THE OBENSON REPORT

Covering Cinema From All Across The African Diaspora

TRAILER - Mississippi Damned

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DAMNED


As an addendum to an earlier entry I posted today regarding Tina Mabry's directorial debut, Mississippi Damned, a 2009 Slamdance Film Festival selection, I found THIS TRAILER for the film. You can read my original write-up of the film HERE.
DAMNED

Podcast #39 - Black Box Office; Black Films At Sundance; Milk; Frost/Nixon; More...

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EPISODE 39

Topics covered:

1. A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy and Hunger opening box office numbers;
2. Black Films Playing At Sundance Next Month;
3. Live-Blogging/Podcasting at Sundance;
4. Show ideas for next year;
5. Brandon Wilson & I reviewed Frost/Nixon; Brandon talked about the documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk as an addendum to his review of Milk last week. And much more...

Listen below, or subscribe and download for FREE via iTunes:


Africa’s Witch Children

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AFRICA
*Sigh*

I almost didn't post this.

I loathe, LOATHE watching and sharing stories like this, because of the extremely narrow portrayals of Africa and its people that the rest of the world receives.

The vast majority of reports on the continent airing on most major and even alternative media outlets (TV, Print, Internet, Radio) often paint a picture of a violent, ignorant, corrupt people - that is, when we're not being asked to feel pity or sorrow for the starving children, or the little girls forced to undergo genital mutilation as part of some uninformed tradition.

Not that all those atrocities don't exist in Africa - they most certainly do, and I'm in no way dismissing them.

However, there are other sides of Africa that the rest of the world rarely sees - and I'm not referring to the tourist attractions in the east, or the thoroughly industrialized areas in the south. There are families who live, work, and play in ways that aren't so dissimilar to those of us in the west, for example. There are men and women working towards some greater societal good, whether they be doctors, lawyers, engineers, and even filmmakers. There are human beings, not much different than you and I. And those people need to be acknowledged as well. But we rarely see or hear of them, even though they do exist in large enough numbers.

Instead, we are bombarded with what feels like a decisively negative campaign, and we carry around with us an incomplete view of the continent, much to everyone's detriment.

However, when I do witness a presentation that I deem necessary to share, so as to inform those who read this blog, or listen to my podcast, I will share it, regardless of the content. But I'm also always on the hunt for some much more inspiring news out of Africa, and will document those here, whenever I do, as I've done in the past - although, I could probably do a better job of finding those other kinds of stories, and I certainly will from henceforth.

The below video is part 1 of a 5-part documentary called African Witch Children, in which we learn about the stories of children being tortured and killed in their native villages, in the name of Christ, because some "high priest" has labeled them witches. One might simply laugh at these people and dismiss them as "backward" or "ignorant" or "savage," but, lest we forget, we're all the same! Those of us in the west, as "evolved" as we might think we are, certainly aren't immune to acts of ignorance and savagery, also all in the name of Christ. We're just as corrupt, and just as illogical. So, before you rush to judge, first hold up a mirror...

You can see all 5 parts of the doc on YouTube - just search for the title. Warning! You may find some parts of this documentary extremely upsetting. There are some graphic scenes as well:


Time Magazine's 10 Best Films Of 2008

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On the heels of Roger Ebert's unveiling of his top 20 films of 2008 over the weekend, which I wrote about HERE, Time Magazine has released their Top 10 list of the Best Movies of 2008, which isn't much different from Ebert's.

The list follows below, check out the full write-up at Time.com.

1. WALL-E
 2. Synecdoche, New York
 3. My Winnipeg
 4. 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
 5. Milk
 6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
 7. Slumdog Millionaire
 8. Iron Man
 9. Speed Racer
 10. Encounters at the End of the World.

Like Ebert, Time also selected Iron Man as one of the year's best - much to my surprise! Although, I'd take Iron Man over Speed Racer at the #9 slot, which has no business being on any best-of-year lists! Speed Racer? Best of the year?

I'll be presenting my top 5 after the year is over, on my January 5th, 2009 podcast recording.
TIME

Filmmaker Spotlight - Tina Mabry

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DAMNED


Her first feature film, Mississippi Damned, was just announced as a 2009 Slamdance Film Festival entry, described as a drama about three poor black kids in rural Mississippi who reap the consequences of their family's cycle of abuse, addiction, and violence. The cast includes: DB Woodside (Grey's Anatomy, 24), Malcolm David Kelly (Lost, Antwone Fisher), Malcolm Goodwin (Miracle At St Anna, American Gangster), Tessa Thompson (Grey's Anatomy, The Human Contract), and Michael Hyatt (The West Wing, The Wire).

