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August 22, 2014 By iluvcinema 4 Comments

“Talk to Me” and Get a Free DVD for Your Troubles!

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Released in 2007, Talk to Me tells the story of Washington, D.C. radio icon Ralph “Petey” Greene (1931-1984), who was an ex-con, recovering addict and community activist – and his manager Dewey Hughes, who in later years would be known as one of the founders of the Radio One urban radio network.

Directed by Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou), Talk to Me stars Don Cheadle as Greene alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor as Hughes. Rounding out the main cast are Taraji P. Henson and Martin Sheen.

Even while the film is set around the turbulent times of 1960’s and 70’s, make no mistake, Cheadle and Ejiofor are center stage as their professional and personal relationship plays out on screen. The film creates an effective central tension between the two with Greene, focusing on his role as a truth-teller and ‘voice of the people,’ while business manager Hughes has bigger plans for the irreverent radio personality.

As far as filmed biopics go, this one is pretty solid, thanks in large part to the strength of the aforementioned performances. However, it should be noted that there are more than a few controversies around the “truthiness” of the film and the events that actually took place. To be sure, this is something commonplace for life stories given the Hollywood treatment – so I will allow you the viewer to make of it what you will. I WAS going to make a statement about this not being a documentary, but I thought the wiser of that statement …

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But now for the fun part … drop me a line in the Comments section and be eligible to receive one (1) DVD copy of Talk To Me! The packaging (plastic wrapping) has been remove, but the video is unwatched. You have until next Friday, August 29th 5:00PM EST to submit your comment(s). I will pick a name at random and announce that evening.

To make it a little more interesting, I ask that the comment focus on the following question:

If a family raises objections to a biopic, are you more or less inclined to go and see it?

Filed Under: dvd, Fun Stuff Tagged With: biopic, dewey hughes, kasi lemmons, petey greene, talk to me

February 4, 2013 By iluvcinema Leave a Comment

DVD Pick: Moguls and Movie Stars (2010)

I luv history.

I luv movies.

So really it was just a matter of time when I would suck it an commit seven straight hours of my life to watching and reacting to this TCM Original Production, Moguls and Movie Stars, an in-depth look at the birth of the motion picture industry from 1889 until 1970, which I guess is a solid marker for cinema’s “modern era.”

Hollywood Sign

Click on the links below for a synopsis of each episode:

Episode One: Peepshow Pioneers (1889-1907)

Episode Two: The Birth of Hollywood (1907-1920)

Episode Three: The Dream Merchants

Episode Four: Brother Can You Spare a Dream (1929-1941)

Episode Five: Warriors & Peacemakers (1941-1950)

Episode Six: The Attack of Small Screens (1950-1960)

Episode Seven: Fade Out, Fade In (1960-1969)

This is a must-see film for anyone who considers themselves a cinephile. After all, through this wonderful medium, we have been able to chronicle an entire human century of existence.

Filed Under: Documentaries, dvd, Recommendation Tagged With: documentary, moguls and movie stars, TCM

January 16, 2013 By iluvcinema 4 Comments

Video Review: Pitch Perfect (2012)

Okay I admit it – I was a Season 1 “Gleek.” And while my enthusiasm for the television series has waned what has not waned is my love for the good ole singing and dancing numbers that sometimes accompany film and television. So when I found out about the film Pitch Perfect you can imagine my anticipation with seeing it.

Pitch Perfect

About 90 minutes later, while I found the number routines quite fun, the “narrative” left me a little flat. Not that I think there was much concern for that anyways because most of us were there for the song and dance anyways.

Add to that the fact I am pretty sure I am not the target demo for this film (being well past my teens and all) I can excuse some of the plot contrivances common among teen comedies – most notably the whole “boy meets girl” scenario, band of misfits, etc. – for the sake of some unadulterated fun.

Pitch Perfect was directed by Jason Moore and is loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same title written by Mickey Rapkin. Largely set on the fictional campus Barden University, the film opens at Lincoln Center in New York City; we are smack dab into the final round of a nationwide a cappella competition. The Barden Bellas, the all-female group, experience an unfortunate onstage incident which makes them the laughing stock of their campus and the fodder of ridicule especially at the hands of the award-winning all male rival group on campus – the Treblemakers.

Pitch Perfect

Desperate to right the wrong done to them the Barden Bellas set out on a mission to bring in some new blood – this is where “the misfits” enter, headed y teen wannabe DJ Beca (Anna Kendrick) and “Fat Amy” (Rebel Wilson). It instantly becomes a clash between old and new and rivalries heightened as the march toward a cappella greatness continues …

Ironically, there are a couple of references to another teen oriented comedy from nearly 30 years ago, The Breakfast Club (DANG it is that long ago? I’m old). Unfortunately for me, this reference to that film was a reminder on some level what this kind of genre can be at its most earnest (minus the singing and dancing of course). Okay so maybe that is not a fair comparison to make since Pitch Perfect is not a film that takes itself too seriously. All the more fun!

In addition to some good musical numbers and solid performances by the leads, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the a cappella group from my alma mater – The Hullabahoos – have a cameo in the film. WA-HOO-WA!

But as I said earlier despite this (unfair) comparison, Pitch Perfect ultimately strikes the right note.

 

 

Filed Under: dvd, Reviews Tagged With: pitch perfect

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