12
May 2013

Cinema in Noir – Hollywood’s Double Ethnic Problem

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On the latest episode of Cinema in Noir we talk about Hollywood’s “double ethnic problem.”  When was the last time your saw a black couple on the big screen?  A Latino couple?  Now think REAL hard and tell me the last time you saw an Asian couple on the big screen?  No so easy is it? It seems that right now Hollywood is more interested in white or interracial couples on the big screen.  SO where is the balance?

CIN Interacial 2CIN Interacial

This discussion was inspired by comments made by R&B singer Robin Thicke, who is married to actress, Paula Patton.  He stated that in Hollywood, studios are reluctant to put two actors of color in a film together.  He said there is a fear of going “double ethnic.”  You can listen to his comments here (around the 6 minute mark).

As always, we also discussed the latest in film and casting news as well as recapped last weeks episode of Scandal.

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Categories: Cinema in Noir Tags: ,
29
Apr 2013

Cinema in Noir – When “Based on a True Story” Does Race Matter?

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YES!!!! Well, that’s my personal opinion.

On the latest Cinema in Noir, my cohost Candice and I were joined by Jonathan Hailey from The Urban Daily and we delved into the question at hand.  The discussion was inspired by comments made by the real life inspirations for the films Argo and The Impossible.

Naomi+Watts+Maria+Belon+Zf5TmP9aP7pm

Both Tony Mendez and Maria Belon are of Latin descent.  However in the films based on their lives, their ethnicity was ignored and they were portrayed by Caucasian actors with no mention of their Latin roots. Is this okay?  Should we care? And what about when the roles are reversed and black actors are cast in traditionally white roles?  IS there a double standard?  We discuss it all.

Pain and Gain

As usual, we discussed the latest in film and casting news including S. Epatha Merkeson’s onscreen reunion with Jesse L. Martin in the Marvin Gaye biopic Sexual Healing.  And Jonathon gives us the low down on the new film Pain and Gain.

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29
Apr 2013

reelsistas.com presents “Free Angela and ALL Political Prisoners”

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reelsistas.com is hosting our 1st movie screening next month!!!!

We’d like your support in bringing a wonderful critically acclaimed documentary about Angela Davis, Free Angela and All Political Prisoners to Charlotte on May 21st at 7:30 pm at AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 theater (located at 9541 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28273).

free-angela

All you need to do is reserve your tickets by May 14. Here’s the link to reserve your ticket:  http://www.tugg.com/events/3774
(share the link with a friend or two!). We MUST presale 84 tickets in order for this to event to happen.  If we no not reach our number, your card will NOT be charged.  See?  No worries.

We are presenting this event in conjunction with Tugg.com.  Tugg is a new service that allows members of the community to bring important films to theaters based on the communities demand, so reserve your tickets tickets today! Below is information about the film.

Synopsis
Free Angela is a documentary that chronicles the life of young college professor Angela Davis, and how her social activism implicates her in a botched kidnapping attempt that ends with a shootout, four dead, and her name on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list. The high stakes crime, political movement, and trial that catapults the 26 year-old newly appointed philosophy professor at the University of California at Los Angeles into a seventies revolutionary political icon. Nearly forty years later, and for the first time, Angela Davis speaks frankly about the actions that branded her as a terrorist and simultaneously spurred a worldwide political movement for her freedom.

Watch the trailer here:

Looks awesome, right?

Thank you in advance for your support!  I know TOGETHER we can make this event a SUCCESS.

 

Categories: Event, reel sistas, Screening Tags: , , , ,
25
Apr 2013

#NFOTD – My Faves from the First 100 Films

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If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I have been going pretty hard core on my #NFOTD (New Film of the Day) goals for 2013.

NFOTD

For those who don’t know, NFOTD was started by my Twitter homie and director of photography extraordinaire, Cybel Martin. Every day #NFOTD participants watch a film that they’ve never seen before and tweet (and sometimes instagram) about it.

I recently hit my first NFOTD milestone, my 100th film of the year.  To celebrate, I decided to highlight some of my favorite #NFTOD films, so far.

Favorite Performance: Robinne Lee in Miss Dial

RS Miss Dial 1 RS Miss Dial 2

Directed By: David H. Steinberg

Starring: Robinne Lee and Sam Jaeger with cameos from Gabrielle Union and Hill Harper.

The 411: Often times, we rarely get to see women of color do normal, everyday things on screen.  The representations of black women especially are often stereotypical and furthermore, they are few and far between. Miss Dial fills part of the void.  Robinne’s  portrayal of Erica, a customer service rep who spends the day connecting with strangers on the phone, is subtle but effective.

