I’m writing this live from my job as I watch 2005’s Academy Award telecast! Yeah, I know I’m at work and I should be working…but it’s the Oscars! And hey Chris Rock, straight men do watch the Oscars…we just turn during the musical numbers.
Chris Rock was mad funny, especially the joke about Michael Moore not being mad about not getting nominated for Fahrenheit /911. Rock said that Moore he should have made the documentary Super-Size Me instead, “…He’s done all the research.” He also dissed everyone from Jude law (“Why is he in every movie?”), to Ja Rule, to brilliantly enough, himself.
Well to start off with the heavy categories, Morgan Freeman finally won an Oscar and it was for his Best Supporting Actor performance in Million Dollar Baby. I haven’t seen it, but I just hope that he isn’t the “Magical Negro” in it like so many other black actors are in films with mostly white casts. Truth be told, I always enjoy Clint Eastwood movies. Aside from them being just plain good, he doesn’t exploit his black actors or characters and for that he gets my respect. Still, I haven’t seen MDB.
The producers did an interesting thing this year. Cate Blanchett presented the Make-up award from atop the steps next to the people who were nominated. The camera simply panned down the rows to the three sets of nominees. How simple and beautiful it looked. Okay, maybe what I just said seemed a lil boring, but hey, aside from being a screenwriter (and a damned good observer/critic) I’m also trained in filmmaking. I love the technical aspects of moviemaking and…okay, okay I’ll shut up now.
Beyonce tore up that song from the French movie The Chorus. Did I hear correctly that Chris Rock had to force his hand to have the producers of this telecast to bring in more black presenters and performers (Prince was one)? I heard this somewhere and if that’s the case it just reaffirms what most of us still know about the industry, much less the world. I guess they felt that the 4 black folks nominated for acting Oscar’s, plus having a Black host, more than filled the quota. Don’t adjust your screens folks, yes, there are more than 5 black folks on the telly. I just realized that I must be gay now, I just watched a musical number. Can I use Beyonce on stage as an excuse? Hey, at least I have no idea “who” she was wearing.
Damn the Oscars are black this year! Chris Rock went to the Magic Johnson theatre to interview people about their fav movies. He interviewed mostly black folks, and Albert Brooks…and they all loved White Chicks. I don’t know if the skit was as funny or just sad. Ah well. By the way, Scarlett Johanssan is a pretty girl, but man, as an actor she is way overrated. Loved her in Ghost World though (where are you Thora Birch?)!
Actress in a Supporting Role: I know Cate Blanchett will win for The Aviator. She’s literally one of the best actors in the world right now. Her portrayal of Katherine Hepburn (another of my favs) was truly dynamic. They could have shown a better clip for Hotel Rwanda’s Sophie Okenedo. This is racial (running joke: see 1990’s Boomerang). See, I was right – Cate Blanchett won!
Wow. Born Into Brothels won as best Documentary Feature Film. I wanted to go see that for the longest. Guess I’ve spent too much time writing reviews of bad movies to go see that good one. Who’s gonna take me to the movies to go see it this week? This is what I hate though…I can’t go see it now because it’s going to seem pretentious that I’m going to see it because it won. Now I’ll have to wait for HBO to air it. Life’s a b!#ch ain’t it?
Another musical number is on? Should I watch Romeo Must Die on TNT or Bad Boys on TBS? Oh, there’s a SummerLand marathon on the WB and Full House on Nickelodeon. Can’t get enough Lori Loughlin in a night! Ah, Miami is playing the Orlando Magic. That’ll work.
Best Adapted Screenplay. As a writer I especially love this category. I hope before Sunset wins, but I know it won’t. Yep, director/writer Alexander Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor won for Sideways. Hey, I respect Payne’s films so I’m happy for him. Election is still one of my favorites of his.
Another original thing they’re doing this year is for the lesser loved categories like Visual Effects is that they line up all the nominees on stage and the winner just walks over to the podium to accept (they also did for the Docu Feature category). Spider-Man 2 just won for that category. Man, I still shake when I watch that film. The special effects, especially the elevated train sequence, is possibly the best effects I’ve ever seen on the silver screen.
Sidney Lumet just won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Al Pacino presented it and dang, he has gotten A LOT of “work” done. He looks 50 years old. Lumet, for all of those unfamiliar with him, is the director of such seminal films like Twelve Angry Men, Fail-Safe, Dog Day Afternoon, and of course, Network. His films always make you feel truly close to the character. He also directed The Wiz. I guess none of us are perfect.
Oh My God, Big Momma’s House is on TeleMundo. It doesn’t get much better than this. If I’m watching this, you know another musical number is on.
Hey! I had no clue that ex-New York Knick player Hubert Davis made a film! He and his film partner made a Short Documentary film named HARDWOOD about the life decisions made by his father, Mel, and how they affected his life. Mel, a former Harlem Globetrotter, fell in love and had a child with a white woman, but ended up marrying and fathering another child with a black woman. In the film, both women speak about love and betrayal, and both sons address their absent father. Gotta peep this.
Do you realize it’s 10:40pm EST and they’ve only given out two hardcore awards. Now I remember why I don’t watch American awards shows. Sheesh!
Well, it’s 10:55 and another musical number. Beyonce is truly too fine. Check her out in that silver dress. Nice and thick and hippy, just like I love ‘em. She’s actually made me watch a whole minute of a musical number. “Believe” from The Polar Express is a nice song though. And thankfully it’s not Randy Newman singing yet another Disney song.
Finally, the Best Actress category is on tap. I hope Annette Benning doesn’t win for a film no one saw and the ones that saw didn’t care for (Being Julia). It would be such a throw-away win. Nice, Hilary Swank won for Million Dollar Baby. Ain’t it funny that her face looks more masculine than her husband Chad Lowe’s own, and vice-versa? She’s a great actress though, even when she was in ‘Beverly Hills 90210’. In my opinion, I saw a lot of potential from her since The Next Karate Kid. Congrats Hilary, you’re a great talent.
