NOWADAYS FINDING AN excellent film is like finding a rare jewel. Guess what? I found a rare jewel in Been Rich All My Life. This is a documentary is about the Silver Belles. Who are the Silver Belles? They are the classiest, sassiest and perhaps most talented Black women to ever put on a pair of tap dancing shoes.
The Silver Belles are a group of five women who…
The full post is available exclusively on our new blog The Blunt. We don’t post all our blog updates on this blog. To get ALL our updates please subscribe to The Blunt on RossMichelPublishing.com.
Experience a Different Kind of High with the New Blog on the Block
Real Talk is moving to RossMichelPublishing.com on December 1, 2011. Not only is this blog moving but it also taking on a new swag and a new name – The Blunt.
Here’s what you can expect…
THE WORD BLUNT is slang for a cigar filled with marijuana. However, we flipped the script by naming our new blog The Blunt. Our Blunt is a blog that is filled with information and entertainment (infotainment) geared toward the global Black community.
The other blunt gets you high off the herbal substance. Our Blunt gets you high off knowledge, wisdom and truth. Not only will it get you high it will stimulate you into elevating your spirit, mind and well-being.
The Blunt author, R. Renee, gives readers her “tell it like it is” perspective on everything from politics and entertainment to relationships and spirituality. Her writing style is a mix of smarts, edge, humor and raw truth.
The Blunt is for all the open-minded, truth-seekers within the global Black family who dare to “think outside the box”.
The Blunt offers infotainment that caters to the whole person through multiple formats including articles, videos and podcasts.
Departments
Transform Your Life: Life lessons that help you overcome personal obstacles and tap into your Divine power.
No More Drama: Promotes healthy, drama-free relationships.
Urban Dish: Commentary that offers fresh perspective on current events.
Conspiracy Files: Hidden political, social, economic and cultural agendas are exposed.
Sista Shahrazad Ali, the author of the controversial book The Black Man’s Guide to Understanding the Black Woman, is featured in the must-see documentary Hidden Colors. Below is a behind-the-scenes interview in which she touches on the role of Black women in relationships.
Here is another behind-the-scenes clip from Hidden Colors. Here Dr. Phil Valentine discusses how feminism influenced (and hindered) Black relationships.
The following video is a clip from the consciousness-raising documentary Hidden Colors. The clip gives us a brief insight into who the Moors really were – and are.
Hidden Colors is a groundbreaking documentary about the real and untold history of people of color around the globe. This film will discuss some of the reasons why the contributions of African and aboriginal people have been left out of the pages of history.
The film makers traveled around the country talking to scholars, historians, and social commentators who uncovered such amazing facts about things such as: *The original image of Christ *The true story about the Moors *The original people of Asia *The great west African empires *The presence of Africans in America before Columbus *The real reason slavery was ended And much more. Hidden Colors is executive produced by New York Times best selling author/radio host Tariq Nasheed.
I know many indie films don’t have budgets for mass advertising, but the original trailer for N-Secure was a hot mess when I saw it. I don’t mean any harm but the trailer made N-Secure looked like a low-budget movie produced by Ray Ray and Man Man from down the skreet. The trailer was so bad that I made a mental note not to see this movie.
Flash forward.
I was surfing through Amazon.com the other day, and I stumbled across reviews of the movie. The reviews were mixed but mostly positive. My interest was piqued so I added it to my Netflix queue.
You know there are movies with awesome trailers but the movie sucks. Well with N-Secure the opposite is true. While N-Secure is not an awesome movie the movie is better than the original trailer.
The following is the revised trailer:
A Man Scorned
N-Secure is a thriller that centers on David Washington (Cordell Moore) who is a highly successful businessman. He’s also a control freak. He has created a near perfect life for himself and his long-time girlfriend Robin who is played by Essence Atkins (Are We There Yet?). On the day before the two are to marry Robin cheats on David. David’s perfect world is turned upside down and from this point the “you-know-what” hits the fan.
David immediately jumps into a new relationship with another woman, Tina, played by Denise Boutte (Meet the Browns). And Ms. Tina has no clue what she’s getting into. All she sees is a single, handsome, rich man who can give her the world. Little does she know that living in David’s world comes with a price.
