(top, l-r) “Dolemite Is My Name,” "Harriet," and "Atlantics;"(bottom, l-r) “Clemency," "Waves," and “Just Mercy” are coming to a theater near you. Nearly 500,000 film lovers flocked to the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), screening hundreds of films from all over the world. Artistry and diversity, the hallmarks of TIFF, were on full display. Black … [Read more...]
‘The Intruder’: creepy, but predictable
Meagan Good and Michael Ealy star in Screen Gems' The Intruder. This formulaic suspense/thriller with its toxic mix of obsession, anger, and fear covers no new ground. What could happen that you haven’t seen before? Not much. Scott Russell (Michael Ealy, Sleeper Cell and Barbershop) is an ultra-successful marketing executive. How rich is he? He can afford to buy his wife … [Read more...]
Best films of 2018
In 2018, the stories told, talent on view, compelling characters, emotions expressed, and genres stretched were just amazing. It was more than enough to make viewers track films from the theaters to streaming services. Or vice versa. Check out the year in movies. Enjoy. Best Films Ben Is Back – The plague of drug addiction hits the tony suburbs and writer/director … [Read more...]
‘Amazing Grace’: a compelling look behind an Aretha Franklin classic
Back in the day, if you couldn’t get to church on Sunday to hear the pastor’s sermon, you’d put on Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace album — the best-selling gospel record of all time — and she would give you your spiritual fix. After a long delay and its share of controversy, this uplifting documentary preserving the live recording of that album is finding distribution. It’s … [Read more...]
‘The Hate U Give’ lacks grit but has its moments
The phrase “The Hate U Give Little Infants F—s Everybody” gave the hip hop group T-H-U-G-L-I-F-E its name. The sentiment from the late Tupac Shakur (and other group members, Big Syke, Stretch, Mopreme Shakur, The Rated R and Macadoshis) meant that the kids you ignore or deride turn into young people who will be a stone in your shoe. Writer Angie Thomas used that mantra as a … [Read more...]