35 SHOTS OF RUM

This is a meditative and wonderful little movie exploring a father/daughter relationship that becomes complicated when the daughter starts seeing a young man. Directed gracefully by Claire Denis. It also uses The Commodores soulful "NightShift" in a very beautiful and haunting way.

THE MAGNIFICENT LENA HORNE (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)

Gone. But never ever forgotten. Lena, it is because of your uncompromising spirit that barriers in the movie industry have been broken down. You, screen goddess define icon. You define sophistication. An actress, a singer, a civil rights activist. Your legacy lives through me and through us all.

THE BLACKEST KIDS YOU KNOW

The Boondocks is airing it's third and final season on the Adult Swim channel which premiered last Sunday. It's a rather premature end, for many of us Boondock fanatics who love the controversial animated social satire which deals with race in America unlike any show ever on television (maybe since The Richard Pryor Show which made NBC super nervous). Where the Family Guy, another very funny animated show exploring it's own scathing commentary on American stupidity, The Boondocks is by far it's college-educated older brother. The way in which The Boondocks handles issues of race, class, gender, and American ignorance with intelligence and gut-busting humor comes primarily from it's cast of characters: militant Huey, outrageous Riley, clueless Grandad, and self hating Negro Uncle Ruckus. The show is definitely hated by many of the people it has offended. The Boondocks never ever plays it safe. I am always in deep admiration of works of art that courageously vocalize the "unsayable." America's greatest contradiction is it's ability to be both exploitative and politically sensitive. Thank God the Boondocks just doesn't give a f***!

WHO GOT THE SOUL?

Lately, I've been in deep musical depression. It comes from any attempt to watch a music video or listen to the radio and what I hear is saddening and dismal. What happened to the SINGERS? You know those voices that were soul shattering, earth rattling... those vocalists who penetrated your soul? Those voices that allowed you to close your eyes and ride a cosmic wave. Ummm.. it's almost terrifying to realize that black music almost completely lost what made it so profound and powerful in the first place.

So with all that being said, I'd like to honor at least 25 of my favorite vocalists of all time. At least pay homage to those who used the music as an art form to express the existential beauty and pain of human emotion.

This ain't a list of the GREATEST. Just my favorites!! No real particular order...


1. OTIS REDDING: The amount of soul he infused into a song could send a rocket ship into space. In my opinion, the greatest soul singer to ever touch a mic. If you don't believe me listen to "Try A Little Tenderness"

2. MARVIN GAYE: His voice is the closest thing to paradise without actually going to an island of white sands and crystal blue waters. He is true soul seducer. His voice could literally reach out to you and remove your clothes layer by layer. Don't even get me started when I hear him sing "Distant Lover" or "Just to Keep You Satisfied." True sanctified soul.

3. SAM COOKE: He had the perfect marriage of gospel and R&B. He was a soul stylist. He gave this beautiful vocal instrument a sophistication that has never been matched.

4. TEDDY PENDERGRASS: His raw, powerful voice is probably the reason I am even on this earth. For that alone, I thank him. He sang with such aching, raging passion. He was undeniably a true soul stirrer and completely underrated.

5. CHAKA KHAN: The woman's vocals are effortlessly amazing. I can listen to her sing the phone book. There's this beautiful wildness to her style. She sings with such abandon. Whether it's with Rufus on a song like "Do You Love What You Feel" or something tender like "Love Me Still"...her voice takes you through the fire.

6. GLADYS KNIGHT: Her voice may be the closest you can get to Heaven without actually dying. Seriously! Listen to her version of the "Makings of You." She's just got phenomenal, untouchable soul.

7. ARETHA FRANKLIN: The Queen she Be! She can be sultry and sexy and then raw and gritty. She is a powerhouse vocalist with an unbelievable ability to really get inside the barriers of the human soul.

8. PATTI LABELLE: When I hear Patti sing "You Are My Friend" instantly tears come to my eyes. She has that kind of vocal ability. Her voice soars like a rocketship.

9. NINA SIMONE: She has one of the most distinct voices in music. Her voice is deep and as infinite as you would imagine the ocean to me. And just as haunting.



10. PRINCE: The man has range! The Royal Purple One has such a unique and beautiful way of conveying emotions: whether it's erotic or godly-he knows how to straddle that fine line and sing with passion and fearlessness.

