Movie Review for US (2019)

Let this sink in: Oh The Horror of All The Thinking This Film Will Make You Have to Do.  

First of all, Jordan Peele's brand of QUALITY provoked me back in to the movie theater.  That in and of itself says a lot to me on a very deep and personal level.  As for this being a "horror" film, I wasn't cringing at all.  In fact, Lupita Nyong'o's performance is so fantastic that I couldn't take my eyes off of her.  So, if you are thinking you are gonna be shrieking and cowering in fear, forget about it.  

With Jordan Peele what you can and should expect; other than the aforementioned quality of his brand is you will get a solid, very layered and thought provoking piece of art that will have you scratching your head and saying to yourself 'oh, yeah, but what about...' far past the cinema's parking lot.  It stick's with you, if not at you - ever probing.  

Kudos for the fine ensemble (most all play dual roles); Elisabeth Moss is also quite a stand out and all of the children. Nods to the editor and cinematography as well.  The payoff is fabulous, but it will take some work to do.  Just let it set in.  Awards season could be really interesting if the film festivals, critics and industry all embrace this film, as they did for Peele's predecessor 'Get Out' - and I think they will. Kudos!

XXXTENTACION'S HAUNTING NEWLY RELEASED VIDEO FOR SAD LEAVES ITS MARK - Music Video Review

Hindsight is 20/20 and it appears this brilliant artist had been reflecting over his

young life long before his untimely, tragic death earlier this month.  The posthumously, newly released video for the chart-topping, record-breaking achingly melancholy track SAD! displays his artistry and talent peaked, if not fine-tuned. It unapologetically shows a tormented soul trying to feverishly auto-correct past transgressions.

When he was murdered in an ambush-style, broad daylight “apparent” robbery while

leaving a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida on Monday, June 18,
2018, I had already heard of him and his music through the weekly Billboard charts.  For several weeks, I had wanted to look his music up and research him further. 
I was curious about this super-indie artist’s impressive rise.  Unfortunately, I admit I waited too late and made the time to learn more about him after his passing.

Not only did his death force my hand to research him and his music, but it was the

pure hatred I saw thrown his way immediately following on social media.  I was shocked and somewhat offended that this supposed ‘nobody’ could have been THAT bad in his short life.  So, I finally sought him out.

For the next few days, it was all about XXXTentacion.  It was a crash course, I read everything I could find about him, watched numerous videos, posts to a variety of social

media feeds, listened to all of his songs that I could find – all displaying the good, bad, ugly and otherwise of his essence. 

First of all, not everybody is all bad, or all good for that matter.  Secondly, just because YOU don’t know who someone is or not that much about them doesn’t make their life, death or legacy that much less.  While I cringed at some of the instances from his past, I realized how young he was in each of those set of circumstances and considered his turbulent background. I also could clearly see that he definitely saw the err of his ways and was, in many ways, trying to turn himself around to do better.

Even though he still faced upcoming legal battles, he was remarkably doing numerous

charitable works, community outreach and encouraging others to better themselves especially his young, growing FAM base to do the same.  I say FAM base because on several occasions he stated that his fans were not just like family, but were family.  It sure seemed that way given the access they had to him at his shows, online and through his various music and video platforms.

Tirelessly creating avenues to showcase his creative, artistic expression and share

thought provoking, even life-changing messages of empowerment and hope for his
growing public.  So, this guy no longer came across to me as the demon spawned child many haters online were passing off with their negative comments and posts.
Obviously, they were basing their “feelings” off of his past domestic violence and criminal activities.  Forget about someone maturing and trying to better; not only themselves, but
countless others through their art.  It was like so many closed the door to him, counted him out and cast him to hell before the body was even cold.

I don’t get it – how we, as a society can boldly, “bravely” spew such hatred

whilst sitting on their judgmental high horses behind a computer screen.  I can’t remember when we became so high and mighty as a collective.  It forced me to look at him with an open mind and I was glad I researched him, before jumping toconclusions.

