Transporter 3

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Jason Statham Back for More Derring-Do as Daredevil Driver for Hire



In this critic’s opinion, Jason Statham was the obvious pick to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. For the suave, self-assured leading man had fairly well established himself as the heir apparent to the role after a string of impressive action-oriented outings in everything from Snatch to Crank to The Transporter 1 & 2. Anyone who wants further proof need only check out Transporter 3, where the steely Statham makes the most of his latest opportunity to display his fighting skills while also adding a dash of romance to his repertoire.

The film opens like a variation of Speed, as it establishes a similarly urgent motif at the point of departure in order to keep the audience on edge for the duration of the high-octane adventure. Here we have Frank Martin (Statham), chauffeur nonpareil, who is “hired” at gunpoint by mobsters to drive a secret package to an undisclosed location. The catch is that to insure his allegiance the thugs have strapped a bomb to his arm which is set to detonate if he wanders more than 75 feet from the vehicle.

Another complication is that Frank has a raccoon-eyed passenger coming along for the ride in Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), a pill-popping, vodka-swigging party girl he saved from the goons. What our hero doesn’t know is that the freckle-faced femme fatale just happens to be the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev (Jeroen Krabbe), a powerful Ukrainian politician presently being pressured to sign a government contract as ransom by the same creep (Robert Knepper) who attached the explosives to Frank.

Fair warning, Transporter 3’s storyline won’t hold up well to close scrutiny, as the point of the picture is the incessant visual capture provided by all the pyrotechnics and gravity-defying stunt sequences featuring carefully-orchestrated gunplay, hand-to-hand combat, and car, bike and train chases. Is the plot plausible? No, but it hurtles along at such a breakneck pace you don’t have a chance to pause to contemplate its preposterousness.

From Frank’s successfully running a gauntlet of a dozen bloodthirsty foes, to driving his souped-up sports car off an overpass and landing safely onto a speeding locomotive, to tipping the auto onto its side to negotiate a narrow passageway between a couple of 18-wheelers, this is the stuff escapist movie magic is meant to be made of. Mix in a little charm and romance, and you have all the fixins for the most dashing and debonair British character around today, even if his name can’t be James Bond.



Very good (3 stars)

Rated PG-13 for violence, intense action, sexuality and drug use.

Running time: 100 minutes

Studio: Lionsgate Films



To see a trailer for Transporter 3, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbh3CDBNIQA

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: DVD Sequel Features Another Worthwhile Narnia Fantasy



Between 1949 and 1954, C.S. Lewis penned a captivating series of illustrated children’s novels referred to collectively as The Chronicles of Narnia. The first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was brought to the big screen in 2005, and introduced us to the Pevensies -- Lucy (Georgie Henley), Peter (William Moseley) Susan (Anna Popplewell) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) – tight-knit siblings evacuated from London to the country during the Blitz.

While exploring their new surroundings, they found a magical closet through which they traveled to a faraway realm known as Narnia. And before they finally returned to England, the kids embarked on an eventful adventure which had them fulfilling an ancient prophecy by breaking the spell cast over the peaceable kingdom by an evil witch (Tilda Swinton).

Set a year later, Chronicles 2 opens with the nattily-attired Pevensies suddenly being transported to Narnia again. Upon their arrival, they are dismayed to learn that their beloved utopia’s Golden Age has been disrupted by the rise to power of a merciless king (Sergio Castellitto) who rules with the help of a race of warriors called the Telmarines.

Furthermore, because the queen (Alicia Borracherro) has just given birth to a son, the mad monarch hatches a plan to kill his nephew, the unassuming Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes). Apprised of the crisis, the Pevensies pledge themselves to another noble enterprise, namely, the perilous effort to bring harmony back to Narnia again by helping the rightful heir ascend to the throne.

Reminiscent of such storied, cinematic epic fantasies as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, the saga inexorably builds to a familiar, cataclysmic battle royal that’s simply a marvel to behold. It may lack the element of surprise, but it more than makes up for that failing with the visually-enchanting treat of eye-popping panoramas plus the seamless interaction of the human and animated characters.



Excellent (4 stars)

Rated PG for violence and epic battle scenes.

Running time: 149 minutes

Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment

3-Disc DVD Extras: Audio commentary with the director and cast, bllopers, deleted scenes, digital copy, plus eight featurettes.



To see a trailer for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqzYukVDqy4

Step Brothers DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Slackers Exhibit Sibling Rivalry in Dysfunctional Family Comedy



Sleazy does it in this one-trick pony about a couple of middle-aged adolescents who refuse to grow up. One is 39 year-old Brennan “Nighthawk” Huff (Will Ferrell), unemployed and still living at home with his divorced mom, Nancy (Mary Steenburgen). The other is 40 year-old Dale “Dragon” Doback (John C. Reilly), a parasite sponging off his widowed dad, Robert (Ricard Jenkins).

Brennan is a couch potato content to fritter away his days eating junk food in front of the TV while Dale divides his time between managing a fantasy baseball league online and playing the drums. The only reason these lazy slobs meet is because their parents fall in love at a medical conference.

After a whirlwind romance, Nancy and Robert decide to marry. This means that their slacker sons must not only live under the same roof but also share the same bedroom. The new step brothers’ instant dislike for each other initiates an escalating turf war marked by infantile antics like Brennan rubbing his private parts on Dale’s sacred drum set, and the latter getting even by threatening to sleep with his mother.

The pranksters prove to be particularly fond of fart jokes and sexual preference slurs, in case you find either of those brands of humor particularly appealing. Gradually, the newlyweds get fed up with the sibling rivalry, so they give their sons a month to find a job and another place to stay.

Too bad this re-teaming of Ferrell and Reilly failed to generate the magic of their prior outing in Talladega Nights. And with exhibitionist Ferrell finding another excuse to parade around in his birthday suit, the overexposed thespian is in danger of going down in cinematic history as the man who nude too much.



Poor (0 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 98 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

2-Disc DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, plus a half-dozen featurettes.



To see a trailer of Step Brothers, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHnvULVOtz8

Wanted DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Mind-Bending Splatter Flick Comes to DVD

Wesley Gibson’s (James McAvoy) life is a mess. By day, the 25 year-old slacker sits behind a desk at a tiny cubicle in a low-paying job, trying to tune out the unreasonable demands of his overbearing boss (Lorna Scott). Evenings, he retreats to the equally-unpleasant confines of the noisy dive he shares with an abusive girlfriend (Kristen Hagen) who‘s openly sleeping with his best buddy from work.

Opportunity knocks for Wesley in a drug store while waiting to refill a prescription for his anti-anxiety medication when he’s approached by Fox (Angelina Jolie), a femme fatale with a take charge attitude. The mysterious stranger calmly informs him that the father he’s never known had been a colleague of hers in a secret society of cold-blooded killers called the Fraternity. She further delivers the shocking news that his Dad was shot to death the night before by Cross (Thomas Kretschmann), a renegade assassin.

Before he even has a chance to digest this information, Cross appears in the aisle pointing a gun in their direction and a shootout erupts which spills into the street and turns into a gravity-defying, adrenaline-fueled car chase clear cross Chicago. This is the intriguing point of departure of Wanted, a graphic splatter flick based on Mark Millar‘s comic book miniseries of the same name.

The over-plotted superhero adventure might be best described as a compelling cross of The Matrix and Memento, since it shares the former’s reliance on cartoon physics elements and the latter’s love of confounding convoluted twists. Soviet director Timur Bekmambetov makes an unforgettable, if quite controversial, English-language debut with this relentlessly-amoral exercise in gratuitous violence.

A cinematic Columbine filled with wanton carnage designed to validate the bloodlust of every ostracized loser stuck in a dead-end job and daydreaming of evening the score by going postal.



Excellent (4 stars)

Rated R for sexuality, pervasive profanity and graphic violence.

Running time: 110 minutes

Studio: Universal Studio Home Entertainment

2-Disc DVD Extras: An extended scene, a music video, behind-the-scenes, stunt, special f/x and visual f/x featurettes, and more.


To see a trailer of Wanted, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4pWuFv48Zk

The Longshots DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Inspirational Flick about Female Football Player Released on DVD

Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) made history in 2003 as the first female ever to play quarterback in the Pop Warner Football League. However, the competitive 11 year-old wasn’t content with just crossing the gender line, and went on to lead her team all the way to the Pee Wee Division Superbowl. The talented tomboy’s real-life exploits are the subject of this bio-pic, an against-the-odds sports saga which seeks to tug on your heartstrings at every opportunity.
For, Jasmine had innumerable personal obstacles to overcome off the field, starting with the trauma of abandonment by her (Malcolm Goodwin) father. His conspicuous absence, in turn, translated into less quality time with her exhausted mom (Tasha Smith) who had to work long hours at the diner to make ends meet. And things are no better for Jasmine in middle school where she found herself mercilessly teased by mean girls.
A blessing in disguise arrives in Jasmine’s Uncle Curtis (Ice Cube), a down-and-out alcoholic who walks town cradling a football every where he goes. The former high school standout’s need to clean up his act conveniently dovetails with his niece’s for a father figure and an after-school activity.
Of course, it isn’t long before Curtis is teaching his promising protégé to play quarterback and encouraging her to try out for the local all-boys team. In fast order, Jasmine’s ability soon wins the starting job, followed by a string of victories that takes the team to the title game. While The Longshots doesn’t have nearly the charm of Ms. Palmer’s Akeelah and the Bee, at least this well-intentioned variation on the theme does offer a wholesome message apt to be appreciated by minors.
A pleasant, if predictable, tale of female empowerment ideal for the under ten set.

Good (2 stars)
Rated PG for mild epithets, mature themes and crude humor.
Running time: 95 minutes
Studio: Genius Products
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, “The Making of” featurette, conversations with Ice Cube and the director, a documentary about the real Jasmine Plummer, and the theatrical trailer.

To see a trailer for The Longshots, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WM6w6hTfHE

The Real Great Debaters DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Documentary Relates True Story of the Great Debaters

A year ago, Denzel Washington directed and co-starred in The Great Debaters, a compelling, if fanciful docudrama which recounted how a debate team from an unheralded, Southern black college had traveled in 1935 from Texas to Cambridge, Massachusetts to defeat Harvard and win the national championship in a competition aired live, coast to coast, on national radio. Unfortunately, because Hollywood had taken considerable liberties with the truth in bringing the tale to the big screen, many of the events were either sensationalized or fabricated entirely, and the ensuing controversy resulted in a desire of many to separate fact from fiction.
As it turns out, the truth proves to be just as riveting to anyone interested in this critical chapter of African-American history. For tiny Wiley College, led by its intrepid and dedicated coach, Professor Melvin B. Tolson, did in fact defeat the reigning champion, but that all-white team was not from Harvard, but USC. Also, the film had combined and/or conflated the members of the original debate team into simplistically-drawn archetypes ostensibly in the interest of fashioning readily-recognizable characters for an easily-digested inspirational yarn with mass appeal.
Now, however, thanks to director Brad Osborne, we have The Real Great Debaters, a fascinating documentary which doesn’t merely correct the record, but amplifies that priceless legacy by sharing a cornucopia of rich details about Tolson and his talented young protégés, Hobart Jarrett, Hamilton Boswell, Rudolph Henry Heights, James Farrmer, Jr., and Henrietta B. Wells. Archival footage, newspaper accounts and the wistful recollections of friends, family and luminaries combine to paint a rich picture of the complete lives of Tolson and his team and how they managed to beat the odds en route to their amazing accomplishment.
An overdue, posthumous tribute to some African-American role models worthy of emulation.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 74 minutes
Studio: AS Pictures
DVD Extras: Extended interviews, rare historical film footage, “Behind the Scenes” featurette, “Life at Wiley College” documentary, and much more.


To see a trailer for The Real Great Debaters, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnLo6AkT_ZE

Garden Party DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Day in Life Drama about L.A. Rebels Arrives on DVD



When April (Willa Holland) catches her pervert stepfather peeping at her in the shower again, she decides its time for her to leave home. However, the spunky runaway soon discovers that it’s hard for a 15 year-old girl to find a decent-paying job that doesn’t involve taking off her clothes or worse. Although she can make $450 per session posing for nude photos, she’d prefer to survive without relying on the sex industry.

Consequently, wandering the streets leads April to the sleazy side of

Sunset Boulevard where her path crosses with other rudderless rebels without a clue pursuing a bohemian lifestyle. For instance, there’s Sammy (Erik Smith), a just off the bus, struggling street musician hoping for superstardom, and Todd (Richard Gunn), a porn-addicted artist.

He finds himself like putty in the hands of powerful realtor Sally St. Clair (Vinessa Shaw), a seductive temptress with a knack for spotting lost souls. And then we have, Nathan, (Alexander Cendese), an aspiring dancer from Nebraska, makes ends meet as Sally’s assistant, helping his devious boss implement her kinky agenda.

A seemingly endless stream of such morally-compromised characters dominates the screen in Garden Party. These unfortunate individuals share a certain desperation which suggests that present-day L.A. is a place where far more dreams are being dashed than realized.

Written and directed by Jason Freeland, the film paints a convincing, if dizzying picture of Tinseltown as a dangerous den of iniquity that eats away at one’s optimism until you capitulate and become just as jaded and hardened as the vultures who have made a career out of preying on the naïve and needy. Not exactly a feelgood drama, but nonetheless an eye-opening peek at the ugly underbelly of a merciless metropolis that could care less about the fate of the least of its brethren.



Very Good (3 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 88 minutes

Studio: Lions Gate Home Entertainment



To see a trailer of Garden Party, visit: http://www.gardenpartymovie.com/gardenparty.html#trailer

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

For movies opening December 5, 2008





BIG BUDGET FILMS



Cadillac Records (R for sexuality and pervasive profanity) Historical drama chronicles the rise of the legendary record company founded in Chicago in the Fifties by Leonard (Adrien Brody) and Phil Chess (Shiloh Fernandez), siblings who roamed the South in search of promising talent, and discovered such future musical greats as Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Etta James (Beyonce’), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and (Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer). With Emmanuelle Chriqui, Columbus Short, Gabrielle Union and Eric Bogosian.



Extreme Movie (R for pervasive profanity, nudity and sexuality involving teens) Ensemble comedy features a series of raunchy vignettes revolving around teens with kinky fetishes ranging from virtual reality to midgets to farm animals. Cast includes Michael Cera, Frankie Muniz, Jamie Kennedy, Christina DeRosa, Ryan Pinkston, Cherilyn Wilson, Kevin Hart and Melvin “Shorty” Rossi.



Frost/Nixon (R for profanity) Ron Howard directs this screen adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway play recounting the series of television interviews conducted by British talk show David Frost (Michael Sheen) with Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) in 1977, three years after the disgraced U.S. President resigned from office in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Supporting cast includes Toby Jones, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell.



Punisher: War Zone (R for pervasive violence, profanity and drug use) Ray Stevenson takes over the title role from Thomans Jane in this action-driven sequel as the vigilante superhero of comic book fame now waging a one-man war on an organized crime syndicate run by a vicious mobster known as Jigsaw (Dominic West).





INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS



The Black Balloon (Unrated) Coming-of age drama from Australia about a new kid in town (Rhys Wakefield) who’s fearful that his autistic older brother’s (Luke Ford) embarrassing antics might ruin his budding relationship with a cute classmate (Gemma Ward). Cast includes Toni Colette, Erik Thomson and Lisa Kowalski.



Ciao (R for profanity and sexuality) Homoerotic drama about the intercontinental romance which blossoms over the internet between two men (Adam Neal Smith and Alessandro Calza) who start corresponding with each other after the death of a mutual friend (Chuck Blaum). (In Italian, Mandarin and English with subtitles)



Dust (Unrated) Scientific documentary from Deutschland examines the ability of tiny particles to penetrate people and everything else in the universe, and thereby affect the cosmos in a variety of ways, including causing illnesses. (In German with subtitles)



The End of America (Unrated) Post-democracy documentary chronicles the chilling similarities between the loss of liberties in the U.S. since 9/11 under the Bush administration and the rise of fascism, historically, in formerly free societies.



Hunger (Unrated) Bittersweet bio-pic about the last six weeks in the life of Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender), the Irish Republican Army leader who starved to death behind bars in 1981 while on a hunger strike demanding political prisoner status.



Let Them Chirp Awhile (Unrated) Low-budget romantic dramedy, shot in just 18 days, about a month in the life of a struggling NYC screenwriter (Justin Rice) who spends his time walking a love interest’s (Ilana Meredith) Jack Russell terrier when he’s not hanging out with a womanizing pal (Brendan Sexton III) or feeling victimized by a plagiarizer (Zach Galligan).



