"The Color Purple" Reunion

I haven't watched Oprah consistently in over a year, since I moved to Cairo. I used to watch regularly and recorded them too. Sometime soon I plan to purchase a TV and then I'll be back on track (well, sort of ... at least I'll catch the tail end of the last season).

At any rate, I sometimes check the Oprah website to see what I've been missin

g. Actually, I get the emails daily about the shows. I was so happy to see the highlights of the show about "The Color Purple" Reunion.

I read the Alice Walker book years ago. I know that I read it for my African American Literature class in college, but I thought that I'd also read it on my own. Point is, I loved the book. Alice Walker wrote scenes so vividly and the characters were so true to life.

When I found out that there would be a movie version of "The Color Purple", I was skeptical. Even w/Steven Spielberg as the director and Quincy Jones producing. Even when I saw the casting, I was still unsure that they could bring a book that I absolutely adored, to life on the big screen.

photo borrowed from George Burns/Harpo Studios

I don't remember when or where I saw the film, but I know that I was excited about it. There was one scene in the film that I thought was just as it was described in the book. I was satisfied w/the movie version. There were obvious differences, but I liked what I saw in the film.

The acting was phenomenal. I had hoped that someone would get an Oscar nomination from that movie. I was happy when the nominations came out. My fav in the movie though was Adolph Caesar. I'm just smitten when he's on the screen. But his acting as Mister's father was riveting. The others were just as good too.

"The Color Purple" is one of those movies where me and my friends often quote lines from the movie. One of the most frequent lines repeated is "You tole Harpo to beat me" complete with all of the sullenness of broken down Sofia (Oprah's character).

It was nice to see the cast on Oprah for the 25 year reunion.

Music Monday 67 :: Citizen Cope "Sideways"

MUSIC MONDAY 67 :: Citizen Cope "Sideways" (2002) (2004)

When I come on late to music, I come late. Not ashamed to admit that. But sometimes it's how you come in contact w/an old song.

In this case, I was recently watching the movie "Ghost Town" w/Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear. The movie was okay, but at the end they played this song during a sequence and it really stood out. Of course, when the movie's over, I'm waiting for the song to be listed in the credits. I'm looking for a song w/the word 'feelings' in the title, but it ain't there. Nah, the song is called "Sideway," a word that's part of the hook of the song.

It's slow and simple and has just the right amount of acoustic guitar (there is, however, another version w/Carlos Santana going to town). The lyrics to "Sideways" just have a way of resonating ... maybe because he sings the same line over and over again: "These feelings won't go away ... they been knockin me sideways", but I haven't gotten bored with it.

MOVIE REVIEW: "Good Hair"

Cover of Good Hair

MOVIE REVIEW: "Good Hair" (2009)

After my friend, a hair stylist, mentioned that she did not really care for this movie, I was reluctant to watch "Good Hair". I did, however, enjoy the movie.

I did view it w/her thoughts in mind, but in the end, I thought that there was some symmetry to the film. She did not like the flamboyantness of the Bronner Brothers Hair Show segments. But to me, that is a real component. Some stylists love to attend that annual convention.

Unfortunately, I was quite saddened by the film. It was heart breaking to see the little girl getting her first relaxer at, what, five years old. Wow. I was also sad after seeing the short segment w/the five high school girls. And someone said to the girl w/the natural hair that they would not hire her because her hair was uncombed. The look on that young lady's face just broke me up.

More sadness about the cost of getting a hair weave ... and that some folks are spending thousands of dollars on hair weaves. So glad that things are NOT that serious for me. Never has been. I mean, I've had my hair relaxed and it looks good, but the price point was always reasonable. By reasonable, I mean $60-$70 dollars. That was some time ago though.

So take those thousands of dollars and add to it the amount of money that funnels out of the black community through hair care products. This was also mentioned in "Good Hair". There were two rows of black-owned hair care companies at the Bronner Brothers Convention. That is so not good since they were packed inside a seemingly large convention center.

I think that Chris Rock did a good job w/this project. He interjected his humor but shed light on an interesting topic. My friend says the element that was missing for the focus on natural hair. There's a vibrant interest in natural hair. I agree w/her on that point. And the segment w/the high school girls would have been a good place to add that segment.

Overall, I'm glad that I watched the movie and came away from it with my own opinion.