30-year old Tina Mabry received an MFA from the School of Cinema-Television at the University of Southern California. During her three years at USC, she completed her thesis film, Brooklyn's Bridge to Jordan, which received the Jeffrey Jones Writing Award at USC in the Fall of 2004, played at several film festivals, and aired on the Showtime cable TV network in February 2006. She also received the Edward Small Directing Award, and co-produced a film called, The Slowdown, which aired on Showtime's Black Filmmaker Showcase in February 2004.

Mississippi Damned is her first feature - a recipient of a Film Independent grant of $10,000 of Kodak film stock, shot on super 35MM (an expensive feat, although the results must be sublime), and will be making its world premiere at next month's Slamdance Film Festival, in competition.

You can read an inciteful extended interview Film Independent held with Mabry regarding Mississippi Damned HERE.

And you can watch Brooklyn's Bridge To Jordan online, right now, via the Logo Channel's website HERE. Mabry's 20-minute USC thesis film is about a woman carrying a buried secret, after losing her life partner in a car accident, and she must not only fight to keep the couples' estranged teenage son from her partner's intolerant brother, but also rebuild her and her son's troubled relationship.

MISSISSIPPI DAMNED

Slamdance Film Festival Unveils Lineup

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Random Shizz...

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RANDOM
This has nothing to do with black cinema, but I thought it was absolutely hilarious.

In it, SNL's Fred Armisen plays Boy George addressing his conviction on beating a male escort with a chain. Armisen's impersonation of George leaves a lot to be desired, but, it doesn't affect the humorous content. Just roll with it...


DVD Spotlight - Early Works of Cheryl Dunye

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She's easily one of the most provocative, humorous and important filmmakers of our time, often using a sharply witty and reflexive lens, in a mixture of entertaining narrative and documentary techniques, to deconstruct and uproot social and cultural norms.

Her acclaimed first feature, The Watermelon Woman (1996), introduced Cheryl Dunye to wider audiences. But, until now, little attention has been given to those films she created before her breakthrough.

Presented here for the first time on DVD are the films that started it all - the first chapter of the Cheryl Dunye oeuvre.

Six films are included. Greetings From Africa: Cheryl, playing herself, humorously experiences the mysteries of lesbian dating in the 90s; The Potluck And The Passion: Sparks fly as racial, sexual and social politics intermingle at a lesbian potluck; An Untitled Portrait: Dunye's relationship with her brother is examined in this mixture of appropriated film footage, super 8mm home movies & Dunye's special brand of humor. Vanilla Sex: Is it who you do, or what you do?; She Don't Fade: A self-reflexive look at the sexuality of a young black lesbian; and Janine: The story of a black lesbian's relationship with a white, upper middle class high school girl.

The DVD will be released this Tuesday, December 9th. However, you can preorder your copy via Amazon.com, right now!

I have.

Roger Ebert’s Top 20 Movies of 2008

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The year isn't quite over, but that hasn't stopped star film critic Roger Ebert from unveiling his Best of the Year column, listing off his top 20 films of 2008.

The bare-bones list follows below; you can also head over to RogerEbert.com to read the full column:

(ranked in no specific order)

Ballast, The Band’s Visit, Che, Chop Shop, The Dark Knight, Doubt, The Fall, Frost/Nixon, Frozen Friver, Happy-Go-Lucky, Iron Man, Milk, Rachel Getting Married, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Shotgun Stories, Slumdog Millionaire, Synecdoche New York, W., Wall-E

Of all those listed, I've seen just 4 of them - The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon (which I saw yesterday), Iron man, and W.

I will be seeing the full 4 1/2 hours of Che this Friday, and will see Synecdoche NY some time this week. No immediate plans to see any of the others.

Surprises on Ebert's list? Iron man! I was expecting a "kidding" after. Iron Man? One of the best of the year? Wow! Roger, I'm baffled. Where are films like Doubt, and A Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and others much more worthy?

Iron-Freaking-Man?

Also, I thought W. was ok - but not much better than that, and certainly wouldn't consider it one of the year's best.

Nice to see Ballast on the list. Lance Hammer's Sundance indie hit has quickly become the proverbial "little engine that could." There are forces that want to see this film do well, and they are doing what they can to see their goal realized. It's a film I still haven't seen, even though it's played in my city at least twice. For several reasons, there simply isn't much interest on my part. But I'm sure I'll eventually watch it.

I'll be presenting my top 5 after the year is over, on my January 5th, 2009 podcast recording. I haven't seen enough films this year to come up with a solid list of 20.


