Random Movie News....

I finished watching "Street Kings" last night. It was aiiight, but a movie with Forest Whitaker, Cedric The Entertainer as a drug dealer, Terry Crews, the Game, and Common as a cop gone very, very bad should have been a bit more attention grabbing. It was serviceable, though; it very much reminded me of a Clint Eastwood cop movie from the 70's. Just replace Keanu Reeves with Clint and you wouldn't know the difference. Come to think of it, that would have made the movie more interesting.

Is this going to be the new trend for Black filmmakers? Since those in our community with pockets deep enough to build an independent film studio/distribution company seem unwilling to do so, it seems the thing to do is go dry-begging overseas. First Spike had to go to Italy, now Danny Glover with this, a project very worthy of American funding:

Venezuelan politicians are donating nearly $30 million to back an independent movie directed by actor Danny Glover, a supporter of the country's President Hugo Chavez. "Toussaint," a film about Haitian rebel leader Toussaint Louverture, will be produced by Glover's Louvertoure Films with support from the Cinema Villa, Venezuela's state film studio. (btn)

It is a shame our great talents have to resort to this, but I am glad they get the money they need to make coon-free films.

I was just saying the other day that someone should make a film about the Negro Baseball League. And guess what? I'm sure someone has, but wasn't able to get the funding. Of course it is up to someone non-black to pick up the slack. From Variety:

ESPN Films has agreed to co-produce the film planned for theatrical release about legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey and their struggle to break baseball's color barrier in the late 1940s. The untitled project will be produced by Robert Redford and Tracy Falco, Howard and Karen Baldwin (Baldwin Entertainment Group), and Andrew Cohen. The project is being developed by Robert Redford's Wildwood Enterprises and Baldwin/Cohen Productions, with Redford starring in the role of Rickey.

This probably means another Black story will be told from a non-black perspective once again. But at least it's Robert Redford; I always respect that he makes movies for grown-ups.

And finally, there have been a number of pictures floating on the internets this week, and all I have to say is "What Is Really Going On?" as a caption for every one of them.....

what is really going on with Eddie Murphy's birthday cake? Is it even edible?

*sigh* what is really going on?

what is really going on idris? are you out to suck the hot you garnered on 'the wire' down to zero? mission accomplished!

Al, Al , Al....what is really going on with the 70's Robert Evans fake tan and blowdried hair? I never would have expected this from you, of all people....