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Independent Film

The Wackness Trailer

New hip-hop influenced movie featuring Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Method Man, and Mary Kate Olsen, set in 1994 New York City. The movie is getting great reviews, and the soundtrack includes Craig Mack, Nas, R Kelly, Tribe Called Quest, and others.

Tags: Method Man, The Wackness

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Movie Notes: Dreamgirls, 300, Smokin’ Aces

(pic from Concrete Loop)

Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls pretty much swept the Golden Globes last night with my new homegirl Jennifer Hudson winning best supporting actress and Eddie Murphy won best supporting actor. The film also won best picture musical or comedy and even Beyonce got nominated for something. I was supposed to see Dreamgirls last night but chose to watch 24 instead, so I can’t pass judgment on the film. But I do have to say that this bodes well for a possible Black Oscar win that doesn’t involve Three 6 Mafia.

Smokin’ Aces

The trailer for Smokin’ Aces looks hot. The movie also casts Common and Alicia Keys which could be good or bad considering how you feel about rapper (singer)/actors. Keys does play a sexy assassin named Georgia Sykes, which might be worth the price of admission alone. I’m putting the movie on my must see list. Oh, and WTF was up with Jeremy “Hug It Out” Piven playing bongos during Common and Bilal’s performance on the Tonight Show? Piven is the main character in the movie, but I still did not see that coming.

300

The first time I saw the 300 trailer, I was like…..damn. The last time I felt that was probably when I saw Sin City, which is coincidental because both movies are being done by the same people. Rob at Marketing Pop Culture posted that the test screenings for 300 scored higher than the Matrix which is good news. This might be the only movie worth seeing in 2007.

Oh, and everybody please see Children of Men. That movie is too incredible for words.

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Movie Preview: District B13

It’s Paris 2010. The French government has walled off the mostly minority and poor sections of Paris from the rest of the city. In turn, the areas get more dangerous. Drugs, crime, and lawlessness ensue, of course. But there are two men, yes two men, who aren’twilling to accept the status quo.

What ensues is a buddy action film. In French, of course.

But why are people raving that District B13 is the hottest action movies of the year? Well, remember that Nike commercial showing the dude being chased by the chicken? Well, that’s what the first 20 minutes of this flick is supposed to look like, sans chicken, of course. The film’s motion draws heavily on the pakour (free running) movement. In fact, the actor who plays Leïto, one of the the main characters is none other than parkour creator David Belle. Also, like many of the Asian films such as Ong Bak, which this movie draws inspiration, the actors use no special effects and wires.

The flick has an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (that’s good people) and getting stellar reviews across the board. I'm definitely putting this on my “must see” list.

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Independent Film

Movie Update: C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America

Have you ever wondered what this country would be like had the South won the Civil War?

Well apparently Kevin Willmott thought about it…he thought about it so much, he made a movie. The film went on to become a great success at the 2004 Sundance Festival. It’s gotten both good and bad criticism.

Presented by Spike Lee, C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America is a tongue-in-cheek mocumentary about the history of a country that doesn’texist, but might have, had the outcomes of war been different. It shows how slavery would still be a huge part of America’s economy and how it would affect everything from television and pop culture to technology. And it wouldn’tjust stop there…

If you would like to check out this movie, it’s now playing at the Bethesda Landmark Theater

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Music News

Security gets ready for ATL’s Opening Weekend

In various malls in Atlanta, security guards are being told to prepare for potential mayhem.

A memo obtained by the city???s Channel 2 Action News reveals the company General Growth, which owns local malls Cumberland and Perimeter, sent a memo warning staff at its properties showing the film to ???prepare??? for its release on Friday, stating: “The movie could cause behavior problems among customers.???

Greg Alexander, owner of Cascade Skating Rink where parts of the ???ATL??? were filmed, was shown the memo by Action News. He said in response: “I think it has a possibility that it could be discriminatory.”

Alexander says he has written proof from the filmmakers that the movie, starring rappers T.I., Big Boi and actor Evan Ross, would not contain gratuitous sex and violence.