Oh, don’t think David has forgotten about how his ex-girlfriend did him wrong. He is a man scorned. And N-Secure takes you on a journey into the David’s crazy world and his intense thirst for payback – and control.
Made for TV or Theaters?
Although N-Secure was released in theaters on October 15, 2010, it comes across as a made for TV movie. And that’s not a negative thing. It’s just that this movie seems better suited for the small screen than the big screen. If there was a Black version of the Lifetime Movie Channel N-secure would fit perfectly in the line-up.
Anyway, the production quality was better than I expected. The movie was shot on location in Memphis, TN which gave it a nice look and feel. There was also some nice grown folks’ music played throughout the movie.
The performances were adequate. Essence Atkins, who is best known far starring in comedies (Smart Guy, Half & Half, Dance Flick), does a fine job in this dramatic role. She even kicks it up notch with a love scene. There is some brief nudity (tiddy alert) but the scene is handled tastefully. And the scene between Robin and her best friend Jill (Tempestt Bledsoe) at the end of the movie had me all choked up. Yes, I must admit I almost burst into tears. It was touching.
Incidentally, N-Secure is the first feature role for leading man, Cordell Moore. He appeared in Tyler Perry’s stage plays Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Why Did I Get Married? Moore maintains control over his volatile character. This is important because he could have easily overacted and made David Washington look more like a caricature than a character. However, a few of Moore’s mannerisms distracted me a little bit, but he did a decent job.
There was one scene in the movie that was out of place in which David’s Marine buddy shows up out of the blue. They go out for drinks. During their outing we learn more about David’s family and his relationship with his father, which helps explain his controlling behavior.
The problem I had with this scene is that is was too obvious that the only purpose for bringing in the Marine buddy was to reveal David’s back story. That character was nothing more that a plot device. The Marine buddy didn’t blend into movie.
It was cool seeing Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show) and Lamman Rucker (Meet the Browns) who played her fiancé Isaac. And there’s a cameo appearance from one of our favorite stars from the 70s, BernNadette Stanis. Of course, she played Thelma on Good Times. Here Stanis plays the therapist who tries to convince David’s new woman, Tina, that she can’t change that crazy man of hers. And adding some light humor to the mix is Thomas Miles (aka Nephew Tommy).
A Wake-up call
The movie serves as a wake up for women (and men). Look deep before you leap into a relationship. As I always say “Everything that looks good to you ain’t good for you.” Robin hooked up with David for the wrong reasons. Tina thought she could love him through his issues. In both cases, these women became the target of David’s controlling nature, possessiveness, jealousy and, of course, his n-security.
If you like Lifetime- type movies then you might like N-Secure.
Earlier this year Perry released the movie version of the hit play Madea’s Big Happy Family. I didn’t see the movie at the theater, but I watched the DVD release, which came out a couple of weeks ago.
The gist of Madea’s Big Happy Family is that the family matriarch, Shirley, played by Loretta Devine, is terminally ill. She wants to bring her family together so she can share this news with them. Unfortunately, bringing the family together is easier said than done. With every attempt to bring the family together all hell breaks out.
Shirley’s family consists of a well-to-do, angry daughter named Kimberly (Shannon Kane) who’s married to the long-suffering Calvin (Isaiah Mustafa aka the Brotha from the Old Spice commercials). There’s another daughter Tammy (Natalie Desselle Reid) who verbally abuses her husband Harold (Rodney Perry) while raising two disrespectful sons. Bow Wow plays Byron, a young father dealing with a baby momma from hell (Teyana Taylor) and a gold digging hood chick (Lauren London) who’s pressuring him to return to selling drugs.
If that is not enough family for you, you got the weed smokin’ Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis), the loud clothes wearing Mr. Brown and his daughter Cora (David and Tamala Mann), Uncle Joe and, of course, Madea (Tyler Perry).
After failed attempts at reuniting the family, Aunt Bam enlists the help of Madea. And Madea brings the family together in the only way Madea can – with a healthy mix of threats, brashness and quick-fire humor.
Of course, once the family is brought together all the family drama reaches a boiling point and explodes. Family secrets are revealed, painful issues are addressed and tough choices are made.
Like Tyler’s other movie, there are positive messages throughout. That’s what I like about his movies. Despite the criticism his movies receive I applaud Tyler for attempting to raise the consciousness level of Black people in his own way.