I feel, and now, his legacy will show others the light and see the positivity among the torment.  When you see a young fam of his saying that his music saved their life; that he showed them it was okay to be depressed.  He showed them (and especially after his death) it is good to use artistic expression as an outlet, a creative gateway out of one’s personal darkness and to do good for others.  He used his platform for the lonely and forgotten youth in these rough times.  He took time out for them and now I feel, even more will be touched by his unique style since I am sure a lot of people are now (like me) discovering his music.

Now, as for the video clip for SAD!  After seeing the video, which premiered on his YouTube channel on June 28, 2018, just ten days after his murder and received almost 30 million video views overnight, it was like all of my recent research all culminated and came together.  Both eerie (knowing what we all know now) and compelling, the video is an excellent showcase of this brilliant young man’s wide-scope of sheer talent in it’s rawest, rarest form.  I see the passion, his artistry exactly for what it is – bold, in your face and, again, unapologetic.

You really witness his personal turnaround and maturity, as he fights with his old

self.  Now, transformed with a sense of remorse and energized from seeing the proverbial light (as it were) he tackles those demons from within.  Creatively, I feel it is one of the best concept videos I have seen in quite a while.  I hope music industry peers recognize XXXTentacion for not only this song and video, but his entire “?” album and not use his past
transgressions against his flourishing, full on artistry. 

I am not saying it is okay to reward ‘bad behavior’ because the art here stands

on its own.  Musically, he was definitely a ‘one-of-a-kind’ artist with his unique sound and wordy, slick phrasing over stylized beats, sounds and sometimes distortions all setting mood fitting for both the intended message and effect.  To be at that skill set at such a young age and in such a short time is nothing short than brilliant.  To be that stylized, that giving to both his art AND his audience. There was/is nobody who sounds like him, in my opinion, in modern pop music.

Finally, it gives me (and I now finally can see, others) something REAL we can all feel.


Antonio Cassone, 2018

MOVIE REVIEW: 'The Social Network' Reels You In and Hooks You, but...

The Social Network --Columbia Pictures.

Directed by David Fincher

Screenplay Adaptation by Aaron Sorkin, based on Ben Mezrich's best selling book The Accidental Millionaires.

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Josh Pence, Joseph Mazzello, Rooney Mara and Brenda Song

Film Editors: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall

My Rating: B

Aaron Sorkin's manic paced dialogue propels The Social Network and David Fincher gets the best performance out of the subject the film is based on itself, as opposed to any one actor. That is a good thing, actually. I say that because the main character, truthfully speaking, is Facebook. The drama surrounding Mark Zuckerberg (a solid performance from Jesse Eisenberg) and how his empire came about from the beginning just seven short years ago with all of it's subplots, dramas and innuendo. I came away from the film with the feeling that this is the story of a lonely guy that got hurt by a girl he liked - and he was gonna show her.

While the film has been critically praised, I can see some of the why behind the praise, but it certainly does not grab me as the 'movie of the year' as some critics seem to have touted. I think it is an important film worthy of some accolades, but I think just like it's subject being shoved down our collective subconscious throats - so is the brilliant marketing of the film. If I were to take the film and stand it by itself without all the hype and hoopla, I would say that it is a relative subject to today's society and how one man's loneliness lead him to much fortune and fame, but at the end of the day he still doesn't have that one special friend. Very Hollywood.

As for Awards buzz, because I always go there whenever I talk movies...perhaps, it will be on everybody's Best Picture list - despite my personal feelings...but who am I? While Eisenberg is definitely wonderful, and maybe even deserving a Best Actor nod; I am not sure he will make the cut in a category that always seems to have more possibilities than it can contain. However, Andrew Garfield, as his patient, yet jaded business partner and friend and Justin Timberlake's slick, if not slithering portrayal of Napster founder Sean Parker are both on my list for possible Best Supporting Actor nods from the various awards groups. Timberlake actually surprised me, because through all the reserved and intellectual, though oft times tense back and forth dialogue it was Timberlake's performance that had me leaning forward in my chair just a tad. Maybe because my blood pressure raised just a little. Just not sure if it was due to the fact that his Parker was taking advantage of a good situation or that Eisenberg's Zuckerberg seemed so far removed from the situation half the time that you wondered truly, where was this guy coming from?