Charlie Kaufman won for Best Original Screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He’s a nut, but he is a great writer. He got nominated for Adaptation last time and that was one of my favorite films of that year.
11:21 and the Best Actor category is FINALLY up. I hope my man Don Cheadle wins, but Jamie Foxx is the front-runner. I don’t want Don to win simply because he’s black or anything, but his performance in Hotel Rwanda was one of the most dynamic I’ve seen on film my entire life. But, Jamie got it which isn’t much of surprise. He almost cried again, which is really annoying and feels kinda fake at this point, but I’m so happy for him. Who woulda thunk that ‘Wanda’ from In Living Color could have won the Oscar?
Clint just won the Best Director award and then won again for Best Film. Dang, Million Dollar Baby swept for 4 solid categories. I may just have to go check it out this week. Like I said before, I trust Clint anyway so I know it won’t be a waste of $10.25/10.50 or whatever.
This was a really good Oscar telecast, definetly one of my favorites. The best part was the end when Chris Rock shouted out BROOKLYN! at the end of the show. Damn Chris…that’s MAD LOVE!
Monday, February 28, 2005
DIARY OF AN TIRED BLACK FILM
I didn’t see it, and I don’t want to. All I have to say on the matter is, damn, I know we can do better than this. In a decade it will be 100 years since The Birth of A Nation, and since before that hateful movie Black folks have been fighting to get truer images of ourselves on the silver screen, as well as in all of society.
It’s bad enough that Diary of A Mad Black Woman, from which writer/director Tyler Perry adapted from his series of “urban” stage plays, has been made as a feature film. But, the director himself dresses up as the family matriarch who dispenses her home-spun wise-ass-ism’s, complete with fat suit and white wig. What does this say about how we as black folks view our elderly, especially our elderly women who are often the backbone of our families, black or white or whatever race. Are they manly? Are they aberrations?
The two remakes of The Nutty Professor had Eddie Murphy portray Grandma Klump as an overbearing, oversexed, octogenarian. Big Momma’s House had Martin Lawrence dress up as the family matriarch as well, to catch a crook who was preying on co-star Nia Long. Yes, I know they are all comedies, but damn it, I’ll stay serious because I’m sick of this.
And insult to injury, it debuted as the #1 film this week.
I better hurry up and get my films produced.
It’s bad enough that Diary of A Mad Black Woman, from which writer/director Tyler Perry adapted from his series of “urban” stage plays, has been made as a feature film. But, the director himself dresses up as the family matriarch who dispenses her home-spun wise-ass-ism’s, complete with fat suit and white wig. What does this say about how we as black folks view our elderly, especially our elderly women who are often the backbone of our families, black or white or whatever race. Are they manly? Are they aberrations?
The two remakes of The Nutty Professor had Eddie Murphy portray Grandma Klump as an overbearing, oversexed, octogenarian. Big Momma’s House had Martin Lawrence dress up as the family matriarch as well, to catch a crook who was preying on co-star Nia Long. Yes, I know they are all comedies, but damn it, I’ll stay serious because I’m sick of this.
And insult to injury, it debuted as the #1 film this week.
I better hurry up and get my films produced.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Old TV friends...
Did anyone else catch Half & Half last Monday, February 14?
Well, the show’s creator brought back two of my favorite characters, and actors, from one of my all time favorite shows: Maxine Shaw (Erika Alexander) and Kyle Barker (T.C. Carson) from Living Single (1993-1998). It was so joyous to see them reprise their roles because as much as they acted like they despised each other, their love was so apparent – a classically complicated relationship.
Why are they on Half & Half? Well, regular watchers will know that the character Big Dee Dee is resuming her acting career. Intro Kyle: who moved to the West Coast to assume his acting career and be closer with Maxine and their child, with whom he found out was impregnated with his “samples” on the series finale of Living Single. Max is now a highly respected attorney and lives out in San Francisco as the head of her national law offices. Kyle is Big Dee Dee’s co-star in a local play. Enter (‘Lil) Dee Dee (Essence Atkins) who wants to be mentored by Max, but always gets tongue-tied and intimidated by Max’s, well…presence.
I won’t tell you everything, but it was a pretty good episode. Anything that can get me to turn from 24 (they just put Half & Half back in its old timeslot, replacing Second Time Around which I hope is actually cancelled) has got to be important.
It should be noted the ultimate reason why Max & Kyle appeared on Half & Half: the Executive Producer is Yvette Lee Bowser, who is the Executive Producer/Creator of both shows [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0101465/]. To me, these two are her best shows.
Many don’t care too much for Half & Half, but it is one of the better Black shows on the air. It’s funny though how most Black shows don’t really have Black men as the leads. Is it that Black women are viewed as “more accessible” to the white community? Look to me to address this in a future post.
- Curt the Media Man
Still wondering what "jammin' on the one" means...
Well, the show’s creator brought back two of my favorite characters, and actors, from one of my all time favorite shows: Maxine Shaw (Erika Alexander) and Kyle Barker (T.C. Carson) from Living Single (1993-1998). It was so joyous to see them reprise their roles because as much as they acted like they despised each other, their love was so apparent – a classically complicated relationship.
Why are they on Half & Half? Well, regular watchers will know that the character Big Dee Dee is resuming her acting career. Intro Kyle: who moved to the West Coast to assume his acting career and be closer with Maxine and their child, with whom he found out was impregnated with his “samples” on the series finale of Living Single. Max is now a highly respected attorney and lives out in San Francisco as the head of her national law offices. Kyle is Big Dee Dee’s co-star in a local play. Enter (‘Lil) Dee Dee (Essence Atkins) who wants to be mentored by Max, but always gets tongue-tied and intimidated by Max’s, well…presence.