11. DONNY HATHAWAY: His voice provoked such deep emotion that it could bring a tear to the hardest thug's eye. He sings with such conviction and such divine tenderness. His voice is holy in every sense of the world--a force of supernatural magnificence and if you listen to "A Song for You" or "Superwoman" you'll see what I mean.

12. STEVIE WONDER: Oooh his distinct voice can truly knock you off your feet! Similar Hathaway in his very emotive vocals. He has such effortless angelic texture to his voice whether it's a social commentary like "Living for the City" or a romantic ode like "Overjoyed". Stevie simply transcends.

13. AL GREEN: He has the aching tenderness in his smooth, gritty vocal. He brings that fish-fry in mid-July soul. He's a super bad brotha with gospel-delic fervor and silky sexy seduction all at the same time.

14. TEENA MARIE: If you could hear the angels sing, then they'd all sound as luminous and ethereal as her. Wow. Whenever I listen to a song by her, I feel all warm inside. Her voice is so magical and pure.

15. MINNIE RIPERTON: Speaking of pure and magical, her pitch-perfect range is one of the most beautiful sounds on the planet. My favorite song by her is "Memory Lane" -- the way she just oozed cosmic soul.

16. CURTIS MAYFIELD: Talk about Soul Brotha Number 1. He was a true soul stirrer. His soft, satin vocal could melt an iceberg.

17. LUTHER VANDROSS: What can you say about the most sophisticated soul man there is? Just take one listen to "A House Is Not A Home" and be forever transformed.

18. ETTA JAMES: Now no one sings with this kind of hard, gut-bucket blues anymore. She must be made of fire, 'cause this soul mama has got a hell of a voice! That may sound corny but listen to "I'd Rather Go Blind" and tell me I'm wrong. I dare you.

19. MICHAEL JACKSON: Don't let his moonwalk fool you, Michael could sing. He had such a unique voice. And during his prime, it was one of the most beautiful voices ever. "Lady of My Life" is a true testament to the mastery of his vocals.

20. JILL SCOTT: One of the few contemporaries who truly is carrying the legacy of soul in every vocal demonstration. She reminds me of a great jazz singer with her vocal stylings. Jilly from Philly is no F'ing joke, believe that. She can throw down in the soul kitchen.




21. RICK JAMES: Yes he's a super freak but he had an operatic powerhouse vocal that could shatter glass... when I first heard "Fire and Desire" I stopped dead in my tracks and have yet to recover.

22. MAXWELL: Another contemporary who understands the art of crooning. He is sexy as Prince, smooth as Al, and has tender as Donny--what a hell of a package!

23. DARYL HALL: One of the kings of 80's pop, no doubt but when you hear a song like "Sara Smile" you know this man understands how to give good soul.

24. SMOKEY ROBINSON: "ooooh baby, baby" is all he gotta say... and I'll cruise with him, anywhere!

25. ANITA BAKER: The very definition of quiet storm. Her voice is a soulful tornado of mystifying midnight.

THE GENIUS OF PAUL MOONEY

Everyone who knows me knows that Paul Mooney is my favorite comedian of all time. And if anyone knows anything about Richard Pryor, you'd know that Paul Mooney was Richard's best friend, writer, and designated driver. Paul Mooney is also a legendary comedian who broke down doors for black comic writers when those words had never been used in a sentence: "black comic writer"... yeah, he was there from the beginning, paving the way and being brutally honest about race in America. The reason so many don't know Mr. Mooney has a lot to do with why I love him so. He would never compromise his integrity to be more famous. He is a comedian who doesn't sugar-coat and saturate so that mainstream (white) audiences can laugh comfortably. Mooney makes it plain! He is hysterically funny and incredibly brilliant, one of the smartest and definitely one of the most respected comedians of all time. The great comedians all acknowledge him as one of the greatest.

A fascinating interview was posted on popmatters.com and it made me want to acknowledge the brilliant Mr. Mooney on my page as well.

Paul Mooney's also written a tell-all memoir called "Black is the New White" about his complex, loyal friendship with Richard Pryor, Hollywood, and life. It's a very entertaining read and a sharp observation of the industry as a whole. And there are definitely a few surprising revelations.

He has a new upcoming stand up special on Showtime called "It's the End of the World" and it's a not to be missed event. Definitely check your local listing.

And if you remember Homey D. Clown from "In Living Color": Paul Mooney created that. Yeah, peoples, he's just that good.

