Get On Up | James Brown Film

Check out the trailer for the up and coming James Brown biography film called Get On Up. It has been created by the same folk who made the movie The Help.

Lion King Australia Airplane Serenade

Imagine being on a plane and hearing the Lion King cast sing the iconic Circle of Life song. This is exactly what some were able to experience on a plane in Australia. I have still not seen this play at the theatre yet. I am so slacking.

Home Again - Movie

I heard about this film on YouTube by Trabass Tv. It is called Home Again and is about Jamaicans who have lived most of their lives in Canada who for whatever reason are deported back to their land of birth. They are now faced with adjusting to a place they do not really know whilst trying to get back on their feet. The movie stars Tatyana Ali, Fefe Dobson, Lyriq Bent, Stephen James and will also get to see famed Jamaican actor Carl Bradshaw.  The UK will get a red carpet premiere 30th October 2013 at the British Museum of which you can purchase tickets to watch. Check out the trailer it looks really good.

Congrats Quvenzhané Wallis

I never heard of this little girl before till I read on some blogs that she was new actress who at age 9 is the second youngest person to be nominated for an Oscar. She is up for the coveted accolade of Best Actress. She has been named Best Actress via the Critics Choice Awards for her role in the film Best of the Southern Wild. Interesting to note many have noted that the 9year old actress read her acceptance speech from an iPhone. Children and their adult gadgets seem to be the times we are in now. 

I wish her all the best for the Oscars. May she be blessed with future success as an actress and everything that she wishes to pursue in life going forward.

Racism is not just verbal

I was reading a Christian blog post about The Help, book turned film at  Think Christian. This commentary caught my attention. It acknowledges that racism exist but people only talk down those who are blatant racists. Often people refuse to accept that racism is displayed and acted out without actually verbally exchanging racial expletives. Anyway check out the comment below and tell me what you think.

The fact that Hilly is characterized as such as the blatant enemy is a source of frustration for me. Scapegoating her as an evil-racist is such a dangerous, yet common, practice in white racial literature. We (white folk) are allowed to distance ourselves from her clearly-inappropriate 'racist' views. Thus, we are free to identify with the white-savior heroine, congratulating ourselves that we would never be so obviously racist.

These sentiments play into white folks' tendencies to associate the word 'racist' with people that blatantly espouse hatred, rather than examine the nuances of systemic racial advantage and subconscious bias. Similarly, setting the book in the 1960's, invites a congratulatory look on how far we have come, rather examining the modern consequences of that era. As long as we're not that bad, we must be alright (read: "I'm basically a good person, I'm not a sinner"). Macon D of 'Stuff White People Do' notes: "While The Help is about people who risk their lives to challenge the status quo of their day, the book itself does very little to challenge the status quo of its own day." The fact is, the attitudes articulated in the book are still alive and well today, if more hushed. (source)

I just so found this interesting and understand what the commenter is trying to say. The original post looks at how someone reacts to their enemies. It is worth a read too. 

 

The Help movie

I did a review of this book called The Help towards the end of last year. One of my readers commented that the book will be made into a film. I was so pleased to hear that. The book is such a good read worth reading before you see the film.

I am dismayed to read on the blogs and on twitter that there is so much controversy surrounding this film in America. The main issues people have it is that is a film showing Black women as maids. I have no issues with this. African Diaspora people need to embrace their past and history. No other race seems so set on forgetting. We know that in today Black women occupy many different areas of work and continue to strive and do well. So why the controversy. I feel more of our history should be told in film and books, both good and bad. 

Is it a case that we need to pull out the beautifully researched and presented books of Chancellor Williams. Who discusses African history from before European and Asian interaction where kingdoms where spoken of as Dynasties. If all you can see in The Help is a movie that puts black women in a bad light you have missed the point. I suggest you read the book and decide if the film is for you. There is more to these women then just being somebody's maid. You will not know that if you do not read the book or see the film.

I hope it does not take long to reach UK shores. I could do with an adult night at the cinema. Have you read the book or seen the film? What are your thoughts?

Shank Film

I was sent some info on this film last month and almost forgot about it. My forgetfulness has no baring on the film though. Having looked at the promo on YouTube it looks like a real gritty street film. The usual bad man fight for survival street mentality. I can tell straight away given the films name certain society members will feel that it will influence young teenage boys. However it will also be an eye opener to some.

Shank is based in London 2015 with a huge divide between rich and poor and gang crime out of control. The Paper Chaserz are a non violent gang. Though when one of their members is killed it tests their principles and ethos. The pending delivery of food which is very scarce during these times leads to conflict with a rival gang. A case of seeking revenge or staying true to ones principles.

The film stars Ashley ‘Bashy’  Thomas,  Michael Socha (Summer, Soft), Kaya Scodelario (Skins), Colin Salmon (Die Another Day)
and Robbie Gee (Hush), Adam Deacon (KiDULThood, Adulthood.

Shank is out March 26, 2010.