I won’t tell you everything, but it was a pretty good episode. Anything that can get me to turn from 24 (they just put Half & Half back in its old timeslot, replacing Second Time Around which I hope is actually cancelled) has got to be important.
It should be noted the ultimate reason why Max & Kyle appeared on Half & Half: the Executive Producer is Yvette Lee Bowser, who is the Executive Producer/Creator of both shows [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0101465/]. To me, these two are her best shows.
Many don’t care too much for Half & Half, but it is one of the better Black shows on the air. It’s funny though how most Black shows don’t really have Black men as the leads. Is it that Black women are viewed as “more accessible” to the white community? Look to me to address this in a future post.
- Curt the Media Man
Still wondering what "jammin' on the one" means...
BAFTA
Last weekend on BBC America I watched the Orange British Academy Film Awards, the film faction of the British Acadamy of Film & Television Arts. After watching it I have to really say that I enjoyed it much more than I do the U.S. version – the Academy Awards.
Now we all know first-hand the American penchant for showmanship and theatrics, and this is what disgusts me the most about the Academy Awards. All the idiotic musical numbers, the sucking-up to each other, Billy Crystal acutally thinking he's still current or funny, Whoopi in whiteface…it’s all grown very dull and uninteresting. But like a dolt, I sit through it year after year. It gets so dull that I look forward to the look-back at the industry people who died more than I do the rest of the show.
But the BAFTA folks put on a show that may have seemed boring at times, but really represented with awards shows should be about. GASP, it actually focused on granting awards to the winning nominees! Even better though, they have awards such as: The Alexander Korda Outstaning British Film of the Year named after the highly noted Hungarian born/British made producer and director of such blockbusters as The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) [http://www.cobbles.com/simpp_archive/alexander-korda_biography.htm]; the Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Producer or Writer in their First Feature Film, which is named after the American writer who was blacklisted in the 1950’s and fled to England and continued to establish himself as a highly notable writer of such hits as High Noon (1952) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAforeman.htm]. Both of these awards were granted to women too, something uncommon by the U.S. Academy, the latter award to a Black woman, Amma Asante, for her film A Way of Life (see pics below).
In addition, they had an award given to the Best Film of the Year – which was decided by public decision (yes, the common man has a voice), and the Michel Balcon Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema [http://www.britmovie.co.uk/biog/b/001.html], an award granted to someone who is among the least recognized, but highly important aspect of filmmaking. This year it was granted to long time script supervisor Angela Allen, who worked on countless films including maverick John Houston’s films. Check out her stats at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0020265/ For me, recognizing the unsung heroes and heroines of good filmmaking is so crucial. The credits don't stop after the director's name for a reason - everyone on that crew is critically important.
After reading this, you’d think awards weren’t given to actors and directors too, but of course they were. For a complete rundown of the rest, check out the official site: http://www.bafta.org/film/announce.htm
Now we all know first-hand the American penchant for showmanship and theatrics, and this is what disgusts me the most about the Academy Awards. All the idiotic musical numbers, the sucking-up to each other, Billy Crystal acutally thinking he's still current or funny, Whoopi in whiteface…it’s all grown very dull and uninteresting. But like a dolt, I sit through it year after year. It gets so dull that I look forward to the look-back at the industry people who died more than I do the rest of the show.
But the BAFTA folks put on a show that may have seemed boring at times, but really represented with awards shows should be about. GASP, it actually focused on granting awards to the winning nominees! Even better though, they have awards such as: The Alexander Korda Outstaning British Film of the Year named after the highly noted Hungarian born/British made producer and director of such blockbusters as The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) [http://www.cobbles.com/simpp_archive/alexander-korda_biography.htm]; the Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Producer or Writer in their First Feature Film, which is named after the American writer who was blacklisted in the 1950’s and fled to England and continued to establish himself as a highly notable writer of such hits as High Noon (1952) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAforeman.htm]. Both of these awards were granted to women too, something uncommon by the U.S. Academy, the latter award to a Black woman, Amma Asante, for her film A Way of Life (see pics below).
In addition, they had an award given to the Best Film of the Year – which was decided by public decision (yes, the common man has a voice), and the Michel Balcon Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema [http://www.britmovie.co.uk/biog/b/001.html], an award granted to someone who is among the least recognized, but highly important aspect of filmmaking. This year it was granted to long time script supervisor Angela Allen, who worked on countless films including maverick John Houston’s films. Check out her stats at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0020265/ For me, recognizing the unsung heroes and heroines of good filmmaking is so crucial. The credits don't stop after the director's name for a reason - everyone on that crew is critically important.
After reading this, you’d think awards weren’t given to actors and directors too, but of course they were. For a complete rundown of the rest, check out the official site: http://www.bafta.org/film/announce.htm
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Ossie Davis: An American Legend
Ossie Davis was an American legend, even though most Americans would never regard him as such.
Over the past week, since his death, I’ve really taken the time to think about who Mr. Davis was and what his legacy means to Black men and women involved in the creative arts. We all know him as an actor of course, most of us younger folks having been introduced to him in Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” (1989). And of course, we also know him to be paired with his lovely wife, the joy of his life, actress Ruby Dee; the two of them were inseparable. But most of don’t recognize him from his true nature: the artist/activist.
Recognizing Ossie as the artist-activist brings me back to a conversation that I had with my older brother some years ago. He was telling me how he doesn’t respect most artists, be they actor, singer, writer, poet, whichever, because not enough of them use their art to uplift the community – that they are too selfish. I understood his point, and agreed with him to a degree, but I was younger at that time so I didn’t fully understand how important that was until I got a ‘lil older and wiser.