The Greatest Story NEVER Told...Until Now: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"

Thank God for the fierce curiosity of Rebecca Skloot. I would have never heard this story if it wasn't for her brave and fascinating scientific journalism. This is a history no one outside of the science community knows and a history everyone on earth should know.

Amazon.com gives a brief and descriptive passage about the contents of the book: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a fascinating and moving story of medicine and family, of how life is sustained in laboratories and in memory. Henrietta Lacks was a mother of five in Baltimore, a poor African American migrant from the tobacco farms of Virginia, who died from a cruelly aggressive cancer at the age of 30 in 1951. A sample of her cancerous tissue, taken without her knowledge or consent, as was the custom then, turned out to provide one of the holy grails of mid-century biology: human cells that could survive--even thrive--in the lab. Known as HeLa cells, their stunning potency gave scientists a building block for countless breakthroughs, beginning with the cure for polio. Meanwhile, Henrietta's family continued to live in poverty and frequently poor health, and their discovery decades later of her unknowing contribution--and her cells' strange survival--left them full of pride, anger, and suspicion. For a decade, Skloot doggedly but compassionately gathered the threads of these stories, slowly gaining the trust of the family while helping them learn the truth about Henrietta, and with their aid she tells a rich and haunting story that asks the questions, Who owns our bodies? And who carries our memories? "--Tom Nissley

Buy this book! Henrietta Lacks deserves you know her story because her life has probably saved yours.

Richard Pryor Biopic starring Marlon Wayans?

Yes. You heard it right. Looks like Marlon Wayans will be starring as Richard Pryor in the Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) directed biopic about the genius comedian's life. For some reason, I have very few qualms about this and that's only because comedians have truly impressed me as dramatic actors. Mo-Nique in "Precious," Jamie Foxx in "Ray," Robin Williams in "Good Will Hunting" among other roles, Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls" just to name a few. I so rarely watched the Wayans brothers movies and am usually humiliated that movies like "White Chicks" and "Dance Flick" even exist. But I do know that Marlon Wayans had an impressive, critically hailed dramatic performance in 1999's "Requiem for a Dream."



Truthfully, I am just happy that someone is attempting to make a strong, worthy biopic of Pryor's life. I did not enjoy "JoJo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling" as much as some people. I find Richard Pryor to be one of the most fascinating entertainers to have ever lived and I really hope that his biopic lives up to the triumph that he so richly deserves.

Marlon you got your work cut out for you. Don't let us down.

WARRIOR GODDESS: SADE'S "SOLDIER OF LOVE"

Ten years...
And the Queen of Soulful Mystique is back and she's better than ever. Sade is one of the few musicians who is truly an artist. An artist who can make six albums in 25 years of recording and still be considered the biggest selling artist in Europe! Sade has that kind of power. Her music is so soulful, so naked, so beautiful and ethereal it takes on immense universal appeal and she totally captivates everyone. I've been anticipating this album for months once I heard of her return. I've always been an enormous fan of her music since the 80's when she released "Smooth Operator." I've always found her music to be sensuous and soul-stirring.

On her new album, Sade does not disappoint. This is a true Sade album. The title song "Soldier of Love" defines the conceptual atmosphere of the entire album. Her songs of heartache, heartbreak, love and longing continue to endure long after a song has ended. Whether it be the mighty "Soldier of Love" or darkly beautiful "Moon and the Sky," Sade brings such metaphysical beauty to each track.

At 51, she is a woman of timelessness. Her longevity endures. She is one of the most unique, inspired, and original artists of our time. Growing up, her music was often played during the "Quiet Storm" hour of black radio. And that's the best way to describe her. She is a quiet storm ...set to sound.

The Power and Problem of "Precious"

It started early in 2009. The buzz began. A little, independent gritty "urban" drama called "Precious: Based On the Novel Push By Sapphire" was a surprise, sensational hit with film festivals across the board and the searing performance by comedian Mo'Nique in a brutal role was all anyone could talk about. Suddenly this little drama was making massive waves.

I initially was quite nervous when I heard that Sapphire's painfully brilliant novel was being adapted. I couldn't imagine seeing a film that illuminated the daily horrors of the life of an illiterate, obese Harlem teen. I kept wondering what in the world was to come of this film and who in the world would even be apart of it. It just sounded so far-fetched. I also kept thinking about the images that film would portray and how mass audiences--black and white--would handle such dark subject matter. Now I'm not one of those people who believe that positive images are the only images of blacks we should see. I feel that's very unrealistic. As an artist, I am about illustrating the range of black people. It's not about positive and negative--it's about TRUTHFUL images and displays. It's also about BALANCE. Something so rarely achieved when only three or four black movies come out a year--mostly comedies.

