Gary Carr (right) mesmerizes as Buddy Bolden. Buddy Bolden (1877-1931) was born in New Orleans, where he took up the cornet at an early age. His unique approach to the instrument involved a novel form of improvisation while playing a combination of gospel, blues, and ragtime. Well before the emergence of Louis Armstrong, Bolden was a popular bandleader credited … [Read more...]
Elba makes directorial debut with gritty coming-of-age drama
Dennis “D” Campbell (Aml Ameen) had the misfortune of growing up in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica in the ’70s at a time when the 'hood was infested with drugs. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by an older brother he admired, Jerry (Everaldo Creary). Besides serving as a surrogate father, Jerry was a peacemaker who risked his life pressuring the gangs ruining the … [Read more...]
Barry Jenkins directs beloved James Baldwin classic ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’
Stephan James and Kiki Layne in 'If Beale Street Could Talk In 1974, James Baldwin published If Beale Street Could Talk, a love story set in Harlem, about a beleaguered Black couple's pursuit of the elusive American Dream. Many critics consider the heartrending novel Baldwin's best work, perhaps because of the way in which it humanizes an array of African American characters … [Read more...]
‘Green Book,’ a moving dramedy that touches on a timely topic
Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) was a promising prodigy whose formal training in classical piano began when he was admitted to Russia's prestigious Leningrad Conservatory at the age of nine. Because he had the misfortune of being raised in Florida in the Jim Crow Era, it was very unlikely that his extraordinary talent would be appreciated anywhere in the South upon his return to … [Read more...]
‘Support the Girls’: A comedy with heart and grit
Double Whammies is an unremarkable watering hole located along a desolate strip of highway outside Austin, Texas where truckers and regulars can slip in and out quietly without drawing much attention to themselves. The seedy sports bar, à la your typical Hooters, is known for its booze and finger food served by scantily-clad waitresses in cut-off jeans and low-cut … [Read more...]