Hollywood, Enough With White Saviors

MOVIE PHAT RANT:
HOLLYWOOD MUST CURE ITSELF OF WSS!!

What is WSS? It is White Savior Syndrome. In movies-–especially sports movies there is a poor black male and white person saves them. Examples are ‘Against The Ropes' with Meg Ryan, 'Glory Road' with Josh Lucas and the latest is ‘Blindside’ with Sandra Bullock. All these movies mean well but as a black person I get tired of seeing this. Are there no rich black families to help disadvantaged black kids?

Now before you go hating on me, I know the Hollywood game. They want that almighty box-office weekend, and they need blacks and whites buying tickets, but it is working on my nerves!!!

Contrast this with Tyler Perry, while many whites don’t know him, black audiences do. You see in his fims what you otherwise NEVER see in a Hollywood movie--a middle class black couple!! If a popular black actor is in mainstream commercial movie he or she MUST be paired up with a white or Latina. We always see a white couple. What’s up with that---or even better, I am tired of that!! Hollywood must realize niche audiences always come back if they like what they see. Not all movies have to make 100 million in a weekend. Enough already!!

Ninjas and the Blind: Year End Wrap

NINJA ASSASSIN: BLOODY GOOD!!!

It is hard to believe that director James McTeigue made ‘V For Vendetta’ for it was intense and very intelligent. ‘Ninja Assassin’ well, that’s another story. It is about Raizo starring Rain, as one of the best killers in the world taught by the Ozunu Clan. He rebels when a friend is senselessly killed by the clan and tries to save an agent the beautiful, black Naomie Harris from them. Lets face it, this is not about plot. This is about stylized slashing!!! It is done very well too---you can’t beat that opening!! I don’t understand why the studio released it around Thanksgiving with all the blood-letting, but do see it--–in theaters or on video, whichever---if you like action movies, THIS IS for you!!!

BLINDSIDE: A GOOD TIME!!

This movie is based on a true story, and it is about a homeless black kid with a body of linebacker who is helped by a white woman named Leigh Ann Tuohy. Through her he learns to read, have a family and become a football player. Sandra Bullock is very good as a tough, loving mom. Newcomer Quinton Aaron is great as Michael Oher, the black teen who is taken under Leigh’s wing. Who I liked the best is Leigh’s son’s SJ played by Jae Head. He is cute, cheerful and confident with Michael. It is a feel good drama. The director John Lee Hancock made “The Rookie” in 2002 with Dennis Quaid and it shows. Should you see it? Yes, if you want to feel good about being a human being. Why shouldn’t you see it? It's a better woman-of-the week TV movie if you want to wait, and if you don’t like Sandra Bullock.

Precious Indeed

‘PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE’ is stunning. WARNING: This movie is NOT a popcorn movie!!! It is raw and horrific because of subject matter (incest) abuse of all kinds and skin color. Knowing that you know it is an independent film and there are happy moments. The story is about an obese, black (dark skinned) 16 year old girl named Claireece “Precious” Jones is abused by both parents--–her father sexually and her mother verbally and physically.

She fantasizes about being white, being thin and being loved by a light-skinned black man. In reality she is poor and can’t read, and is pregnant with her second child. She decides to go to an alternative school despite her mother’s objections. There, she begins to love herself and learns to read and write. She doesn’t lose weight, but gains knowledge as to why her mother was such a be-itch.

THE ACTING: Gabourey Sidible, is a newcomer who is just fantastic!! Lots of people know this story from the book or from their own life experience, but she shows every emotion and you have to cheer for her. If she is at least not nominated –--there should be no Oscars!!! Mo’Nique---yes, that plus-size pretty comic talk show host plays her always attacking mother. She too deserves an Oscar nomination. Others to mention who you would or couldn’t think could act, did an excellent job. Like Mariah Carey downplaying her good looks to be a good social worker, and Lenny Kravitz as a male nurse who showed Precious not all black men are brutal and uncaring.

BOTTOM LINE: This movie is really hard to watch, but if you want good acting and good directing this is the movie for you. You should always read the books before the movie, but I am ordering the novel as I write this!

2012---Fall Becomes Summer Again

Bottom line: A Serious Subject Turned Into A Mindless Summer Movie

I enjoy summer movies because they don’t try to do anything but entertain but this movie, ‘2012,’ is about the end of the world!! It is action packed, special effects are great, but people, that’s not how our world is going to go out!! The star of the movie isn’t really Jon Cusack but Chiwetel Ejiofor, a scientist who finds out the word is crumbling. It’s just a fun summer movie that came out in November. You know what to expect from Roland Emmerich(‘Independence Day’) Big explosions, vice-presidents dead, heroic presidents and animals being saved.

Twilight: New Moon, No Sense

WHY IS THIS MOVIE MAKING SOOOO MUCH MONEY???!!!

I don’t get it. I finally saw it the other night and I am saying bad words about it, for it seems every female on the planet saw this movie!! It made history for one day box office and the weekend. It has made over 200 million dollars and for what? Only one person dies in the movie, so it’s not for gore hounds; not much action---if you see the trailer you have seen most of it. I have never read any of the novels and I hear they are awful, but the books no matter how bad are better than the movie. I am baffled.

The story is about Bella (Kristen Stewart) who is distraught about her vampire-lover leaving her? Her best friend is hunky Taylor Lautner who is a werewolf, as she finds out the hard way. She finds out she loves them both but chooses her vampire-lover Edward (Robert Pattinson). This movie is 2 hours and 10 minutes folks.

The Good: The Wolf-Pack---topless mostly through the movie!! That is one of the pluses!! Taylor Lautner is topless too. Alice (Ashley Greene) Edward’s bubbly sister. Michael Sheen (Aro) and Dakota Fanning (Jane) the leaders of the vampire clan Volturi. Those two are very creepy. They could make a movie about the Volturi and it would probably be better. Mr. Sheen has done full circle. He was the werewolf leader in ‘Underworld’ and now leader of the vampire in this movie. He is good in both.

The Bad: Everything else!! I do understand Bella’s torment being dumped by her boyfriend, but he did do it for a reason. As for the rest of the film: It is sooo slooow. It is like a flat-line machine that spikes every forty-five minutes.

Bottom Line: This movie is critic-proof, but the only thing (and it is a good thing) it signifies is that teen girls and females can bring in box office. Hollywood, are you listening? To all other people, see the cheaper version---‘The Vampire Diaries’ on CW, then decide for yourself.