Since the movie hit theatres, audiences have either had a love or hate relationship with it. Or some have had very mixed feelings. While I think the film was passionately directed by Lee Daniels and was a strong movie held together by extraordinary performances, I also feel the movie was very problematic. And not necessarily just problems within the movie in itself--but the fact that mass audiences are so ready to receive such a film. A friend of mine's concern was the only time the "masses" want to see us and honor us is when we're playing into their stereotypes. There's such a fine line.

What I did like about this movie was that we had a protagonist we have never had. Someone who is invisible in this society, someone who's voice desperately deserves to be heard. Gabourey Sidibe was amazing as Precious. She brought such heart and depth to the role, scoring her a well-deserved Oscar Nomination.

Mo'Nique's performance as Precious's terrifying mother was brilliant. She ripped through the scenes and horrified me. I actually had a very difficult time watching her on screen. The hype was true. She has had perhaps the best film performance of 2009. I just kept thinking those who know little of our urban realities outside of what they see on screen--how will they view this black mother? Will they assume this is how all black mothers are in the 'hood? And it's not far-fetched to wonder. When The Color Purple came out, my mother was asked by her white friend if all black women in the south endured that sort of wrath that Danny Glover brought to Whoopi Goldberg. IMAGES ARE POWERFUL, y'all.



I also felt Paula Patton's soulful performance as Precious's teacher who encourages her voice was beautiful and understated. Patton truly impressed. There is a scene in particular with her--that just stays with me. Rounding out the great performances was Mariah Carey as the social worker and Lenny Kravitz as the male nurse.

If there were fifty black films coming out a year and not just five, there would be less controversy. We'd hopefully have a more well-rounded perspective of the vastness of the black experience. But when there are so few movies, we have to pay attention. We have to take a closer look. We have to wonder and analyze because that's the only way to truly understand where we are at as an industry and a society.



I love that it is a movie about survival. The fact that one can survive the most horrifying odds and still have a voice and reclaim their humanness. I commend Lee Daniels for creating such a dynamic movie, despite it's flaws. I love that the movie inspires deep, endless debate. We should be talking about this film. It's important that we're talking about this film.

But there are very heated issues that continue to come up: do the stereotypes outweigh the inspiration? the issues of colorism... I mean, everyone who helps Precious is light-skinned and everyone who brutalizes her is dark-skinned... an issue that, for me, is the biggest flaw, and of course the lack of a strong black male figure--other an Lenny Kravitz whose presence was all over ten minutes of the film. There are more debate-worthy issues of this film but those are just a few that come to mind.

Yes, there are Preciouses out there and they deserve their voices heard and their stories told and yes, also, there is definitely cause for concern when the only movie about us the mainstream is "excited" about is one where the most horrifying issues within the black community are illuminated on screen.

The Prolific Oscar Micheaux (January 2, 1884 –March 25, 1951)

I believe that I make Black History everyday. I don't need a month. But some people do need this month to recognize, celebrate, honor, and remember great African Americans and their extraordinary accomplishments.

I felt it necessary to celebrate an African American who gets almost no recognition because people have no idea who he is. Oscar Micheaux was the first Black American to ever produce a full length film in 1919! He also formed his own independent movie company. He wrote, directed, and produced the silent movie "The Homesteader." Given the times, his accomplishments in publishing and film are remarkable, including being the first African American to produce a film to be shown in "white" movie theaters.

His movies didn't portray blacks in stereotypical roles, another reason why he probably isn't as acclaimed as he could be. He was a filmmaker who challenged the status quo. His film "Within Our Gates" unapologetically attacked the racism in D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation"

The Producers Guild of America called him "The most prolific black - if not most prolific independent - filmmaker in American cinema." During his amazing film career, Oscar Micheaux wrote, produced and directed forty-four feature-length films between 1919 and 1948 and wrote seven novels, one of which was a national bestseller!