Goddess Glory Bombilicious Fuckery

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Good Sunday morning to you too! HA!

A career in showbiz is definitely in her future, if she isn't already enjoying one.



via UNDERCOVER BLACKMAN

TRAILER - The People Speak

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the people speak


Curious...

It's called The People Speak, a documentary based on Howard Zinn's groundbreaking books, A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People's History of the United States. both books I STRONGLY recommend, it you haven't already read them - notably the former, which I've committed to re-reading once every year!

The film brings together accomplished performers to re-create the emotional impact of moments in American history - several great speeches from the voices of those marginalized, rarely heard in mainstream histories, like Malcolm X, Abbie Hoffman, César Chávez, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Allen Ginsberg, and countless others.

These readings are woven together with historical footage, music and narrations from Ben Affleck and Howard Zinn.

Featured appearances include: Don Cheadle as Richard Wright, Danny Glover as Frederick Douglass, John Legend as Muhammad Ali, Mos Def as Malcolm X, Kerry Washington as Sojourner Truth, Jasmine Guy as Abbey Lincoln, and Michael Ealy as Benjamin Banneker, and many, many more... Viggo Mortensen, Sandra Oh, Sean Penn, Rosario Dawson, Matt Damon...

The program will air in TV and be released on a special DVD some time next year. I have no idea when exactly, and couldn't find any more info.

Now that it's on my radar, I'll certainly be looking out for it. You can sign up for future updates at the film's official website: http://www.thepeoplespeak.com/.

Here's the trailer:

OJ Simpson Gets 15 years

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Not film related, but worthy of a quick mention...

Former football great OJ Simpson was sentenced by a Las Vegas judge to serve 15 years in prison for a Las Vegas hotel armed robbery.

"The Juice" will have to serve at least six years before being eligible for parole.

Goodbye OJ. Good riddance.

Although, I do think he got PUNKED! Who the hell were his attorneys? Court-appointed public defenders?

How does one get a 15 year sentence for armed robbery, especially one in which no one was hurt, and that was so obviously ill-conceived and just plain DUMB on his part to even consider initiating, considering how much he's been vilified since being set free for the murders of his then ex-wife and her lover. It should have been OBVIOUS to him that he was a wanted man, and any opportunities to lock him up or take him out, no matter how silly and contrived, would be relished!

If I were him, I would have spent the rest of my life quietly, in solitude. No splash and dash; no glitz and glam. Just disappear, instead of storming into hotel rooms with weapons, to steal back sports memorabilia, even if, as he claims, the items belonged to him, and he was there to reclaim them by force!

Dude, you screwed yourself, and now you're paying the price! I think you got a raw deal via your excessive sentence, but you should have seen this coming before you got into your car to drive to the now infamous Las Vegas hotel room, armed with a weapon.

It's time to go away now OJ. Try to be a good boy for the next 6 years, and you just might get out a lot sooner than 15 years!

via RAW STORY



TRAILER - Laurence Fishburne's CSI Debut

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CBS has released a trailer promoting next week's debut of Laurence Fishburne on TV's highest-rated series, CSI.

As previously reported, Fishburne is replacing the exiting William Peterson, who plays Las Vegas Crime Lab supervisor Gil Grissom. Fishburne's character, Dr. Raymond Langston, is a former pathologist who left his profession to write books and lecture.

Fishburne and Peterson also appear together in next week's episode before Grissom makes his final appearance in January.

At least, he can now count on a steady paycheck, right? There isn't much in Hollywood these days for aging African American actors/actresses. Unless you're content with playing the asexual elderly black sage who counsels some conflicted Caucasian soul, using packaged words of wisdom and zen-like speechifying (just ask Morgan Freeman).

Fishburne's debut airs next week Thursday, the 11th.

You think CBS has high hopes for Fishburne's addition to the CSI cast?

Watch the trailer:


Viola Davis - NBR Best Breakthrough Performance

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The National Board of Review (NBR) has announced its 2008 winners - a list that some consider a precursor to the Oscars; for example, last year's pick for best film, No Country for Old Men, went on to win best picture at the Oscars.

The organization has chosen Viola Davis for the year's Best Breakthrough Performance By An Actress, for her role in the forthcoming movie Doubt.

Davis was also part of a Best Ensemble Cast win along with cast members Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, also for Doubt.

While I applaud the NBR for recognizing Davis's work in Doubt, the idea that hers is a "breakthrough performance," insinuating a sudden discovery of her talents, is unfortunate, when one considers how long she has been in the business, and the solid work she's done with each outing.

