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Reviews
Jobs (2013)
Bland but entertaining
I really wanted to like this film but I knew within the first 5 minutes I knew this would be one of those "facts" bio's. Something that I dread with bio films.
jOBS tells the story, or tries to, of legendary entrepreneur Steve Jobs who became the brains of creating Apple Computers, starting from his garage to changing the world. A true hippie, Steve portrayed wonderfully by comedic actor Ashton Kushner, doesn't pay schooling any mind, he cant work for anyone due to his rude behavior and decides he will never work for anyone in his life but himself. He has these hippie friends who in one scene smokes acid and it appears as if the acid was the trigger to start his genius streak. HUH? Then the movie becomes "facts" where it just became a events after events after events in each scene where if I wanted to, I could've just found it out on wikpedia. I really wanted to find out what made this man tick and why was he such an asshole. He, from the looks of the film, had friendly parents who took care of him-why was he such a prick? Where did that come from. Then there's the story with the Lucas Haas character where I had no idea what as going on. The child support issue was just swept under the rug along with the Bill Gates issue. The film played like a bad TV movie on Lifetime where towards the end I felt the filmmakers were just rushing. Nothing about itunes, iphone etc and my God how can they not show him deal with the cancer? That would've been a great stretch for Ashton to do. Speaking of Ashton, I think a lot of people are being way too hard on him; he wasn't bad at all and in fact I believe he was born to play Jobs. I just wished he had better material. Not a great film but Ashton makes it watchable.
Thug Love (2009)
This movie is called THUG LOVE but there wasn't a "thug" in sight
I'm gonna start on a positive note with this mini review of the film and that is if the lead actress wasn't in the film, I would've shut it off halfway through. She's very beautiful, attractive, has a great presence and a great actor. I don't know her so I don't want anyone thinking I know her (I wish). This film is a clear example as to why you should have beautiful people with talent in film. I actually thought she was the producer or had a hook up with the filmmaker because from a technical standpoint, she was the only one, and I mean ONLY ONE who was filmed very well. her light was on point and she looked great in every shot; however all the other actors in the film were either lit way too dark, or at worst, shown at a profile which is a big no no. This story would've been more engaging if she actually dated "a thug" not some short muscular guy with a tank top who wasn't believable at all. I didn't see no history with the character's background of a thug, you didn't see his "crew", nothing reflected "thug", what I got was a pretty boy with muscles. It wasn't convincing, the movie itself wasn't convincing but the lead actress kept me watching. And who has sex with pants or their underwears on??? Filmmaking is suppose to give us an illusion; therefore the sex scenes should've been shot as thus instead it was so sloppy, tacky and all over the place with no direction. This could have been a hot movie if the writers sat down and ask themselves what do these characters want and need and why should I CARE.
House of Payne (2006)
YES its crap but you guys are being way too harsh
As a Christian African American filmmaker, first and foremost, I have to give Tyler Perry props for making it happen. Not everyone could do what he does and though I'm not a fan of the plays (except Meet the Browns), and the cheesy films, sadly I am NOT a fan of this show, however I'm not gonna rank it with being bamboozled and buffoonery-that's a little too harsh.
Hey black folks, ITS ALRIGHT FOR US TO LAUGH SOMETIMES, white folks do it a lot, in fact they do it too much. They take over 90% of television right now-look at the new fall line up- how many shows are there that's black or have black leads in them.
At least HOP has something going on...but its BAD. I MEAN...BAD. Acting, writing, direction, BAD BAD BAD. The only person I see with charisma and talent is the little girl-what I see in her is what I saw in a young Meagan Good when she performed in EVE'S BAYOU before she grew up playing slutty roles. There's a true spark about her that shines, I wish she could share that light towards everyone in the cast.
Including the veteran ALLEN PAYNE. How in the hell do you go from working with Wesley Snipes in one of the best urban movies ever (New Jack City) to looking like you don't even want to work on set in this show. His acting is so bad he looks bored. Both him and Wesley fell off.
I hope and pray that Mr. Perry finds wisdom to make this show better-in the meantime, I rather watch old episodes of the Cosby show-the last black revolution on TV.
The Bronx Is Burning (2007)
The Best show on TV besides The Wire
I don't particularly care to watch TV anymore due to all the un-originally studios are presenting these days with reality TV. It seems that no one with any imagination or has taken a class in screen writing exists in Hollywood giving us trash TV such as FLAVOR OF LOVE, HOW TO MARRY A Millionaire, etc. Once in a blue moon, a creative team brainstorms to create a wonderful, brilliant show that NO ONE WATCHES-there are two shows on TV right now that describes this comment-THE WIRE and THE BRONX IS BURNING.
As a die hard Yankee fan, well I have to be because I was born and raised on Gerard Ave, a block away from the stadium, I raced home from work every night to watch GREAT PERFORMANCES by John Turturo, Oliver Platt, and others, and excellent editing and writing. Although I was only 12 months old when all of this was going on, I felt like the events was happening present day.
People tend to forget that this is NOT a "Sports" show and its not necessarily about The Yankees per se-its about NEW YORK CITY CIRCA 1977. I wasn't bothered by one bit watching the fear that terriorzed NYC from the Son of Sam-this is WHAT Happened and it reflected on everyone's lives (except for us Black folks because he wasn't killing us). Disco was big, SEX was everywhere AIDS free, the summer was a monster and the depiction of the blackout was the best thing I've seen on TV. I'm a vintage freak and watching those old clips of people trying to survive in the 100 degree heat in the dark, makes me wonder how in the hell my parents kept my twin brother and I, sane in our cribs, along with three teenage girls.
What I loved about this show was how they showed the heart and soul of NYC-we may hate you for not fulfilling your responsibilities but when you come through for us, WE WILL WORSHIP YOU and when it comes to the Yankees winning, Color, creed, class of people doesn't matter. The looting doesn't matter-we all love on one another...until after the ticket tate parade.
When I first saw the promo to this, I thought it was going to be another cheap shot of old New York filmed in Canada (not sure if it was)with d-grade performances but I was dead wrong.
Great show and I'm sad that its reached its finale; now the same writers should create SPRING OF 94 where The Rangers won the cup and the Knicks were in the Finals at the same time.
Night Falls on Manhattan (1996)
Good movie that was based on The Larry Davis Story
This film is definitely based on the Larry Davis incident that took place in the late 80's where corrupt cops tried to shake down a drug dealer who wanted out of their "system"(dealers who payed off cops to rob other dealers). When he got out due to the death of his infant daughter, they invaded his home, he fought back by killing and wounding some officers and escaped leading to a dangerous manhunt in NYC. When they finally caught him (an old family relative snicthced on him), false accusations were brought up by the police and the media to portray him as a ruthless thug who ran away after killing the cops when all he wanted to do was leave the organization involving crooked cops and drug dealers. He is still serving time in Rikers Island fighting for a new trial.
Check out the documentary called THE LARRY DAVIS STORY which won an award for Best Documentary in the Urbanworld Film Festival in 2003.
However, it serves well on film and Sidney Lumet is great act capturing the look and feel of NYC in the early 90's. It has a "Prince of the City" feel to it.