Please check out this extraordinary biography: "Oscar Micheaux: The Great and Only: The Life of America's First Black Filmmaker" by Patrick McGilligan




His Filmography:

The Homesteader (1919)
Within Our Gates (1919)
Symbol of the Unconquered (1920)
The Brute (1920)
Son of Satan (1922)
The Dungeon (1922)
The Gunsaulus Mystery (1922)
The Virgin of the Seminole (1922)
Deceit (1923)
Jasper Landry's Will (1923)
Body and Soul (1924)
The Spider's Web (1926)
The Millionaire (1927)
When Men Betray (1928)
Thirty Years Later (1928)
Wages of Sin (1929 film) (1929)
Darktown Revue (1930)
A Daughter of the Congo (1930)
Easy Street (1930)
The Exile (1931)



Black Magic (1932)
Ten Minutes to Live (1932)
Veiled Aristocrats (1932)
Ten Minutes to Kill (1933)
The Girl From Chicago (1933)
Harlem After Midnight (1934)
Lem Hawkins' Confession (1935) also released as Murder in Harlem
Temptation (1936)
Underworld (1936)



God's Step Children (1938)
Swing (1938)
Birthright (1939)
Lying Lips (1939)
The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940)
The Betrayal (1948)

Burn Hollywood Burn: No Worthy Black Actresses?

Shadow And Act just posted an article on the sad state of affairs on the cover of Vanity Fair's cover story of the top actresses under 30. If you look at the lily-white cover, it's obvious who is missing! But is this news to us, really? I mean, those of us people of color who create movies and love movies are well aware of the lack--I mean void of black actors on screen. This article only illuminates a much larger problem. There are only about three or four black films released a year--and two of those will be Tyler Perry films. We'll get one Will Smith film or Denzel film a year as well--because apparently those are the only black actors who have achieved mainstream success. Basically, we are virtually invisible still in Hollywood. Every once in a while, there will be a groundbreaking performance like this year, Mo'nique in "Precious" and Hollywood will be so caught up in that performance, hyping it constantly that we forget that it's one black actor, in one movie and all the other 98 percent of the movies critically acclaimed are white.

Blacks have definitely made strides in Hollywood from the Step-N-Fechit days. But we still have so much further to go. There are still very few black films that have been released that capture the vast, multi-dimensional truth of the Black Experience. We have so many stories to tell. To me, it's not even about becoming valued in Hollywood's eyes. I champion independent cinema because that's an opportunity to tell our stories our way and Hollywood can either get behind these films or not--regardless these films speak for themselves. Let's face it, "Precious" would have never been made unless Lee Daniels did it independently.

Black writer/director Tanya Hamilton is releasing the Black Panther film, "Night Catches Us" this year--another independent film. So please support it! (below is an image from the film starring Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington, two enormously talented black actors)




So Vanity Fair be damned. I honor Gabourey Sidibe on this blog. Who so rightly deserved to make your cover but did not. And let's be real, we all know why. Oscar-nominated Gabourey Sidibe, 26, gave a brave and deeply moving performance as Precious in "Precious: Based On the Book Push By Sapphire." Without her performance, the movie may have been impossible to watch. Gabourey brought a light to the movie's horrifying subject matter. Despite how many people loved or hated this movie, almost everyone I've spoken to agrees Gabby's performance was strong and noteworthy.




In an upcoming blog post, I will be listing my twenty favorite performances by black actresses and actors.

Stay tuned, y'all.

They Tried to Make Me Go to Rehab: Weeds Season 5 DVD

Since I don't have Showtime or HBO, it takes me awhile to catch up on all my favorite shows. "Weeds" being one of them. "Weeds" is Showtime's daring little dark comedy series about a widowed mother of two sons who decides to become a pot dealer after the sudden death of her husband. During the first two dynamic seasons of the show--I was hooked, addicted you could even say. I felt the show so brilliantly balanced dark humor and the inner working emotional relationships between the family. Mary Louise Parker was perfectly cast as mother hen Nancy Botwin and I totally loved the ballsiness of her character trying to earn her place in the drug world. The beauty of the show was that as Nancy became more involved in the world of drugs and crime, the show became darker--illuminating the tangled, corrupt, and merciless messiness that such a life can bring--how it affects and infects a family--especially the lives of her sons. By season 3, I felt the show was starting to lose footing and focus. Season 4 was exciting because it took Nancy and her clan into a whole 'nother direction. Giving the show added dimension. But when season 5 arrived by way of Netflix my excitement started to wane. Yes, the show is still quite entertaining and the characters quite brutally funny--but I feel the writers are uncertain of where the show is going and who exactly Nancy is becoming. The season ended on a jaw-dropping note, as it does every season but I wasn't compelled. I wasn't all that excited either for the next season. Sadly, my addiction seems to be wearing off.