 

Favorite Theatrical Release: 42

RS 42

Directed By: Brian Helgeland

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Nicole Beharie, and Harrison Ford

The 411:  42 tells the heroic and legendary story of Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play major league baseball.  This film boasts an inspiring story, great direction and an amazingly talented cast.

 

Favorite Documentary: Why We Laugh: Funny Women

p9755118_b_h9_aaDirected By: Bernard Gourley

Starring: Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Kim Wayans, Brett Butler, Helen Hong, Aisha Tyler, & Sheryl Underwood

The 411: This film gives an inside looks at the lives of female stand-up comedians.  The women candidly discuss everything from source material to the trials and tribulations of working in a male dominated field.

 

Favorite Foreign Film: Starbuck

RS StarbuckDirected By: Ken Scott

Starring: Patrick Huard, Julie LeBreton, & Antoine Bertrand

The 411: Sometimes comedy does not always translate when watching a film in a language other than your own.  But the humor in Starbuck effectively translates. The film, which is  about a sperm donor nicknamed Starbuck who is sued by the hundreds of children he fathered  to reveal him identity, is a smart, heartwarming , and funny look at growing up.

 

Favorite Short Film: The Door

RA The Door

Directed By: Ava DuVernay

Starring: Gabrielle Union, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Adepero Oduye, Goapele, & Alfre Woodard

The 411: The Door is the fifth Miu Miu Women’s Tale. The film is “a celebration of the transformative power of feminine bonds, and a symbolic story of life change.” In the film a woman is visited by several friends and family as she deals with a traumatic experience. She draws on the strength of others to gain her own. This film is an amazing example of the bonds of female friendship.

 

Favorite Television Movie: Pastor Brown

RS Pastor Brown

Directed By: Rockmond Dunbar

Starring: Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Nicole Ari Parker, Michael Beach, Michael B. Jordan

The 411:  The cast is the biggest asset in this story of redemption and forgiveness.  Salli gives a great performance as Jesse, an exotic dancer who returns home at the request of her ailing father and to the disappointment of her sister and son. The supporting cast is equally powerful.

 

Favorite Throwback Film: I Like It Like That

RS I Like It Like That

Directed By: Darnell Martin

Starring: Lauren Velez, Jon Seda, Lisa Vidal

The 411: 1994′s I Like It Like That is important because it was the first film produced by a major studio that was directed by a black woman. Furthermore, Lauren Velez shines as a wife and mother who has to learn to support her family when her husband goes away.

 

Most Disturbing Film: Descent

RS Descent

Directed By: Talia Lugacy

Starring: Rosario Dawson, Chad Faust, Marcus Patrick

The 411: Although some parts of this movie are kinda slow, others are violent, intense and quite honestly disturbing.  This is one of those films that leaves you talking about it way after you finish watching it.

 

Weirdest Film: Burning Palms

RS Burning Palms

 

Directed By: Christopher Landon

Starring: Rosamund Pike, Jamie Chung, Zoe Saldana

The 411: I know weird is subjective, but I really don’t know how else to describe this movie.  The film is a series of “WTF” scenarios that will have you questioning what is going on in the film.

 

Favorite Netflix Find: Small, Beautifully Moving Parts

RS Small Parts

Directed By: Annie Howell & Lisa Robinson

Starring: Anna Margaret Hollyman, Andre Holland, and Mary Beth Peil

The 411: Tech geek Sarah goes out on a journey to reconnect with her mother and confront her own ambivalent feeling towards her impending motherhood.

 

 

Categories: NFOTD Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
25
Apr 2013

Cinema in Noir – Q & A w/ Ashley Blaine and Hollywood and the Single Black Female

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On the latest edition of Cinema in Noir, we chatted with Ashley Blaine Featherson, the co-creator, producer, and star of the new Black & Sexy TV web series, Hello Cupid.  The series chronicles the challenges of online dating through the eyes of two best friends played by Ashley and Hayley Marie Norman.

CIN Ashley Blaine Featherson CIN Hello CupidInspired by the show, we also discussed Hollywood’s treatment of the single black female and list our favorite single ladies in film and television.

A usual, we also discussed the lasted film and casting new.

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21
Apr 2013

Cinema in Noir – Kickstarter Campaigns for Black TV Adaptations and the Responsibility of Portraying Racism in Film

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On last week’s Cinema in Noir, we discussed the mega successful Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign and discussed the black shows that we would like to see adapted for the big screen. I for one would TOTALLY donate to see Girlfriends, A Different World, or Half & Half on the big screen.

half_and_half-show Girlfriends TV SHow a-different-world1

We also discussed the #1 movie in the country, “42″ and the responsibility filmmakers have in their depiction of racism.