It goes with what a lot of elders instilled in me: how important sacrifices are. And to sacrifice for something you truly believe in, to put your success on the line to: stand with an ostracized Muslim leader, to promote positive and thought-provoking images of your people in the public eye, to support unions even when people think that you are a closet Communist, or to simply be publicly loving to your wife; all these are signs of a great person. A person who understands what life should be about and who isn’t afraid to make what he believes happen. It’s a sign of a true man.
So thank you Ossie for being that inspiration to me. Thank you for being such a great actor, orator and storyteller. Thank you for showing the proper example on how making correct choices in your life and about how important it is to align yourself with the right people, be they Black, White, Asian or whomever. Thank you Ruby for being the same and for loving your man.
So here’s to Ossie Davis: An American Legend!
Over the past week, since his death, I’ve really taken the time to think about who Mr. Davis was and what his legacy means to Black men and women involved in the creative arts. We all know him as an actor of course, most of us younger folks having been introduced to him in Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” (1989). And of course, we also know him to be paired with his lovely wife, the joy of his life, actress Ruby Dee; the two of them were inseparable. But most of don’t recognize him from his true nature: the artist/activist.
Recognizing Ossie as the artist-activist brings me back to a conversation that I had with my older brother some years ago. He was telling me how he doesn’t respect most artists, be they actor, singer, writer, poet, whichever, because not enough of them use their art to uplift the community – that they are too selfish. I understood his point, and agreed with him to a degree, but I was younger at that time so I didn’t fully understand how important that was until I got a ‘lil older and wiser.
It goes with what a lot of elders instilled in me: how important sacrifices are. And to sacrifice for something you truly believe in, to put your success on the line to: stand with an ostracized Muslim leader, to promote positive and thought-provoking images of your people in the public eye, to support unions even when people think that you are a closet Communist, or to simply be publicly loving to your wife; all these are signs of a great person. A person who understands what life should be about and who isn’t afraid to make what he believes happen. It’s a sign of a true man.
So thank you Ossie for being that inspiration to me. Thank you for being such a great actor, orator and storyteller. Thank you for showing the proper example on how making correct choices in your life and about how important it is to align yourself with the right people, be they Black, White, Asian or whomever. Thank you Ruby for being the same and for loving your man.
So here’s to Ossie Davis: An American Legend!
Saturday, February 12, 2005
The Media Man's Top Movies of 2004 + other media watches
Hey all!
Welcome to Curtis Caesar John's first blog entry.
A very good friend describes me as a movie snob. Personally, I can live with that. I detest bad movies. Not to refute, but good and bad are relative, right? I thought “How High” was a bad movie, but you just need to watch it in the right context (no, not while high…although that may be an option). I watched that at 5am in the morning after staying up all night working on my apartment…and I enjoyed it immensely.
All that being said, films are such a joy because they have the ability to take us where we need to be at the moment. Joy, pain, love, sadness, and forgiveness…a good film can run the gamut of emotions. My film picks for this year have something that films of previous years have lacked: vision. They take us to places, within us and without, that are difficult to deal with and often are not.
1) HOTEL RWANDA
I had to breathe deep before writing my recollections of this film because it really pained me to watch what was just a dramatization of such an atrocious event. For those who are unaware (it did just come out last week and may only be playing in NY and LA still) this film stars Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu hotel manager who, through cunning and love, ends up housing Tutsi refugees for days during the horrible civil war in Rwanda wherein at the end of it all 800,000+ Rwandans are killed or dead from disease. Hotel Rwanda is excellent because it shows the power of the human spirit and how much of a difference a person who decides to do the right thing can make. Also, it shows a mature black man who has such deep love for his wife and family, something that we never can see enough of on the silver screen.
Don Cheadle really made me feel like he was living this nightmare. In my opinion, along with Johnny Depp and Robert DeNiro, he is among our greatest multi-faceted actors. If he is not at least nominated for an Academy Award, well then…actually, I wouldn’t be the least surprised if he wasn’t. The Academy has horrible judgment when it comes to black folks. Writer/Director Terry George (The Boxer) once again successfully pulls at our hearts. He also uses black talent well again, as seen previously in the CBS tv show “The District”.
Breakthrough performance: Sophie Okonedo (Dirty Pretty Things) as Paul’s wife Tatiana.
For more info on the war check: The CIA Factbook and Rwanda Information Exchange, and the PBS site about the Hutu/Tutsi conflict. Also, this site has information about the international criminal trials. (info provided by another film reviewer – thanks again!).
2) SHE HATE ME
According to Spike Lee, 'The story of 'She Hate Me' is very simple. It's about sex, greed, money and politics.” According to me, it’s deeper than that, and it works. John Henry “Jack” Armstrong (Anthony Mackie) is a bio-technology executive who after his doctor friend kills himself rats out his bosses, launching an investigation into their shady business dealings by the S.E.C. After being branded a whistle-blower and having his assets frozen, Jack is presented with a money making opportunity when Fatima (Kerry Washington, aka the future Mrs. Curtis Caesar John), his ex-girlfriend who is now a lesbian, asks him to impregnate her so she and her “life partner” can have a baby. Reluctantly, Jack agrees. After getting pregnant quickly, Fatima presents Jack with a money-making opportunity to impregnate other lesbians who want children. Jack becomes a baby-making machine at $10,000 a try. His former employers meanwhile try to frame him for security fraud and use his “activities” as proof of his bad character.
I’ve heard arguments “She Hate Me” tries to do too much and is way too angry. Well, it’s a Spike Lee joint – when have you known Spike not to be angry (well, okay maybe with Girl 6 he wasn’t too angry. I wouldn’t be angry either if I stared a Theresa Randle all day *wink*)? But Spike once again focuses on his aesthetic of the “new American family” and examines the facts and fallacies of black masculinity, sexuality and fatherhood. He also hits on corporate greed, apathy and corruption. Great script and story from actor turned screenwriter Michael Genet (he also co-stars as Jack’s brother Jamal).