This movie does not look like a movie most should be worried about. It’s rated PG-13, so you know it can’tbe THAT BAD. Unless people in Atlanta are going to riot because they see the rollerskating rink they always go to, I think this pre-emptive security preperation is a little over the top.

ATL opens on Friday, March 31st.

Thanks to Crunk & Disorderly for the info.

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Hip-Hop

Pimping Oscar History

So when and if you watch the Oscars tonight, keep in mind that Three 6 Mafia is making Oscar history by being the first rap performance ever performed at the Oscars.

Here’s the description of the scene:

Hookers and hustlers populate the gritty corner of 7th Street and North Memphis. A seductive brunette gyrates against a street lamp. A fight breaks out between two would-be johns. Nearby, in a shabby room soundproofed by cardboard drink holders, a few locals with hip-hop dreams try out their new rap song.

I'm curious to see how the Oscars are going to handle this performance…whether it is going to be tasteful or just downright offensive.

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Independent Film

Movie Preview: Oldboy

With the lack of quality films coming from Hollywood, no wonder many of my friends have turned to Asia for inspiration. There are the Kung-Fu movies, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, however Asian cinema is much more than that.

Take Infernal Affairs, Ringu (The Ring), or Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. I’ll throw Battle Royale (one of the worst films ever made) in there just cause it was different. No wonder Hollywood is looking East. Hong Kong hit, Infernal Affairs is going to be remade, American style this summer with Martin Scorsese at the helm and Jack Nicholson as the lead, replacing all of the Asian characters with Irish-American gangsters. Sigh.

The latest film set to be pimped remade by Hollywood is Oldboy, Chan-wook Park’s revenge thriller. In the movie, a man is imprisoned for 15 years and upon his release, he must figure out how who is captor was, and he only has 5 days. During these 5 days, this former businessman, husband, and father extracts revenge (Kill Bill style) on all who were responsible for his incarceration.

Okay, the plot doesn???t sound like much, but I’ve been assured by some friends that this movie is off the hook, so of course, I’m eagerly awaiting the North American DVD release on August 23rd.

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Independent Film

Short Films in Brooklyn

FlatFoot Fête presents - The Screening, a night of shorts and works-in-progress

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 ??? 7pm ??? 10pm
Sputnik
262 Taaffe Pl
Brooklyn, NY

Why catch a film in the dark when you can enjoy a film salon with other creative minds?

The Screening is a monthly series exploring the creative process through shorts and works-in-progress. The intimacy of the gathering allows for a loose exchange between filmmakers and an audience of artists and creative-influencers. Always welcoming submissions.

(more info after the jump)
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Mandrill

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The Mother of the Matrix?

(This is an article I wrote for Blogcritics)

Little known writer Sophia Stewart is suing Joel Silver, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, and the Wachowski brothers after she claimed that her short story was the basis for the successful Matrix and Terminator franchises. Although this case may yield the biggest payout in Hollywood history, there has been little news about case, despite the fact that there are court records and memos that prove its authenticity.

In the case, Ms Stewart alleges that these movies were based on a 41 page short story she had written entitled “The Third Eye.” She sent the work to the Wachowski brothers in the mid-to late eighties after they requested ideas for sci-fi works. “The Third Eye,” according to her fans and backers, has many similarities to The Matrix trilogy, which has grossed 2.5 billion dollars worldwide.

Stewart???s lawyers also argue that Warner Brothers had full knowledge that the script for the Matrix series was plagiarized, and FBI investigators have found that many scenes from the original movie were cut out to try and avoid a lawsuit. In addition to the copyright infringement charges, Ms. Stewart has also brought federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) charges against the film studios as well.

Sophia???s lawyers have successfully defended multiple attempts to throw this case out, with the most recent motion happening in September 2004. Both sides will go to court in July 2005 if a settlement isn???t reached.

Although Ms. Stewart is African American, she claims that race has nothing to do with her situation. Several fan sites have been created to support Stewart???s case and Matrix message boards have been buzzing about this news for months. Fan site, daghettotymz.com has more information and court documents.

Tags: Mandrill

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