MOVIE REVIEW: "It's Complicated"

MOVIE REVIEW: "It's Complicated" (2009)

I've been wanting to see this movie since it was released in December. My thinking was that with Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin and Meryl Streep, it's got to be a great film. Well, great is not quite it, but it is a really, good movie. Lots of laughter and some laugh out loud moments.

I'm a fan of Alec Baldwin. He's got charm. He's smart and he's handsome. Likewise, I've always been a fan of Steve Martin's. I don't know how many times I've seen "The Jerk". I was just quoting a line the other day from the end of that movie: "I don't need anything else, accept this table ... I don't need anything else ...". So stupid and funny.

Back to "It's Complicated". So I like the guys. I've not been a fan of Meryl Streep's. But I don't dislike her or her work either. Actually, I did like her in several movies including "The Devil Wears Prada". I don't think I've gone to a film just to see her though is what I'm trying to say.

The writing is what stands out in "It's Complicated". The dialogue was conversational and believable. Even the story line was realistic: ex-married couple rekindles relationship after years of being divorced. The writing was a bit awkward at one point though: during the girls night out sessions. It just seemed more forced and unnatural. Not to mention that those characters showed up, what, twice and then no more; that was just one misstep. Overall, Nancy Myers does a good job with the writing; she directed too.

Alec's character did not seem like a stretch for him acting wise, but I still enjoyed him. I'd expected Steve's character to be funny. But that did not happen. And Meryl was just fine. But the sleeper stand out acting in the film was from John Krasinski. He makes these quips that are absolutely hilarious.

Somehow you need to make a note to see this one. It's worth the effort (if there's any effort).

MOVIE REVIEW: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

MOVIE REVIEW: "Fantastic Mr. Fox" (2009)

Just saw "Fantastic Mr. Fox". Nice animated movie. I had no expectations for this movie. I had not read the book.

This was such a charming movie. Very witty. George Clooney as Mr. Fox was, well, fantastic (and he dresses so nicely). The supporting characters added a good amount of flavor as well.

I thought that the movie was a short film though. I kept checking the time to see how much longer it was going to last. I say that because there were several moments when I thought I knew what would happen next and that the movie would soon end. How wrong was I? I did not figure out the ending.

Did I mention the clever writing? For example, Mr. Fox's son's sarcasm matches his dad's wittiness and the conversations have the usual animal related puns which are cute.

Oh, and one of my favorite parts is how Mr. Fox says something like "I can't believe this (cuss)". That is my new thing to say: in place of profanity, just say 'cuss'. Ha. Mr. Fox says 'cuss' a lot.

Overall, I don't know if I would have liked this film in the theater, but I did like it. Now I want to see Coraline and some of the other films that were nominated for best animated film for this year's Academy Awards. Good stuff.

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Hangover"

Movie Review: "The Hangover"

"The Hangover" is a boy movie. I think I only know of one other woman who's seen it. But make no mistake, this is a funny movie! And I do mean "laugh-out-loud" funny. Love that. There are, however, some gender specific antics. Be warned.

What makes it funny? Great chemistry among the four major characters and a really good story line. I think that you could predict the ending, but you certainly could not have guessed how they got to the end.

• Zach G is a show stealer. He seemed a bit obnoxious to start, but he held his own and had several organically funny moments.
• Bradley Cooper is super duper eye candy!
• I did not know Ed Helms' name before I began to write this blog post. I could only recall him as the guy from "The Office". He was a riot as Stu in "The Hangover". The mystery of the missing tooth was quite comical.

The three of these guys had the most screen time and it was fun to watch how they pieced together what they could not remember on their own.

Oh, and how could I forget Mike Tyson. His role was a good fit and even more laughter.

I'd like to pick out a funniest part in the film, but I don't want to give anything away to someone who has not seen the movie yet.

The one thing I will say is that there were several times when I thought they/the writers tried too hard for laughs and there's one scene in particular that was not funny, but it went too long anyway. The crude boy parts were annoying for me because it's so fourth grade and there were too many of those instances in the movie.

Nevertheless, I'm anxiously trying to figure out if I can squeeze this into my viewing schedule again before it leaves the theaters.

Music Monday 26 :: What Does "Jai Ho" Mean?

written by guest blogger Ifelicious
freelance writer/blogger living in Columbus, OH

Grabbing an 2009 Oscar for Best Song, "Jai Ho" by A.R. Rahman from the blockbuster hit "Slumdog Millionaire" is a catchy Bollywood style dance anthem that has been topping pop charts worldwide. Here in the US, A.R. Rahman teamed up with the Pussycat Dolls for an English version remake that was another slam dunk. Watching the Pussycat Dolls perform "Jai Ho" over at Value City Arena (aka "The Schott") in Columbus, Ohio last Thursday as they closed out their performance before Britney took the stage, I fell in love with the song all over again.