Local Color (R for profanity) Genius-protégé drama, set in 1974, about the mutually-beneficial relationship forged between a troubled 18 year-old art student (Trevor Morgan) and a retired Russian widower (Armin Mueller-Stahl) who lost his joy not only for painting but living, too, after the death of his wife. With Ray Liotta, Ron Perlman and Charles Durning.



Nobel Son (R for profanity, sexuality and violent gruesome images) Dysfunctional family dramedy about a kidnapped Ph.D. student (Bryan Greenberg) who is left in the hands of his abductors when his Nobel Prize-winning father (Alan Rickman) refuses to meet their $2,000,000 demand for ransom. Talented ensemble includes Danny DeVito, Eliza Dushku, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Shawn Hatosy, Ernie Hudson and Bill Pullman.



Timecrimes (R for nudity and profanity) Sci-fi thriller about a married moan (Karra Elejalde) forced to perform an unthinkable act to return to the present after accidentally traveling backwards in time. (In Spanish with subtitles)

How about You

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Holiday Comedy Has Aging Brits Sending Santa Their Bucket List

How about You is a charming little picture set at the scenic site of an old folks nestled in a rustic region of Northern Ireland. The point of departure is right before Christmas, when most of the codgers lodging there are being picked up by relatives for the holidays.

Kate (Orla Brady), the dour widow who runs the place, is taking a break to be with her own mum for a couple of weeks, so she leaves her five remaining residents in the hands of her younger sister, Ellie (Hayley Atwell). Freewheeling Ellie is a troublemaking sparkplug who shakes the resigned quintet out of the doldrums, inspiring them to do whatever they darn well please, whether that involve disobeying doctors orders, playing poker, drinking booze, smoking pot, or belting out the classic show tune (“I like New York in June, how about you?”) cribbed in the title.

Ellie challenges the irascible Georgia (Vanessa Redgrave), terminally-ill Alice (Joan O’Hara), grumpy old Donald (Joss Ackland) and repressed spinster sisters, Heather (Brenda Fricker) and Hazel (Imelda Staunton), to live what’s left of their lives to the fullest, even if that behavior costs the establishment its elder care license. While this gang’s sinful pleasures might not be nearly as decadent as the hedonistic indulgences of the bon vivants of The Bucket List, their relatively-modest last wishes nonetheless allow for a more meaningful meditation on what really matters.

I like Dublin in December, how about you?

Very good (3 stars)
Rated R for violence, profanity and graphic images.
Running time: 90 minutes
Studio: Strand Releasing

To see a trailer for How about You, visit: http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/how-about-you/trailer

Choreographing the Folk

The Dance Stagings of Zora Neale Hurston

by Anthea Kraut

University of Minnesota Press

Paperback, $25.

320 pages, illustrated

ISBN: 978-0-8166-4712-5



Book Review by Kam Williams

“Although I studied ballet and modern from an early age, jazz dance was my greatest love... In these predominantly white spaces, no mention was made of the African-American origins of the idiom… It was not until my junior year at Carleton College… that I confronted the racial dynamics that went unspoken in those suburban jazz dance classes… It became clear just how much jazz dance, that quintessentially American form, owed to African-derived traditions… Why had it been so easy to participate in and become passionate about a dance form without learning its history?

As I continued my study of American dance history in graduate school at Northwestern, my interest in ‘invisibilized’ histories only deepened. I learned that Zora Neale Hurston had staged a concert with a spectular Bahamian dance finale about which little was known. What began as a quest for information about Hurston’s theatrical revues gradually expanded as I uncovered connections between Hurston and a number of leading dance figures.

To a great extent, the recovery project also became a case study of invisibilization – an attempt to understand the conditions that enable certain subjects and performances to be forgotten – as well as an inquiry into the implications of restoring those subjects and performances to the historical record… For Hurston’s stage work… did play a role in the composition of American dance as we know it today.“

Excerpted from the Preface (pages ix-x)



Most people think of Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) as a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a literary icon fondly remembered as the author of the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. However, many forget that she was also a gifted choreographer whose innovative productions helped transform the landscape of modern dance. Sadly, due to racism, she never received the credit she deserved for her contributions to this then emerging field.

The disrespect she was shown was very similar to the way in which African-American jazz artists were denigrated in their day, while many of the white imitators who arrived in their wake, such as the Gershwins and Tommy Dorsey, were celebrated as cultural geniuses. While seminal jazz greats like Satchmo, Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington may have belatedly gotten their due, the same can’t be said for dance where Hurston’s name is still never mentioned in the same breath as the Caucasians generally credited with accelerating the acceptance of modern during the period between the two world wars.

Now, thanks to Anthea Kraut, author of Choreographing the Folk: The Dance Stagings of Zora Neale Hurston, the slight has finally been rectified. For, the detail-oriented Professor Kraut, who teaches dance at the University of California – Riverside, goes to great pains, here, to re-authenticate Hurston’s scores and theatrical stagings, while simultaneously raising suspicions about some of her competitors who undoubtedly benefited from their lack of melanin.

A choreographic legacy restored!

Twilight

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Girl Meets Vampire in Screen Adaptation of Romantic Fantasy



Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) has decided to live with her father (Billy Burke) to make it easier for her recently-remarried mother (Sarah Clarke) to accompany her husband, a minor league baseball player (Matt Bushell), on road trips This means that Bella must move from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to perpetually overcast Forks, Washington, a dreary town whose only claim to fame is that it’s located on the rainiest spot in the nation.

At her new high school, the socially-awkward 17 year-old proves to be pretty popular, and finds herself being courted by classmates representing a variety of familiar teensploitation archetypes, from the handsome hunk (Michael Welch) to the nerdy Asian (Justin Chon) to the jive black guy (Gregory Tyree Boyce). But the shy loner opts to keep to herself until the fateful day she spots gorgeous Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) across the crowded cafeteria.

Bella’s warned on the spot by her gossipy girlfriend, Jessica (Anna Kendrick), that Ed and his four, equally-pale foster siblings are strange and keep to themselves. In fact, there’s a nasty rumor that they might date each other, and that their father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli), behaves more like a matchmaker than a legal guardian.

Nonetheless, from that moment on, Bella finds the aloof pretty boy irresistible. And Edward’s as attracted to her too, though not exactly for the same reason. What Bella doesn’t know is that he’s a vampire, albeit one trying to go vegetarian. Yet, her alluring scent operates on him like a drug, leaving him torn between treating her like a soulmate and like his next meal. So, when the two start flirting in Biology class, she hasn’t a clue that it takes all his strength to resist sinking his fangs into her neck.

The first hint Bella gets that something’s weird is when Edward saves her life by stopping a careening car with his bare hands. When she subsequently guesses that he’s a superhero like Superman or Spider-Man, he instead honestly warns her that he’s bad news. However, she’s already too smitten to keep her distance. “I trust you,” is the best response she can muster, after he eerily admits, “I’ve never wanted a human’s blood so much.”

Does this star-crossed romance stand a chance? Will Bella’s dad, the shotgun-toting, local sheriff, solve the mystery of the serial killer who’s been hunting for humans in time? Or, can the Cullen clan convince Edward that he’d be better off dating his own species?

These are the burning questions at the heart of Twilight, as inspired an overhaul of the vampire genre as you could ever hope to encounter. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), the film is based on the phenomenally-popular series of young adult novels by Stephenie Meyer.

This visually-enchanting screen version is full of surprising twists, humorous asides and novel special effects all of which combine to keep the picture quite compelling. Another plus is the convincing chemistry generated by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, a must when you’re asking your leads to execute such an improbable-sounding premise. For what female in her right mind would stay in a relationship with a freak fond of frequently saying scary things like, “I’m a killer” and “I’m the world’s most dangerous predator.”

Most importantly, since we’re essentially dealing with horror fare here, Twilight must be commended for serving up two hours of non-stop, edge-of-your-seat tension, as you never know what to expect next from this endlessly-inventive mindbender. The genre has certainly come a long way from I Was a Teenage Werewolf.



Excellent (4 stars)

Rated PG-13 for violence and sensuality.

Running time: 121 minutes

Studio: Summit Entertainment



To see a trailer for Twilight, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GbukZnl1Y

Nicki Micheaux: The Lincoln Heights Interview

with Kam Williams



Headline: Nicki Hits the Heights



Nicki Micheaux is one actress who always delivers when asked to bring a character to life, actress delivers. As a popular guest star on episodes of many of television’s best dramatic series, she is a talented thespian capable of convincingly displaying a wide range of emotions in a compelling fashion. From the tortured, drug-addicted sister of police officer Keith Charles (Mathew St. Patrick) on “Six Feet Under” to the fearless, undercover detective Trish George on “The Shield,” to the sexy temptress on the acclaimed Showtime series, “Soul Food,” Ms. Micheaux has already compiled a plethora of noteworthy performances on her impressive resume’.

She recently appeared with comedy legend Lily Tomlin in the HBO pilot, “12 Miles of Bad Road,” which was produced by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. And she also co-starred opposite Academy Award-winner Halle Berry in the critically-acclaimed made-for-TV movie, “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Among her other television credits are “The West Wing,” “NYPD Blue,” “ER,” “The Practice,” “City of Angels,” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Born in Detroit, the daughter of an Army colonel, Nicki moved around a lot, so she’s resided innumerous cities around the country. She considers Houston her hometown, although she has settled in Los Angeles with her husband and young daughter.

Here, she talks about her current role as Jenn Sutton, an independent and supportive wife and mother on the ABC Family series, “Lincoln Heights.”



KW: Hi Nicki, thanks for the time.

NM: Thanks. It’s my pleasure

KW: What initially interested you in Lincoln Heights?

NM: It was a great concept, great characters and I was really interested in seeing this loving black family trying to make a difference in the community.

KW: What is the main theme of Lincoln Heights?

NM: The notion that loving your family means doing anything to provide the best for them. Community is an extension of family and we cannot separate ourselves from the whole. We are all tied together.

KW: You play a nurse, wife and mother named Jenn Sutton. Tell me a little bit more about your character.

NM: That pretty much sums her up. She’s like a lot of women out there, juggling many balls, trying to do what’s best for her family and herself. The only unusual part is that she’s African-American. Typically black women aren’t so three-dimensional on the screen.

KW: How did you prepare for the role?

NM: Jenn is very close to who I am. So I try to just show up and be as simple as I can.

KW: Russell Hornsby is a wonderful actor who plays your husband. How do you two generate that chemistry?

NM: Oh Russell makes it easy. We’re lucky we all get along so well.

KW: As you enter the third season, are you pleased with the direction of the show?

NM: Yes.

KW: Black couples are rarely shown in a positive light on television or film. Did you have any input as to how your TV marriage should be depicted?

NM: Sure, we have a lot of open collaboration on the series. Everyone on the show agrees that Eddie and Jenn are meant to be kind of a light.

KW: You have played such a diversity of roles in your career. Is there something you have not done that you are interested in pursuing?

NM: Oh Yes! I’m waiting for my historical period piece. Either that or an epic fantasy. I can’t wait for something like that to try out.

KW: How do you feel about the election of Barack Obama?

NM: I am very inspired by the vision he has for our country.

KW: Music maven Heather Covington’s question: What are you listening to nowadays?

NM: Mostly the Backyardigans and Jack Johnson, since I spend most of my time with my daughter.

KW: Is she old enough to understand what it is you do for a living?

NM: Yes, but she thinks everyone is on TV, just like all her Disney friends, Mickey, Minnie, etcetera.

KW: Bookworm Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read? What was the last book you read?

NM: The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum.

KW: Is there a question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

NM: I can’t really think of anything.

KW: When did you know that you wanted to be in showbiz?

NM: Oh I don’t think I really want to be in showbiz. I just like to act, the “biz” part is just something I can’t get away from.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

NM: If you love the craft, stick to it. Try not to compare your path to others b/c each road to success is different.

KW: Where can fans of Lincoln Heights check you out on the web?

NM: I have a MySpace page. (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=5174591) Also www.ABCFamily.com has lots of great info on the show, as well as past episodes.

KW: Do you answer your fan mail?

NM: I love to get to as many as I can.

KW: How do you want to be remembered?

NM: As a wife, a mother, and an artist.

KW: Any new projects on the horizon for you?

NM: I’m starring in the feature RAIN which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival this year. It’s the first Bahamian feature and we’re so excited about the positive reception the film is getting.

KW: Thanks again for the interview, and best of luck with all your endeavors.

NM: Thank you so much.

A Man Named Pearl DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: DVD Celebrates Life of Black Man with Green Thumb



When Pearl Fryar needed to move to Bishopville, South Carolina in 1976 to start a new job as a janitor in a can factory located there, the first house he and his wife, Metra, settled on was located on the white side of town. However, they changed their plans upon being informed by their new neighbors that they weren’t welcome because “Black people don’t keep up their yards.”

Though hurt by the racist remark, the couple didn’t become embittered but instead bought a 3½ acre plot across the proverbial tracks in the black community. Immediately, Pearl began to cultivate a top-flight garden, determined to make those bigots eat their words by becoming the first black person to win the Iris Garden Club’s “Yard of the Month Award.”

Because he didn’t have much money to fund his ambitious enterprise, most of Pearl’s plants and seedlings came from the dump behind the local nursery. And even though this son of a sharecropper didn’t have any book knowledge about botany, he had enough of a green thumb to figure out ways to revive all sorts of ailing and abandoned vegetation.

To land the “Yard of the Month Award” he began shaping his shrubs into an eye-catching collection of over 150 topiary figures. And not only did he earn the coveted accolade, but today folks flock from all over to see his world-renowned garden. In fact, because Bishopville is in economic decline, it can thank its lucky stars that Pearl’s topiaries have turned tourism into an alternate source of revenue.

This moving story of rejection-turned-acceptance is a touching bio-pic about a humble soul who encountered entrenched racism and responded with goodwill towards all. A life-affirming documentary illustrating how a black man’s green thumb proved to be the best revenge for white intolerance.



Excellent (4 stars)

G

Running time: 78 minutes

Studio: New Video Group

DVD Extras: Bonus CD with the original film score by composer Fred Story, Pearl Fryar and co-director Scott Galloway update, composer interview and filmmaker bios.



To see the trailer for A Man Named Pearl, visit: http://www.amannamedpearl.com/

Meet Dave DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Intergalactic Eddie Murphy Vehicle Arrives on DVD



In 1984, John Sayles directed The Brother from Another Planet, a thought-provoking, sci-fi comedy about an alien who washes ashore at Ellis Island and makes his way to Manhattan where he does his best to blend in because he’s being chased by a couple of bounty hunters who had followed him to Earth. Aside from being funny, what made that screen classic worthwhile was its touching on a timely theme in a thought-provoking manner.

For the film’s protagonist was an escaped slave who looked exactly like a black man. However, he had been persecuted back on his planet not on account of his skin color but rather because he was born with only three toes on each foot.

Ironically, his effort to survive in New York was complicated by his having to accommodate himself to an unfamiliar form of prejudice, namely, American racism. Sayles’ overall aim was to make a subtle statement about bigotry of any form by showing how silly it would be to divide people into minority groups based on the number of their toes or along the lines of any other arbitrary physical characteristics.

Here, we have Meet Dave, a sci-fi adventure which borrows Brother’s basic premise, while conveniently ignoring the movie’s more meaningful aspects. The dumbing-down is no surprise since it stars Eddie Murphy last seen in the equally-brainless Norbit.

The story opens with the crash near the Statue of Liberty of Dave, an Eddie Murphy-looking spacecraft being operated by 100 tiny aliens under the command of a Captain also played Mr. Murphy. At this juncture, the movie morphs into an cringe-inducing fish-out-of-water comedy, where the naïve newcomer must survive a series of ordeals on the mean streets of Manhattan.

The worst sci-fi comedy since Eddie Murphy made The Adventures of Pluto Nash.



Poor (0 stars)

Rated PG for action, suggestive humor and mild epithets.

Running time: 90 minutes

Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Cast interviews.



To see a trailer of Meet Dave, visit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=rhDX0fTq7WY

Fred Claus DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Santa’s and Sibling Spar in Holiday Comedy Coming to DVD



This is a sitcom with plenty of failings, from a flawed premise to questionable casting to a dearth of mirth to lasting way too long. The film stars Vince Vaughn in the title role as Santa’s ne’er-do-well elder brother, opposite Paul Giamatti, who looks a little out of his element as St. Nick.

The kid-friendly plotline revolves around Santa’s generously offering his broke brother a job managing his Naughty or Nice Department during the busy holiday season. Fred bids adieu to his practically fed-up girlfriend, Wanda (Rachel Weisz) and to his orphaned next-door neighbor, Slam (Bobb’e J. Thompson), and sets out for the North Pole from Chicago.