Soul Brother Number One: In Memory of Teddy Pendergrass

There are many male voices of soul music. Sam Cooke. Marvin Gaye. Otis Redding. Donny Hathaway. Al Green. All legends in their own right. Many earning and being honored for their brilliant efforts. Teddy Pendergrass usually falls under the radar. Many true soul music fans know of his raw, powerhouse vocals and sexy ballads of love, longing, and romance but in my opinion, he has failed to receive the recognition he so deeply deserves.

As frontman of the 70's soul band Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Teddy took soul to new heights with classics like "I Miss You" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now." The earth-moving vocal power made him so dynamic and so loved in the R&B and soul community. As a solo artist, Teddy made an endless array of hits often still played on popular classic black radio stations. Grooves like "Turn off the Lights", "Close the Door" and "Love TKO" are staples in the black music world.



In the early 80's when Teddy was paralyzed in a car crash, his music career slowly began to fade away although he continued to release music for a period of time. True music lovers have never forgotten him. My parents are huge fans and I've been reminded that his music may be the reason for my existence (lol).

Hearing of Teddy's passing a few weeks ago after a battle with colon cancer left me deeply saddened. I know his glimmering legacy of gritty soul will live on through his music but who will carry on his legacy? As we lose our legends, we await signs from torch-bearers, revolutionaries, and innovators to continue in the tradition and add new dimension to it...but the last time I turned on the radio, there was nothing even close to Teddy's alchemic Philly soul stirring.

Teddy, we will miss you.

Devilishly Brilliant: The Mastery of Me'Shell

It's blasphemous that as a music junkie who prides herself on knowing when her favorite underrated artists release new music that I had no idea that Me'Shell N'degeocello has released her masterful "Devil's Halo" in October! What??? In this current lackluster music industry, it's easy to lose sight of the few extraordinary, groundbreaking, and brilliant artists that we still have.

Me'shell. The average music listener has no idea who this fierce original musician is. Even if she briefly attained MTV attention in the 90's with the smash hit "If That's Your Boyfriend..." The average music listener has no idea of the near-perfect collection of albums Me'shell has released in the past decade.

Me'shell is perhaps the closest artist to Prince--in terms of originality and musicianship. She defines genre and conceptualizes songs about everything from religion, gender, sexual, and social politics--and don't forget about love and heartbreak. On her most profound album "Bitter" she creates a melancholy masterpiece about heartbreak unlike anything I've ever heard. If you're going to buy one Me'shell, that's one I most highly recommend.

Now Me'shell has released "Devil's Halo," -- an achingly beautiful and wholly understated album, textured, dimensional, filled with soulful yearning, and blasting all genres into oblivion---an album colliding into the perfect storm of beauty and brilliance.

Damn y'all. She did it again.

The Evolution of the Grammys?

Apologies for my disappearance for the past eight months! But, you know, life gets in the way.


What better way to return than with something to actually say. The Grammys this year truly reflected the sagging state of popular music. I'm not saying the show was bad, it was actually this year semi- entertaining--with a major upset win for Taylor Swift in the prestigious Album of the Year category--but the show was simply a tool for appealing to kids. It felt like a dressed-up VMA awards. There were excessive performances and very little award-handing-out.

But some of the performances were impressive and exciting. The moment that stayed with me most was P!nk's beautiful and moving performance of "Glitter In the Air." She was show-stopping in a very poetic way. It was quite enthralling. She totally elevated the show from that point on.

I also enjoyed Lady Gaga's opening with Elton John. How much fun was that? Lady Gaga never ceases to amaze me and she's endlessly creative and exciting to watch. Beyonce's performance seemed to begin as a typical Beyonce performance, i.e. sassy stance and hair blowing from the invisible fans--but when her impassioned "If I Was a Boy" paid homage to Alanis Morisette's killer "You Oughta Know"-- I was captivated. Actually, I was hoping Alanis would make an appearance.

Michael Jackson's moving tribute featuring Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion, and Carried Underwood was also soul-stirring. Reminding us of a music legend and an era that was definitely gone too soon.

There was also Maxwell and Roberta Flack with a charming performance. Drake, Eminem, and Lil Wayne moved the crowd with their hypnotic, crowd-pleasing, majorly edited performance (I literally thought my TV lost sound for thirty seconds). And who can forget the upsets? Taylor Swift appeared just as surprised as the audience winning the night's top award Album of Year. And although Taylor is sweet, I sometimes wonder how much "the Kanye West effect" has had on her career. Maybe that's a different post all together.

So goodbye to the six hour award show--which actually gave out awards!--and say hello, to revamped, MTV ready glitz fest which only lasted 3 and half hours--thankfully. At the end of the show, I truly felt a void, something was missing. Something was totally absent. Perhaps despite a few nice little moments, nothing actually quite came to together to make the night truly magical. An evolution? I don't think so.

Long Live the King (of Pop): Michael Jackson Gone at 50

It’s obvious I haven’t posted in forever and very infrequently at that. But with the devastating news of the sudden death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop and the World’s greatest entertainer, it is my duty to say something about the void that has now been left in entertainment.

As a child born in 1980 and anyone born before or around that time, we were able to witness what it truly meant to be a star. Michael Jackson was the biggest star the world had ever seen. No one comes close to the kind of gigantic status and success of this man. My parents had known him as Michael Jackson, talented frontman for the Jackson Five but by the time I was listening to him as a kid, his celebrity was beyond immense. And it was all due to a “little” album called, Thriller, that is considered the biggest selling album of all time. I consider it, and many would agree, the Bible of Pop. If you don’t know pop music or are planning to become a pop star, then Thriller is the sacred musical text you must analyze. Even listening to Thriller now almost sounds futuristic. The music was so incredible and Michael was simply a genius at making a dance record so infectious. He was also the first black artist to be played on MTV. He was barrier breaking. Long before Oprah, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and President Obama, Michael Jackson had a massive universal appeal amongst blacks and whites. When you think of the term "racial transcendence" Michael is the name that comes to mind.

My favorite album by him, which is one of my favorite albums of all time, is the one right before Thriller, called Off the Wall. Off the Wall is a physics-defying soulful masterpiece of pop, soul, and disco. It’s boundless in its utter, spellbinding genius. I can play that album endlessly and never tire.

As I said on my Facebook status, learning of Michael’s death, I feel I’ve lost a part of my childhood. During the 80’s, Michael’s star status had been cemented and there wasn’t a person in the world who didn’t know this man or his music. We were all awed by his gravity-defying dance moves. He looked almost supernatural doing the moonwalk or those spins and turns. Despite all the turmoil and allegations that he’s faced throughout recent years, Michael was still untouchable. We can’t even begin understand what it must been like to have the unattainable heights of celebrity this man had and what it did to him. No matter all the craziness, the strangeness, the rumors, scandals, and mythology, Michael Jackson is a musical legend; the most gifted entertainer this world has ever seen. Just glad I was here to see it.

Do the Right Thing: The Sound and the Fury--20 Years Later.

Yes, it has been 20 years. Twenty years since one of cinema’s most powerful films debuted on the screen. “Do the Right Thing” is arguably Spike Lee’s greatest film. Nothing like it existed before it came out and there hasn’t been anything like it since. It’s the reason I even wanted to tell my stories through film. When the film was released I was too young to see it. When I finally did see it, in middle school, I was still perhaps too young but I was shaken by its power. I’ve watched it several times since, hypnotized by it’s dynamic brilliance of passionate visual storytelling. This defined Spike Lee as more than just a filmmaker. He is an artist.

“Do the Right Thing” is a revolutionary achievement. A fiery social protest film evoking the rhythms of hip hop’s intensity and it’s early sociopolitical investment in the urban community. It is an urgent, furious love letter to the issues of racism, classism, and the trials, tribulations, and celebrations of everyday urban life. It was shot like a brilliant kaleidoscope of colors swirling into one glaring force of radiance. Filled with a strong cast of characters who are mesmerizing social archetypes to convey Lee’s message. The booming rhythm of the movie is illuminated through the endless power of Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power.” It is one of the greatest hip hop songs ever recorded during a time when hip hop was used as an intelligent weapon to fight urban oppression. This movie is its companion piece.