Breakthrough? No NBR, I wouldn't call it that. This is an award that's been long overdue. However, I'm sure Ms Davis will graciously accept the honor, even though it's a little too late in its delivery.

I've read several reviews of the film which doesn't open until the 12th, and there has been nothing but unanimous praise for Viola's work in the film, even though, she's only on screen for 2 scenes! 2 scenes! Those must be some powerful, memorable scenes, and I'm sure they are.

I've seen her work in a variety of roles in films past, and she's almost always captivating, regardless of what she's given to do. The critical consensus is that she will compete along with Taraji P Henson - whose own limited work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is getting plenty of praise - for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar next spring, which would be a coup. I don't recall any time in history when 2 African American women were strong contenders in the same category for one of the major Academy Awards.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to seeing both Doubt and Benjamin Button over the next 2 weeks, and you can guarantee that I'll be posting my thoughts on this blog, and talking about them on my podcast.

The NBR awards will be handed out Jan. 14 in a New York gala hosted by Whoopi Goldberg.

"Hancock 2," "I Am Legend .5" - Coming Soon

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After a $623 million worldwide gross, I suppose it was inevitable, even though the film was quite disappointing.

I have no idea what more could be done with the characters, other than introduce some kind of super villain to challenge Hancock, unlike the pathetic excuses for antagonists we were treated to in the original movie.

Or, maybe they (Will Smith and company) want some rectification for the sins of the first. If that's the case, then may I suggest bringing Vincent Ngo, the screenwriter for the original script that Hancock was based on, back into the mix?

The folks at JoBlo.com have reported that Will Smith says a sequel is “definitely” happening, that there are a lot of unexplored characters in the Hancock universe that would be ripe for a sequel, and confirmed that we'll definitely see the rumored HANCOCK 2 in a few years.

A lot of unexplored characters? Like who?

Anyway... I'm sure it will make a ton of money, regardless of critical response, so what the hell do I know?

By the way, there has also been confirmation from director Francis Lawrence that a prequel to Big Willie's 2007 post-apocalyptic box office smash, I Am Legend, is also in the works, stating that the movie will reveal what happened to Neville (Smith) before the infected take over New York. It's set for a 2011 release.

The end of ideas...


via JOBLO

Screening Sighting - "Story Of A Three-Day Pass"

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Screening this Saturday, the 6th, at 3PM, at the Museum of Modern Art, here in New York City, for all you New Yorkers, or anyone planning on being in New York this weekend.

The first of 2 feature films Melvin Van Peebles made before Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.

The film is called Story Of A Three-Day Pass, Van Peebles's very first feature film from 1968, and the first feature-length film (on record) directed by an African American since Oscar Micheaux's last effort in 1948, The Betrayal.

The story goes... at the time, Van Peebles couldn't get work in the film industry in the USA, so, like many other African American artists did in those days, he went to Europe (France specifically), and directed his first feature (aka Story Of A Three-Day Pass) in France, with French money. Cue critical acclaim (both abroad and in the USA) and, eventually, he landed a job in Hollywood, and made his first and only studio film in 1970, titled, Watermelon Man.

Here's the trailer for Story Of A Three-Day Pass (it's incomplete, but there's enough there to give you some idea of what it's like). And if you're curious enough, and live in New York, give it a go. It's certainly not what I'd call a great film. It has its flaws. But, it's worth a look, if only to experience a somewhat more "tender" side of Melvin.

Sundance's 2009 NON-COMPETITIVE Lineup

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I should have specified in yesterday's Sundance post, that the 64 films listed then where just those IN COMPETITION.

This afternoon, the 54 NON-COMPETITIVE feature films were announced. In essence, they will screen at the festival, BUT will be excluded from any awards recognition.

Of note on today's list are:

Brooklyn's Finest, Antoine Fuqua's latest directorial effort about three unconnected Brooklyn cops who wind up at the same deadly location. Cast: Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin.

And...

Endgame, a British entry and political thriller in which a businessman initiates covert discussions between the African National Congress and white intellectuals to try and find a peaceful solution to the Apartheid regime. Cast: William Hurt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jonny Lee Miller, Mark Strong.

And...

Passing Strange, Spike Lee's documentary on the stage musical of the same name, about the international exploits of a young man from Los Angeles who leaves home to find himself and "the real." A theatrical stage production of the Tony-Award winning book by Stew. Cast: De'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Stew.


And...

Tyson - An intimate look at the complex life of former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson.

And...

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy - a documentary by Robert Townsend (where has he been?), using rare archival clips along with provocative interviews with many of today's leading comedians and social critics. The film celebrates the incredible cultural influence and social impact black comedy has wielded during the past 400 years. Cast: Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Steve Harvey, Dick Gregory.

