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Reviews
Chappelle's Show (2003)
Minstrel coon show that sets back blacks
I can't believe that someone would pony up 30 million to Dave Chappelle to set back black people to the racial stereotypical days of slavery and "Amos and Andy." Actually I can, because Hollywood still buys and champions racism. Remember "Soul Plane?" That crap closed MGM down. Dave Chappelle actually put on a Klan outfit on one of his shows. Regardless of the humor imbued in the skit, the Klan and their virulent past is NEVER an issue that should be poked fun of or mitigated. Racism is still alive and well in this country, and we need to be trying to heal it, not fester it. African-Americans don't do enough when they have influence and power to make a change. Dave Chappelle is the perfect example of a buffoon who would sell his soul, integrity, and race out for money. In essence, he was paid 30 million to help destroy and marginalize his own race, and he gladly accepted grinning and cooning all the way to the bank. Dave Chappelle and his show, sucks.
Undercover Brother (2002)
keep this one UNDER the COVER!
I remember the director of this film sending out a mass e-mail to people begging them to support this film, saying it was not stereotypical and was a truly unique film. Neither one was accurate. It tried so hard to be funny and clever, but instead, was sorely hackneyed. Also, casting overrated talent like Eddie Griffin (has he EVER done something of worth or integrity) and Dave Chappelle was a big misstep as well. If this same director urges people to come out for a future effort, he won't get much support, because he burned the public with this forgettable, disposable fare. Fool me once, shame of you. Fool me twice, shame on me. This director would fool me again. No way.
Soul Plane (2004)
Participants should have rights revoked!
Everyone who was associated with this debacle of a production should never be allowed to work in the film industry again. Films like this fully embody the premise that video directors (like Jessy Terrero) make shoddy (at best) feature-film directors. Remember "Belly" by Hype Williams?! "The Cookout" by Lance Rivera?! Ugh!! Only a visual hack who would do anything for an opportunity would make a film that sets back a race like this film. Mo'Nique (whose NEVER done a film with any integrity, or for that matter, anything at all with scruples), Snoop Dogg (same with him, big time!), Kevin Hart (what a horrible way to make a debut, he would be better off playing a black Klansman), and Sommore (please, no more!) have done more detriment to black people that full-blown racists have done. No plot, stereotypes galore, coonery to the highest extreme, and wretched acting/writing/directing make this film worse than excrement. Tom Arnold, you stink too. Playing the "token" in this film did NO ONE a favor except your bank account. Every dollar you made from this should all be given away to charity. You make white people look bad enforcing stereotypes. That's irresponsible as hell too. Where's Gordon Parks when you need a good film directed by a black person? I hope there's a new wave of filmmakers that can come out soon with some diversified material. Enough is enough. Return to sender, which in this case, was the toilet. How can anyone associated with this film sleep peacefully at night and show their faces in public? Pride is a foreign word nowadays. No one has it anymore in black cinema. Someone PLEASE bring it back. "Soul Plane?!" "My Baby's Daddy?!" "Marci X?!" "The Cookout?!" "State Property?!" "Trois?!" "Friday After Next?!" "Johnson Family Vacation?!" "Undercover Brother?!" "Baby Boy?!" Anything made by Master P and anything with Eddie Griffin in it! Stop the "plane"! I want to get off!!!
No stars, and NO WAY should films like this EVER be allowed to come out.
Higher Learning (1995)
Two things give this average film merit
This film is pretty much your average college flick with the average stereotypes, times two. However two things about this film always make me give it another look. The great performance from Michael Rappaport and the whole skinhead crew, and the moving ending, where Omar Epps comes out of the building and Laurence Fishburne grabs him and holds him in his arms like a father would. The great Stanley Clarke score in the background really brings out the best in that most poignant scene. That one scene is proof that great music in a film really enriches it.
Scent of a Woman (1992)
Great moralistic film with a great musical score from Thomas Newman
This is a great film. Very well done in all aspects. it's one of those films where you don't really expect much and end up getting a lot. Thomas Newman's preppy but poignant score gives the film a regal richness. Pacino is great, but I still think Denzel Washington should have got the Oscar in 1992 for Malcolm X. I guess they were trying to make up for all of the times that Pacino was overlooked. This film is super, nonetheless. the Thankgiving dinner scene is a tear-jerker.
Passenger 57 (1992)
Stanley Clarke is a great film composer
This film was the first time I've ever taken notice of Stanley Clarke's musical film composition skills. I think he saved this film, personally. His music was so cool and swinging, he made the film very enjoyable. I remember two scenes in particular: the flashback scene where Wesley Snipes character remembers how his girlfriend was killed, and when Wesley Snipes goes to the power meeting in the exclusive all-white restaurant in his red corvette. Very cool music makes very cool movie.
