On paper, a story about a low-income black health-care aid who’s befriended by a rich white male quadriplegic sounds suspect. Patronizing films like Driving Miss Daisy come to mind, and potential filmgoers upon hearing the plotline may feel anxious, angry and nauseous all at the same time. On-screen, The Upside, an American remake of the 2011 Cesar-winning French […]
For DC comic book fans, there is good news and bad news. First the negatives, and then the positive reasons why Aquaman may still make a dent in the box office, even if it isn’t perfect. What’s lacking: The special effects (visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain) aren’t exceptional. Visions of Arthur/Aquaman (Jason Momoa, Game of Thrones, Conan […]
It was an historic power grab. Not the Republicans taking back the White House after a controversial, razor-thin win by George W. Bush over Al Gore. It was the vice president-elect, Dick Cheney, out maneuvering George Jr. and becoming the puppet master. Cheney: “No one has shown the world the true power of the presidency.” […]
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. Ben Is Back – The plague of drug addiction hits the tony suburbs and writer/director Peter […]
“It’s not possible. I’m a normal kid!” Famous last words. That’s what’s on the lips of teenager Miles Morales as he goes through a change in life. No, not puberty. The young Blatino brother from Brooklyn has been bitten by a radioactive spider and his life has changed forever. And so did the legend of […]
No matter how you slice it, a problem once relegated to the inner city is now all of America’s crisis. From a homeless person living under a bridge in New York City, to a kid OD’ing in a wealthy, bedroom community, drugs are killing people and making families implode. The latter is the central focus […]
It’s a situation nearly every black man has experienced at some point in his life: Being the only African American in a room, party, meeting… It can be both an alienating and insular experience all at one time. Jordan Peele captured the essence of that feeling and monetized it, winning countless awards and raking in […]
This follow up to the very popular boxing film Creed (worldwide gross $174M) throws a lot of left hooks, right jabs and uppercuts, but only a few connect and none land a knockout punch. Count on the mass appeal (young, old, urban, male and female) of Creed II to put viewers in seats this holiday season. But, […]
As the days lead up to Miami’s world-famous Art Basel art fair (Dec. 6 – 9), Miami brims with expectation, is ready to welcome international crowds and presents a premier Black art festival. It’s a perfect time to enjoy the sun, sand, attractions, art scene and fine dining before Basel’s crowd descends. These ten tips […]
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 that preserved her […]