Along with Aaron Sorkin's, per usual, golden pen; Fincher's well-paced direction and Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall's beautiful film editing...I am sure this film will be on many lists come awards season. As for the social commentary, I almost wish the film would have went just a little further and covered its subject when it reached past the college campuses and became the global phenomenon it is today. Other than that, I definitely would recommend a viewing.

MOVIE REVIEW: For Colored Girls - Tyler Perry's Most Important Film to Date On Many Levels

For Colored Girls -- Lionsgate

Directed by Tyler Perry

Screenplay by Tyler Perry, based on Ntozake Shange's choreo-poem stage play, for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf

Cast: Janet Jackson, Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Macy Gray, Michael Ealy, Omari Hardwick, Richard Lawson, Hill Harper and Khalil Kain

Film Editing: Maysie Hoy

Costume Design: Johnetta Boone

My Grade: A

First of all, this is a time when a film comes along that I wish the Academy, like the Screen Actor's Guild Awards had an ensemble acting category. I will come back to that point in a moment, but I must first begin this review with a poignant question to mass media film critics. Is Tyler Perry on some sort of list? I say that, because I could not get over the numerous negative critiques this film received citing everything from accusing Perry of hacking Shange's original poetic masterpiece to smithereens with formulaic melodrama, very little character development and Janet Jackson coming from the Meryl Streep school of Miranda Priestley a la Devil Wears Prada - actually THREE reviewers had that same insight. I found it curious. Did they have a meeting? I only bring this up, because this is one case where I must compel you to not listen to the mass media critics on this one. The other thing that seemed to be across the board with these critics is they felt that the interwoven poetry of Ntozake Shange's original work with Perry's dialogue would go way over his 'usual' audiences head. What the hell is that supposed to mean? As a person familiar with the original piece, as well as Perry's work - I can tell you that it didn't go over my head. People get it!

It is as though the mass media critics have written him off as comedy, not to be taken too seriously with the Medea films and what not. Sure, Hollywood can count on him to rake in the box office come opening weekend, but he'll never be considered for anything more than that. I wouldn't write him off just yet. This could very well be Tyler Perry's best film. In fact, it is a borderline masterpiece in social commentary. Without giving away any spoilers, unlike some of those aforementioned critics, the issues brought about through both the original play and this film are ones that are not only viable, but that need to be put on the table. If not, unapologetically, put in your face - as they are so eloquently and grittily displayed in the film.

My hope is that not only mass audiences give this film a chance, but that it gets some recognition come awards season. The depths of the cast alone, with each of the central actresses portrayals having at least one, what I affectionately call 'Oscar reel' moment. Of course, I have my favorites. I mean, in an ensemble this deep and gifted, who do you nominate or recognize? Kimberly Elise definitely could come up come awards season, as well as Thandie Newton - as both brought the bravura to their roles.

The best thing about Perry's direction of the film lay in it's nuances - and there are several. There is a scene between Newton and Whoopi Goldberg where they exchange lines from one of Shange's wonderful poems - both beginning in the same place, then drifting separately; each actress not missing a beat and then meeting up to a conclusion from where they first began. I was on the edge of my seat. Phylicia Rashad is brilliant as the wise, if not matronly apartment manager who definitely goes above the call of duty on several occasions. Rashad's performance is timed so well... It is as though she shows up, and it makes all the sense in the world. Every time... Loretta Devine shines in what I think is the best role I have seen her in, 'like you've never seen before.' Even Macy Gray's one scene will have you feeling so on edge and in the moment, if you just go with the suspension of disbelief...yes, people; (ie those critics) run with it.