Penitentiary (1979)
Passionate and very intense cinema experience
I read in an article that "Penitentiary" is one of John Singelton's favorite films. I can see why. It is an film that is kind of like an "acquired taste". It has its own audience. Hard-hitting, intense, and memorable, with some very well done casting, especially bad-man Badja Djola as "Half Dead". The musical score takes great risks that ultimately pay off. There is one part during the terrific fight scene between Too-Sweet and Half-Dead where there is no score, just screeching. Another interesting point, in Penitentiary 2, Ernie Hudson is just as good as Half-Dead's replacement.
American History X (1998)
Wow!
I didn't know what to expect when I saw this film. After I did, I do know I was floored by seeing great cinema. Edward Norton has go to be ranked with the best after his performance. The musical score is superb and very moving. The scene with the two young boys on the beach is beautiful. I just want to say that if the director, Tony Kaye, ever reads my comment here I want to say that you made a very big mistake by discrediting and disowning such a fine masterpiece of cinema. You should have put your differences aside with Ed Norton and New Line Cinema and just sat back and raked in the accolades you would have received from it. You would have been one of the hottest directors around. This film is almost without peer in its genre.
How to Be a Player (1997)
Major setback for African-American cinema, with one exception
This film was a travesty for African-American films, it probably killed several deals for quality African-American films to get made. The only thing I can find good in it, was the beautiful actress Mari Morrow, who had nothing good to work with in the material. She is reduced to just a lovely piece of eye candy amongst the madness.
New Jersey Drive (1995)
Decent, with beautiful cinematography and one fine performance
This film is pretty good, it actually is like a good wine, it gets better the more you watch it. The pace is pretty slow for such a high octane topic, but the cinematography is beautiful and surreal. There is a cool blue tint that "rides" the whole film. There is also one great performance in Gabriel Casseus' performance of the character "Midget". He is terrific. Why doesn't this guy work more. If the film got better support, he probably would have.
Menace II Society (1993)
Great film and very, very artistic
What makes this film great is the way is was photographed and scored, both of which are seamless. I remember two scenes in particular, the scene in the hospital where Caine is reflecting on his life, and the scene where Caine jumps on Chauncey at the party for feeling on his girl, Ronnie. Both of these scene encapsulate the former comment I made tremendously. The ending leaves you breathless. I read somewhere that Tupac was originally cast as the Muslim character before he got into a conflict with the directors. This normally would seem like a great loss, but the replacement, Vonte Sweet did a fine job. This film is a case of just flat all around great and heart wrenching cinema.
Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1992)
Earnest and heartfelt debut
This film has heart that overshadows many of its faults. There is a lot of overacting in this film, but a lot of substance in it as well. I remember the love scene being very, very well done and very tasteful, one of the best I think I've ever seen. The song in the background fit the scene perfectly, it wasn't any "bump and grind" type of track. Kudos to Leslie Harris for making a moving as much as imperfect film.
Straight Out of Brooklyn (1991)
Earnest, flawed, but respectable debut effort
This film has many flaws, but many strengths as well. Many luminaries in the film industry have openly criticized this film. I feel much of this is unjustified, because a lot was done on a miniscule budget here. There is also a great performance in George T. Odom's portrayal of the fed up father who has been beaten down by racism. Anyone who has grown up in a low income household can relate to that situation. The ending is sad and real. Also especially noteworthy is Harold Wheeler's excellent and despondent musical score.
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Tremendous!
Will John Singleton ever make a film this good again?! I hope so. It is been said that a persons best work is done when he has no stature and is hungry. John Singelton must have been starving here, because this film is excellent, from beginning to end. Stanley Clarke's superb musical score was robbed for not getting an Oscar nomination. Two scenes always blow me away. The scene where the black cop holds a gun to Tre's head while berating him, and the scene where Rick is shot in the back and everyone is huddled around him in the alley while no one comes out to see what is going on. This film is great cinema.
House Party (1990)
Very, very entertaining and landmark effort
This film is so good, it actually gets better upon repeat viewings. You always notice something funny that you didn't see before. Case in point: Robin Harris tour de force performance as Kid's father. The music was excellent, and the battle scene between Kid and Play was outstanding. The safe sex message was well integrated within the fabric of the story without seeming forced. Most importantly, Kid and Play did a very credible acting job. Along with Tupac, Ice Cube and sometimes Ice T, they make actor/rappers look very good.