But upon his arrival, the slacker throws a monkey wrench in Santa’s streamlined facility by encouraging DJ Donnie (Ludacris) to play distracting dance music instead of holiday hymns and jingles. Soon, the elves are partying instead of making toys, and Santa falls way behind schedule. Then, nosy Mr. Northcutt (Kevin Spacey), a Scrooge-like efficiency expert roaming the grounds, threatens to shut down the operation entirely.

To top it all off, by Christmas Eve, suddenly sick Santa is worried about the prospect of disappointing all the children around the world eagerly-anticipating the impending arrival of their presents. The solution is no surprise, as he asks his brother to deliver the gifts by sleigh for him. Of course, Fred makes the most of this opportunity to overhaul his loser image, stepping in to save the day for a fairytale finale.

Don’t make the mistake of misreading the tacked-on happily-ever-after ending as a stamp of approval for a mean-spirited production, its PG rating notwithstanding. Among the movie’s tasteless moments is when Santa slides down the chimney of a Jewish family but departs without leaving any gifts for the children because they’re of the wrong faith.

Equally insensitive is the picture’s depiction of its two African-American characters as reprobates. DJ Donnie, the only black elf, willfully screws up at his job, while little Slam is so morally-unprincipled that he pickpockets Santa on Christmas Day, as if to suggest a genetic predisposition towards criminality. Ha-ha.

A feel-bad Christmas flick, not exactly the way anybody would want to kickoff the holiday season.



Poor (0 stars)

Rated PG for mild epithets and crude humor.

Running time: 116 minutes

Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Extras: Director’s commentary and additional scenes.



To see a trailer for Fred Claus, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv9ce8cJVfg

Hancock DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Underwhelming DVD Features Will Smith as Alcoholic Superhero



John Hancock (Will Smith) is a superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public, and for good reason. First of all, he’s usually drunk and draped across a bench in downtown L.A. where he routinely harasses pedestrians, whether cursing curious little kids or trying to molest attractive women.

Worse, when he springs into action as his crime-fighting alter ego, Hancock tends to cause more trouble than he’s preventing. Just as he bottoms out he is offered a chance at redemption by Ray (Jason Bateman), a stranger he rescues from a car stuck on train tracks and about to be slammed into by a locomotive.

Grateful Ray diagnoses that all Hancock really needs is an image overhaul, so he convinces his reluctant rescuer to try counseling and to wear a superhero outfit in order to look the part. Trouble is Hancock has a big secret, which even he is unaware of because he’s suffering from amnesia. But his memory starts to come back when Ray brings him home to meet the wife (Charlize Theron).

The fatal flaw of this spoof of the superhero genre is the fact that the protagonist isn’t even likable. Who would opt to cast the ever-charming French Prince against type as a surly, foul-mouthed misanthrope? Nobody wants to root for a creep who calls women by the b-word, bullies children and makes a pass at the spouse of the only guy willing to help him.

Equally-annoying is the awkward, improbable and terribly twisted plotline which can only be comprehended with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight once all the pieces of the puzzle have finally been revealed. I’m not even sure how I would explain the resolution to an inquiring child incapable of such contorted mental calisthenics.

Don’t expect to laugh and you won’t be disappointed.



Fair (1 star)

Unrated

Running time: 102 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Five featurettes.



To see a Hancock trailer, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZQQgvhn4jg

Ellen DeGeneres: The Ellen’s Even Bigger Really Big Show Interview

with Kam Williams



Headline: Dancing with DeGeneres



Born in Metairie, Louisiana on January 26, 1958, Ellen Lee DeGeneres attended the University of New Orleans after graduating from high school, but dropped out following her first semester. After a number of unsatisfying jobs, Ellen’s started out in showbiz as an emcee at a comedy club in New Orleans. By 1982 she had already landed national recognition when her videotaped stand-up performances led to her being named the “Funniest Person in America” by Showtime.

Ms. DeGeneres then moved to Los Angeles to film her first HBO Special. That same year, she made history on the Tonight Show by becoming the first female comedian to be summoned by Johnny Carson to sit down with him after a performance.

Her acting career began on TV on the Fox sitcom, “Open House,” and she was subsequently offered a part on ABC’s “These Friends of Mine” which was renamed “Ellen” en route to enjoying a successful run from 1994 to 1998. During the series’ fourth season, Ellen came out publicly as lesbian on the Oprah Winfrey Show, as did her character in an episode watched by a record 46 million viewers.

A beloved entertainment icon, Ellen’s distinct brand of humor comic has resonated with audiences not only on television, but on the big screen (Finding Nemo) and as the author of two books. However, she’s found a home in the daytime arena with her hit syndicated talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” now in its sixth season, which has now earned a total of 25 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Here, she talks about Ellen’s Really Big Show, an annual special she’s again hosting for TBS. The one-hour variety special, filmed at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, is set to air on Saturday November 29th at 9 PM (ET/PT). During our spirited chat, Ellen also talked about the Presidential Election and about both Barack and Michelle Obama’s dance moves. And since she married her longtime companion, Portia de Rossi, in August, she was willing to weigh-in on the passage of Proposition 8 in California, a measure banning gay marriage in the state.





KW: Hi Ellen, thanks for the time.



ED: Well, thank you.

KW: You danced with both Barack and Michelle on the show. So, which one’s the better dancer,?

ED: Well, I think that we agree that Michelle was. But I think that's good. I would be worried if he was a good dancer because that would mean he’s not spending enough time working. I always worry when someone’s a good golfer, too. It's like you shouldn't have time to be good at anything. You should just be a politician and you shouldn't have time to practice golf or dancing. So I am thrilled that Michelle’s a better dancer. Although he is a good dancer, better than a lot of people that I have seen on the show.

KW: Were you surprised at how much play the dance clips from your show got on all the cable news channels?

ED: No, I wasn't that surprised about that. I guess when you get the political candidates to dance, well actually only one danced, that’s going to get some play. I have the picture of Barack and me dancing right outside of my dressing room door, I see it every single day, and it makes me very happy.

KW: Where did you develop your dance moves?

ED: I get my dance moves from just moving around and listening to music and not really worrying about if it's perfect or not.

KW: I see you have Tony Okunbogwa back this season as the show’s DJ. How is that working out?

ED: I love Tony, I love his music; I love his style, so I am thrilled to have Tony back.

KW: Have you heard from Senator McCain since his appearance on your show, since your awkward exchange?

ED: No. I don’t think we're going to keep in touch anyway. I mean, I would be

glad to take a call from him. He seems like a nice guy. That was a moment that was an obvious question for me to ask, if he doesn’t really agree with equality, and that’s what it really boils down to is equality. I wasn't going to give him too hard of a time because I understand that that's what he believes and I wasn't going to change anything. I wasn’t there to change his mind, I just wanted to present a very obvious case that we are all the same and we all deserve to have equal rights. But I am glad people watched it and, like I said, I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable. That’s not my job. It's not the kind of show I ever want to do.

KW: Do you care to comment on the outcome of the election?

ED: I was thrilled, and really proud as a lot of people are about it. It was energizing that Obama got in and I felt excited about that. But the next day, especially because Obama got in, there was a big loud voice saying you were not equal to us. And that feels bad. That feels really, really bad. And if anybody could put themselves in that situation of feeling a giant loud voice saying you don’t deserve the same rights, you are different and you are not equal, it feels really bad. So it took a little bit of air out of me from the excitement from the night before. I do feel hopeful and excited. But certainly that was an emotional day for me. The next day, I'm trying to do a show when I felt that sad inside. But I've kind of bounced back. I feel good now. I'm not really a political comedian. So I think I'm done with that. I don’t think I will be commenting further.

KW: I watched your show the day you mentioned Keith Olbermann’s commentary about Proposition Eight.

ED: I thought Keith Olbermann was so brilliant and eloquent, and that what he said is all that needs to be said. It's on our website and I hope that everybody watches it. I am sure you can find it just about anywhere. It really is just about following your heart and people really paying attention to what the right thing is.

KW: I also read an article in the LA Times by Steve Lopez where he said that what the gay movement needs is a black Elton John, a black icon.

ED: I don't understand that statement about a black Elton John. But it needs for

people to not be ignorant. It needs for people to open their minds and understand. It is a fundamental right for people to be allowed to love who they want to love and marry who they want to marry and stop holding on to some form of discrimination that it’s just isn't fair. And if you look back, as you know if you watched what Keith Olbermann talked about, this happened to black people. It’s crazy that we're still holding on to some form of this. So I don't know what it is going to take, but I do have faith that people will realize that this is wrong.

KW: What the writer was suggesting with that black Elton John comment was that, although the African-American community is generally liberal, it tends for some reason to be somewhat homophobic and anti-gay marriage. And it would help if a black superstar would come out.

ED: Well, I think, unfortunately, it all comes down to certain cultures are just

more accepting or less accepting. I understand what you're saying about that stigma and unfortunately there are a lot of very well-known black people that are gay but unfortunately closeted. And that doesn't help things that people are not able to live their lives honestly. Do you come out and just force people to deal with it, or do you wait for it to be accepted and then people get to live their lives honestly and openly? Which comes first? It's a big risk for people to have a big career and come out. And that's because of what's going on, but it would change things if people would live their lives in a way that's healthier for them really. It's not really helping anybody to live a life that isn't true to themselves. But I don't know, I have faith that people will, even without some type of a symbol, open their minds and their hearts.

KW: Have you gotten any negative feedback from people about your marriage?

ED: I think I am probably protected from a lot of stuff that would be negative. I know there's always going to be feedback no matter what the subject. I mean I am shocked by somebody commenting on my shoes or my clothes. Everyone has an opinion and especially now more and more, everyone is logging about everything and has an opinion. So I can't possibly pay attention to that. Listen, I am sure that there are station managers that carry the show in certain markets that aren't really thrilled with it because they probably are the people that would vote yes on Proposition 8. They don't agree with gay marriage, they don't understand it, and probably were a little fearful in the first place of an openly gay person. So, I am sure people have opinions about it and I am sure they don’t really love me anyway, any which way I go. So, I can't really pay attention to that. I just have to speak from my heart. I don't really ever get political on the show. But to me that was not political. To me this is just about equality and about something that is way, way overdue. But to answer your question, I am sure some people don't like it.

KW: Are there topics that Ellen, the stand-up comedian, would touch on your upcoming special that Ellen, the talk show host, wouldn’t do on her daytime show?

ED: There is really no difference between Ellen, the stand-up, or Ellen, the talk show host, or even Ellen at home. The humor that I’m still writing that you see every day on the show is the same as when I did stand-up, as when I toured. It’s just kind of commentating on absurdities and human behavior. So, as far as the special how goes, it’s not like I'm going to be topless or start cursing all of a sudden. It’s pretty much the same. Although now that I mentioned it, I may be topless. That’s sounds actually kind of exciting.

KW: What can we expect from this year's special as compared to last year's, anything different or anything big plans?

ED: Well, as the title says, it's even bigger. And, I think that's says it all. Last year it was really, really big. This year, even bigger. And you know what that means! I don't know. I think it's going to be the same kind of excitement, the same kind of acts that you have never seen before. We brought in people from all over the world that are fascinating to watch and I think most of you are going to just sit there and wonder how they even thought of this idea that that would be a possibility as a talent. That's what I am going for.

KW: Of the other comedians who will be performing, Jerry Seinfeld, Katt

Williams, Mike Epps, Jamie Kennedy, etcetera, do you have a favorite?

ED: I don't really have a favorite comedian. And it wouldn't be fair for me to say. But I think, I mean, obviously Seinfeld is just so smart, so funny. And there will be a lot of new comedians that I haven't seen. I hope I get to go see some of them because I really haven't seen any of the newer comedians, because I'm always so busy.

KW: Do you miss doing stand-up?

ED: I don't miss traveling and sleeping in a hotel every night. I mean that touring

got really old. I did it for 15 years and I had no idea I was going to be a talk show host, but I used to joke with the audience at the end of my set that someday I am going to make you come to me, and I'm not going to come to you anymore. And now they do come to me. So, I still get to do stand-up every single day. I love that live energy exchange between the audience and myself, and to get to say the things I want to say and comment on.

KW: Is there any guest you haven't been able to book on the show?

ED: Bono, because I think he's an amazing man for what he does as a humanitarian even more so than as a musician. And George Clooney, of course, we're going to capture him one day. We're going after him and he has eluded us, but we will get him. Of course, now I want Keith Olbermann on, just because I love him and I think he's brilliant

KW: Why you think people should tune in to a comedy special at this time, considering the tough economy?

ED: Well I think people need to laugh everyday, even more so now. Whether the economy is good or bad, I think the most important thing is to laugh and to feel positive, if you are laughing at something positive. But if you are laughing at mean jokes then it's a wash

KW: What is your process when you are trying out new material?

ED: I am the opposite of Chris Rock and Seinfeld and Leno and everybody. I never try out material. When I did the Oscars, when I do anything, I write it and I just have a gut feeling and I just keep tweaking and tweaking and tweaking until I think have the wording right and know what I want to say and I just say it. I don't ever go to clubs and try it out. I have writers here with the show and we collaborate on that and the same thing with this special coming up. So, I just have a feeling of what I want to say and what is the right wording and I don't ask anybody. In the very beginning, I made lots of mistakes. I did some stuff on stage that clearly didn’t go over, but you know you just keep trying, and I think part of the fun, especially early on, is letting the audience see the mistakes. They love to see that. They like to see the process. So yeah, that's always how I've done it.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

ED: I'm very happy.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

ED: Afraid! No, I'm not afraid. I'm sometimes sad. Afraid of what, just in general?

KW: The way I got that question was I asked Columbus if there’s any question nobody ever asked him that he wished someone would, and he said, “Yeah, are you ever afraid?”

ED: Oh, really. What was his answer?

KW: Yes.

ED: I wouldn't even think to say that. No, never. I don't really ever live my life in fear. I really live my life in gratitude and feeling positive for the most part, except for the other day that happened. That was sad to me, but then I realized that everything happens for a reason and it has caused this movement of people kind of standing up and saying this isn't fair. So I kind of accept everything, that it's all perfect.

KW: Bookworm Troy Johnson asks, what was the last book you read?

ED: Probably Wayne Dyer's book, The Power of Intention.

KW: And Music maven Heather Covington’s question: What music are you listening to?



ED: God, I listen to so many different things. Last night I was listening to Anthony Hamilton and Coldplay.

KW: My wife just saw Anthony Hamilton in concert this week She loved him. Thanks again for the interview, Ellen, and best of luck with everything.

ED: Thank you.



To see a video of Ellen dancing with Barack Obama, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWpvkLCvu4&feature=related



To see a video of Ellen dancing with Michelle Obama, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW3u4DugwRg&feature=related

I Can't Think Straight

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Brit Brides-to-Be Rethinking Wedding Vows in Out of the Closet Dramedy



Leyla, (Sheetal Sheth), a repressed British Muslim of Indian extraction, is about to marry a dude who has no idea she’s gay. Except for being in the closet, she has little in common with Tala (Lisa Ray), a carefree Palestinian Christian living in London. Tala has been engaged four times herself, but always seems to get cold feet prior to her wedding day.

There’s chemistry aplenty when demur Leyla, a budding novelist, crosses paths with feisty Tala, a debutante from a filthy rich family. But because they hail from very different cultures, neither of which is tolerant of homosexuality, the two are slow to follow their hearts. After all, both still live at home, so they have to contemplate the consequences of coming out. Plus, their just being friends causes controversy on account of their religious differences. About all they can agree on is that “What the Middle East doesn’t need is more Jews.”

Anti-Semitism aside, the young ladies do lock lips and fall madly in love. Surprisingly, shy Leyla is the first to summon up the courage to come out. Unfortunately, her parents’ underwhelming response is the opposite of supportive, with her mother calling lesbianism, “a huge sin,” while her father wonders how his daughter could’ve turned gay so quickly, since he’d “only been gone two hours.”

Tala, on the other hand, takes her sweet time to share her secret, preferring to drop a hint by wearing a titular t-shirt emblazoned with the words, “I Can't Think Straight,” a cleverly-concealed double entendre. Writer/director Sharmim Sarif has crafted an engaging enough sitdram to keep you enthralled while wondering how her attractive heroines’ homoerotic relationship will resolve itself.

Lipstick lesbian, Hollywood’s answer to California’s passage of Proposition 8!



Excellent (3.5 stars)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content.

Running time: 82 minutes

Studio: Regent Releasing



To see a trailer for I Can't Think Straight, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W8igqK_QWU

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

For movies opening Thanksgiving 2008





BIG BUDGET FILMS



Australia (PG-13 for violence, sensuality and profanity) Romance drama, set at the dawn of WWII just before the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese, chronicles the love relationship which blossoms between a genteel heiress (Nicole Kidman) and the rough-hewn rancher (Hugh Jackman) who helps her drive a herd of 2,000 head of cattle to market across hundreds of miles of unforgiving terrain. Aboriginal cast includes David Gulpilil, Brandon Walters and David Ngoombujarra.



Four Christmases (PG-13 for profanity and sexual humor) Dysfunctional family comedy, set in San Francisco, about an unhappily-married couple (Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) forced to spend the holidays with several sets of relatives after their plans for an exotic getaway are ruined when the fog rolls in. Ensemble cast includes Robert Duvall, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Jon Voight, Sissy Spacek, Jon Favreau and Kristin Chenoweth.



Transporter 3 (PG-13 for violence, intense action, sexuality and drug use) High-octane adventure with Jason Statham returning as the gruff, two-fisted chauffeur for a mission where he falls in love with the kidnapped daughter (Natalya Rudakova) of a powerful Ukrainian politician (Jeroen Krabbe) while driving her from Marseilles to Odessa through a gauntlet of mob goons.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Milk (R for profanity, sexuality and violence) Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk in this bio-pic about the openly-gay San Francisco politician assassinated in 1978 by a Republican colleague (Josh Brolin) who successfully raised the “Twinkie defense” to beat the murder rap. Cast includes James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Alison Pill and Diego Luna.

The Betrayal (LAOTIAN)

(Nerakhoon)

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Post Vietnam Documentary Recounts Laotians’ Attempt to Assimilate in America



Few people knew during the Vietnam War that the CIA was simultaneously financing and backing a puppet government in nearby Laos. In order to eradicate pockets of Viet Cong in the country, the previously-neutral nation proceeded to allow the U.S. to drop more bombs inside Laos than had been used in WWI and WWII combined.

Among the traitors selling out his homeland was the father of Thavisouk Phrasavath, a military man whose job involved directing B-52s on their missions. However, following the fall of Saigon, the GIs high-tailed it out of Southeast Asia, leaving the local collaborators holding the bag.

After Thavisouk’s father was arrested and imprisoned, most of the family emigrated to America including him, his mother and seven of his siblings. When they were brought directly to the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, they actually panicked, fearing that they had somehow been mistakenly relocated to Africa since so many of their new neighbors were black. But they adjusted to life in their new environment, despite having to share a two-bedroom apartment with eight strangers from Cambodia and Vietnam.

Their whole challenging ordeal is recounted in The Betrayal, a documentary that’s difficult to stomach on a lot of levels. For, not only did these lost souls suffer the loss of their beloved patriarch, which led to the crumbling of the family structure, but they had to deal with the cultural shock of the melting pot to deal with, too. And there was no turning back, because they couldn’t return to Laos because of Papa P’s having collaborated with the enemy.

One of those overcoming the odds tales which you could easily see adapted into a touching feelgood saga, if stripped of its sorrowful and sobering elements. No such luck, here, as this warts and all expose’ is designed to leave you outraged about the way America treats naive allies and about the unresolved, ugly fallout of the Vietnam conflict.



Excellent (4 stars)

Unrated

In English and Laotian with subtitles.

Running time: 96 minutes

Studio: The Cinema Guild



To see a trailer for The Betrayal, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFGqNay1lT0

It's Pimpin' Pimpin' DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Latest Katt Williams Concert Flick Released on DVD



They say there’s a thin line between genius and madness, and it’s often very hard to tell which side of the line Katt Williams is standing on. I’ve been so curious about what make’s the diminutive comic tick that I’ve scheduled several interviews with him, each of which he either canceled at the last minute or simply failed to show up for.

Now there are reports that the inspired comic recently underwent psychological testing at the urging of his concerned relatives. I can’t say I’m surprised, given his long being associated with bizarre behavior, such as walking down a red carpet with a noose around his neck at the time that the Jena 6 case was in the news.

Whether he’s insane or simply insensitive, Katt brings an undeniable intensity to everything he does as an entertainer, whether it’s his standup act or playing an over-the-top character in a movie. The dude is funny-looking enough even before he opens his mouth, between his short stature, loud pimp outfits and that flowing mane of relaxed hair. So, by the time he finally starts to speak in that high-pitched squeal of his, the audience is already well-primed to burst into laughter.

This latest concert flick captured Katt’s act onstage in historic Constitution Hall in DC, where his material appropriately covered plenty of politics and current events. He saved some of his most scathing remarks to skewer George Bush and Hilary Clinton, referring to the latter by the b-word for assuming she’d get the black vote because of her husband.

But with Katt, a curse or an ethnic slur can just as easily be a term of endearment, as he repeatedly employs the N-word while promoting Barack Obama’s candidacy. Brash, bright and brutally-honest with a unique perspective to share, here Katt Williams serves up another shocking show which definitely won’t disappoint his legions of loyal fans.



Very Good (3 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 77 minutes

Studio: Salient Media/Vivendi Entertainment

DVD Extras: Behind the scenes footage and a featurette entitled “A Day with Katt Williams in DC.”



To see a trailer for It's Pimpin' Pimpin', visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ratmcknDTc&feature=related

Still Trippin’ DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Steve Harvey Adds Blue Humor Back to His Standup Act

Steve Harvey was one of the Original Kings of Comedy, along with Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley and the late Bernie Mac. In the wake of the success of that brilliant standup concert film, Steve became a Born Again Christian and released Don’t Trip, a spiritually-oriented standup flick which was totally clean.
Since then, the irrepressibly funnyman has shaved his head and added foul language back into his act, the net result being a hilarious, if often profane, DVD called Still Trippin’. For the occasion, Steve brought his special brand of observational humor to Newark, New Jersey, where he filmed an expletive-laced performance in front of a very enthusiastic audience.
The movie marks the colorful comic’s fifth solo special, and the subjects he touches upon here are generally quite topical. He jokes about everything from the female astronaut caught wearing soiled adult diapers after driving 1,000 miles to murder her lover’s other girlfriend, to the homely-looking housewives in that polygamous cult located in Texas, women he compares to Aunt Bee of The Andy Griffith Show and Jane Hathaway of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Steve also delves into politics, discussing the differences between Obama to McCain, and taking potshot at president Bush’s “lying ass.” Besides that, he weighs in on the Michael Vick sentence, on ignorant people, on fat husbands, and on why you ought to get all the recommended inoculations before visiting Africa.
Overall, the blue Steve Harvey rates an A, although this critic would prefer that he leave out the cursing, since he already proved to me that he can be just as funny without four-letter words.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 106 minutes
Studio: CodeBlack Entertainment

To see a trailer for Still Trippin’, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK-VeQ8howI

Bolt

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Movie Magic Aplenty in Animated Action Adventure Available in 3-D



Bolt (John Travolta) is a normal dog who mistakenly thinks that he actually possesses the superpowers he displays as the hero of a TV action series. The white German shepherd is clueless about the truth because, since he was a puppy, he’s been raised on a set specially-rigged to trick him into believing that he really has the ability to perform amazing feats like subduing bad guys with his devastating bark and melting steel with his penetrating heat vision.

These delusions of grandeur have never been a problem for the pampered pooch, given that he’s had no contact with the outside world. Consequently, the only reality he’s ever known is the insulated studio environment in which he’s the pet of Penny (Miley Cyrus), the actress who pretends to be his crime-fighting partner. She resents the show’s director (James Lipton) who goes to such great lengths to keep up the charade that he even denies her request to take her canine co-star home with her over the weekend.

Everything changes the day Bolt slips out of his cage and, after a comedy of errors, accidentally ends up in a box being shipped to New York City where a rude awakening lays in wait. For not only are the streets of Manhattan mean enough to begin with, but they prove to be tougher still for a dog who expects to have an array of extraordinary powers at his paw tips.

Thus unfolds Bolt, an enchanting animated adventure that’s fun for the whole family. Available for screening in either a flat or 3-D format, it is this critic’s suggestion that you opt for the latter, if you don’t want to miss an opportunity to appreciate state-of-the-art techniques offering a visually-stimulating experience that’s substantially-enhanced by the investment in 3-D glasses. Just don’t be surprised to find yourself ducking to avoid vehicles hurtling in your direction or reaching up to grab dangling objects that appear close enough to touch.

Special-effects wizardry aside, this uplifting tale, more importantly, has a bounty of heartwarming messages to share about honesty, loyalty, humility, faith and other virtues. The tykes will learn an early lesson about what matters most in life watching frustrated Bolt adjust to his diminished status as a mere mortal.

He must grudgingly befriend a lowly alley cat (Susie Essman) and clumsy hot-house hamster (Mark Walton), enlisting their help to find his way back to Hollywood. En route, the unlikely trio bond while overcoming the host of ever-escalating calamities placed in the path between the homesick hound and a teary reunion with the equally-inconsolable Penny.

Another instant kiddie classic from Disney!



Excellent (4 stars)

Rated PG for mild action and scenes of peril.

Running time: 96 minutes

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures



To see a trailer for Bolt, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDWPsoKQoOs

Evan Ross: The Gardens of the Night Interview

with Kam Williams



Headline: God Bless the Child: Diana’s Baby Has Got His Own



Evan Olaf Ross was born in Greenwich, Connecticut on August 26, 1988 to pop diva Diana Ross and Norwegian shipping magnate Ame Naess. Following not only in his mom’s footsteps, but in those of three of his sisters (Tracee Ellis Ross, Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Leona Naess), Evan entered showbiz at an early age, making an impressive film debut as T.I.’s troubled younger brother in the critically-acclaimed ATL.

Next, he received rave reviews for his NAACP Image Award-nominated performance as a troubled teen in the made-for-TV movie Life Support. He then returned to the big screen for another memorable outing as a stammering swimmer in Pride. That, in turn, led to his being signed to do eleven more pictures, including his current release, The Gardens of the Night, a harrowing drama about kidnapping, child molestation and homeless kids co-starring Gillian Jacobs, Tom Arnold, John Malkovich and Harold Perrineau.

Here, Evan talks about his new flick, s well as everything from his budding musical career to Barack Obama to his close relationship with his mother.



ER: Hey Kam, how’re you doing?

KW: Very well, thanks.

KW: How do you feel about Barack Obama winning election?

ER: I feel like we’ve been saved. I’m happy that we have a good person as president. I think that’s important.

KW: Your father’s from Norway. Do you speak Norwegian?

ER: Very little. I can understand some. I should have learned more, because I lived there for a long time. I am sure that I will at some point take the time to learn to speak it.

KW: Where did you live over there?

ER: Oslo.

KW: And where else did you live growing up?

ER: Let’s see… Switzerland… Greenwich, Connecticut… New York… Los Angeles… London... And we spent a year in France. My mom lived there longer when she was trying to make the Josephine Baker Story.

KW: So, what prompted you take on another challenging role in Gardens of the Night?

ER: Actually, I loved it from the moment I read the script, because I had just seen a very interesting documentary my mother recommended to me called Streetwise, about how homeless kids survive on the streets. So, when I read Gardens of the Night I thought it was an incredible idea and such a great story.

KW: Your female co-star is white, which had me wondering whether this was a case of colorblind casting?

ER: The role of Donnie wasn’t originally written for an African-American, but I kept meeting with them and auditioning because I really wanted to be a part of the film. I kept fighting for the role, and ended up doing it. More than anything, this was a passion project for everybody associated with the film, especially because it was such a tough subject.

KW: I hope that this approach to casting is a sign of things to come.

ER: Damian [director Damian Harris] was really great about that issue. He saw that skin color isn’t an issue among kids living on the street. Their worry is survival. So, I think that it was really great how he handled it in the movie. Never once was color talked about or made an issue. No one asked, why was this white girl with me. It never came up, and that’s the way I think it should be. It’s a non-issue.

KW: How was it working with Gillian Jacobs? You shared so many haunting scenes together.

ER: Really, really great. It ended up just being me and her and the director, not only on the set, but we also spent a lot of time with children in homeless shelters. I had been blind to the fact that there were that many homeless kids. It was very hard for all of us sitting with them and having them talk about their lives and share all the emotions of what they’re going through. Gillian and I really bonded after that to keep each other’s spirits up because it was such a heavy experience. As a result, we had great chemistry, so working with her was good.

KW: Was this your most emotionally-challenging role to date?

ER: Of the movies released so far, yes, although I have some others that will be coming out, like Black Water Transit, which were equally-challenging, but in a different sort of way... The more I think about it, Gardens of the Night might have been the toughest, since it took so long to shoot, and it was heavy being with the homeless kids and in their environment.

KW: Do you think you’re getting typecast as someone who only plays troubled characters?

ER: No, I’ve been the one kind of choosing to go in that direction. I like showing reality. But I have a more upbeat film coming out that I did with Hilary Duff called Greta. I play a more strong-willed character in that movie. But I like reality, because I think we shy away from showing the truth when we don’t need to cover up the truth. So, the way I choose projects is based on what I think is most real and most interesting, not on what’s paying the most money or what’s most popular.

KW: When did you develop an interest in acting?

ER: I always loved movies, especially watching some of my mom’s films when I was younger, like Out of Darkness, where she played a schizophrenic. I always found it interesting that I was still able to see her in each role, even though she was playing these different characters.

KW: Do you enjoy any other forms of artistic expression besides acting?

ER: I have many creative outlets. I sing, I like music, I like art, I paint, I draw. I like buying art. I read a lot, too. I love books. And I’m working on a clothing line, too.

KW: You already made a movie with your sister Tracee, Life Support. Any plans to do one with your mom?

ER: I would love to at some point. I talk to her about it all the time. I ask her when she’s going to do another movie herself. She says that because it calls for a serious commitment of time, she’ll only do it if it’s something special that makes sense and that she’s a big part of creating it. It’s hard doing these films when you don’t have any creative control, and you want it to look a certain way because you believe in it. So, I feel that if it made sense, she would do it. But I would love to do something with her, whether she’s playing my mom, or another character. I love her work as an actress.

KW: How about doing music with your mom?

ER: We’re doing that now. I’ve been making music for a long time, but I’ve been waiting to do it right, because I don’t want people to think it’s just a stepping stone in my career. A lot of actors go that route as a way of building their careers. I don’t want it to be seen as that. Because, like with my acting, my interest is not commercial, but to create something that I really love.

KW: So, who are you in the studio with?

ER: I’m working with Dallas Austin and some others who are not only really talented but who I love as people. Plus I’m on the phone with my mom, Stevie Wonder, and Michael, and getting their input in finding out how I’d like to do it.

KW: By Michael, do you mean Michael Jackson?

ER: Yeah, I talk to him a lot, advice-wise, musically. But I speak to mom the most. We go down to the studio and just kind of be creative and come up with new ideas. We have a lot of great stuff. But I’ve been singing my whole life, so it’s on its way.

KW: How would you describe your sound?

ER: Vocally, it’s got an R&B soulful sound, but it’s got a lot of guitars, too. Dallas has a great new sound that he’s working with, and we’re kinda just creating something new. People will like it and it will work, but it’s not the same as anything you’re hearing now.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

ER: Yeah.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

ER: Am I ever afraid? That’s a great question. Yes, a lot.

KW: Is there a question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

ER: I like both Columbus’ and Tasha’s questions. Those are personal questions that don’t get asked. They might not make sense to a lot of your readers, but those are actually a couple of great questions. What else have some people said they’ve never been asked?

KW: In a totally different vein, Taraji Henson said no one ever asked her what color panties she’s wearing. How about bookworm Troy Johnson’s question: What was the last book you read?

ER: Woman, a novel by Charles Bukowski. I love his work, and I find him interesting as a person. He’s quite a character.

KW: Music maven Heather Covington’s question: What’s music are you listening to nowadays?

ER: A lot of old music, Motown… Marvin Gaye... Rock and Roll… The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. I still listen to the Donny Hathaways, and I’m just discovering some lesser-known songs of my mom that I never heard of.

KW: I still love that album she did with Marvin Gaye with You Are Everything and a lot of other classics. It’s one of those perfect albums where every song is great.

ER: Yeah, it’s incredible. And so many people have never heard that album. I love those songs.

KW: “Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan question: Where in L.A. do you live?

ER: I live in the Hills. Not long ago, I bought my first house, which is a big responsibility, but I enjoy it. [Laughs] It’s nice, but I didn’t realize how big a responsibility it was, especially when I’m moving around so much. But I’m up in the Hills, and close to a lot of friends and people I work with. I enjoy where I’m at, the Sunset Plaza area. I might want to be further away at some point, but I know me, and if I spend too much time by myself, I think way too much. I like being around people.

