not one but two eligible bachelors. Also, Sanaa Lathan is not that cute to me. Her character's personality is so off-putting I don't understand why either man wants to be with her.

I saw so much potential in this movie but the point just gets lost. Brian is too perfect and Kenya too flawed. I won't tell you the end. You can watch it if you want. Let me know if you disagree.