But what does 'Jai ho' mean?

The version by the Pussycat Dolls often has "You Are My Destiny" in parentheses right next to the song title. Their version, however, is not a direct translation of the song rather an English adaptation borrowing the name for the hook 'Jai ho' and associating it with "You Are My Destiny."

After checking around on the internet, I did manage to find a few posts that offered translation. The following is the most descriptive, in depth translation that I could find. It was a reply posted on the blog NightHawk.

'Jai' is derived from the word 'Vijay' which means 'Victory'. 'Jai ho' in a simple way means (as been said earlier) let you be victorious.

Its a term usually used either for praise, or to buck up during competition.

In early times when the king used to arrive in his 'darbar' (a place where he used to discuss the political affairs of his kingdom and other affairs with his ministers and also interact with the public), people used to shout slogans like "Maharajadhiraj (your highness) ki Jai Ho" meaning let our king be victorious.

Even our God's are praised with slogans like 'Jai ho' to symbolize that the Holy Lord always wins i.e. triumph of good over evil."

Furthermore, wikipedia clarifies that the original version of "Jai Ho" include elements of Hindu, Urdu, Punjabi, and Spanish in the lyrics.

Now that we're all the wiser, enjoy a listen to A.R. Rahman's "Jai Ho."

MOVIE REVIEW: "Milk"

MOVIE REVIEW: "Milk"

Like many, I'd heard about this movie last year when it was released and there was immediate Oscar buzz.

I like Sean Penn's work. But I did not know much about the story; except that Harvey Milk was dead and that he was an activist. Some would say, well, that's the story.

However, just seeing the little bit of Milk's life on the big screen was so compelling. I love seeing the possibilities and results when people are passionate about what they believe in.

I watched the Academy Awards when Penn collected his Best Actor Award for portraying Milk. Rah. Rah. Penn put in an incredible performance. He was sooo believable as a gay man. And in his acceptance speech to make mention of 'equal rights for everyone' was certainly admirable.

The entire cast of the film version of "Milk" did an exceptional job. I like Cleve and Scott and Anne. Just good stuff.

I thought that this movie was well written. It was a bit long, but it really did not drag in any one place; just a lot to say. Of course, I like the ending when there are updates about the real life people complete with images. Very nice.

I was so distraught about how Milk died. He just seemed to be on the cusp of really doing big things. It's just interesting to now know about this person, who I'd hardly ever heard of. And in my lifetime too. I'm glad that Harvey Milk's story finally got out to a broader audience. He deserves that and then some.

MOVIE REVIEW: "Rabbit-Proof Fence"

MOVIE REVIEW: "Rabbit-Proof Fence"

I had no expectations for this movie. A friend recommended and said nothing further. Of course, in retrospect, this movie is so the type of movie that he would recommend.

First let me say that I really enjoyed the film. The child actors were wonderful. Having recently seen "Slumdog Millionaire" and those child actors, I really marvel at what they do on screen.

For a minute, I thought of the film as just telling a story, but to learn that the film is based on a book that is based on someone's real life is astounding. Even to read the credits at the end of the movie as to what happened to the real-life people left me with a slack mouth.

It's amazing how race is dealt with and has been dealt with - not just in the United States, but around the globe. In the case of "Rabbit-Proof Fence", the efforts to stamp out a race went way too far and for too long. Racial superiority can't go away fast enough for me.

I love the girls resiliency. Though in my opinion the film did not fully highlight their struggles in the wild. I had anticipated that they would encounter some wild animals - or is that just my ignorance?

This is an awesome film and only about 90 minutes. Check it out.

More "Rabbit-Proof Fence" resources:

• "Rabbit-Proof Fence" on IMDB
• Various reviews of "Rabbit-Proof Fence" via Rotten Tomatoes
• A clip from the film"The Unwanted Third Race"
  

MOVIE REVIEW: "Seven Pounds" (SPOILER ALERT)

MOVIE REVIEW: "Seven Pounds"

Well, I figure that this movie has been out for a couple of weeks and now I can express how I really feel about it.