Positive Messages for Black Folk
I know that sounds strange to people who see his plays and films as nothing more than coonery and buffoonery. Are his films over the top at times? Yes. But if you pay attention to the messages you find that he is essentially promoting the importance of Black family values.
Madea’s Big Happy Family offers viewers several messages that raise awareness about cancer and diabetes while promoting healthier lifestyles. And, of course, there are messages of faith and forgiveness.
Family Lacks Polish
Now with that said I must say that this is not one of Tyler’s best movies. While I applaud the messages in the movie, some of the messages are heavy-handed at times. The movie could have benefitted from a little more subtlety. Give us a message but don’t beat us over the head.
There were scenes in the movies that didn’t flow seamlessly. The movie seemed disjointed at moments. For example, the kitchen scene featuring Madea, Joe, Aunt Bam, Mr. Brown and Cora fell flat because there were awkward pauses and the timing was off with the delivery of the lines.
Also some of the antics were annoying or over the top. For example, I could I have used fewer “Byyyyrrrrrrriiiiiinnnn’s!” from Teyana’s character. Then there was Madea’s car stunt at the fast food restaurant. Having Madea indulge in outrageous stunts doesn’t necessarily make her any funnier. When you have characters with huge, colorful personalities like Madea, Tyler can afford to reel them in a bit. Sometimes less is more.
Some of the scenarios, characters and dialogue were like déjà vu. Now that’s expected if you saw the play but there were scenarios, characters and dialogue I know I’ve seen and heard in other Tyler Perry movies. But that’s expected considering that he is basically dealing with the same themes in all his movies. So presenting these themes in new refreshing ways may be one of the biggest challenges facing Perry.
The Play Versus the Movie
Overall, the movie was okay. I commend the positive messages. The movie suffered from heavy-handed messages, inconsistent direction and predictable story lines. If you haven’t seen the play I encourage you to see it. It’s available on DVD. While I give the play an A the movie only gets a C.
THE LENA BAKER STORY was written, directed, and produced by Ralph Wilcox. It is based on a true story and was inspired by Dr. Lela Bond Phillips’ book Lena Baker Story.
The Lena Baker Story takes place in the early 1900′s through 1945 in Cuthbert, Georgia. It’s the story of one woman’s attempt to rise above the challenges of life, the choices she makes, and the consequences of those choices. The moment she thinks she has overcome her inner demons, she is called to work for Elliot Arthur, a father, a mill worker and a drunk.
As their relationship unfolds, it becomes strange, strained, and highly unacceptable for the time. Elliot Arthur needs Lena and in return Lena seems to need him. He abuses her and keeps her from her children by imprisoning her in his home. When she has finally had enough, Lena stands up and attempts to break free from the bondage of Elliot Arthur. A struggle ensues, and Elliot Arthur, a white man, is shot by Lena Baker, an African-American woman, on a hot, humid night in Southwest Georgia in 1945.
A jury of 12 white men, her subpoenaed peers, found Lena guilty of murder in less than 6 hours. She received the death penalty as her sentence, earning Lena Baker a place in history as the first and only woman to be sentenced to death by electric chair in the state Georgia. She was pardoned posthumously in 2005.
All names have been changed in the screenplay with the exception of Lena Baker.
IN THE DOCUMENTARY Angels Can’t Help But Laugh, actress Terri J. Vaughn sits down with 25 of Hollywood’s African-American actresses to discuss how they deal with being in today’s entertainment industry.
While media floods unrealistic ideas to the general public about these women, this documentary allows viewers a candid, unscripted exposure into the minds and hearts of these actresses.
Ms. Vaughn sincerely removes these women from the characters we know, and reveals the essence of real women. These actresses open up to talk about their fears, disappointments, successes, families, and careers. They drop pretensions about this industry to unfold basic truths about life.
This film is star-studded, yet without hair and make-up one gets a glimpse of reality, the real people underneath the illusion; a rare thing in Hollywood. The state of “Black Hollywood” is in a serious quandary, and these women hold no tongues when discussing their plights and obvious issues that are often quieted. Yet in that same moment of seriousness, each actress is able to relish in the splendor they bring to our television and film screens.
There's a new blog in town - The Blunt. The Blunt is the new and approved version of Real Talk. If you want to read and/or subscribe to The Blunt visit RossMichelPublishing.com.