Breakthrough performance: the mighty Jim Brown as Jack’s father. His best line as only Jim Brown can say: “Man, that’s cold-blooded!” Anthony Mackie also has had a good year. Peep him in “The Manchurian Candidate” (now on DVD) and “Brother to Brother”.
3) BADASSSSS!
Hands down my favorite film of the year and the 2nd best time I had at the movies. Mario Van Peebles directs and stars as his father Melvin in this revealing homage about his father’s pioneering spirit of independent filmmaking. For those unaware, Melvin Van Peebles directed and starred in “Sweet Sweetback’s Badassss Song,” (1971) a story about “a brother finally taking it to ‘the man’.” This film re-created the spark of Black independent filmmaking in the early 1970’s which led to the so-called “blaxploitation” films, many of which we’d love to forget. (Sidenote: Many of these “blaxploitation” films were deemed so because they were created by white filmmakers, with silly content, when they discovered how huge (think $) the black film audience was after the release of Sweet Sweetback’s… and yes, The Godfather).
“Badasssss!” shows the physical and mental sacrifices that Melvin made to get this groundbreaking film made. It’s a truly funny roller coaster ride of funky investors, difficult casting, and heart-wrenching dedication. Because it’s a very timely film, I only previously only appreciated “Sweet Sweetback…” for it’s place in history, and not for its filmmaking. “Badasssss!” has brought me 180 degrees on my perspective.
Look for great performances from David Allen Grier, Adam West, Rainn Wilson (Six Feet Under) and a lovely performance from Karimah Westbrook. It’s on DVD now, but it has a lot of raunchiness in it so be careful before you watch it in front of the youngsters.
Breakthrough performance(s): Terry Crews (White Chicks) as Big T and Joy Bryant (Antwone Fisher, current GAP model, former Tommy Hilfiger model) as Priscilla. Note: She’s the other future Mrs. Curtis Caesar John.
4) FAHRENHEIT 9/11
I can go on and on about how important this film is and how much I usually enjoy Michael Moore’s films and tv shows (anybody remember “TV Nation”?), but why bother because we’ve heard it all.
Maybe not all the facts presented are true. Maybe. But for someone who has been following the Iraqi conflict with sources other than the evening news and CNN (useless Breaking News graphics and idiot ticker anyone?) from the get-go, I can attest that the film is seeped in truth. This is one of the most important documentaries of our time and my favorite since Spike Lee’s “4 Little Girls”.
Breakthrough scenes: Dubya’s lack of action at the pre-school class after the planes hit the WTC buildings and Moore’s would-be interviews with Congress-people about their children volunteering, or the lack thereof, for the armed forces.
5) WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED
While at the 8th annual American Black Film Festival, I entered the theatre showing Woman Thou art Loosed skeptically. Unless you’ve been in Middle Earth (which a lot of you have been for 3+ years now) you had to have heard of Bishop T.D Jakes’ best-selling self-help book of the same title, which highlights tales of troubled women seeking redemption. Well, this movie is based on one of the stories from this book. Now if you’re like me, and you have beef with the “My Grandmother Prayed For My Diary of a No Good Man” religious themed plays that are performed in Black venues across the USA, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the level of quality in this movie.
Kimberly Elise plays the troubled Michelle Jordan, a young woman we find on death row at the beginning of the movie. And let’s face it, what black actress besides Angela Bassett plays angry & troubled women better than the lovely Ms. Elise? Michelle finds herself being counseled by Bishop Jakes who gets her to reveal what landed her back in jail. From this point on, we go through numerous flashbacks and forwards through her history, which is heavy in parental neglect from her mother Cassie (Loretta Devine).
If you want to walk away from a film and have heavy thoughts about what the decisions you make in your life mean to you, or how you react to what other people try to do to you, then watch this. Classic film director Michael Schultz has redeemed himself lovely after many years of feature film absence. Woman Thou is a step in the right direction for African-American movies with real messages and high drama.
Breakthrough performances: the always-irascible Clifton Powell as Reggie, Loretta Devine’s abusive boyfriend. Debbie Morgan is also as solid as usual. She’s so underrated though.
6) SPIDER-MAN 2
Whoa! The best superhero movie ever made! I went to go see this at the first day’s midnight showing. Now I freely admit that I am a biased comic-book super hero junkie. But, S2 stands on its own as a yet another film this year about the heavy choices we make as individuals, especially when it comes to pleasing those that we love. Bet you skeptics didn’t know S2 was a love story, huh?
Tobey McGuire is one of the screen’s best young actors. As Peter Parker, he takes us on a journey of accepting your destiny and learning how to forgive yourself for the horrible choices that you’ve made. Although the love story between Peter and Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) permeates the film, the battle between the web-slinger and Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina), a failed nuclear scientist also out to put right the bad decisions he’s made, makes this film succeed. S2 has the best CGI that I’ve ever seen! I had to turn off the DVD because I was getting way to excited watching the battles. I have three words for those who haven’t seen this yet: the elevated train fight!
Breakthrough performances: J.K. Simmons (Oz) as Daily Bugle editor-in-chief J. Jonah Jameson. Man, what a character! Also director Sam Raimi - Could any other filmmaker accomplish what he did for this series? I doubt so.
7) KILL BILL, Vol. 2
I’m glad that Miramax decided to release “Kill Bill” as a two-parter. After watching the 1st one fall of 2003, I was amazed at the level at which director Quentin Tarantino stepped up his game. Now that, and this one, is the work of a true auteur.
Whereas Vol. 1 had an Eastern feel to it with the ridiculous amount of marital arts majesty, Vol. 2 was pure Peckinpah – an essential western. Yes, it was MUCH slower than the first installment, but I loved the exposition. I especially enjoyed the glimpse of Budd’s new life, played low-key by Michael Madsen, and, of course David Carradine as Bill. Uma Thurman as “the Bride” was funny enough the hokiest person in the flick, but she really brought some compassion to her character toward the end, and some true athleticism to the role throughout. I’m a firm believer that if a film makes you laugh and cry (okay, tear) in 2 hours, then its good. Kill Bill Vol.2 accomplished that in less time.