I went to see "Seven Pounds" the day that it opened in theaters. I'd seen Will Smith, the star of the movie, on the talk show circuit - Oprah, David Letterman, Jay Leno - and I was smitten w/him. However, no one really talked about the movie and I became intrigued w/the mystery of not knowing what the movie was about. I did not even try to think about what they were not telling me.

Well, how about I did not like the ending (i.e. the mystery)! No way. This movie made it clear to me how I feel about suicide. Which is what Smith's character, Ben, decided to do w/his life at the end of the film all in the name of redemption. It was pretty obvious to me that he was doing a pretty good job of helping people while he was alive. I can understand some depression and the need to assist the woman who he began to fall in love with, but all the pre-mediated parts just made me ill. And w/a jellyfish ... !? Come on.

The movie was at least 30 minutes too long and it was sooooo slow that I did something that I rarely do, I checked my cell phone to see what time it was and to see if I had any text messages.

I did enjoy Rosario Dawson's character, Emily. She comes off as strong and personable. Though the plot that focuses on Woody Harrelson's character, Ezra, just came up short. Seems like it was mostly edited away.

I know that many, many people really enjoyed this movie and cried and came away w/a sense of purpose and so did I. I do have an appreciation for living and I don't take that for granted. I just think that the movie sends a negative message attached to the message of redemption. And I definitely don't think that teenagers should see the film because sometimes they feel guilt over the slightest things and they could wipe themselves out all in the name of "Seven Pounds".

Wow ... I'm glad I got that weight off my shoulders.

MOVIE REVIEW: "First Sunday"

MOVIE REVIEW: "First Sunday"

This review was originally written in May 2008. Forgive me for the tardiness, but here it is in all of its glory.

If you saw the trailers for this movie, then you probably turned the channel or avoided it like the plague.

Well, it is one of those movies that is good for dvd viewing. Which is exactly what I did. I selected it as one of my Netflix selections. I don't feel bad about it, especially now that I've seen it.

It was a really good movie. It was not buffoon-ish - as I predicted. It was not even bellying-aching funny. It was just a good, wholesome movie.

I enjoyed some of the touching moments - and there were several. Like one of the main characters, Durell (Ice Cube) and his relationship w/his son. Kat Williams is Kat Williams. Tracy Morgan's character provided some soft sides too.

This is a good movie to just sit back and enjoy it for what it is worth. It will take your mind off of your own person woes, if only for an hour or so.

MOVIE REVIEW: "Slumdog Millionaire"

MOVIE REVIEW: "Slumdog Millionaire"

I've seen some good movies over the past few weeks, but I am just now getting around to writing about them.

First up is "Slumdog Millionaire". I've been hearing about this movie since at least October. Unfortunately, I don't live in or near a 'major' market. so I had to wait my turn to see it. I did catch it on its opening weekend in Cleveland. Saw it on the first showing on Bargain Monday @ the Cedar Lee. I think it was $5 and included a complimentary small popcorn. Nice.

I was anxious to see the movie because there was some acclaim swirling about ... the love story, the setting, the mystery. It was all of that. And a story that I have not quite seen on the big screen.

I mostly enjoyed this movie. The child actors were awesome. The dialogue and the plot were well written and executed. I would recommend that you see this one. I kinda figured out how it would end, but it was still intriguing to see how they'd get to the fore drawn conclusion.

Oh, and the one thing that really stood out for me was the music. I immediately noticed music from M.I.A. and I thought that I would jump out of my seat. The music was so rich in beats and drums and added energy to the action on the screen. The soundtrack was a wonderful treat for me.

MOVIE REVIEW: "Soul Men"

MOVIE REVIEW: "Soul Men"

Do you ever go to a movie and then wonder "what made me go see that movie?" Well, that is not the case for me and "Soul Men". I know that I went to see Bernie Mac. I'm a big fan of his. However, I don't know if I would have gone to the theater to see this movie if he were alive. You've seen the movie trailers, you know what I mean. It just seems like one that might be best for viewing at home and at a lesser expense.

And it is what is seems - a shuck and jive flick. Unfortunately for me, I was a bit late and missed about 10 minutes of the beginning of the movie. I hate when that happens. However, this movie is predictable in so many ways, one being that they use the 'buddy movie' formula. Not a bad thing, but again predictable.

There were however a sizable amount of laughs. There are also some times when they are trying too hard and when there are just lulls in the movie. But back to the laughs. Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson work well together. Made me think why haven't they been in a movie together before this? They're a good fit. But Bernie could fit in in most places, in my opinion.