And...

Black Dynamite, a film I've talked about previously on this blog. When "The Man" murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, 1970s African-American action legend Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to take him on. Cast: Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Byron Minns, James McManus. Directed by Scott Sanders.

And... this one is quite a head-scratcher. Has "Lil Wayne" been around that long, and had such an impact, that the world needs an "in-depth, initimate look" at his life?

The Carter - a documentary directed by Adam Bhala Lough, who brought us 2002 critically acclaimed Bomb The System, considered a tribute to graphiti artists and New York City. The Carter is an in-depth, intimate look at Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter Jr., proclaimed by many as the "greatest rapper alive." Cast: Lil Wayne, Brian Williams, Cortez Bryant.

You can see the entire list of 54 NON-COMPETITIVE films here: HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Damn...

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DAMN
Now... ain't this a bitch? Not film related, but worth sharing.

First - about 2 weeks ago, I learned that...
Alan Keyes files a suit in California Superior Court in Sacramento seeking to bar Secretary of State Debra Bowen from certifying to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the names of Electors, and from transmitting to each presidential Elector a Certificate of Election, until documentary proof is produced and verified showing that Senator Obama is a “natural born” citizen of the United States.

And now I hear that...

In a highly unusual move, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has asked his colleagues on the court to consider the request of an East Brunswick, N.J. attorney who has filed a lawsuit challenging President-elect Barack Obama’s status as a United States citizen.

Thomas’s action took place after Justice David Souter had rejected a petition known as an application for a stay of writ of certiorari that asked the court to prevent the meeting of the Electoral College on Dec. 15, which will certify Obama as the 44th president of the United States and its first African-American president.

The court has scheduled a Dec. 5 conference on the writ — just 10 days before the Electoral College meets.

What the fuck is going on here?

An immediate thought I had was whether this gives an entirely new meaning to "black on black crime."

This is the kind of behavior one would expect from some of the nuttier, paler, right-wingers; not from these 2 "brothas."

*Shudder*

via WATCH US EXPLODE and JACK & JILL

On TV: Samuel L Jackson And James Earl Jones Tributes

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Some television news I learned about today:

First - AMC will broadcast the 23rd annual American Cinematheque Awards, which this year honored the film career of Samuel L. Jackson.

The special will premiere Tuesday (Dec. 9) at 10 p.m. EST under the title, Hollywood Celebrates Samuel L. Jackson: An American Cinematheque Tribute.

Many of Jackson's colleagues and past co-stars were in attendance to help celebrate his cinematic accomplishments, including Denzel Washington, Justin Timberlake, Vin Diesel, Goerge Lucas, Magic Johnson, George Lopez, Andy Garcia and Sharon Stone, amongst several others. And each of them had something to share about their experiences working with Jackson.

"I felt a bond with everyone in that theater," Jackson said, according to the AP. "(It was) a kinship that opened up a whole new world."

Second - James Earl Jones will be honored for lifetime achievement at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, airing live on TNT and TBS Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009.

I'm surprised he hasn't already been honored.

To celebrate the occasion, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will dedicate an entire day to the stage and screen legend.

On Friday, Jan. 23, the network will feature Jones in interviews and show three of his films: Dr. Strangelove, Or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (the 1963 Stanley Kubrick classic), his film debut, at 8 p.m.; The Great White Hope (1970), which earned Jones a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination, at 10 p.m.; and the South African-set drama Cry the Beloved Country (1995), which earned Jones a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, at midnight.

All extremely worthwhile films to see if you haven't already.


via EURWEB

"U People" - Trailer & Award

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I've talked about this doc previously on this blog, so some of you long-time readers will be familiar. If you're not, look it up and enlighten yourself. The filmmaker is a fellow Brooklynite and a former acquaintance.

Hanifah Walidah is her name.

I just learned that her documentary film, titled U People, won the documentary section's grand jury prize at image+nation, Canada's oldest and largest LGBT film festival, which closed up its 2008 edition Sunday in Montreal.

Where can you see it if you want to? Apparently, a deal of some kind is being worked out with the LOGO cable TV channel, to broadcast U People in early 2009.

The film's producers are also coordinating with colleges, community spaces and the like, to organize a spring and summer tour of the film next year.

Visit I Love U People for a lot more information, including podcasts (both audio and video) hosted by the filmmakers.

In the meantime, here's a trailer for the documentary. And below it is the music video that started it all, and one of the coolest things I've seen in awhile:




Here's the "Make A Move" music video:

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