One thing though, I'm mad that Michael Jai White's part was cut out.
Breakthrough performance: Gordon Lui as the white-haired kung-fu master, and teacher, Pai Mei.
8) RAY
I trust Jamie Foxx to make me laugh, but not to make me feel. In RAY, he did both. Foxx stars as beloved soul/gospel/county/pop singer Ray Charles, who died earlier this year. This movie was gripping not only because of Foxx’s performance, but because it revealed a lot of positive (how financially brilliant and revolutionary he was) and negative (drugs, philandering) aspects of Ray Charles. In essence, Jamie Foxx and director Taylor Hackford humanized Ray in way I didn’t think possible. It sounds cliché, but I often forgot I wasn’t watching the real Ray. This was the only performance all year to rival Don Cheadle’s (I seem to say that about Don Cheadle almost every year).
I had some issues with story pacing and editing, but the standout performances made this movie a future film classic. If there is one scene of pure sexual drama to see in a movie this year, watch the always-outstanding Regina King (as ‘Raylette’ and mistress Margie) singing, “Hit the Road Jack” with Jamie. Wow. RAY is one of those movies you just have to see to get the full scope of. Check out Foxx on COLLATERAL too.
The last thing I loved about it: full of black talent we don’t see enough of on the screen. They could have gotten unknowns to play some of these characters, but thank God they didn’t. Here’s a list of these actors and actresses: Kerry Washington (as Bea, Ray’s 1st wife), Clifton Powell, Harry J. Lennix, Larenz Tate, Bokeem Woodbine, Wendell Pierce, Robert Wisdom, Terrence Howard, and Thomas Jefferson Byrd. Beautiful.
Breakthrough performance: Aunjanue Ellis (Undercover Brother, Caveman’s Valentine) as Mary Ann, Ray’s 1st back-up singer and another one of his mistresses.
9) MEAN GIRLS
I’m a closet fan of John Hughes and Amy Heckerling teen movies, so I grabbed a nice date so I wouldn’t look totally geeky and went to see Mean Girls. An actress with great comic timing, Lindsey Lohan (Parent Trap (remake) & Freaky Friday (um, another remake)) plays Cady, a formerly home-schooled 15-year old who enters the perils of…high school! There, she encounters heavy cliques and of course ends up with the outsiders. But things take a turn when the popular girls aka The Plastics, take a liking to her and allow Cady to join their entourage. Unsure of joining the “mean girls”, the outsiders convince Cady to infiltrate and decimate the Plastics, but things take a turn when Cady falls for the Regina’s (head-Plastic) former beau and goes all out to get him after Regina attempts to ruin her plans. Things get crazier from this point.
Mean Girls was a laugh a minute. I recommend this if you want to escape from the seriousness of it all, although it may make you reflect of some high-school foolishness you’d rather forget.
Breakthrough performance: Rachel McAdams (The Hot Chick) as Regina, the head of the plastics. She’s a really good actress and I’m looking forward to seeing more from her.
=============================================
Other noteworthy films of 2004: Finding Neverland, the Machinist, Primer,
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Before Sunset
=============================================
Best New TV show for the year: LOST and VERONICA MARS both with good
African-American talent in them too!)
Worst New TV show of the year: anything with Paris Hilton
Best Reality Show: The Amazing Race (black folks finally won!)Worst New Reality Show: The Real Gilligan’s Island – Literally, one of the worst things I’ve ever seen on TV. Literally.
Most overrated album: Usher – Confessions
Most “slept-on” album: GhostFace Killer – The Pretty Toney Album
Best DVD release: Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King Special Extended Editionhere is an excellent review of it from DVDfile. I agree with everything he wrote, why bother doing my own :)http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/dvd/reviews/df/20041210/110268720000.html
Welcome to Curtis Caesar John's first blog entry.
A very good friend describes me as a movie snob. Personally, I can live with that. I detest bad movies. Not to refute, but good and bad are relative, right? I thought “How High” was a bad movie, but you just need to watch it in the right context (no, not while high…although that may be an option). I watched that at 5am in the morning after staying up all night working on my apartment…and I enjoyed it immensely.
All that being said, films are such a joy because they have the ability to take us where we need to be at the moment. Joy, pain, love, sadness, and forgiveness…a good film can run the gamut of emotions. My film picks for this year have something that films of previous years have lacked: vision. They take us to places, within us and without, that are difficult to deal with and often are not.
1) HOTEL RWANDA
I had to breathe deep before writing my recollections of this film because it really pained me to watch what was just a dramatization of such an atrocious event. For those who are unaware (it did just come out last week and may only be playing in NY and LA still) this film stars Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu hotel manager who, through cunning and love, ends up housing Tutsi refugees for days during the horrible civil war in Rwanda wherein at the end of it all 800,000+ Rwandans are killed or dead from disease. Hotel Rwanda is excellent because it shows the power of the human spirit and how much of a difference a person who decides to do the right thing can make. Also, it shows a mature black man who has such deep love for his wife and family, something that we never can see enough of on the silver screen.
Don Cheadle really made me feel like he was living this nightmare. In my opinion, along with Johnny Depp and Robert DeNiro, he is among our greatest multi-faceted actors. If he is not at least nominated for an Academy Award, well then…actually, I wouldn’t be the least surprised if he wasn’t. The Academy has horrible judgment when it comes to black folks. Writer/Director Terry George (The Boxer) once again successfully pulls at our hearts. He also uses black talent well again, as seen previously in the CBS tv show “The District”.
Breakthrough performance: Sophie Okonedo (Dirty Pretty Things) as Paul’s wife Tatiana.
For more info on the war check: The CIA Factbook and Rwanda Information Exchange, and the PBS site about the Hutu/Tutsi conflict. Also, this site has information about the international criminal trials. (info provided by another film reviewer – thanks again!).
2) SHE HATE ME
According to Spike Lee, 'The story of 'She Hate Me' is very simple. It's about sex, greed, money and politics.” According to me, it’s deeper than that, and it works. John Henry “Jack” Armstrong (Anthony Mackie) is a bio-technology executive who after his doctor friend kills himself rats out his bosses, launching an investigation into their shady business dealings by the S.E.C. After being branded a whistle-blower and having his assets frozen, Jack is presented with a money making opportunity when Fatima (Kerry Washington, aka the future Mrs. Curtis Caesar John), his ex-girlfriend who is now a lesbian, asks him to impregnate her so she and her “life partner” can have a baby. Reluctantly, Jack agrees. After getting pregnant quickly, Fatima presents Jack with a money-making opportunity to impregnate other lesbians who want children. Jack becomes a baby-making machine at $10,000 a try. His former employers meanwhile try to frame him for security fraud and use his “activities” as proof of his bad character.
I’ve heard arguments “She Hate Me” tries to do too much and is way too angry. Well, it’s a Spike Lee joint – when have you known Spike not to be angry (well, okay maybe with Girl 6 he wasn’t too angry. I wouldn’t be angry either if I stared a Theresa Randle all day *wink*)? But Spike once again focuses on his aesthetic of the “new American family” and examines the facts and fallacies of black masculinity, sexuality and fatherhood. He also hits on corporate greed, apathy and corruption. Great script and story from actor turned screenwriter Michael Genet (he also co-stars as Jack’s brother Jamal).
Breakthrough performance: the mighty Jim Brown as Jack’s father. His best line as only Jim Brown can say: “Man, that’s cold-blooded!” Anthony Mackie also has had a good year. Peep him in “The Manchurian Candidate” (now on DVD) and “Brother to Brother”.
3) BADASSSSS!
Hands down my favorite film of the year and the 2nd best time I had at the movies. Mario Van Peebles directs and stars as his father Melvin in this revealing homage about his father’s pioneering spirit of independent filmmaking. For those unaware, Melvin Van Peebles directed and starred in “Sweet Sweetback’s Badassss Song,” (1971) a story about “a brother finally taking it to ‘the man’.” This film re-created the spark of Black independent filmmaking in the early 1970’s which led to the so-called “blaxploitation” films, many of which we’d love to forget. (Sidenote: Many of these “blaxploitation” films were deemed so because they were created by white filmmakers, with silly content, when they discovered how huge (think $) the black film audience was after the release of Sweet Sweetback’s… and yes, The Godfather).
“Badasssss!” shows the physical and mental sacrifices that Melvin made to get this groundbreaking film made. It’s a truly funny roller coaster ride of funky investors, difficult casting, and heart-wrenching dedication. Because it’s a very timely film, I only previously only appreciated “Sweet Sweetback…” for it’s place in history, and not for its filmmaking. “Badasssss!” has brought me 180 degrees on my perspective.
Look for great performances from David Allen Grier, Adam West, Rainn Wilson (Six Feet Under) and a lovely performance from Karimah Westbrook. It’s on DVD now, but it has a lot of raunchiness in it so be careful before you watch it in front of the youngsters.
Breakthrough performance(s): Terry Crews (White Chicks) as Big T and Joy Bryant (Antwone Fisher, current GAP model, former Tommy Hilfiger model) as Priscilla. Note: She’s the other future Mrs. Curtis Caesar John.
4) FAHRENHEIT 9/11
I can go on and on about how important this film is and how much I usually enjoy Michael Moore’s films and tv shows (anybody remember “TV Nation”?), but why bother because we’ve heard it all.
Maybe not all the facts presented are true. Maybe. But for someone who has been following the Iraqi conflict with sources other than the evening news and CNN (useless Breaking News graphics and idiot ticker anyone?) from the get-go, I can attest that the film is seeped in truth. This is one of the most important documentaries of our time and my favorite since Spike Lee’s “4 Little Girls”.
Breakthrough scenes: Dubya’s lack of action at the pre-school class after the planes hit the WTC buildings and Moore’s would-be interviews with Congress-people about their children volunteering, or the lack thereof, for the armed forces.
5) WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED
While at the 8th annual American Black Film Festival, I entered the theatre showing Woman Thou art Loosed skeptically. Unless you’ve been in Middle Earth (which a lot of you have been for 3+ years now) you had to have heard of Bishop T.D Jakes’ best-selling self-help book of the same title, which highlights tales of troubled women seeking redemption. Well, this movie is based on one of the stories from this book. Now if you’re like me, and you have beef with the “My Grandmother Prayed For My Diary of a No Good Man” religious themed plays that are performed in Black venues across the USA, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the level of quality in this movie.
Kimberly Elise plays the troubled Michelle Jordan, a young woman we find on death row at the beginning of the movie. And let’s face it, what black actress besides Angela Bassett plays angry & troubled women better than the lovely Ms. Elise? Michelle finds herself being counseled by Bishop Jakes who gets her to reveal what landed her back in jail. From this point on, we go through numerous flashbacks and forwards through her history, which is heavy in parental neglect from her mother Cassie (Loretta Devine).
If you want to walk away from a film and have heavy thoughts about what the decisions you make in your life mean to you, or how you react to what other people try to do to you, then watch this. Classic film director Michael Schultz has redeemed himself lovely after many years of feature film absence. Woman Thou is a step in the right direction for African-American movies with real messages and high drama.
Breakthrough performances: the always-irascible Clifton Powell as Reggie, Loretta Devine’s abusive boyfriend. Debbie Morgan is also as solid as usual. She’s so underrated though.