42-movie-photo-2

As always we talked about the latest film and casting news and the trailer for Jodie Foster’s upcoming film, Elysium.

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07
Apr 2013

Cinema in Noir – The Problem with Tyler Perry (or rather HIS problem) & Remembering Roger Ebert.

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Today Cinema in Noir returned from spring break with a spirited and lively show.  First, we deciding to join in the ongoing conversation regarding Tyler Perry’s latest film Temptation, starring Jurnee Smollett and Lance Gross. While some die-hard Perry loyalist are raving about the film and it’s “important message” others are critical of his characterizations of women, his ideas of rape, and his use of HIV/AIDS as punishment in his movies. You can probably guess which side of the debate with fall on.

Temptation

Lance Gross and Jurnee Smollett

This week the film community lost one of it’s legendary figures with the passing of Roger Ebert.  On today’s podcast, we discuss his influence on film, his dedication to black film in particular and remember his lasting legacy.

"Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you."

“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.”

In addition to this weeks film and casting news, our friend Tim Gordon aka Film Gordon of Keeping it Reel called in to RAVE about the documentary Free Angela which is directed by Shola Lynch and co-produced by Jada Pinkett Smith. My co-host Rebecca was equally impressed by 42, the story of Jackie Robinson which opens on Friday.

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24
Mar 2013

Cinema in Noir – The Best “So Bad, They’re Good” Movies

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On the latest Cinema in Noir, we were joined again by Jonathon Hailey of The Urban Daily.  We discussed the latest film and casting news including an update on the latest (and very unnecessary) Godzilla film and the latest installment in Lifetime’s Five movie series.

baps

We also have a spirited discussion on our favorite guilty pleasure movies.  You know the ones you know are bad, but despite your better judgement, you watch them, over and over again.

Here are some of my faves:

Baby Boy

CIN Baby Boy

Glitter

RS Glitter

Obsessed

CIN ObsessedListen Here:

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11
Mar 2013

Cinema in Noir – International Female Actors and Directors

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On the latest Cinema in Noir, we were joined by Jonathon Hailey of The Urban Daily.  We discussed the latest in casting and film news including how Nick Cannon beat out Will Smith and Jamie Fox for film role and the latest news on the TLC biopic.

tlcmovie

Also, Rebecca aka The Film Fatale reviewed Oz; The Great and Powerful and Dead Man Down.

Lastly, we discussed out favorite international female actors and directors.  Listen in and see who made our lists (Check out my picks here).

RS International

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11
Mar 2013

Women of the World: Six Great Performances by Non American Actresses

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As part of the celebration of  International Women Day and Women’s History month, I wanted to highlight some non-American actresses whose work I admire.  Here are a few of my faves, as discussed on Cinema in Noir.

Kajol as “Maya” in We Are Family

Slide1

 We Are Family is the Hindi film version of the film Stepmom.  Kajol gives an emotionally charged performance as a woman coming to grips the knowledge that her life is ending.

 

 Aishwarya Rai as “Lalita” in Bride and Prejudice

Slide2

 

I love a good musical and Bride and Prejudice does not disappoint.  Aishwarya gives a dazzling performance in this adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

 

 Sky Nicole Grey as “Trini” in Restless City

Slide3

 

The multi-hyphenate Sky (actress, model, singer) caught my attention with her role as Trini in Restless City. Sky takes the proverbial “hooker with a heart of gold” role and elevates it with a performance that is subtle, yet powerful.

 

Samantha Barks as “Eponine” in Les Miserables

Slide4

A native of The Isle of Man, Samantha gave an amazing and underrated performance in the 2012 blockbuster musical, Les Miserables.  Her performance of “On My Own” was heartbreaking and breath taking all at the same time.

 

Sophie Okonedo as  ”Sandra” in Skin

Slide5

Born in London, Sophie first gained attention for her role in Hotel Rwanda.  But for me, her powerful performance as Sandra, a woman defined solely by the color of her Skin  is where she truly shines as a major talent.

 

Stephanie Sigman as “Laura” in Miss Bala

Slide6

This Mexican beauty gives a masterful performance in her first major feature film role as a young woman forced to be a drug mule. Stephanie is captivating in the role.

 

Who are some of your favorite non-American actresses?

Categories: actresses, Lists, Women's Herstory, Women's History Tags: , , ,
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