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.

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Other noteworthy films of 2004: Finding Neverland, the Machinist, Primer,
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Before Sunset

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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