Thursday, July 22 2010
Hip-Hop Storytellers: The Vignette
"That story is over, but my rhyme ain't done." Vignettes are important tools in hip-hop's rich and plentiful storytelling tradition.
Thursday, April 15 2010
The Revival: A Declaration for Female Emcees
Hip-hop needs a women's movement ala Seneca Falls. The Declaration of Sentiments used the Declaration of Independence as its structural model (in hip-hop we call that "sampling").
Wednesday, April 29 2009
Summer of Same: July 2009
In a rare attempt at novelty, July jets along with only Harry Potter and the Ice Age crew sampling continuing series spoils. The rest provide unknown pleasures.
Friday, October 17 2008
The Secret Life of Bees
May's wailing wall appears repeatedly in Gina Prince-Blythewood's The Secret Life of Bees, each time an invitation to reflect, to remember what was and hope for what might be.
Monday, October 13 2008
The Secret Life of Bees
What could have been a brave film turned out lukewarm, lost in its own self-importance, stripped of its feminist overtones and watered down for mass consumption.
Wednesday, September 10 2008
Talk, Talk, Talk: October 2008
What studio suit thought this was a good idea? With four months to schedule your high priced efforts, you instead unload almost 30 overpriced pictures on an unsuspecting movie audience.
Friday, August 29 2008
What Happens in Vegas
As the saying (sort of) goes, what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas -- so, too with this film.
Friday, May 9 2008
What Happens in Vegas
In What Happens in Vegas, Joy and Jack are fated to fall in lazy-movie-love.
Monday, April 28 2008
The Return of the Popcorn Circus: May 2008
In the first act of this four-part production, Tinsel Town decides to do some unbelievable front loading. Will there be room for independent offerings, or former HBO carnal comedy divas? Who knows? Without a doubt, it's an interesting way to start the season.
