This Week at the Movies

Living in a small town means that there are not many opportunities for extra-curricular activities. Put another way, that means a sister goes to the movies a lot. Last week, I saw Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys Together. Though certainly not an Oscar-worthy flick, it was a definite improvement from that drivel that wasted two hours of my life, Meet the Browns. How bad a writer/director can you be to have Angela Bassett act poorly? It was a hot mess.

Family that Preys did not offer any profundity, but the lighting was good, the acting was decent (with especially strong performances by Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates, and Robin Givens, of all people), and I was entertained the whole time. Not a bad way to spend a Friday evening. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

But yesterday afternoon I saw a veritable cinematic tour-de-force, Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna. I'm all about supporting black film, but I often have my reservations. Tyler Perry is often technically inept and heavy handed in his religious myopia. Spike Lee often takes bold steps in his films that are technically savvy, sharp stylistically, and visually interesting. He also makes it his business to consistently call folks out on their racist complacency, whether it be in mainstream film, independent film, documentary, or what have you. However, Spike's sexism, heterosexism, and homophobia--see She's Gotta Have It, Jungle Fever, and She Hate Me (the latter I find interesting but problematic) to see what I mean. And yes, the specter of sexism does loom in this film. However, by and large, I was pleased with it and would recommend it to others--4 out of 5 starts. Beware! It's long (a little over 2.5 hours) and there are some moments of pedantic speech that'll have you rolling your eyes (not to mention the ending--I won't even go there). However, despite these critiques, it is a film worth watching and discussing, especially considering, among other things, the fact that we are at war and will be at war for a while.

I have read that some critics have cited the flashbacks about racism in the South as "superfluous" and "distracting" from the overall message of the movie. A movie that is about the racism and genocide at the heart of Nazi propaganda and their pogrom to exterminate all Jews. Were they watching the same movie? While I agree the film could have benefited from more judicious editing, I think this critique mostly underscores the discomfort that some so-called liberals have in discussing race. Please note, discussing race or racism is not dredging up the past, it's acknowledging the realities of the present. The sooner we realize that and stop dancing around our guilt/shame, the sooner we can begin to really do some positive, anti-racist (sexist, etc.) work. Assuaging our discomfort is just not going to cut it.

Bottom line: go see the movie and discuss it with some rational folk.

P.S. On a considerably lighter note, there are some fine men in this movie--Derek Luke (Antwon Fisher), Laz Alonso (former BET vjay and This Christmas), and my personal favorite, Michael Ealy (Sleeper Cell, Barbershop). To quote one of my favorite bloggers, B. Scott, the film has some definite future baby daddies. Oh my!

I'll Get Back to Ya

Tina Fey just keeps getting funnier and funnier. Check out last night's spoof of that sad sack interview between Gov. Palin and Katie Couric. What's extra hilarious is that much of Fey's dialogue is taken verbatim from Palin's simple behind. And yet there are still undecided voters. Keep me near the cross!

Check out Huffington Post's discussion of the shenanigans.

Vote or Die

Remember when Diddy (Puffy, Puff Daddy, Sean John, or whoever) came up with this pithy slogan? I am not in the business of listening to him for political advice, however, if this society/economy/country isn't comatose and on its way out, I don't know what dying looks like.

Please, please, please, register to vote! Go to www.voteforchange.com or www.rockthevote.com to set the whole thing up. It's easy peasy!

Spiraling Out of Control

Last week it was Lehman Brothers acting a mess and now it's insurance giant AIG. So far today, the Dow plummeted 300 points, which is an improvement from the 700 point drop it experienced on Friday. I guess. Talk about a lesser of two evils.

All this laissez-faire economics is bull. We all know that corporate interests and ne'er do well lobbyists have a huge influence on our government and vice versa. This is a big problem and, as the saying goes, the chickens have come home to roost. As usual, look who gets left holding the bag.

Neither Obama nor McCain are identifying really specific remedies for this economic meltdown also known as a recession. I think it's because neither one wants to get caught up in prescribing a solution that a year from now folks will be like "Well, he promised not to raise taxes and look at him now!"

This is the thing. I'm as pained as the next person when I see the taxes taken out of my check, especially when I'm not sure what my hard earned money is being spent on. However, we need taxes to pay for things. And, perhaps most importantly, we need government officials who are wise and prudent (though not "prudent" like George H.W. Bush) who can ameliorate (some)things immediately and also have a clear and realistic picture for what to do in the future--instead of turning a surplus into a deficit and turning our economy into a hot monkey mess like some people have done. I won't name any names.