The storyline was okay. And despite it's predictability, the ending did have a WTH - what the heck? - moment. Kinda funny too. Of course I won't be a spoiler and tell you all of the details because I know that you will get a chance to see the movie in, what, six weeks or so, if that. Yes, the turnaround from theater to DVD has decreased substantially.

Oh, but one of the best parts of the movie is the credits. While the main credits are rolling, they play footage of Bernie Mac and some footage of Issac Hayes too. It's heart warming and not meant to be sad ... Just good memories. Thanks Malcolm Lee.

MOVIE REVIEW: "Burn After Reading" - WTF

MOVIE REVIEW: "Burn After Reading"

So I was coaxed into seeing The Coen Brothers "Burn After Reading" because so many of the critics said that it was incredibly awesome. Well, they did not use that language, but they made it seem as if I was really missing out on a really good flick amongst a sea of really bad ones.

I'm a sucker for laughter. I would spend lots of quarters on nothing but laughs. Well, in this case I spent 24 quarters and ... and well, I spent 24 quarters.

Overall, I did like the film. It was a bit complex at times though it's not really complex at all. How can I put this: It's a smart dumb movie. Their writing is really crafty and witty. And yeah, I fork over quarters for that too.

I was really anticipating seeing Brad Pitt in a comedic role. I must admit that I have not seen many Brad Pitt movies and I think the last one that I saw was the last one in the "Ocean's" series, what was that 13...? Anyway, again, more quarters for seeing a bumbling Pitt on screen. Not hilariously funny, but funny. Oh and George Clooney is good, but John Malkovich is my fav in this one.

This movies gets points for not being shy about dropping the 'f-bomb'. It became a crutch, a funny one at that.

The cast was cool. So much fun to watch and try to predict who would do what next. I would see this one again, only on video, more like 16 quarters.

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Family That Preys"

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Family That Prey's"

I saw a preview for Tyler Perry's "The Family That Prey's". It seemed, well, interesting. Interesting because I saw that Kathy Bates seemed to have a lead role. Whaaddd? And Alfre Woodard too? Nice get there Tyler.

My girlfriend, Josee, recommended that I see the movie on opening day. Good idea. So, yes, it was a week ago that I saw the movie and I am just now blogging about it. What are you gonna do about it? ;-)

Well, I liked the movie. I actually that I'd be more on the it was so-so kind of vibe. But it was bonafide likeable. For real. And let me tell you why:

• the scenes w/Kathy and Alfre are priceless; such a genuine friendship
• some real deal eye candy for the ladies.
  
• it was a believable storyline; not too contrived or dramatic
• Robin Givens character was refreshing; she usually plays a different type of gal
• Props for the cast (and you know that Tyler is in the movie...?)
  

What I did not like:

• Sanaa Lathan's depthless acting

I'm going to keep this short so that I don't give the story away, heck, I guess I have not given you much anyway, huh?

REVIEW: "Sex and the City - The Movie"

I must admit, when "Sex and the City" was a hot commodity, I hardly watched it. You can mostly blame that on me not having HBO. Sure, I'd watch a few episodes if the opportunity presented itself, but I did not get Carrie Bradshaw's fashion sense (still don't get it) and the show only appealed to me in terms of the relationships - which is huge for that show.

So the fact that I attend the first daytime showing on Friday - 11:30 a.m., says a lot.

I enjoyed the two and a half hour movie. There was enough twists and turns - enough to get me to cry twice. Though there did seem to be a lull in the movie and I guess you get that when you unnecessarily go beyond the two hour mark.

Was there gratuitous sex? Yes, but isn't that a part of the "Sex and the City" legacy? Speaking of legacy, all of the characters were true to their previous TV counterparts - both male and female. And for the record, I don't think that it is just a chick flick. Again, relationships is the focus throughout - friends and lovers.

You'll definitely want to know what happens to Carrie and Big? And how vampy Samantha gets ...

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Great Debaters" podcast

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Great Debaters"

My friend Darryl Atwell and I are at it again. This time our target topic is "The Great Debaters".

Check out the podcast.

MOVIE REVIEW: "American Gangster" - Podcast

Click on the heading at the top to activate this podcast.

MOVIE REVIEW: "American Gangster"

Working on adding a weekly podcast ... here is one. I'd like to have your thoughts on this one.



Topic: Review of the movie "American Gangster"
The podcast hosts are Kim Fox and Darryl Atwell.

Additional links:

"American Gangster" website

Wiki on Frank Lucas

New York - The Magazine article on Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes