Reviews

Jeffrey Wright absolutely shines in American Fiction, leading an ensemble, all-star cast that is anchored by stalwart Tracee Ellis-Ross, Leslie Uggams, Erika Alexander, and actors Sterling K. Brown, Keith David, and Issa Rae. The movie satires Black stereotypes and tropes. Wright plays an author who writes fiction and creates multi-dimensional characters outside the traditional drug pusher, rapper, baby mama, deadbeat dad, etc., arcs. However, his books aren't selling, no matter how intelligent, well-written and life affirming they are. Learning another Black author has a best seller that seemingly panders to these very Black stereotypes, Jeffrey Wright's character, named Thelonous Monk, decides to write a book, called My Pafology. The book magnifies those very said traditional Black stereotypes and pokes fun at them by leaning into them. Assuming everyone would recognize these over-the-top Black characters as buffoons, he soon learns that the joke's on him. The white publishers LOVE the book, comment on how REAL its characters are and offer him a large advance to publish it. At first opposed to publishing the book, Monk slowly changes his mind. His agent pressures him to view the book as not selling out but diversifying his "brand" - similar to the Johnnie Walker label selling Red, Black and Blue liquors to satisfy its different audiences. He reluctantly relents, only after agreeing to publish it under an alias and to change the book's name to an expletive. The movie follows Monk as he is conflicted about publishing the book, deals with a death in the family, maneuvers his mom's Alzheimer's diagnosis, juggles a budding romance, and re-establishes a relationship with his estranged brother. The book is eventually published and soon tops the Bestseller's list. He is awarded a literary award and the book is optioned as a movie. This is a very intelligent look at how Blacks are reflected in the media. I highly recommend this movie and give it 9/10 rating.

I watched this movie for the second time after first seeing it last year. It didn't get any better for me - physically. Each time the ending landed like a gut punch. It is not a horror movie that involves other- worldly creatures. Instead, it deals with something far more threatening - man's inhumanity toward other humans and failure to see what lies or potentially lies ahead. As many previous reviewers I echo that the plot centers around compliance and the husband's undying need to not offend others, particularly the couple who has invited him, his wife and young daughter for a weekend visit after only a brief meeting/holiday in Tuscany. The visit in Holland has a nightmarish ending for the visiting couple due to the husband's constant need to not offend his hosts, overlooking odd behavior/cues, and not listening to his more astute wife. The movie definitely sticks with you like old gum on the bottom of your show. The ending is not for the faint of heart. That said, it is definitely worth seeing and if you like psychological thrillers. Otherwise, take a hard pass.

This film has an A-list cast, thought-provoking premise and is a good flick. Leave the World Behind.makes you think and requires attention to detail. If you are a person who doesn't like either, then this film is not for you. Julia Roberts, playing a full-on Karen, is a married mom of two. She and her rather- passive husband, played by Ethan Hawke, are renting a home outside New York for the weekend. Soon after arriving, they lose their internet connection, their phones die and the TV stops working. Soon the owner of the rental and his daughter, (played by Mahershala Ali and Myha'la, knock at their door in the middle of the night and request to stay overnight .in their house with the renters due to a blackout in the city. From there, the story unfolds slowly building on a number of strange and apocalyptic occurrences and how these two families of strangers bridge initial feelings of mistrust, overcome prejudices and bond to try to figure out what is happening and how to survive. Tho actors play off each other very well. Shout out to Kevin Bacon for always making his mark, no matter how big or small the role. The haunting score also keeps you on edge as you join the characters in trying to figure out what is happening. A number of reviewers claim the ending is a fail. I disagree. If you don't get it, then you probably weren't paying close enough attention. The daughter's character very clearly explains what the last episode of Friends means to her and why it's important.

Raylan Givens is back in fine form! He's got a whole new cast of bad guys and higher ups to antagonize. A little older, and with a smart-mouthed daughter in tow, he is driving his daughter to a juvenile detention center to drop off. However, he is forced to cut short his road trip with said daughter, when a bad guy targets Raylan for a poorly planned car jacking that causes Raylan to extradite said bad guy to Detroit. Through a series of events, Raylan ends up co-leading an attempted murder investigation of a Detroit Circuit Court Judge with DPD. Though the bumbling kidnapper is soon caught, things are not what they seem. The investigation goes south when the judge is murdered and Raylan is forced to extend his Detroit visit. Over the course of a series of episodes, we meet the main characters, a psychopathic killer, Clement Mansell, his pliable, weed-addicted girlfriend, Sandy, and Sweetie, a down-on -his- luck bar owner and former bassist, who has played with some of the greats. We also meet Mansell's and Sweetie's defense lawyer, Carolyn Wilder, who is played by the great Aunjanue Ellis Taylor, a love interest for Raylan. The main and supporting cast does a fine job, with special mentions to Ellis Taylor (Carolyn), Boyd Holbrook (Clement), and Vondie Curtis- Hall (Sweetie) and Adelaide Clemens (Sandy). Keith David had a short - but impactful role as the judge- and almost wound up stealing the show! As a native Detroiter, I have always been a fan of movies based on Elmore Leonard's Detroit-based novels. It is always fun to smile knowingly when a character references familiar landmarks like Chene Park, Palmer Park, Bloomfield Hills, etc. And while I appreciated that they were unable to shoot in Detroit due to no longer being offered film incentives, there is no way that an authentic Detroiter would ever confuse the Chicago settings for Detroit. Detroit is a character within itself in Elmore's writing, the rhythm of the city, the people, how they look, how they speak, how they dress, etc. That said, the dialogue is on point. It's got Leonard's familiar snap, crackle and pop. I heard that they brought in Walter Mosley to act as a consultant because they felt he comes closest to being a modern-day Elmore Leonard. I am thoroughly enjoying the series! And can't wait to see how it ends. Is the new limited series a replica of the old one, NO? And if that's what you are looking for, you need to go back and rewatch the re-runs. But if you're looking for a new Raylan, who is a little older, dealing with a rebellious teen, and willing to try some new (maybe unexpected) experiences/love interests, this might be the one for you.

A group of young Black friends arrive to a cabin in the woods for a reunion and to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday. Before they arrive, two of their friends stumble upon a room labeled Games Room and are promptly murdered by an unknown killer who chastises them for failing to answer a question correctly about Black culture. The remaining group (of males and females, a gay character, and a male serial cheater) arrives to the cabin and promptly begin wolf talking during the proverbial Black card game of Spades. Eventually, the friends all stumble upon the Games Room and find the same Sambo, spin-wheel game that also threatens to kill them if they don't answer a question correctly about Black culture. Hysterically and ironically, the Sambo deems that the group failed to answer a question correctly about the white-centric-show, Friends, thereby condemning them all to death. The group spends the remainder of the movie trying to stay alive and outsmart the killer. The chemistry between these little-known-actors is great! The friends ribbing each other is so realistic and natural sounding . The movie definitely had a fresh new take on the cabin- in -the- woods "horror" and comedy genre. The wink-wink satire and clever, funny writing are simply an added delight. I rate this movie a 9. It loses a point, though, for its overuse of the N- word. Otherwise, I highly recommend it.

Malcolm Lee has finally given us the cherry atop the sundae with his The Final Chapters. The Best Man: The Final Chapters reunites college friends, Harper, Lance, Quentin, Murch, Candace, Shelby, and Robyn. When we catch up with the upwardly mobile friends, they are coming together to celebrate a wedding: lothario, Quentin is finally getting married to an Icon, Xiomara Amani. Lance is still grieving from the death of his beloved wife and as a result has become quite promiscuous. The group of friends are at the top of their games in their respective careers but experiencing mid-life crises for various reasons, (lack of emotional and career fulfillment, work/family imbalance, getting older, etc.) The series covers a lot of ground in its final chapters. We get a wedding, divorce, sequel movie in a movie, topical issues such as COVID-19, racism, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ issues, parenting parents while still raising our children and yet Malcolm Lee and the ensemble cast expertly bring it all together. The attractive cast has SO MUCH chemistry that it is a joy to see them onscreen together again. The tropical setting, lush homes, beautiful clothes and with New York as a hometown setting are all a work of art on screen. I absolutely LOVED THIS SERIES. If you were a fan of the first and second movies, then this series is an absolute must see. I binge watched it in one sitting on New Year's Day - and yeah, it's that good!

I love Jeff Bridges. That said, the plot is intriguing and the cast is an all-around winner. Like some of the previous reviewers, though, I have to echo that at times the fight scenes stretched believability because of the main character's apparent advanced age in comparison to the much younger agents. I could understand if he simply outsmarted the agents, but in most cases he overpowered them! Also, I gotta say even though I was watching it on an old "big backed" TV, i had no problem making out what was happening. So to some of the previous reviewers, I have to say maybe it's time to turn in their TVs for newer ones. Or go back to an old school one. 😂 I do intend to keep watching as I am curious where the story will take us.

One of the best zombie/horror movies I've seen in a really long time. Strong cast, including the young girl. Even though the screen writer relied on common tropes, such as the cheerleader, jock and self-absorbed, work-alcoholic, divorced father, each the characters was fully developed and given an arc that gave them room to grow. By the time the movie ended, I felt as though I had endured their arduous journey and fight to survive. The movie made me laugh, cry and cheer for the characters. It had your villains, your heroes and those who straddled the line. The movie really had it all. Although the ending was heartbreaking, it also made you hopeful that better days lay ahead.

Hated this movie. Gory and excessive violence, multiple rape scenes. Thinly developed plot tied to virus/ pandemic. Hands down winner of Horniest Zombie Award. Only real positive is the two lead actors were appealing and pleasant to watch.

I really liked this western. Tim Blake Nelson was great as the lead. A long-time character actor, it was nice to see him take center stage for once. His face has so much character and conveys just the right balance of intrigue, sorrow and a man filled with regrets. Loved how the story plays out and the interaction with his rebellious son, who has no idea the secret his pa is keeping. Stephen Dorff was the perfect nemesis - evil and heartless. Didn't see the last minute twist. Great all around western! One of the best westerns to come along in a long time.

Living Single did it BEFORE Friends, before Seinfeld and finally before Grand Crew! And it did it sooo much better. Hilariously funny and just the right balance of street cred and young Black professionals striving to make their mark on the world. If you haven't seen Living Single, check it out in re-runs and on Hulu. That said, please stop whining that Grand Crew is unrealistic, "non-black" - whatever that means. As a Black woman, who has been Black all my life, I've lived long enough to know we are not monolithic. We golf, we drink and enjoy wine, we go to therapy and yes, some of us even play hockey! The problem is not what the characters do or don't do. Rather, this series is simply not funny, the characters lack real depth and I have no interest in returning weekly to share their lives. It needs to get better, funnier and better storylines, or I fear it will be a one-season series. I hope it can make these improvements because it's a shame that there are no Black-led series on network TV. IT's certainly time.

The idea of rebooting a classic 1990s comedy into a straight-up drama was a great idea. The overall cast is fantastic, talented, attractive and - dare I say it - fresh! Each character is fully drawn, exposing multiple layers. I anxiously awaited each episode to see where the story would take me next and what we'd learn new about which character. Although I loved the original series, this series actually makes more sense. Moving from the hoods of West Philly to Bel Air had to be traumatic and sometimes lonely trying to fit in. Certainly, not the joke fest we'd come to believe it was in the original. Instead, this series exposes the depths of Will's character's struggle to maintain his essence while simultaneously undergoing cultural changes to become the Will Smith we know today.

Hilarious sketch comedy show using.puppets and live actors. The writing is clever and really lands a jab, poking fun at left- and right-wing politicians and celebrities. Don't get all the negative reviews! People have lost the ability to laugh at themselves. Ignore the reviews and decide for yourself. It's laugh-out-loud funny!

I absolutely loved this show! I understand why it was a recent winner at the Golden Globes. It is so heart warming that it makes you forget what's wrong in the world - at least for awhile. Jason Sudeikis does an awesome job playing the main character and leading an ensemble cast. The series is well-written, acted and produced. You will find yourself laughing out loud, tearing up, and cheering for these characters - especially Ted Lasso and his irrepressible belief in the underdog and kindness to others.

Andra Day deservedly walked away with the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress! What an acting debut! She simply embodies the role of Lady Day, exposing her struggles with a corrupt federal narcotics bureau, racism, drug and alcohol abuse, and a long line of really bad men in her life. Lady Day was a pioneer in the civil rights struggle. This film is a long overdue tribute to her and her role in civil rights. Andra Day is an exceptional talent, portraying a one-of-a-kind talent that was gone too soon.

I swear I've seen the gamut of Nic Cage films. Everything from great to mediocre to soooooo bad it's good. This one Is just bad. Plain and simple. Period.

Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver are familiar names in Black Panther historical lore. Fred Hampton's story, however, is not well-known by the general public. This movie rights that travesty. The movie is simply fantastic, well-acted, produced and engrossing from the first frame. Daniel Kaluuya wears this role like a second skin. Whoever says a Brit cannot play an American revolutionary convincingly, can go pound sand. LaKeith Stanfield plays Bill O' Neal, a Judas, with such conviction, it was difficult not to hate his character the entire movie. However, he does manage to muster some sympathy as you see he begins to believe in the Black Panther's cause and is torn between the cause and his deception. Dominque Fishback does a nice job playing Hampton's love interest. Jesse Plemons, as the crooked FBI agent, was appropriately sleazy. Overall, one of best movies so far this year. I hope it picks up some nominations.

I happened upon this gem of a movie by accident. What a pleasant surprise. The movie is very well acted, with the mother and daughter putting in a stellar performance. I hope to see them more in the future. The plot is original, grabbing your attention from the very first frame. You can't believe what you are watching. I won't say more, so as not to spoil it for others. This is a real sleeper that you'll enjoy!

If you like/love Denzel movies that are slow to simmer, with flawed main characters, then you'll like this one. Rami Malek and Jerod Leto are primed and ready with their acting chops on full display. After a long absence from the screen, it's nice to have Denzel back.

No worse than the average rom-com and, in fact, better than most. So it's not historically accurate because there is a diverse cast! I don't recall a preface that it was based on a true story. Nor is that the greatest travesty ever. Just chill out! The Pride and Prejudice type plot is interesting, Simon is FINE as hell! The show gets a 10 just for his looks alone. Great costumes, okay acting, and a wonderful diversion during some of America's darkest days. I couldn't ask for more.

It was much better than expected! It was well acted, though the main characters (parents) are morally reprehensible, driven by white privilege and blind devotion to a seemingly psychopathic daughter. The parents have no regard for the apparent victim, or her father, acting as if their daughter's life and future are all that matters. Since the apparent victim is a person of color, and with all that has taken place in 2020, this adds a new dimension to the careless disregard our society places on the lives of people of color.

What a legacy! Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis were riveting in his last onscreen performance. Leading, a small ensemble cast, the pair were electric together and separately and left this viewer wishing that there would be many more such performances in the future for Chadwick. Sadly, it is not meant to be. Boseman left a small but powerful body of work during his short lifetime and it will surely stand the test of time. I would also be remiss if I didn't note Glynn Turman's powerful performance. Coming on the heels of his recent role in Fargo, 2020 has been a good year for Turman.

Good-looking cast, with great chemistry and boy meets girl, boy loses girl and boy gets girl in the end plot. Perfect feel good movie and romance for these times. Don't try to think too hard or make it more than it is. Just enjoy the movie!

Loved it! Beautifully produced, fantastic singing and dancing and special effects. The storyline is a much needed message for children today: to believe in yourself and all things are possible. Great for the entire family!

This movie is timely based on today's current political, racial and social environment. Some reviewers are carping on the fact it is not a true HORROR movie. Listen up, for Black Americans it's the horror we live with daily. The fact that we can be harassed, brutalized, or worse, murdered for driving, barbecuing in a park, jogging, bird watching, eating ice cream or sleeping in our own damn homes- you name it, simply for the color of our skin. We live with the fear that our hard won freedoms can be snatched from us any day. Some angry whites counter the movie is stereotypical and presents them in a bad light. Guess what? History has presented Blacks in a bad light for years! I'm sure this portrayal is closer to fact than the inhumane images Blacks have had to deal with for generations. If you like movies that are timely, well acted, will make you think, and have plot twists, this movie's for you.