KW: Does your mom live in Los Angeles, too?

ER: Yes, she does. She lives very close to me. She’s back and forth between L.A. and Greenwich. It’s more peaceful for her out there. It can be hard for here with the paparazzi around. So, she stays inside a lot or goes down to Malibu.

KW: Are you able to go to the mall or the movie theater without getting mobbed?

ER: Of course. I’m not afraid of people, and I do whatever I want. I think that when you start rolling with an entourage, you attract attention and you tend to create this whole big thing. My mom taught me that when you keep a low profile most people tend to totally miss you because they’re not expecting anything. I was just in Atlanta, working with Dallas, and it was interesting to see how many people knew me from ATL.

KW: How close are you to your mom?

ER: Me and my mom are extremely, extremely close. And I’m very close with Tracee and my other siblings. They all look out for me because they think I’m a little crazy. And I do the same for them. I love that we’re all very close. And my brother, Ross, who’s ten months older is great. He’s in college in New York. I go there to spend time with him, and he comes out to visit, too.

KW: How do you want to be remembered?

ER: That’s hard to say. I want to be remembered for the good work that I’ve done, for the positive work, and as somebody who was innovative and who people enjoyed.

KW: Hey, Evan, thanks for the interview, and best of luck with the movies, the music, and all your other endeavors.

ER: Thank you so much. It was a pleasure.



To see a trailer for Gardens of the Night, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM2I6-D2ah8

A Christmas Tale (FRENCH)

(Un Conte de Noel)

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Holiday Flick Finds Dysfunctional Family Convening for Eventful Reunion



Don’t be tricked by director Arnaud Desplechin’s deceptively benign title, this flick doesn’t spin a heartwarming yarn in the manner of such seasonal classics as It’s a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story. No miracles lay in wait for any unfortunate orphans in this relatively sobering saga set in France.

If Jerry Springer ever decided to shoot his TV show in Paris, the protagonists of this picture, the Vuillards, would make excellent guests. For this dysfunctional family has more compelling drama than you can shake a stick of French bread at. And at the point of departure we find the clan convening at the family manse in advance of the Christmas holidays for a reunion guaranteed to stir up trouble.

The ringmaster of the three-ring circus is matriarch Junon (Catherine Deneuve), a cancer patient suffering from the same strain of leukemia which took the life of one of her sons many years ago when the boy was only 7. Today, she and her husband, Abel (Jean-Paul Roussillon), have three adult children, Henri (Mathieu Amalric), Elizabeth (Ann Consigny) and Ivan (Melvil Poupard) who arrive burdened by considerable emotional baggage as well as unresolved sibling rivalry.

For example, playwright Elizabeth has little patience for ne’er-do-well Henri, because she once had to bail him out of a bad investment for which their father had cosigned. The two haven’t spoken to each other since, so this occasion offers an opportunity for long-simmering fireworks to explode. Ivan, on the other hand, has issues with Simon (Laurent Capuletto), an orphaned cousin raised under the same roof.

It seems that Simon has been hiding a secret crush on Ivan’s wife, Sylvia (Chiara Mastroianni) since they were teenagers, so what better time to let the cat out of the bag than Christmas. All of the above is just the tip of the iceberg, as Junon is urgently in need of a bone marrow transplant. Thus, the burning question which permeates the air at the gathering is whether any of her relatives might be a suitable match.

Despite its relentlessly-grim overarching theme, A Christmas Tale’s absorbing array of richly-developed characters invariably embroiled in incestuous folderol easily outweighs the unpleasant tone of this otherwise depressing escapade. All that’s missing is Jerry Springer refereeing the play-by-play.

How do you say, “Don’t even go there, girlfriend!” in French?



Excellent (3.5 stars)

Unrated

In French with subtitles.

Running time: 152 minutes

Studio: IFC Films



To see a trailer for A Christmas Tale, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1yPhab421Q

Tropic Thunder DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Controversial Ben Stiller Action Comedy Comedy Comes to DVD



You know you’re asking for trouble when you make a movie with a white actor in blackface wearing a lower lip extension who’s always talking jive jibberish, and with a mentally-challenged character who is repeatedly teased about his disability. Consequently, it’s no surprise that this comedy, written and directed by Ben Stiller, would stir up so much controversy.

Superficially, the storyline sounds innocuous enough. It revolves around a Vietnam War flick being shot on location. Early on, we learn that each of the film’s stars has his own selfish reason for participating in the project. One (Stiller) is trying to rebound from a poorly-reviewed picture. Heroin-addict Jeff (Jack Black) wants to overhaul his image after a kiddie hit filled with fat and fart jokes.

An Oscar-winner (Robert Downey, Jr.) likes the challenge of playing an African-American, while Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) is a hot hip-hop artist out to parlay his musical success into a screen career. Finally, there’s a virtual unknown (Jay Baruchel) who’s just happy to get his big break.

However, disaster strikes soon after their arrival in Southeast Asia, when the director (Steve Coogan) is blown to bits by a land mine. It turns out that they’ve been mistaken as enemy invaders by bloodthirsty guerillas running a drug-smuggling operation. So suddenly, these clueless, pampered Hollywood actors suddenly have to fend for themselves in the jungle.

This provides plenty of fodder for a surprisingly clever satire of the war movie genre. For Tropic Thunder is an intelligent and frequently funny film with some profound points to make about the shallowness of the movie industry. Unfortunately, those relatively-subtle insights are likely to be lost on those too busy laughing at all the slapstick and cruel humor coming at the expense of minorities to bother to appreciate the movie’s deeper message.



Very Good (3 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 120 minutes

Studio: Dreamworks Home Entertainment

2-Disc DVD Extras: Filmmaker commentary, cast commentary: with Ben Stiller,
Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr., deleted and extended scenes, an alternate ending, video rehearsals, plus much more.


To see a trailer of Tropic Thunder, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pxOzSpUXtg

Bushwick Homecomings DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: DVD Revolves around Returns to Roots of Girl from the ‘Hood



When 31 year-old Stefanie Joshua was growing up in Bushwick, Brooklyn, her crime-infested neighborhood was a scary place where gunshots rang out every night. During the day, she had to run a gauntlet of crack and heroin dealers hanging on the corners, and she was even robbed of her gold necklace while riding the subway on her way home from school.

Coming of age in the Nineties during the rise of gangsta rap meant that many members of the Hip-Hop Generation would become victims of street violence. And the death in 2002 of a gentle friend nicknamed Poohbear inspired Stefanie to return to her roots to find out what became of some of the kids she grew up with.

For Ms. Joshua had somehow escaped the ghetto and attended Stony Brook University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics. Next, she earned an MA in Sociology at CCNY, writing her master’s thesis on delinquency and social disorganization theory.

Though she had no formal training in filmmaking, Stefanie started interviewing men from her block, encouraging them to reflect honestly on their challenging childhoods. The result is Bushwick Homecomings, a remarkable documentary which leaves the viewer with the feeling that it’s a miracle that any of them could have survived such a dysfunctional and dangerous concrete jungle.

Ironically, the picture also points out that blacks are currently disappearing from the area which is belatedly benefiting from an aggressive urban renewal program. With gentrification gradually erasing the African-American footprint from the community, Bushwick Homecomings stands as all the more significant as an historical record of tougher times and a tribute to those still around to talk about them.



Very Good (3 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 37 minutes

DVD Extras: Director’s statement plus previously unreleased footage.



To see a trailer of Bushwick Homecomings, visit: http://www.bushwickhomecomings.com/trailer.htm

Mister Lonely DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Michael Jackson Look-a-Like Dominates Drama Due on DVD



A Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) has been eking out a living on the streets of Paris even though, except for the trademark dance moves, felt fedora and a single glove, he doesn’t really look anything like him. As fate would have it, while performing for the elderly at a senior citizen center he meets a hauntingly-beautiful Marilyn Monroe look-a-like (Samantha Morton).

Sensing that “Michael” is a lost and lonely soul, she invites him home to her castle in the Scottish Highlands where she lives with a host of other celebrity wannabes, including her mustachioed husband, Charlie Chaplin (Dennis Lavant), and their mop-topped, six year-old daughter, Shirley Temple (Esme Creed-Miles).

Michael takes her up on the generous offer, as much because he was instantly smitten, as for the company of like-minded oddballs. Upon their arrival at the seaside estate, Marilyn matter-of-factly announces, “I found a Michael,” whereupon the stranger finds himself welcomed into a community of losers pretending to be everyone from Madonna (Melita Morgan) to Sammy Davis, Jr. (Jason Pennycooke) to James Dean (Joseph Morgan) to Abraham Lincoln (Richard Strange) to Buckwheat (Michael-Joel Stuart) to the Pope (James Fox) to Little Red Riding Hood (Rachel Korine) to the Queen of England (Anita Pallenberg) to The Three Stooges, Moe (Daniel Rovai), Larry (Mal Whiteley) and Curly (Nigel Cooper).

The front story of this uneven production revolves around this motley crew’s plans to put on a vaudeville show. Meanwhile, a subplot revolves around the simmering sexual tensions which arise between Michael and Marilyn after she rejects her hubby because he reminds her more of Hitler than Chaplin.

Unfortunately, once the novelty of all the celebrity impersonations wears off, the film never gives you much of a reason to care about the predicaments of any of its cardboard characters.



Fair (1.5 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 112 minutes

Studio: Genius Products

DVD Extras: Deleted scenes and “The Making of” featurette.



To see a trailer of Mister Lonely, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lybo2JQc2zM

The House of Sleeping Beauties (GERMAN)

(Das Haus der Schlafenden Schonen)

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Grieving Widower Turns to Hookers for Relief in Grim Drama from Germany



Edmond (Vadim Glowna) has been down in the dumps since the day his wife and daughter died in a single car accident which he suspects might have been a suicide. Now, the grieving widower is merely going through the motions, for he doesn’t see much meaning in either his job or home life anymore.

The deteriorating state of Edmond’s psyche has not been lost on his best friend, Kogi (Maximilian Schell), who tries to boost his pal’s spirits by recommending a discreet whorehouse he’s heard rumors about. Glum Ed has his chauffeur drop him off at the upscale escape which happens to cater specifically to lonely senior citizens.

The place is run by an officious, imperious madam (Angela Winkler) who explains that johns get to spend the night with a drugged, naked young thing on the condition that they never attempt to arouse the girls from their very deep sleep. Edmond agrees, and soon realizes that a warm attractive body is just the comfort he’s subconsciously been craving. So, he becomes a regular customer, and the visits seem somehow to offer him at least an intermittent escape from his intractable depression.

Unfortunately, all is not on the level, and a big surprise lays in wait in “The House of Sleeping Beauties,” a macabre mystery based on the Japanese language novella by Yasunari Kawabata. For, while economist Milton Friedman might have warned that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, Mr. Kawabata seems to be suggesting that there’s also a bigger price than money to pay for taking pleasure in feeling up semi-comatose coeds.

Despite the fact that its premise sounds like it was dreamed up by a pervert who depends on that date rape drug for a social life, the picture’s surprising twist leads to a resolution which makes the molestation easier to swallow. Viva Viagra!



Very Good (3 stars)

Unrated

In German with subtitles.

Running time: 99 minutes

Studio: First Run Features



To see a trailer for The House of Sleeping Beauties, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqlTKCgSXJ8

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening November 21, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Bolt (PG for mild action and scenes of peril) Disney animated adventure about a German Shepherd TV star (John Travolta) who discovers he doesn’t really have any superpowers after being accidentally shipped from Hollywood to NYC when he has to embark on a humbling cross-country trek home with the help of a cat (Susie Essman) and a hamster (Mark Walton). Voice cast includes Miley Cyrus, James Lipton, Malcolm McDowell and wrestler Randy Savage.

Twilight (PG-13 for violence and sensuality) Horror flick revolving around the unlikely romance which arises between a beautiful young woman (Kristen Stewart) and a mysterious, immortal vampire (Robert Pattinson) irresistibly lured by her primal scent.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Antarctica (Unrated) Romance drama, set in Tel Aviv, about the love triangle which evolves when a couple of best friends (Tomer Ilan and Yuval Raz) fall in love with the same journalist (Guy Zoaretz). (In Hebrew with subtitles)

The Betrayal (Unrated) Vietnam War Era documentary, narrated and co-directed by Thavisouk Phrasavath, chronicles the impact of U.S. foreign policy on his family which was forced to emigrate from Laos to America due to his father’s involvement with the conflict. (In English and Laotian with subtitles)

Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 (Unrated) Harvard alum Tommy Lee Jones narrates this anticlimactic football documentary which revisits the 1968 Ivy League gridiron title game via a combination of archival footage and contemporary reflections. Picture simultaneously takes a nostalgic look back at the prevailing social issues of the day, including the Vietnam War, feminism, Civil Rights and student unrest.

I Can’t Think Straight (PG-13 for sexuality) Forbidden love is the theme of this homoerotic drama about a couple of London-based brides-to-be, one, a free-spirited Palestinian Christian (Lisa Ray), the other, a repressed Indian Muslim (Sheetal Sheth), who fall in love and have second thoughts about marriage on the brink of their respective wedding days.

Lake City (R for profanity and violence) Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity co-star in this Southern drama about the return home under trying circumstances of a Prodigal Son to the family farm where he confronts his estranged mother about a deep family secret. Ensemble includes Rebecca Romijn, Dave Matthews, Drea de Matteo and Keith Carradine.

Special (R for profanity, violence and drug use) Delusions of grandeur drama about a parking meter cop (Michael Rapaport) who suffers a psychotic break after volunteering to test an experimental anti-depressant which leaves him believing he’s been transformed into a superhero.

Were the World Mine (Unrated) Sexual preference fantasy about a lonely, homosexual high school student (Tanner Cohen) who makes the most of a windfall find when he turns everybody in his hometown gay after stumbling on a magic love potion.

An Unexpected World

Poems

by Joyce Greenberg Lott

Finishing Line Press

Paperback, $12.

34 pages, illustrated

ISBN: 978-1-59924-325-2



Book Review by Kam Williams



“The youngest asks four questions.

We answer with the same old story:

A babe floats in bullrushes,

Lambs are slaughtered for blood,

The Angel of Death passes over,

A sea splits, and slaves

Walk dryshod to freedom.”



Excerpted from a poem entitled, “The Fifth Question”



The above verse, inspired by the Jewish tradition of Seder shared at Passover, appropriately opens An Unexpected World, a most evocative, revealing and moving collection of poems by Joyce Greenberg Lott. Relying on a minimalist style, the author establishes what transpires during a Seder ceremony in the first stanza before then drawing parallels between the Jews’ Biblical struggle to survive as a people and her own individual’s endeavor to deal with health issues over the course of a winter.

An Unexpected World is the third book published by Ms. Lott, a retired high school English teacher, widow, mother, grandmother, and award-winning poet and essayist. Most of the subjects addressed here tend to be of an intimate nature, for Joyce is given to brutal honesty, whether whimsically imagining herself in a “Conversation with My Lover’s Wife” or offering advice about “What to Do When You Find Out Your Husband Has Cancer.”

Several of the selections ooze a salacious sensuality, such as “Just a Woman,” “A Country You’ve Never Visited” and “Myth,” naughty poems which prove that there’s no reason at any age to repress the raw reality of one’s carnal nature. For as she so matter-of-factly puts it in as “Just a Woman”



“Sometimes I am just a woman

Too opened

and then too gently closed

to lie about my life.”



An alternately titillating and sobering tome which even features lyrical lines in Tanka for devotees of that ancient relative of the Japanese haiku.

Love Songs DVD (FRENCH)

(Les Chansons d’Amour)
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Parisian DVD Drama Features Daring Game of Musical Beds

Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) and Ismael (Louis Garrel) are a young Parisian couple stuck in a relationship which has seemingly lost its spark. So, to spice things up, they invite Alice (Clotilde Hesme), an attractive bisexual, to share their bed. However, this arrangement works out more for the frisky females who focus on each other sexually while teasing Ismael about being the world’s worst lover and a mini-Jew who isn’t circumcised.
He deals with the situation by breaking into song, something most of the characters in this amusing musical are prone to do periodically in lieu of dealing with their emotional issues in a meaningful manner. In fact, there’s a marked contrast between the storyline’s sobering themes, and the relatively lighthearted show tunes, a baker’s dozen in all, being belted out by various performers.
The plot thickens when tragedy strikes leaving Alice and Ismael unexpectedly alone. After she dumps him for another guy (Yannick Renier), he entertains the idea of going gay for the dude’s seductive brother (Gergoire Leprince Ringuet). Will he or won’t me? That’s the pressing question expected to keep you on the edge of your seat for the duration of Love Songs, the latest offering from Christian Honore.
While this flick fails to measure up to either of Honores’ last two pictures, Dans Paris or Ma Mere, the overambitious project still earns an A for effort, if only a D for execution. The film’s glaring flaw rests with the tameness of the goings-on with precious little in the way of titillation ever making its way to the screen, given all the shameless coupling and uncoupling.
Why make a movie about bohemian swingers, if all you’re going to serve up is the French equivalent of a Broadway musical?

Good (2 stars)
Unrated
In French with subtitles.
Running time: 91 minutes
Studio: Genius Products
DVD Extras: Interview with the director, theatrical trailer, and filmographies.

Mister Foe DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Dysfunctional Family Drama on DVD Features Teen Peeping Tom



17 year-old Hallam Foe (Jamie Bell) hasn’t been the same since his mother was found floating in a loch on the family’s sprawling estate. While her official cause of death was deemed suicide by sleeping pills, Hallam has good reason to suspect otherwise. After all, only a few months later, his father, Julius (Ciaran Hinds), a famous architect, married his young secretary, Verity (Claire Forlani).

Strangely, Hallam is as much physically attracted to his step-mom as he is repulsed by her because he’s convinced that she’s a murderer. These unresolved competing tensions gradually take a toll on his tortured soul, and result in his indulging a variety of perversions.

For instance, while alone in his room, he puts on his mother’s favorite dress and smears her lipstick on his face and around his nipples. But he is also something of a voyeur whose M.O. involves secretly watching women undress with binoculars.

Anyhow, Hallam realizes it’s time to leave town after a verbal confrontation with Verity turns carnal. Next thing you know, he’s trying to survive on the streets of Glasgow until he lands in the good graces of Kate (Sophia Myles), a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to his dearly-departed mum. The head of human resources for a big a hotel, she hires Hallam as a busboy who develops an Oedipal crush he feels conflicted about consummating.

This ambivalence gives the boy a good excuse to break out his binoculars, and he starts stalking his fresh prey in a slight variation on the theme he’d just escaped from back home. A kinky character study in a difficult to diagnose personality disorder which works because of the convincing performance of a brooding Jamie Bell in his most memorable outing since Billy Elliot.



Excellent (3.5 stars)

Rated R for nudity and sexuality.

Running time: 96 minutes

Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Deleted scenes and a “Behind-the-Scenes” featurette.



To see a trailer of Mister Foe, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcSImv8itV0

Bobb'e J. Thompson: The Role Models Interview

with Kam Williams



Headline: Tete-a-Tete with “The Tot Heard Round the World”



Bobb'e Jacques Thompson was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 28, 1996, the youngest of nine siblings. Like his baseball great namesake whose pennant-winning walk-off home run in 1951 was dubbed “The shot heard round the world,” this Bobby’s meteoric rise has led to his being referred to as “The tot seen round the world.”

For he exhibited promise as an entertainer early on, starting out as a rapper at the age of 5. The next year, he made his acting debut on the TV series My Wife and Kids, and he’s been working steadily in showbiz ever since.

The talented youngster has been on such shows as That’s So Raven, Human Giant, Cory in the House, Just Jordan, Whoopi, Joey and The Tracy Morgan Show. And he’s made just as much of a mark on the big screen in everything from My Baby’s Daddy to Shark Tale to Cellular to Idlewild to Fred Claus.

Here, he talks about his new movie, Role Models, a raunchy teensploitation flick where he co-stars opposite Seann “Stiffler” William Scott and Christopher “McLovin” Mintz-Plasse.



KW: Hi Bobb’e, thanks for the time.

BT: No problem, no problem.

KW: In Role Models, you have a couple of co-stars, Seann and Christopher, who are better known as Stiffler and McLovin. Do you think that might happen to you after everybody sees you playing Ronnie in this picture?

BT: Yep, everybody’s going to be like, “Hi Ronnie!”

KW: How was it on the set working with them and the rest of the cast?

BT: It was a blast! This movie was just so much fun to make. It felt like we were a family and we had a ball doing what we did.

KW: And how was David Wain as a director?

BT: Oh, he was nice. He’s a cool person to work with. He let’s you be you.

KW: Do you have a mentor in real-life, like your character?

BT: No.

KW: Have you had any wild experiences similar to what Ronnie is exposed to in the movie?

BT: No, I haven’t.

KW: You started rapping at the age of 5. Where did that ability come from?

BT: From my musical ear. I just picked it up.

KW: Were you still living in Kansas City at that time?

BT: Yeah.

KW: Are any of your other brothers or sisters actors?

BT: No, I’m the only one.

KW: Bookworm Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read?

BT: They have me reading a little Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon.

KW: Do you have a tutor, or do you go to school?

BT: I’m home-schooled.

KW: Is there any question no one has ever asked you, that you wish someone would?

BT: No, not really.

KW: Music maven Heather Covington was wondering: What music you’re listening to nowadays?

BT: I listen to Lil Wayne.

KW: Do you have any plans to make your own album?

BT: Yeah, I’m going to make a CD a little later.

KW: I heard you talking about going to church before. What’s your favorite Gospel tune?

BT: My favorite Gospel tune would probably be one of Kirk Franklin’s songs.

KW: How have you been able to be on TV so much and make so many movies and you’re not even a teenager yet?

BT: Auditions, basically. I went out to auditions.

KW: Yeah, but you have to be really good, too. Plenty of unemployed actors go to lots of auditions, but still don’t get work. What’s your secret? Have you taken a lot of acting lessons?

BT: No, I never took any acting classes.

KW: Which do you prefer comedic or dramatic roles?

BT: It doesn’t matter. They both pay the bills.

KW: [Laughs] That’s funny. You sound like a natural comedian. Have you ever considered doing standup?

BT: I’ve done it already, at the Belly Room.

KW: Where, in Hollywood?

BT: Yeah.

KW: “Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan would want me to ask you where in L.A. you live.

BT: Marino Valley.

KW: How can your fans get in touch with you?

BT: I have a page at MySpace.

KW: Do you answer your fan email?

BT: Yep, all the time!

KW: What’s your favorite hobby?

BT: Football. I play running back in a pee-wee league.

KW: Who’s your favorite pro football team?

BT: The Dallas Cowboys.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

BT: Yes.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

BT: No.

KW: Thanks, again, Bobb’e, and best of luck in the future.

BT: Okay, bye.

Quantum of Solace

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Daniel Craig Back for Second Go as 007 in Revenge-Fueled Thriller

Beyond the blond hair, there’s something decidedly un-Bond-like about Daniel Craig as 007. Perhaps it has to do with how his unassuming earthiness contrasts with the relatively-patrician pretensions of such predecessors as Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and especially Sean Connery. Be that as it may, Craig is back for an action-oriented, globe-trotting adventure apt to disappoint fans anticipating the suave spy’s sophisticated airs and other staples of the storied franchise.
For instance, instead of the peripatetic playboy’s trademark parade of a bevy of beauties, this flick finds him fairly obsessed with understanding why he had been betrayed in Casino Royale by Vesper (Eva Green), his late love interest from that picture. In fact, Bond becomes so desperate in this endeavor that he roughs up as many good guys as bad.
This development frustrates the director of the British Secret Service, M (Dame Judi Dench), who suggests “I think you’re so blinded by inconsolable rage that you don’t care who you hurt.” Then, when James continues to behave irresponsibly, his boss cancels his passport and credit cards, strips him of his license to kill and summarily calls him in from the proverbial cold, because, “When you can’t tell your friends from your enemies, it’s time to go.”
As a result, this version of Bond is a rogue agent who operates sans the futuristic firearms, armored sports car and other state-of-the-art accoutrements ordinarily equipped by M16’s genius inventor, Q, a beloved character conspicuous in his absence here. Nevertheless, Quantum of Solace does offer about double the amount of gun play, fisticuffs, foot chases and pyrotechnics, plus all the automobile, motorcycle, airplane and speedboat derring-do of the typical 007 installment. The problem is that the movie no longer feels like a Bond film when stripped of its eagerly-anticipated earmarks, but looks suspiciously similar to a high-octane Jason Bourne affair in terms of non-stop stunts and its unflappable protagonist’s inscrutable demeanor.
What does remain intact is Bond’s familiar mission to save the world from a diabolical villain bent on world domination. In this case, the creep is Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) whose benignly-named Greene Planet Corporation has for some reason been quietly acquiring ecological preserves around the planet by any means necessary.
007 discovers that Greene is a member of Quantum, the shadowy brotherhood of thieves implicated in the death of Vesper. Thus, the solution to her suicide conveniently dovetails with cracking the case. Along the way to finding answers, Bond encounters a couple of fetching temptresses in Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton) and Camille (Olga Kurylenko), a disenchanted gun moll of Mr. Greene. But he’s far too consumed withy kicking butt from start-to-finish to pause for anything more than a perfunctory appreciation of their pulchritude.
Unfortunately, Bond the bon vivant and charming ladies man who would flirt with Ms. Moneypenny and anything in a skirt is nowhere to be found. Woefully underdeveloped except for the array of exotic backdrops and the display of fighting skills, this incarnation of 007 is too busy taking on wave after wave of equally-impersonal adversaries for romance or the subtleties of espionage.
A hyperactive James Bond whose attention-deficit antics ought to resonate with the restlessness of the Joystick Generation.

Good (2 stars)
PG-13 for sexuality, violence, and intense action sequences.
Running time: 106 minutes
Studio: Columbia Pictures

To see a trailer for Quantum of Solace, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iklZGuiLJVo

Role Models

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Slackers Mentor Troubled Kids in Crass Shock Comedy

Sometimes a promising production can add up to far less than the sum of its parts. Case in point: Role Models. Director David Wain (The Ten) probably thought he had an inspired idea when he cast his crass comedy with some of the most famous faces from recent teensploits, including Seann William Scott, aka Stiffler from the American Pie franchise, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, aka McLovin from Superbad, Bobb’e J. Thompson aka Slam from Fred Claus, and blonde-of-the-moment Elizabeth Banks, who just this year has been in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Meet Dave, W. and Definitely, Maybe.
The film also features MD-turned standup comic Dr. Ken Jeong, a colorful character actor with memorable outings in Knocked Up or Pineapple Express. Then there’s Reno 911!’s Kerri Kenney and scene-stealer Jane Lynch who’s best known for her unforgettable cameo as a cougar in heat in The 40 Year-Old Virgin.
Regrettably, here, this admittedly gifted ensemble has been assembled in service of a relentlessly coarse script which fails to do justice to any of their considerable talents. Instead of having them portray fresh characters, director Wain simply attempted to cash in on their former glory by having them reprise slight variations on their most celebrated roles.
At the point of departure, we find twenty-something best friends Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Paul Rudd) visiting junior high schools to lecture students about the danger of drugs in their capacity as spokesmen for Minotaur energy drink. However, after they trash a company truck on a campus after a drunken binge during lunch, the pair ends up in court where they are offered the option of 150 hours of community service as mentors as an alternative to jail.
Although they have no parenting skills, they opt for the former, and are directed to the offices of Sturdy Wings, a charity whose inexplicably flirtatious founder (Lynch) assigns them a couple of youngsters to spend time with. Danny gets Augie (Mintz-Plasse), a 16 year-old nerd who spends all his free time dressing up in medieval outfits to participate in Dungeon and Dragons-style re-enactments, while Wheeler has his hands full with Ronnie (Thompson), a 10 year-old ghetto-gangsta with a mouth more foul than his own.
Of course, both these slackers initially prove to be failures as role models, with Danny exhibiting no sensitivity about Augie’s obsessive compulsive disorder, and party animal Wheeler carelessly exposing Ronnie to sex, drugs and rock & roll. Hauled back into court, it falls to Danny’s attorney ex-girlfriend, Beth (Banks), to beg the judge for mercy and one last chance to behave like decent Big Brothers.
Of course, they reform themselves the second time around, and more appropriately bond with the boys just before the obligatory “happily ever after” finale, but far too late in this critic’s opinion to undo the overall mean-spirited tone of the film. An irresponsible frittering away of the cinematic capital amassed by Stiffler, McLovin and other beloved icons of the teen genre.

Fair (1 star)
Rated R for nudity, profanity, sexuality and crude humor.
Running time: 99 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures

To see a trailer for Role Models, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd9WJnV9Gek

Soul Men

Film Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Sam Jackson and Bernie Mac Co-Star in Rollicking Road Comedy



Directed by Malcolm Lee (Undercover Brother), Soul Men is an adult-oriented adventure which easily earns its R rating, as it relies heavily on salty language and a decidedly blue brand of humor. The film’s formulaic premise is familiar enough, despite the overindulgence in profanity, the N-word, coarse humor and graphic sexuality.

Shamelessly borrowing elements from The Blues Brothers, Thelma & Louise and Trains, Planes and Automobiles and other buddy flicks, this rollicking road comedy makes up for its lack of originality with an earthy enthusiasm and infectious energy likely to endear it with any audience. Another plus is the sense of nostalgia generated by the movie’s postscript affectionately acknowledging the passing of both Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, a couple of cultural icons who died after shooting was completed but prior to the picture’s release.

Floyd Henderson (Mac) and Louis Hinds (Samuel L. Jackson) are former R&B legends who sang backup in a trio which a generation ago enjoyed a string of chart-topping hits. However, the group disbanded after front man Marcus Hooks (John Legend) decided to pursue a solo career. Floyd and Louis then tried touring as a duo, but a love triangle with a woman named Odetta (Monyetta Shaw) led to their breakup and quick slide into obscurity.

Now, 20 years later, Marcus has just died and the music industry is planning a big tribute concert to him at the Apollo Theater in five days. Floyd sees this as an opportunity to mount a comeback. So, he shows up unannounced at Louis’ home to find that his estranged partner’s still wants nothing to do with him, at least until a promise of a 60-40 split of the $40,000 purse.

With Louis conveniently afraid of flying, the two agree to drive cross country from L.A. to New York in what else but a classic convertible, a staple of the road genre, in this case a vintage Cadillac Eldorado. Floyd has already booked warm-up gigs at nightclubs in several cities they’re planning to pass through en route, so that they’ll be ready to perform by the time they hit the stage at the Apollo.

Of course, judging from movies, the whole point of embarking on any road trip is the concatenation of calamities which invariably ensue, and Soul Men certainly has its share of such surprises, ranging from a flat tire to a heckler to a drunken fan to a stint in jail to a one-night stand with a toothless groupie (Jennifer Coolidge). The plot thickens when our heroes rendezvous with Cleo (Sharon Leal), an aspiring-singer who might be the long-lost daughter of one of them by way of Odetta. Cleo accepts the pair’s offer to join the group and the trio arrives at the Apollo with the paternity issue resolved and right on time to give dearly-departed Marcus a glorious sendoff.

Yeah, you’ll laugh here and there at the outrageous antics of Bernie and Sam (who even prove they can sing and dance here), given their screen chemistry and larger than life personas. Just don’t expect the flava of this cinematic equivalent of bubblegum to last past the closing credits and you won’t be disappointed.



Very Good (2.5 stars)

Rated R for nudity, sexuality, ethnic slurs and pervasive profanity.

Running time: 100 minutes

Studio: The Weinstein Company



To see a trailer for Soul Men, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYUhfEVGSL8

Planet B-Boy DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Breakdancing Examined by Electrifying Documentary Out on DVD



Back in the Seventies, when black and Latino teenagers from the Bronx first began gyrating wildly and spinning on their heads on pieces of cardboard to hip-hop beats emanating from thudding boom-boxes, I doubt if anybody expected the street fad to last. But breakdancing has not only flourished, but it has spread around the planet like wildfire, finding even greater acceptance in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East than in its birthplace.

Over the years, the mesmerizing choreography has become increasingly complex, incorporating eye-popping acrobat feats into its gravity-defying routines. Today, it really ought to be an Olympic sport, since it has spawned numerous competitions, most notably, the “Battle of the Year” which features elimination rounds in 23 countries en route to the big finale.

With breakdancing now mainstream, it only makes sense for it to be the subject of its own documentary, rather than remain a cinematic sidebar seen in snippets the way it was briefly featured in flicks such as Flashdance or Zoolander.. Directed by Asian-American Benson Lee, Planet B-Boy is a joyous celebration which traces the history of freestyling while simultaneously showcasing the talents and personal lives of some modern-day practitioners coming from places as diverse as Korea, France, Germany and Japan.

An exhilarating homage which deservedly elevates the rubber-limbed performers to the level of world-class gymnasts. And to think that this internationally-embraced dance form was started somewhere in the ghetto by a poor kid with nothing more than a radio and an unbridled passion for self-expression.



Excellent (3.5 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 95 minutes

Studio: Arts Alliance America

DVD Extras: Interview with the director and behind the scenes footage from the TriBeca Film Festival.


To see a trailer for Planet B-Boy, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpntYFfVoQU

Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Feminist Explores Self and Sisterhood in Soul-Baring Biopic



Jennifer Fox intermittently repeats the melancholy refrain “I never wanted to be a girl,” over the course of this soul-baring bio-pic, even though she seems to be doing just fine as a female. The 45 year-old, NYC filmmaker devotes the bulk of her intriguing documentary to introspective ruminations by her and her friends about their love relationships.

Suffering from low self-esteem in terms of her looks, Fox frequently refers to herself as “ugly” and a “tomboy,” and wonders aloud whether she’ll ever have kids or get married. But she is pleasant enough to watch, which is important, given that she’s in virtually every scene of this six-hour gabfest. She’s also intelligent, insightful, likable and brutally honest about the intimate details of her unconventional lifestyle, which makes her a rather worthwhile and compelling subject for cinematic examination.

Inter alia, the free-spirited feminist informs us of her ongoing affair with Kye, a 36 year-old, former freedom fighter from South Africa. She somehow doesn’t let it bother her that the guy lives half a world away and happens to have a spouse and kids. So, when she later falls for Patrick, she lets her new Swiss lover know that she can’t commit to monogamy, but plans to enjoy them both.

Broken up into six hour-long episodes, each installment of Flying has been cleverly constructed to end on a bit of a cliffhanger. Will she dump her adulterous, absentee beau for patient, present Patrick? Will she opt to overcome her ambivalence about motherhood when she not only hears her biological clock ticking but finds herself unexpectedly pregnant? And who’s the daddy? Will Kye’s wife’s learning of her existence put the kibosh on their lusty liaisons? All intriguing questions, and with some very surprising answers.

A real-life cross of Annie Hall and Erica Jong.



Excellent (4 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 351 minutes

Distributor: Alive Mind

2-Disc DVD Extras: Interview with star/director Jennifer Fox and a theatrical trailer.

To purchase the DVD, visit: www.alivemindmedia.com



To see a trailer for Flying, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXXSZEKN3c4

This Christmas DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Dysfunctional Family Dramedy Due on DVD



For the first time in years, the Whitfields are returning to L.A. for a family reunion being hosted by their mother (Loretta Devine) with the help of her boyfriend (Delroy Lindo). But each of her kids arrives not only with luggage but burdened by emotional baggage, so there are pressing issues which need to be addressed before they can all enjoy the Christmas celebration

Uncompromising Kelli (Sharon Leal) has a very successful professional career in New York City, but no man in her life, because she’s picky and refuses to settle. Meanwhile, Melanie (Lauren London), in from Atlanta, is a free-spirited undergrad in her seventh year at Spelman College where she keeps changing her major. She’s brought along her latest boyfriend (Keith Robinson), a pre-law major at neighboring Morehouse College. Arriving from San Francisco is eldest sister, Lisa (Regina King), who is stuck in a bad marriage to a wife abuser (Laz Alonso) with a mistress (Amy Hunter).

As for the Whitfield males, there’s hot-headed Claude (Columbus Short) who’s ashamed of his white girlfriend (Jessica Stroup). Quentin, Jr. (Idris Elba) is a struggling jazz saxophonist who has disappointed his mother by following in his failure of a father’s footsteps. Finally, there’s Michael (Chris Brown), the baby, a talented teen still living at home who’s been blessed with a beautiful singing voice. Yet, he’s been reluctant to pursue his dream due to his mother’s aversion to show business.

This wholesome family flick does a decent job of interweaving the strands of the leads’ predicaments in an entertaining fashion, even if the goings-on tend to be more cartoonish than credible. Miraculously, the assorted skeletons are revealed and dealt with satisfactorily, ultimately enabling the very contented Whitfields to gather around the dinner table for a closing Kodak moment on Christmas day.



Very Good (3 stars)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and violence.

Running time: 119 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, Chris Brown music video, cast commentary with Sharon Leal, Lauren London and Regina King, and “The Making of” featurette.



To see a trailer for This Christmas, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqsf5qeP2CQ

The Perfect Holiday DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams



Headline: Syrupy Christmas Comedy Starring Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut Comes to DVD



Nancy (Gabrielle Union) has had her hands full raising three kids alone since her divorce from J-Jizzy (Charlie Murphy), a self-absorbed rap star. Since he doesn’t devote enough quality time to them, she’s ended up overburdened and neglecting her own needs.

This state of affairs hasn’t been lost on her youngest, Emily (Khail Bryant), who whispers to Santa Claus a Christmas wish for a man to make her mom happy again. What the little girl doesn’t know is that Benjamin (Morris Chestnut), the mall Santa whose lap she’s sitting in, just happens to be a very handsome hunk underneath the fake beard and red fat suit. More importantly, he’s available and instantly smitten as soon as he looks over and gets a load of Nancy.

The problem is that Benjamin is just seasonal help and, after Christmas, he’ll be back at his more mundane job as an office supply salesman, although he does dream of becoming a famous songwriter. So, even after he does summon up the courage to approach Nancy in street clothes at the cleaners, he’s still suffers from low self esteem, he hightails it out of the store before she can respond.

Thus unfolds the underlying premise established at the outset of The Perfect Holiday, one of those syrupy sweet romantic comedies which keeps a pair of lovebirds obviously meant for each other apart via a series of frustrating circumstances. In this case, the flies in the ointment are Benjamin’s shyness, Nancy’s cluelessness, her son, John-John’s (Malik Hammond), attempt to sabotage the relationship, and her ex’s interference, too.

Despite a supporting cast with Katt Williams, Faizon Love, Queen Latifah and Terrence Howard, the picture belongs to Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut, who certainly generate the romance genre’s requisite chemistry.

I saw mommy kissin’ Santa Claus, ghetto style.



Good (2 stars)

Rated PG for mild epithets and suggestive humor.

Running time: 96 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Producer’s commentary, video diary and “The Making of” featurette.



To see a trailer for The Perfect Holiday, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KZpcZkNtNM

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening November 14, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Quantum of Silence (PG-13 for sexuality, violence, and intense action sequences) Daniel Craig returns for his second go-round as James Bond for a mission which pits 007 against a diabolical villain (Mathieu Amalric) bent on controling one of the world’s most critical natural resources. Cast includes Dame Judi Dench, Jesper Christensen, Jeffrey Wright, Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton.

Slumdog Millionaire (R for violence, profanity and disturbing images) Romantic comedy, set in Mumbai, about an 18 year-old street urchin (Dev Patel) who becomes a TV contestant on India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire not for the money but to win back the heart of the girl (Freida Pinto) of his dreams. (In English and Hindi with subtitles)


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Alphabet Killer (Unrated) Crime thriller, based on a real-life case from the Eighties, revolving around a female police officer (Eliza Dushku) whose obsession with tracking down the serial child killer terrorizing Rochester, New York ended up costing her not only her fiancé and job but her sanity, too. Cast includes Timothy Hutton, Cary Elwes and Bill Moseley.

The Beautiful Truth (Unrated) Medical documentary by Garrett Kroschel suggesting that a cure for cancer might have been discovered in the 1920s by Dr. Max Gerson, an iconoclastic physician who came up with an unorthodox approach to treating the disease.

A Christmas Tale (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama about an aging mathematician (Jean-Paul Roussillon) married to a melancholy playwright (Catherine Deneuve) whose reunion over the Christmas holidays with their three adult children, in-laws and grandkids proves to be fraught with feuding, infidelity and overindulgence in holiday spirits. (In French with subtitles)

The Dukes (PG-13 for sexuality and drug use) Crime comedy about two down on their luck members (Chazz Palminteri and Robert Davi) of a once-famous doo-wop group whose desperate financial straits leads them to try to pull an ill-advised heist of a dentist’s safe rumored to be filled with gold. With Peter Bogdanovich, Bruce Weitz and Elya Baskin.

House of the Sleeping Beauties (Unrated) Viva Viagra drama about a recently-widowed senior citizen (Vadim Glowna) who visits a mysterious whorehouse which caters to a clientele of elderly men, offering them an opportunity to sleep with totally drugged young women. With Maximilian Schell, Isabelle Wackers and Mona Glass. (In German with subtitles)

How about You? (Unrated) Christmas comedy, set in Ireland, about a young woman (Hayley Atwell) who has her hands full trying to fill-in for her widowed sister (Orla Brady) as the caretaker of the four residents of an old folks’ home over the holidays. Cast includes Vanessa Redgrave, Imelda Staunton, Brenda Fricker and Joan O’Hara.

Lake City (R for profanity and violence) Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity co-star in this Southern drama about the return home under trying circumstances of a Prodigal Son to the family farm where he confronts his estranged mother about a deep family secret. Ensemble includes Rebecca Romijn, Dave Matthews, Drea de Matteo and Keith Carradine.

We Are Wizards (Unrated) Harry Potter fans are the subject of this get-a-life documentary about the droves of geeks unhealthily obsessed with the fictional boy wizard at the center of the J.K. Rowling movie franchise and enchanting series of children’s books. Can anybody say “Trekkies.”

Sharon Leal: The Soul Men Interview

with Kam Williams



Headline: The Real Leal



Sharon Leal was born in Tucson, Arizona on October 17, 1972 to a Filipino mother and African-American father. A natural performer, Sharon started singing at the age of two, and attended Roosevelt High School of the Arts in Fresno, California. After graduation, she studied acting and voice while attending Diablo Valley Junior College.

The statuesque, 5’8” beauty broke into showbiz on Broadway in both Rent and Miss Saigon and on TV in New York City as Dahlia on the daytime soap opera The Guiding Light. She later relocated to Hollywood where she appeared on such series as Boston Public, CSI: Miami and LAX before landing her breakout role in 2006 as Michelle Morris in Dreamgirls.

Sharon has already made five more movies since, including This Christmas and Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married. Here, she shares her thoughts about her latest film, Soul Men, which co-stars Samuel L. Jackson, and the recently-deceased Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.



KW: Hi Sharon, thanks for giving me an opportunity to speak with you.

SL: Hi Kam, I’m happy to.

KW: Let me first say belated happy birthday! You had a birthday last month.

SL: I did, yes. Why thank you

KW: What interested you in playing Cleo in Soul Men?

SL: I needed a job. [Laughs] No, it was a great, great prospect, because when I read the script it was very funny, and I heard that Sam Jackson and Bernie Mac were doing the film, I instantly gravitated towards it. So, it was a great score, and I’m happy to be a part of it.

KW: Sadly, two of your co-stars, Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, have passed away since the shooting.

SL: Obviously, with Bernie, it was so untimely and shocking. I think all of us were kind of in denial about the fact that the situation was serious because when he was on set with us, he was in great spirits and in good health. We were dancing and singing and working long hours. None of us really anticipated his condition degenerating to the point that it did. So, it was devastating and shocking to hear that he had passed. On the other hand, Isaac had been sick, but he was in good spirits as well. He had just suffered a stroke, so we knew he was vulnerable health-wise. Still, to have them both pass so close to each other, and to have them both be a part of the film, is very sad, and makes for a bittersweet opening for us. Although, speaking for Bernie, I know he would have really wanted it not to be a sad occasion, and he’d like nothing more than for us to celebrate his life. People are really going to enjoy his performance, since his character is so funny, so amazing, lovable and endearing.

KW: Do you have anything to say about what Jennifer Hudson, your co-star from Dreamgirls, is going through after the murder of her mother, brother and nephew?

SL: All I can say it is that it’s an unimaginable tragedy, and that my thoughts and prayers go out to her. I love her dearly. She’s an amazing girl. And I can’t imagine the kind of grief that she must be experiencing. So, I just send her good vibes and good thoughts and prayers.

KW: How was it being directed by Malcolm Lee?

SL: Malcolm is a great director and a lovely human being. He has great vision and is very clear and succinct about what he wants and needs.

KW: How comfortable were you with another role which called on you to sing like you had to do in Dreamgirls?

SL: I started out doing musical theater. My first professional gig was on Broadway. I was in Rent and in Miss Saigon. I went to a performing arts high school and did community theater. So, I’ve always sung. I’m just lucky that there’s a trend in film that they’re doing more musically-based projects, and I’ve benefited from their popularity right now.

KW: When did you get bitten by the acting bug?

SL: It kind of hit me early. I was painfully shy as a kid, but I felt right in my element onstage. So, it was something that I naturally gravitated towards, and was lucky enough to have outlets and venues to pursue it. I got my Broadway gig by going to an open casting call in San Francisco. They picked two girls, and it was a great excuse to get to New York, and I never really looked back. I’ve had a nice run since, and I hope it continues.

KW: You’re very exotic-looking. What box do you check off when you fill in the census?

SL: All of the above. I remember it was always very confusing filling it out. My mother’s from the Philippines and my father’s African-American. So, I have a little mixture going on.

KW: Being mixed, how do you feel about Barack Obama?

SL: Historically, it’s unprecedented, having the first African-American president. It’s very exciting for him to be the face of this country, and to feel an affinity for and a connection to a President who looks like you. That’s pretty amazing!

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

SL: That’s a great question to ask. Yeah, I am. With the way this business is, with all the competition and just the level of instability, we’re forced to ask ourselves that question, because you experience so much uncertainty, just being in the industry. You couldn’t really do it, unless the love you had for it was really strong, and the passion was really there. The passion has never really left me. I think with every job it’s impossible not to be happy, because you know how difficult it is to keep a momentum going, to be fulfilled, to be challenged by different roles, and to just work consistently. The fact that I’ve been able to do that for a couple of years is a pretty big achievement. And as hard as I am on myself, I can sit here and really appreciate it. So, yes, professionally, I’m very fulfilled by what I do. It’s a challenge to stay focused and to stay positive and to go out of your way to stay happy by being appreciative. Bernie Mac was a great teacher in this regard. We had a lot of conversations where he reminded me exactly what it meant to stay grounded and to never forget where you come from and how lucky we are to do what we dreamed of doing when we were kids. Yes, I’m happy and I feel very blessed.

KW: You were in a movie with Columbus Short, weren’t you?

SL: Yes, This Christmas.

KW: And Tasha Smith, who you were also in a movie with, Why Did I Get Married, asks: Are you ever afraid?

SL: Hmm… [Chuckles] Yes, I mean I don’t think you could be a human being and not feel some trepidation. But I think it all falls in line with your perspective and how you handle the unknown. This industry really preps you and trains you for survival mode. It’s a perseverance game, and a faith game. It’s really about seeing the light, not getting discouraged, and believing. It’s about keeping the faith. You expect great things to happen and hopefully they will. That’s the way I try to approach this business. It’s about facing fear head on and pushing through it. That’s how great things happen.

KW: Bookworm Troy Johnson, who you were not in a movie with, asks: What was the last book you read?

SL: I’m into biographies. I just finished a very popular one called Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. And I just started a biography of Ava Gardner by Lee Server called Love Is Nothing. I’ve always been sort of fascinated by her.

KW: Music maven Heather Covington who you might be in a movie with one day asks: What’s music are you listening to nowadays?

SL: My appreciation of music is pretty broad, so I’ve got an eclectic mixture of stuff going on: Maroon 5, Stevie Wonder, the new Robin Thicke and an old Tori Amos album. Depending on my mood, it’s always shifting across the board.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

SL: I think that “Are you happy?” was pretty good.

KW: How do you balance being a wife and mother of a 7 year-old with being an actress?

SL: I’m not the first to do it. I’m definitely inspired by other women who have been able to do it. It’s an unconventional way of being a mom, but if it means coming home as often as you can, you do what you have to do to make it work.

KW: How do you want to be remembered?

SL: I just want to be known for good work. I’m not necessarily that interested in celebrity per se. I hope that people get the sense that I love what I do.

KW: Well, Sharon, thanks again for the interview. I’ve been very impressed by your intelligence and sophistication.

SL: I appreciate it. Thanks, Kam.