Get into these characters. There is so much meat here, and for critics to just toss it away like 'whatever' really got under my nail a tad. It is the movies people. I also have to make mention of the men that are in these women's lives. Michael Ealy, in what must be the most unlikeable role an actor could have - his character definitely has some major issues, but Ealy makes you feel for him; just brilliant. Omari Hardwick, Richard Lawson, Hill Harper and Khalil Kain are all solid, as well.

Then there is that exchange between Janet Jackson's Jo/Red and her husband (Hardwick) near the end of the film. No spoilers here, but let's just say that it is a subject that I am glad somebody finally put very much in your face; in not just the African-Amercian community, but in the world community as well. Jackson's sweet soliloquy with all of it's tears and reserved rage, hurt and emotion has got to be her shining moment. I have always been a fan of Janet Jackson, but in a lot of her previous movies I always felt like I was watching Janet Jackson playing a role. Not here. This is the real deal. Pure, raw acting.

The ensemble is so important to this film and I hope audiences do go see it, get into the characters, stories and the wonderful poetry and just go with it. If you are familiar with the play, accept that this is a film based on the material and don't get caught up in trying to compare one with the other. We don't do it every time a Shakespearean piece is turned into a film, why start now?

Also, of note - if, by chance, this film gets recognized come awards season two other artist's work shines as well and that is the amazing Maysie Hoy's film editing and the masterful costume design of Johnetta Boone. Boone's task was not as easy as one would think. The costumes in this film were very important from Goldberg's clean white garb for her religiously fanatic Alice and Loretta Devine's costume jewelry to the pastel shirt worn with metrosexual fit-to-a-tee suaveness of Hardwick's suit as he's talking to Jackson's Jo on his cell phone, while walking down the street. You better believe that every outfit in this film had a reason and a purpose.

Yes, it is the details and when you have woven them altogether you have what could very well be Tyler Perry's first step at being considered a serious filmmaker; a contender if you will - damn the naysayers.

Bravo!

Review: Betty White, Jay-Z & Alumni Divas Deliver the Goods for a Memorable 'SNL'

My first point that I made to my dear friend, Pam, while we were watching this week's much anticipated episode of Saturday Night Live was... I can't remember the last time I actually sat and watched an entire episode of the show. High school? When Eddie Murphy & Joe Piscopo did their thing, nah. College? When Phil Hartman and Dana Carvey were on? Sure, I saw a bit of Molly Shannon back in the day and a spot of Tina Fey here and there, but to sit through the entire show???Right. Maybe....

Well, I kept my word and I watched SNL last night - and you know what? It was fantastic. Sure, there were a few slow parts in the middle and maybe they had Betty White doin' one too many sex jokes for even my taste, but even then - lighten up, right? She may not be our Grandma's Betty White, but she sure had me and Pam laughing like buffoons during that muffin, NPR radio skit. I swear, I will never look at a muffin the same way again. I liked a lot of her schtick, but that one, the 'Lawrence Welk'-esque opener, her take on her heavy metal/grunge 'version' of "Thank You for Being a Friend" (theme song from The Golden Girls) and her opening monologue were all highlights to me.

Also, seeing the SNL alumni divas doing their thing again was wonderful. Rachel Dratch had me in stitches, Maya Rudolph's take on Whitney Houston was hilarious, Tina Fey is always a welcome return to the show, Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler and Ana Gasteyer all doing bits that made them hits when they were on their regular runs on the series, now in it's 35th season.

Jay-Z did not disappoint either. He did almost a mini-concert of some of his major hits that had me dancin' in my seat. It was a very commanding performance and his Forever Young tribute to the evening's host was a very nice touch to cap the evening off just right. Bravo!

I will be interested to see how well the episode did in the Nielsen ratings. On my social media networks, there was a lot of buzz - that which is usually typical during major sporting or news events and/or awards shows.

Speaking of awards shows... SNL and, especially, Betty White clear some mantle space because I smell some Emmy's coming your way come August 29th...at least a slew of nominations in July.

You'll see ...because that show and it's iconic host are golden.

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photo courtesy of NBC.com