We watch the day-to-day interconnected lives of pizza delivery guy Mookie, his boss Sal and Sal’s two sons Vinnie and Pino, the neighborhood kids, the wanna-be activist Buggin’ Out, the elders Mother Sister and Da Mayor, and soul brother number one, Radio Raheem, along with a host of various other characters. As the humidity progresses on this hot summer day, so do the tempers of the neighborhood people, soon the deep tensions start surfacing and it explodes into a volcanic fury of brutality and rage. It was and still is a highly controversial film and a metaphor for America’s race relations.

What I find so amazing about the film is Spike’s fearless vision, the film’s unapologetic nature, and the strong, unflinching images it highlights. It’s one of the most groundbreaking and influential movies ever made. It’s stylistically amazing and its bold, unwavering perspective is just as radical as it is refreshing. It’s like a sucker punch in your face—the one you won’t forget—because it's the one you needed to learn from.

Michelle Williams in "Wendy and Lucy"

In March, I posted a blog called “Star Worship: Brilliant Women Performances In Movies.” After watching the DVD of the film “Wendy and Lucy” this weekend, I may be adding the performance of Michelle Williams to that list. In this tiny, sparse film about the forgotten wanderers, desperate and longing for a sense of home, Michelle Williams gives a heart-wrenching performance as Wendy. Wendy is a drifter stuck in Oregon on her way to Alaska to find work. Her sole companion is her dog Lucy. Wendy and Lucy encounter obstacle after obstacle and when Lucy disappears, it’s Michelle’s devastating performance as Wendy that illuminates a girl who’s lost everything. Her quiet, maddening desperation to find Lucy is heart-stopping. I literally wanted to break down and cry while watching this film. There are few young actresses with Michelle’s brilliance as an actress. She plays Wendy with so much heart and depth; her eyes expressing an eternal aching sadness. It doesn’t matter that we know nothing of Wendy’s back-story—who she is and how she ended up the way she did—it doesn’t matter. Michelle gives Wendy everything we need: a young woman--damaged, breaking yet somehow not yet broken.

Women Make Moves and Movies...

Many people in the film industry or those who follow the film industry are quite aware of the lack of women behind the scenes--as writers, directors, and producers. As many amazing stories as there are to tell it's so unfortunate that so few women artists are given an outlet to speak their stories into cinematic existence. Without that terrible "chick flick" label as if all stories about women's lives--whether romantic or not--fall into one trite category. There are many independent women filmmakers out there--you may not know of them. But they exist. They have voices and they seek to make all types of movies about a variety of complex subject matter.

At this year's Tribeca Film Festival, the film "Entre Nos" premiered. The film stars the extraordinarily talented Paola Mendoza (pictured below) who also co-wrote and directed the film along with filmmaker Gloria LaMorte. From the articles I've read, the film is inspired by Paola Mendoza's mother's journey from Columbia to New York as a mother who wants a better life for her children. The film is about finding courage against enormous odds to create one's own place in the world.



I am tremendously excited about the presence of this film and will definitely be supporting it when it hits theaters. To have women--especially women of color--making independent films with such important voices is vital and celebratory.

I wish Paola Mendoza and Gloria LaMorte much success with this film and their future projects.

"A woman with a camera--now that's a political situation" - Unknown

The End of the World As We Know It

Yes, it's the end of the world (as we know it). This may sound like an extreme overstatement in regards to my hearing of the news that Virgin Records in Union Square was closing down--like the one in Times Square did a few months before. Like Tower Records did, a couple years before that--and so on. This pattern of loss in record stores is definitely signaling the end of an era (Sam Goody, anyone?). No one is buying music, they download. No one is buying DVDs, they Netflix. And while I feel the i-pod is probably the greatest musical invention since the...drum, I am still sadden by the disappearance of record stores.

There's nothing like browsing a good record store--seeing album covers, posters, running into music lovers and having philosophical discourses on the love or hate for a particular band or album. Even if I wasn't necessarily partaking in the conversation, just hearing those conversations being had always warmed my heart.

With every loss as we know, there is rebirth. There will be other avenues and channels that bring music lovers together. Most likely on the Internet, satellite radio, social networking sites, or some other new innovation. Record stores will soon be remembered as ancient artifacts, relics frozen in time. I'll always remember what it felt like, sounded like, smelled like to wander the aisles with excitement and glee on Tuesdays when all the newest music was released. Or browsing endlessly through CDs in search of a new discovery. And despite the slick, new advances in technology and all the wonders that accompany it--truth is, some moments just can't be downloaded.