Overdue biopic belatedly pays tribute to jazz pioneer
‘Bolden’ is a brilliant biopic painting a poignant portrait of what Buddy’s life might have been like.
Overdue biopic belatedly pays tribute to jazz pioneer Read MoreAuthor: Kam Williams
Elba makes directorial debut with gritty coming-of-age drama
Though slightly marred by a tendency to telegraph its punches, the coming-of-age drama marks Elba’s noteworthy directorial debut.
Elba makes directorial debut with gritty coming-of-age drama Read More
Barry Jenkins directs beloved James Baldwin classic ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’
Kudos to Jenkins for crafting another compelling inner-city saga…
Barry Jenkins directs beloved James Baldwin classic ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ 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 …
‘Green Book,’ a moving dramedy that touches on a timely topic Read More
‘Support the Girls’: A comedy with heart and grit
Written and directed by Andrew Bujalski (Beeswax), the film features many of the hallmarks of the low-budget genre on which the mumblecore maven built his career. The film effectively paints a poignant portrait of a day in the life of a humble, dedicated, working-class heroine just trying to make a buck.
‘Support the Girls’: A comedy with heart and grit Read More
Black cop infiltrates Klan in thoughtful, fact-based dramedy
What makes the picture work is the way in which it mocks the small-minded Klan members’ racist attitudes and behaviors. It also juxtaposed that shameful chapter of American history with current events.
Black cop infiltrates Klan in thoughtful, fact-based dramedy Read More
‘Uncle Drew’ – geriatric legends relive glory days in hoops comedy
Rucker Park is home to the popular basketball tournament staged since 1950 on an outdoor court on 155th Street. Many promising prospects have honed their skills on the world-famous proving grounds en route to enviable NBA careers: Kevin Durant, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, to name a few.
‘Uncle Drew’ – geriatric legends relive glory days in hoops comedy Read More
‘Sorry to Bother You,’ a clever and provocative social satire
It’s impressed upon Cash during his training to “Stick to the Script,” if he wants to succeed. Plus, he gets a valuable tip from an African American colleague (Danny Glover) in the neighboring cubicle, namely, “Use your White voice.”
‘Sorry to Bother You,’ a clever and provocative social satire Read More
‘Rampage’: Mutant monsters decimate the Windy City in old-fashioned horror flick
Hey, sci-fi fans, did you find it hard to stomach the sight of a human mating with another species in The Shape of Water, too? If so, have I got …
‘Rampage’: Mutant monsters decimate the Windy City in old-fashioned horror flick Read More
‘Chappaquiddick’: Damning docudrama revisits Kennedy cover-up
On July 18, 1969, Sen. Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) hosted a reunion in a rented cottage on Chappaquiddick, a tiny island just 150 yards off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. …
‘Chappaquiddick’: Damning docudrama revisits Kennedy cover-up Read More
Chadwick Boseman rises to the occasion as African King/superhero
Chadwick Boseman has already made quite a career out of portraying a variety of prominent African Americans, from football star Floyd Little (The Express) to baseball great Jackie Robinson (42), …
Chadwick Boseman rises to the occasion as African King/superhero Read More
Hanks and Streep co-star in Spielberg freedom of the press thriller
The Post is a picture fated to be compared to a couple of classic newsroom thrillers: All the President’s Men (1976) and Spotlight (2015). Like the former, it’s set in …
Hanks and Streep co-star in Spielberg freedom of the press thriller Read More
‘Three Billboards’ wins four Globes, but Oprah steals show
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri emerged the early favorite in this year’s Oscar race after taking home a quartet of trophies in the Best Picture, Actress (Frances McDormand), Supporting Actor …
‘Three Billboards’ wins four Globes, but Oprah steals show Read More
Denzel delivers Oscar-quality performance as attorney with Asperger’s
Roman J. Israel (Denzel Washington) is a high-functioning savant on the autism spectrum who has been practicing law in L.A. for the past 36 years. The brilliant attorney has spent …
Denzel delivers Oscar-quality performance as attorney with Asperger’s Read More
‘Invisible Ink’ takes on institutional racism in corporate America
“It has always been a struggle for the relatively few African Americans in corporate America who do exist, and it is made all the more difficult because we tend to …
‘Invisible Ink’ takes on institutional racism in corporate America Read More
‘We Were Eight Years in Power’ — a call for vigilance against history repeating itself
“For so much of American history, the fact of Black people is a problem… The demonstrable truth has been evaded in favor of a more comforting story… [But America is] …
‘We Were Eight Years in Power’ — a call for vigilance against history repeating itself Read More
‘My Grandmother’s Hands,’ an enlightening how-to approach to heal racial trauma
“For the past three decades, we’ve earnestly tried to address White-body supremacy in America with reason, principle and ideas — using dialogue, forums, discussions, education and mental training. But the …
‘My Grandmother’s Hands,’ an enlightening how-to approach to heal racial trauma Read More
Courtroom drama recounts case argued by Thurgood Marshall proxy
Prior to becoming America’s first African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) enjoyed a legendary legal career as a civil rights lawyer. While serving as chief counsel for the NAACP, …
Courtroom drama recounts case argued by Thurgood Marshall proxy Read More
Three families linked by tragedy in moving modern parable
Faith-based films ordinarily have limited appeal beyond the church community because most tend to be heavy-handed morality plays just preaching to the choir. A Question of Faith represents a refreshing …
Three families linked by tragedy in moving modern parable Read More
New author gives ‘pretty powerful’ advice
“Pretty powerful is the understanding that, as women, we have the duality of both ‘pretty’ and ‘substance’ that can (and should) be maximized to achieve any success we set our …
New author gives ‘pretty powerful’ advice Read More