To see a trailer for Soul Men, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYUhfEVGSL8

Gardens of the Night

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Innocence Stolen Is Theme of Child Abduction Drama

Donnie (Evan Ross) doesn’t exactly remember how he ended up in the clutches of Alex (Tom Arnold), but he thinks his mentally-unstable mother might have sold him to the middle-aged child molester. Leslie (Gillian Jacobs), on the other hand, was eight years-old when the same sicko abducted her with the help of a teen accomplice (Kevin Zegers).
For the past nine years, Donnie and Leslie have been simultaneously imprisoned and left traumatized by the unspeakable sexual abuse they’ve been subjected to by this pair of perverts. Over that span, the kids have held onto their sanity only by leaning on each other’s shoulders and by exchanging promises to always be there for each other. In fact, they’ve grown so close, they now think of themselves as brother and sister, even though she’s white and he’s black.
Actually, of far more significance than their shades of skin tones is the bond which they developed while sharing a small bedroom, There, they created a fantasy world into which they could escape the never-ending nightmare. Then, at 17, Donnie and Leslie find themselves suddenly free but lacking the wherewithal to function normally. In order to survive, they turn to the only thing they know, namely, sex, so they end up prostitutes on the streets of San Diego.
So unfolds Gardens of the Night, a meticulously-researched loss of innocence drama written and directed by Damian Harris. Harris started work on the project way back in 1980, after being moved by the photo of a missing girl on a milk carton and reading a Newsweek cover story about stolen children. But it took him 10 years to write the first draft of his sobering script, this after speaking with parents and counselors of young kidnap victims, and with police officers assigned to the child sex crimes unit.
The upshot is a haunting tale which very convincingly conveys the
overwhelming sense of helplessness and dread which undoubtedly afflicts impressionable souls unfortunate enough to be so exploited while still in the bloom of youth. Kudos to Gillian Jacobs and Evan Ross for their powerful lead performances and to Tom Arnold and John Malkovich for equally-effective outings in support roles.
A profoundly disturbing, super-realistic examination of pedophilia not to be screened on an empty stomach, nor forgotten during awards season..

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 110 minutes
Studio: City Lights Media Group

Pray the Devil Back to Hell (LIBERIAN)

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Sisterhood Proves Powerful in Feminist Documentary from Liberia

Liberia was founded in 1847 by former U.S. slaves shipped back to Africa by the American Colonization Society. Unfortunately, these repatriated blacks considered themselves superior to the indigenous peoples they encountered there, and so they set up a society in which the descendants of African-Americans formed an advantaged elite class.
The tensions which ensued between the two groups essentially remained unaddressed until everything came to a head in 1989. That was when the first of a couple of civil wars erupted which combined would claim over 200,000 lives and last until 2003.
Pray the Devil Back to Hell recounts the story of how a ceasefire was finally achieved, namely, through the determined efforts of a coalition of Christian and Muslim women fed up with having to beg for food and to raise their children amidst incessant slaughter, raping and looting. Led by Leymah Gbowee, a mom with a toddler, and armed only with T-shirts, signs and a willingness to die for their cause, this intrepid sisterhood stood toe-to-toe with both President Charles Taylor and with the Sierra Leone-based rebels attempting to topple the corrupt ruler’s oppressive regime.
What makes this documentary so compelling are the reams of archival footage which allow us to witness, firsthand, the fighting, the peace demonstrations and the negotiations which led to the ouster of Americo-Liberian Taylor. Ultimately, he was replaced by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a native and sub-Saharan Africa’s first elected female head of state.
A salute is in order to director Gini Reticker for this glorious tribute to a bi-partisan band of unarmed women who succeeded where government and UN intervention had failed miserably. For against the odds, they somehow managed to turn chaos into calm by marching en masse and refusing to compromise on their non-negotiable demand that the madness end once and for all.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 72 minutes
Studio: Balcony Releasing

To a see a trailer for Pray the Devil Back to Hell, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uon9CcoHgwA

Roland Martin: The TV One Election Night Coverage Interview

with Kam Williams



Headline: Rocking the Vote with Roland



Born in Houston, Texas on November 14, 1968, Roland S. Martin is an award-winning journalist who divides his time among hosting a radio talk show, writing books and a nationally-syndicated column, as a commentator on the TV One Network and as a regular contributor to such CNN programs as The Situation Room, Anderson Cooper 360 and Lou Dobbs Tonight.

Named one of the 150 Most Influential African-Americans by Ebony Magazine in 2008, he is also this year’s winner of the NAACP Image Award for Best Interview for his tete-a-tete with Senator Barack Obama. And he was recently awarded the 2008 President's Award by the National Association of Black Journalists for his work in multiple media platforms.

An insightful and provocative analyst, Mr. Martin has appeared not only on CNN and TV One, but on MSNBC, FOX, Court TV, BET, BBC, NPR and the Tom Joyner Morning Show. A veteran of the black press, Roland was formerly the managing editor of the Houston Defender and the Dallas Weekly, and the executive editor/general manager of the Chicago Defender.

The winner of more than 20 professional awards for journalistic excellence, Mr. Martin has landed a regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television News Directors. He is married to the Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin, and the couple resides in both Chicago and Dallas.

Here, Roland talks about his plans for election night coverage when he will be dividing his air time between TV One and CNN.



KW: Hey, Roland thanks for the time.

RM: Not a problem.

KW: Congratulations on your meteoric rise.

RM: Oh, I appreciate that.

KW: How does that feel?

RM: It’s called 17 years worth of work. It’s all good.

KW: I see you’re based in both Chicago and in Dallas. That reminds me of how Tom Joyner once did a daily commute between both cities for his radio show.

RM: Yeah, I believe that was when he was doing morning drive in Dallas and afternoon drive in Chicago.

KW: I see you everywhere. Are you keeping up a busy schedule like that?

RM: He’s called the hardest working man in radio, and some refer to me as the hardest-working multi-media journalist. I’m based in Chicago, I have speaking engagements all across the country, and I go to New York City two to three days a week.

KW: Has your life changed a lot since you’ve become a TV personality?

RM: Of course. The travel has been consistent. I’ve been recognized by a lot more folks for what I do, and my number of speaking engagements has gone up dramatically. But you know what the deal is? I’m still me. That’s the most important thing to me. When people see me, I’m going to be real, and do exactly what I do. I’m not going to try to be different. I’m just going to be me.

KW: What do you expect the TV One election night coverage to be like?

RM: Election night, we’ll be going until at least 2 AM, because you have to factor in the West Coast. We’re seeing an explosive number of people voting early. With a heavy turnout, I would not be surprised to see judges extending the voting hours and keeping the polls open late, especially if you have machine breakdowns and precincts running out of ballots. We saw some of that in 2004 and in the 2006 midterm elections. So, I think it’s going to be another long night.

KW: How will you manage to be on CNN, too?

RM: I’ll be at CNN on the set offering analysis, but we have it set up for me to break away and provide some analysis on TV One as well, where Arthur Fennell and Joe Madison will be anchoring. I really like how TV One has established its coverage by having different players- Tom Joyner, Michael Eric Dyson and Jacque Reid – there in Chicago, because, if Obama wins, it’s going to be the biggest party on the planet. You can expect upwards of a million people to be in and around Grant Park.

KW: How do you think black people elsewhere will react to an Obama win?

RM: When Joe Louis won the heavyweight crown, black folks would flood the streets of Harlem and other communities in celebration. And I think you’ll see that kind of jubilation if Obama wins the presidency after all that black people have endured in this country. That is huge. That is major. And I think that African-Americans will actually be able for the first time in our lives to turn to our children and say, “Yes, indeed, you can grow up to be the President of the United States.” But beyond that, I think it’s also important what it will mean for the standard of beauty in America to be viewed through the prism of Michelle Obama. This is often not talked about. However, Michelle Obama is going to attract the kind of attention as First Lady that Jackie Kennedy enjoyed. She won’t emulate Jackie Kennedy, but bring her own style and flair. Imagine what it will mean if Michelle begins to wear the clothes and outfits of black designers.

KW: Is Obama going to be awaiting the election returns in Chicago?

RM: Yes, more than likely, he’ll vote that morning, get the obligatory photo-op of him going to vote in his local precinct. Then he’ll probably be doing a ton of radio appearances on stations in Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Virginia. And he’ll be in Chicago that night since, frankly, there’s nothing more to do on Election Day.

KW: Do you think there might be some tally irregularities on Election Day?

RM: There’s always the possibility of that, but one never knows. We’ll see how it shakes out.

KW: Have you considered having black conservative Shelby Steele as a guest on election night, since he wrote a book subtitled “Why Obama Won’t Win.”

RM: I don’t have creative control over who’s booked. He’ll probably be booked for one of the days soon after the election.

KW: Have you remained impartial as a journalist, or have you endorsed a candidate?

RM: As part of my CNN special on age, race and gender, I spoke about how I voted for Bush’s father for president in 1988, for Ann Richards and later George W. Bush for governor of Texas. And I announced that in this election I was voting for Barack Obama. I wanted to show that I’ve voted for old white guys, women, white women, young white men, and so forth. I’ve always maintained that I’m a columnist and a commentator, so obviously my role is different from that of a correspondent like John King, because we have a different skill set.

KW: Do you ever find it hard competing for air time with other commentators?

RM: That doesn’t concern me because the bottom line is, when they’re coming to me, they’re coming to me. People bring different perspectives to the table. You just go in and make your points, and that works for me.

KW: Do you feel more pressure to speak in sound bites on TV than in print or on radio?

RM: Nope, the same thing happens in radio and writing. It all has to be compelling. People who write in long, flowery language are boring as hell in newspapers. And it’s the same in radio. You can’t drone on and not be exciting and interesting there either. They’re different media, but the bottom line’s the same. It’s all a matter of mastering the different elements of each part of the industry.

KW: I see that you were once associated with one of the papers I write for, the Houston Defender. Are you still in touch with the paper’s publisher, Sonny Jiles?

RM: Yes, of course, that’s the first place I interned. And later I was managing editor. So yeah, I know Sonny very well. I just saw her in Houston a couple of weeks ago.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

RM: Always! Look, I have a very simple philosophy: If I wake up breathing, I’m happy. I don’t sit here and get stressed out about all kinds of drama. Hey, I absolutely love what I do. This is what God had destined for me, and it’s been what I have been doing since I was 13 years-old. So, yes I’m happy. Absolutely!

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

RM: No.

KW: Bookworm Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read?

RM: I’m typically reading six or seven books at one time. The last book I read was The Race Beat by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff. It’s about media coverage of the Civil Rights Movement. I’m also reading Twice as Good, Marcus Mabry’s biography of Condoleezza Rice.

KW: Is there a question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

RM: The hell if I know.

KW: Music maven Heather Covington was wondering: What’s music are you listening to nowadays?

RM: Oh please, I have 4,000 plus songs on my iPod. I’ll literally go from jamming Kirk Franklin to putting on John Mellencamp to playing Rascal Flatts to Erykah Badu to Mary J. Blige. Then I might put on some Pavarotti. And of course, I’ll put on my favorites Kirk Williams and Maxwell. I’ve got everything from Zydeco to Salsa to Country to R&B to Jazz. The only thing you’re not going to find on my iPod is polka music.

KW: I think that covers just about everything. Thanks again for the interview, Roland.

RM: We’re good. I appreciate it.

Changeling

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Mysterious 1928 Kidnapping Revisited Courtesy of Clint Eastwood

When a movie opens with an absolute assurance that what you’re about to watch is “A True Story” you certainly expect to see a historical drama far more credible than the patently absurd Changeling. Perhaps, if director Clint Eastwood had qualified the claim with words like “Based upon” or “Inspired by,” the picture’s preposterous premise might have been a lot easier to swallow.
The point of departure is March 9, 1928, which is when we are introduced to Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a single-mom raising a nine year-old (Gattlin Griffith) in the City of Los Angeles. By profession, Christine roams around the floor of the phone company on roller skates as the supervisor of a bank of operators.
The plot thickens the fateful Saturday she agrees to fill-in for a co-worker, leaving little Walter home alone. By the time she returns after the shift, the boy has vanished without a clue, so she calls the police to file a missing persons report.
Several months later the cops seem to have solved the mystery, as they announce that Walter’s been found alive and well in DeKalb County, Illinois and that he’s on his way back to L.A. by rail. However, Christine’s hopes are soon dashed when she sees that the child who disembarks from the train is an impostor (Devon Conti) who’s four inches too short.
Now, this is where the movie starts to make no sense. Instead of accepting the mother’s simple assertion that this was not her son, we’re led to believe the LAPD instead pressured Christine to take custody of a perfect stranger because the department was more concerned with getting positive press coverage for cracking the case than with reality.
Doesn’t that sound inhuman? And how long could a young impersonator keep up such a charade, even if he had wanted to? Wouldn’t the fraud have been exposed the first time “Walter” went out to play with his friends, visited relatives, greeted neighbors or returned to school and was unrecognized by his teachers or classmates? Something simply doesn’t add up here.
Be that as it may, the authorities’ reaction to Christine’s offer of physical evidence is to have her committed to a mental institution, rather than to ascertain the accuracy of such readily verifiable claims as whether or not her son was circumcised. And a grassroots movement led by Reverend Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich), a corruption-fighting crusader, apparently had no impact either.
Only when a mass grave with a score of bodies is uncovered on the ranch of a serial killer (Jason Butler Hamer), does anyone in power start to believe Christine might not be psychotic after all. Released from the institution, she enlists the bro bono assistance of a hotshot attorney (Geoffrey Pierson), and the dominos start to fall as the careers of the Mayor (Reed Birney), Chief of Police (Colm Feore) and a Captain (Jeffrey Donovan) crumble in the wake of a well-publicized, review board hearing.
Regrettably, neither the painstakingly recreated period backdrops nor an abundance of inspired performances outweigh Changeling’s fatal flaw of resting upon a totally fanciful conceit, pretensions to the truth notwithstanding. A crime saga strictly for the very gullible.

Fair (1 star)
Rated R for profanity, violence and disturbing content.
Running time: 141 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures

To see a trailer for Changeling, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57_t2BFZaK8

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Not Much to Recommend about Raunchy Kevin Smith Sitcom

Between its titillating theme and the omnipresence of current comedy rage Seth Rogen, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is all but assured of being a critic-proof hit with its targeted raging-hormones demographic. Nonetheless, this raunchy sitcom pales in comparison to a couple of other recently-released teensploits, namely, Sex Drive and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
The picture was written and directed by Kevin Smith, a reliable purveyor of bottom-feeding fare, and he definitely does not disappoint his rabid fans here in that regard. From an N-word laced opening sequence to a steady diet of profanity to its graphic dialogue to gratuitous frontal nudity to its much-anticipated sex scenes, Zack and Miri Make a Porno leaves even less to the imagination than its suggestive, testosterone-teasing title.
More shocking than funny, the film revolves around a couple of lifelong platonic friends who have been roommates since graduating from high school. Both of these slackers are stuck in minimum wage jobs which pay so little they can barely pay their rent or utility bills.
At their 10th high school reunion, Miri (Elizabeth Banks) puts the moves on Bobby Long (Brandon Routh), a handsome hunk she always had a crush on. But he has no interest in the nerdy girl everybody used to refer to as “Stinky Linky” even though she’s since blossomed into a ravishing beauty. When she practically throws herself at Bobby, he admits to being a gay porn actor and introduces her to his flamboyant life mate (Justin Long).
Fast-forward a bit and we find our title characters with their electricity and water services turned off due to lack of payment. Inspired by their classmate’s success in the adult film industry, they seize on the bright idea of co-starring in their own xxx-rated film. They agree to mate onscreen, but with mutual promises not to let the momentary intimacy change their otherwise non-physical relationship.
Meanwhile, Zack (Rogen), who works at a deli called Bean-B-Gone, talks his gullible, co-worker, Delaney (Craig Robinson), into underwriting the operation with promises that the unhappily-married man can audition a parade of naked women for the supporting cast. Delaney puts up the wad of cash he was planning to purchase a flat screen TV with, since he’s fed up with his insufferable wife (Tisha Campbell), a stereotypical sassy sister who nags him mercilessly.
Next, they decide to shoot the skin flick right in the coffee shop after hours, and to rely on the store’s surveillance camera. All goes well on the set until Zack and Miri’s erotic scene during which, to their surprise but not the audience’s, they discover they do have deep feelings for each other after all.
This less than convincing, last minute development makes for a pat Hollywood ending, but is sort of beside the point since the basic idea of the movie is to pile on as much t&a as possible. Why else would you have an actual former porn star (Traci Lords) play a porn star whose specialty is blowing bubbles from a certain part of her anatomy?
Never amusing, exciting or even funny, but a pathetic attempt to pass off as mainstream entertainment shallow smut that the censors just a generation ago would certainly have rated NC-17. What changed? Have our standards sunk this low?

Fair (1 star)
Rated R for graphic nudity, pervasive profanity, ethnic slurs, explicit sexuality and crude humor.
Running time: 101 minutes
Studio: The Weinstein Company

To see a trailer of Zack and Miri Make a Porno, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OssgMY_mkMc