Purple Rain (1984)
Great date film, no, make that great film period
This film is outstanding and wonderfully scored. Prince's Oscar for music was richly deserved (many people don't know he won one). I think this is one of the best films to watch as a couple late at night on DVD. A great surprise: Prince does a fine job acting, and is pretty good at conveying pain on camera. Morris Day, Wendy, and Lisa are good in their supporting roles. Very cool landmark film.
Risky Business (1983)
Uniquely surreal comedy/coming of age piece
What makes this film special and noteworthy are two things: the outstanding surreal cinematography and the equally dreamy score by Tangerine Dream. If these two things were absent from this film, it would probably be categorized in the same breath as "Losin' It" or "Making The Grade". However these two elements lend great personality to a film that benefits from it tremendously. Nice job.
Some Kind of Hero (1982)
Great film up until about the middle
This film starts off like an extremely poignant drama. The bond between Richard Pryor and Ray Sharkey in the POW camp is seamlessly acted. The musical score by Patrick Williams is outstanding and very sad. The films middle is just as good, with very moving parts with Pryor returning from war to deal with problems with his mother, his wife, and his life. However, after this the film goes awry. The films keeps its respectability however, because Pryor is such a good actor.
Point Break (1991)
A wild, terrific summer trip!
This is a great film. Watching it is like being on an insane summer vacation that goes wrong, but you still want to ride it to the end. Some sequences are unbelievable, like the chase scene that goes through alleys and houses and street between Reeves and Swayze.I love when Swayze throws the dog at Reeves. The airplane scenes are great too (did they do their own stunts? It sure seemed like it!). Even the usual tomboy Lori Petty is pretty and engaging here. Gary Busey is a hoot, too. The film was a victim of what hurts a lot of great films that don't do well when released theatrically: the trailer stank. All of the hard work and great direction this film had was severely hindered by a unfulfilling trailer.
Christine (1983)
Great film with definition cool attitude
This film is one of the coolest horror/thriller films ever made, right up there with "Fright Night". The whole film feels like it takes place on one strange weekend. John Stockwell ("Dennis" in the film)is excellent as the main character's best friend. There is a great scene where he sticks up for his nerd buddy in the high school shop class. The transition that "Arnie" goes through from nerd to tough guy is very well done, and well acted by Keith Gordon. John Carpenter was a great director in this period of the eighties. His later work like "Escape from L.A." should be forgotten, and classics like "Christine", "Halloween", "The Fog", and "Escape From New York" should be put on a pedestal.
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)
Magical campy fun!
This film has a breezy magic all throughout it. It is one of my favorite films ever made. It is not to be taken seriously (a film with a psychadelic basketball floor can't be), but the wonderful Thom Bell score and great songs give the film a wonderful pace. The sequence where Dr. J is on the court playing one on one with himself is classic.
Blacula (1972)
Great and earnest addition to the vampire genre
This film is excellent, in all aspects. The suspense and karma lead right up to the end credits. The lead actor, William Marshall, is without peer. He is right there with the best vampire character actors, including Christopher Lee, and more recently, Chris Sarandon ("Fright Night"). The music is also top notch. The opening credits are of note too, with the cool disco music and the dancing animated bat.
Fright Night (1985)
Sensational and atmospheric horror film
This film has to feature the world's coolest vampire in Chris Sarandon's character. This film has great atmosphere, with more fog and blowing wind than even the most vintage Duran Duran video. Very surreal and compelling, and Brad Fiedel's hip, cool score is definitely top notch. Even the artwork on the video rental box of the haunted house is outstanding.
Bad Boys (1983)
Outstanding!
This is a great film. When I saw it when I was around 12, it made me petrified of ever going away to a juvenile prison. I think since I saw it, I've always thought twice before doing something stupid. The director gets such tremendous performances out of the actors, that it doesn't seem at all like the viewer is watching a film, but a documentary. In fact, these great performances go all the way through the credits, when Sean Penn is crying and the guards lead the others prisoners to their cells after the climatic fight scene. To just single out Sean Penn's great performance would be a travesty to all of the others. The musical score is very sad and moves the film along always at a poignant pace.
Phantasm (1979)
Wildly effective and risky horror classic!
This is the creme de la creme of horror films, with what might even be the best score even in one. The score is so famous, that several top hip hop artists have sampled it to make hit records (DMX and Doug E. Fresh). The atmosphere is excellent, the around-the-way, average joe characters make the film very believable. I've always thought this was a great film, but I recently found new respect for it after seeing the director's commentary on DVD, where I see how seriously the filmmakers took this project when they made it, and that is wasn't no joke to them. This was not a great film made by default, they meant to make it great. Fellas, want to get a pretty girl to jump into your lap late at night, make sure she's never seen Phantasm and put this bad boy on with all the lights out. The tall man will appear before the film is over!