6) SPIDER-MAN 2
Whoa! The best superhero movie ever made! I went to go see this at the first day’s midnight showing. Now I freely admit that I am a biased comic-book super hero junkie. But, S2 stands on its own as a yet another film this year about the heavy choices we make as individuals, especially when it comes to pleasing those that we love. Bet you skeptics didn’t know S2 was a love story, huh?
Tobey McGuire is one of the screen’s best young actors. As Peter Parker, he takes us on a journey of accepting your destiny and learning how to forgive yourself for the horrible choices that you’ve made. Although the love story between Peter and Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) permeates the film, the battle between the web-slinger and Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina), a failed nuclear scientist also out to put right the bad decisions he’s made, makes this film succeed. S2 has the best CGI that I’ve ever seen! I had to turn off the DVD because I was getting way to excited watching the battles. I have three words for those who haven’t seen this yet: the elevated train fight!
Breakthrough performances: J.K. Simmons (Oz) as Daily Bugle editor-in-chief J. Jonah Jameson. Man, what a character! Also director Sam Raimi - Could any other filmmaker accomplish what he did for this series? I doubt so.
7) KILL BILL, Vol. 2
I’m glad that Miramax decided to release “Kill Bill” as a two-parter. After watching the 1st one fall of 2003, I was amazed at the level at which director Quentin Tarantino stepped up his game. Now that, and this one, is the work of a true auteur.
Whereas Vol. 1 had an Eastern feel to it with the ridiculous amount of marital arts majesty, Vol. 2 was pure Peckinpah – an essential western. Yes, it was MUCH slower than the first installment, but I loved the exposition. I especially enjoyed the glimpse of Budd’s new life, played low-key by Michael Madsen, and, of course David Carradine as Bill. Uma Thurman as “the Bride” was funny enough the hokiest person in the flick, but she really brought some compassion to her character toward the end, and some true athleticism to the role throughout. I’m a firm believer that if a film makes you laugh and cry (okay, tear) in 2 hours, then its good. Kill Bill Vol.2 accomplished that in less time.
One thing though, I'm mad that Michael Jai White's part was cut out.
Breakthrough performance: Gordon Lui as the white-haired kung-fu master, and teacher, Pai Mei.
8) RAY
I trust Jamie Foxx to make me laugh, but not to make me feel. In RAY, he did both. Foxx stars as beloved soul/gospel/county/pop singer Ray Charles, who died earlier this year. This movie was gripping not only because of Foxx’s performance, but because it revealed a lot of positive (how financially brilliant and revolutionary he was) and negative (drugs, philandering) aspects of Ray Charles. In essence, Jamie Foxx and director Taylor Hackford humanized Ray in way I didn’t think possible. It sounds cliché, but I often forgot I wasn’t watching the real Ray. This was the only performance all year to rival Don Cheadle’s (I seem to say that about Don Cheadle almost every year).
I had some issues with story pacing and editing, but the standout performances made this movie a future film classic. If there is one scene of pure sexual drama to see in a movie this year, watch the always-outstanding Regina King (as ‘Raylette’ and mistress Margie) singing, “Hit the Road Jack” with Jamie. Wow. RAY is one of those movies you just have to see to get the full scope of. Check out Foxx on COLLATERAL too.
The last thing I loved about it: full of black talent we don’t see enough of on the screen. They could have gotten unknowns to play some of these characters, but thank God they didn’t. Here’s a list of these actors and actresses: Kerry Washington (as Bea, Ray’s 1st wife), Clifton Powell, Harry J. Lennix, Larenz Tate, Bokeem Woodbine, Wendell Pierce, Robert Wisdom, Terrence Howard, and Thomas Jefferson Byrd. Beautiful.
Breakthrough performance: Aunjanue Ellis (Undercover Brother, Caveman’s Valentine) as Mary Ann, Ray’s 1st back-up singer and another one of his mistresses.
9) MEAN GIRLS
I’m a closet fan of John Hughes and Amy Heckerling teen movies, so I grabbed a nice date so I wouldn’t look totally geeky and went to see Mean Girls. An actress with great comic timing, Lindsey Lohan (Parent Trap (remake) & Freaky Friday (um, another remake)) plays Cady, a formerly home-schooled 15-year old who enters the perils of…high school! There, she encounters heavy cliques and of course ends up with the outsiders. But things take a turn when the popular girls aka The Plastics, take a liking to her and allow Cady to join their entourage. Unsure of joining the “mean girls”, the outsiders convince Cady to infiltrate and decimate the Plastics, but things take a turn when Cady falls for the Regina’s (head-Plastic) former beau and goes all out to get him after Regina attempts to ruin her plans. Things get crazier from this point.
Mean Girls was a laugh a minute. I recommend this if you want to escape from the seriousness of it all, although it may make you reflect of some high-school foolishness you’d rather forget.
Breakthrough performance: Rachel McAdams (The Hot Chick) as Regina, the head of the plastics. She’s a really good actress and I’m looking forward to seeing more from her.
=============================================
Other noteworthy films of 2004: Finding Neverland, the Machinist, Primer,
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Before Sunset
=============================================
Best New TV show for the year: LOST and VERONICA MARS both with good
African-American talent in them too!)
Worst New TV show of the year: anything with Paris Hilton
Best Reality Show: The Amazing Race (black folks finally won!)Worst New Reality Show: The Real Gilligan’s Island – Literally, one of the worst things I’ve ever seen on TV. Literally.
Most overrated album: Usher – Confessions
Most “slept-on” album: GhostFace Killer – The Pretty Toney Album
Best DVD release: Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King Special Extended Editionhere is an excellent review of it from DVDfile. I agree with everything he wrote, why bother doing my own :)http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/dvd/reviews/df/20041210/110268720000.html
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