JHud Engaged to Punk

Chile...this just off the presses:

"Jennifer Hudson and boyfriend, David Otunga, have gotten engaged, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'I can confirm that Jennifer got engaged to her boyfriend David on Friday night in L.A.' says the rep. Otunga, who is known as 'Punk' from the reality show I Love New York 2, popped the question with a Neil Lane diamond ring on the Dreamgirls Oscar winner's 27th birthday. The couple, who have been dating less than a year, both hail from Chicago. Professionally, it is a busy time for Hudson as well. Her debut solo album, Jennifer Hudson, will be in stores Sept. 30, and her next film, The Secret Life of Bees opens on Oct. 17."

Okay, I'm going to refrain from citing Otunga's "suspect" sexuality, which implies that there is a non-suspect sexuality--and no, heterosexuality is not it! (Although I do agree with Katrina Renae from ThickMisses that homie does look a bit like Terry McMillian’s ex. LOL. ) But I will say that I probably would not want to make out with anyone who has kissed New York (who has kissed Flavor Flav--ooh, the bile is rising in my throat). I mean, here's to hoping she has an ironclad pre-nup. I don't give a ding dang about no love. In related news, here's a clip from JHud's recent hoodfab appearance in Montgomery, AL that I was lucky enough to attend and have been meaning to put up. The child can blow.

Yes, I know that you are seeing other people's heads. Those mofos were in my way! But at least a sista got some good audio, right? I actually saw Punk at this performance. He stood looking longingly while JHud handled her biz in a particularly touching love song (something about giving all of herself, or something). I must say he is the most unphotogenic human on the planet because he was fairly handsome in person, something you do not get from the pics. Go figure.

Source

Strange Bedfellows

I rarely watch Saturday Night Live--it's on too late (I'm officially old) and generally it's not that funny. What I love about viral video is that you find them pretty easily and can watch them anytime. Thanks to RJP for turning me on to this hi-larious skit of Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnRUKIMegn8




I mean, Tina Fey really looks the part. And that accent, "well, my gosh!"

This would be funnier if it wasn't so tragic. Sigh.

It's Like a Train Wreck

I know I shouldn't spend any more time on Gov. Palin (although she wracks my nightmares--every morning I wake up in a cold sweat with visions of her overturning Roe v. Wade as she chews on a mooseburger while shooting at wolves from a helicopter), but let me throw in two (more) cents.

If progressives are going to really critique her (and there is so much to critique), we have to do so on valid grounds. The fact that she has five children, the youngest of whom has special needs, is NOT a legitimate critique. While McCain was going from port to port, the Lord only knows who he has spawned. Even our own dear Senator Obama has two young daughters that deserve active parenting from him and Michelle, and I haven't heard a thing about him being a bad dad. So let's not get all sexist and imply (or outright say) that Palin is incompetent because she's got a gaggle of children. And as tempting as it is to point out that abstinence-only education did not work in her family, that poor Bristol Palin has enough to deal with.

The fact of the matter is that Palin is so wretchedly incompetent and such a reprehensible and shockingly immoral choice, we don't have to mention anything about her motherhood, pit bull in a skirt status (makes me wonder if she has paw prints tatted on her chest--sorry Eve), or religious extremism (okay, we probably should consider that). Let me cite the short list of concerns.

1. Her level and caliber of "experience" makes Barack Obama look like he's been in the senate since Jesus was in high school.
2. She has a horrendous record on LGBT rights. Now, Obama is not a LGBT savior, but he ain't the devil either. She, quite possibly, however...
3. She shoots wolves from helicopters. That's just barbaric.
4. She describes herself as a pit bull and yet she is not a rapper from Philly
5. She doesn't know what a community organizer is. (Check out illdoctrine's take on her janky RNC speech, aka the Republican Hater's Ball)
6. She doesn't believe in global warming. Like I tell my students, whether or not you believe in something or like something (for example, the mid-term that will occur) does not stop that thing from existing and happening frequently.

Shall I continue? I feel like electing McCain is just asking for President Sarah Palin. I'm all for a woman in the White House, but not just any old body they pull in off the street. She is no Hillary Clinton.

Something for the Soul

With all this RNC hateration, I've been soothing my heart with good music like this:




I love Kindred, The Family Soul. I want them to hurry and come out with another album, but I think they are too busy making/having babies...soul music often has that effect.