THE OBENSON REPORT

Covering Cinema From All Across The African Diaspora
Showing posts with label pics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pics. Show all posts

PIC - Michelle Obama's Official White House Portrait

Posted on 1:44 PM comments (4)
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I give you Michelle Obama's official White House portrait

They say a picture is worth a thousand words - what does this one say to you?

Some things that I noticed, and that were pointed out by others:

The hanging framed photo in the background is of the slave-owning Thomas Jefferson. Quite subtle, but I'd say definitely intentional, given that Michelle is the descendant of slaves. I like how blurry the photo is - almost as if saying goodbye to a previous era of white male dominated control and power... "fading out" a legacy? Definitely intentional!

And as someone else mentioned, the manner in which she "possessively" touches the table, as if to say, "we're here, we earned it, it's ours now!"

Look at the strength in those arms - also not a coincidence, I don't think, that her arms are on display, accompanied by a definitive, reassuring smile.

Lastly, the bouquet of vibrant flowers indicating a breath of fresh air - breathe in, smell the change, aaahhhh... :o)

Did I miss anything?

PICS - The Limits Of Control

Posted on 10:33 AM comments (4)
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The images below arrived in my email box this morning... they are pics of Isaach De Bankole, on the set of Jim Jarumusch's next feature, The Limits Of Control, in which Isaach De Bankolé stars as a mysterious lone wolf criminal undertaking a job in Spain. Filming began in February 2008, and encompassed locations in Madrid, Seville and Almeria.

Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Gael García Bernal round out the rather impressive cast.

De Bankolé isn't a familiar name, but his face might be. He's one of those character actors, similar to a Jeffrey Wright, who is usually relegated to the periphery in most films he's in, except for a handful of French films (He's from Côte d'Ivoire, the West African country, and former colony of France). This will be the 4th time Jarnusch has teamed up with him; the other 3: Night on Earth, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and Coffee and Cigarettes. He has also appeared in Lars von Trier's Manderlay.

He's married to the lovely songstress Cassandra Wilson, by the way.

Glad to see him in a starring role for a change. I'm a Jarmusch fan - especilly of his earlier works. His last 2 films did very little for me.

The Limits of Control will be released theatrically on May 22 by Focus Features - likely in limited release. Mark your calendars. It's on my "to-see" list.

Here are the pics... not much revealed...







via JARMUSCH

PICS - Push Exclusive

Posted on 12:31 AM comments (3)
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As filmmaker Lee Daniels gears up to unveil his latest piece of work, Push, to the Sundance Film Festival next week, BlackVoices.com has obtained the above exclusive image from the gritty drama.

The eagerly anticipated film, based on the best-selling book of the same name, boasts an all-star cast including Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Kimberly Russell, and Sherri Shepherd of The View.

Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe plays the starring role.

Push tells the story of a confused, overweight African-American girl named Clareece "Precious" Jones. Verbally and sexually abused by her family, her troubles lead to problems in school. Precious, as she is known, has no friends, no money, two kids (from her father), and she's illiterate. She is accepted into an alternative school where a teacher (played by Patton) helps her find an alternative path in her life. Along her journey, she comes across a concerned social worker (played by Carey) and a nurse (played by Kravitz).

I haven't read the book, although I've heard great things about it from those I know who have.

I'll guess that, despite the books already built-in audience, the film will likely have some difficulty finding a distributor, even with Sundance on its resume.

via AOLBV

PICS - Halle Berry On Location (Part 2)

Posted on 2:33 PM No Comments
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Wow!

I'm sure you all saw the first batch of pics of Ms Berry on location in Vancouver, BC, shooting Frankie And Alice, her first production since given birth. I posted those a couple of days ago, and you can see them HERE.

Now, more pics have surfaced online, and these are scary! She really seems to be going all out for this one, doesn't she? Is that the Academy Awards I hear calling?

As we saw in the first set of pics, she'll be showing mucho skin, including some boobage.

Now we get these... (Click to enlarge)





via BAUERGRIFFIN

Related posts: PICS - Halle Berry On Location
PICS

PICS - Obama The College Years

Posted on 1:23 PM comments (2)
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Chance Encounter

In 1980, when President-Elect Barack Obama was a freshman at Occidental College in Los Angeles, he was approached by an aspiring photographer named Lisa Jack, who asked him if he would be willing to pose for some black and white photographs that she could use in her portfolio. I'll guess that Lisa Jack is one happy photographer today - probably a rich one too, after selling these pictures...

You can see all 12 photographs here: TIME
PICS

PICS - Halle Berry On Location

Posted on 12:28 PM comments (3)
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Didn't she recently have a baby?

The pics below (which probably won't stay online for very long) are of Ms Berry on location in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she's currently shooting her next film, titled Frankie And Alice (co-starring Chandra Wilson of Grey's Anatomy, and Phylicia Rashad) - a drama centered on a young woman with multiple personality disorder who struggles to remain her true self and not give in to her racist alter-personality.

Intriguing.

I wonder which personality she is here - Frankie or Alice (click to enlarge):







Yes, that really is her breast showing.

The film is scheduled for a 2009 release. Not sure what month.

Yet another dramatic turn for Halle - Things We Lost In The Fire being the last one, which I did see. She probably put on her strongest performance in that film. Although, it barely registered at the box office.

More here: BAUERGRIFFIN

So... I Went To A Screening of "Che" On Friday Night

Posted on 12:43 AM comments (6)
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... And all I got was this photo with Steven Soderbergh... :o)



Guess who's who?

Twice during the 5-hour screening event - the first time as we sat in the theatre, waiting for the film to begin; the second time during the 30-minute intermission - I was approached by 2 different people asking me if I was "that guy from TV On The Radio," the New York City experimental rock band. I don't think we look alike, other than the fact that we are both black, with full lips and noses, just like most black people I know :o) You be the judge:



I will review Che on Monday night's podcast...
PIC

PICS - Idris Elba & Beyoncé In "Obsessed"

Posted on 10:32 AM comments (2)
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Courtesy of Wilson Morales at AOL Black Voices... Sony Pictures has released the first images from Obsessed, a thriller starring Idris Elba, Beyonce, and Ali Larter.

What's it all about?

Derek Charles (Idris Elba), a successful asset manager who has just received a huge promotion, is blissfully happy in his career and in his marriage to the beautiful Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles). But when Lisa (Ali Larter), a temp worker, starts stalking Derek, all the things he's worked so hard for are placed in jeopardy.

Did I mention that Ali Larter is white? So, we've got a white woman stalking a black man... on screen. How often do we get to see that? Or maybe it's not such a big deal.

Although, I wonder if that was an intentional choice, and this premise could be the basis for some genuine deconstruction of race-based stereotypes and related long-held beliefs in this country. I wonder if the film will be bold enough to go where most mainstream movies of this kind would never dare tread, or whether the filmmakers will settle for yet another C-grade vanilla thriller, completely ignoring the opportunities the premise presents?!

With the film being produced by Will Packer who gave us films like Stomp The Yard, I'll expect the latter.

By the way, Beyonce, along with her father Mathew Knowles are executive producers of the film, which will be released by Screen Gems on April 24, 2009 - also, not necessarily a good sign, since Screen Gems isn't exactly known for its challenging fare - specifically, it's a "specialty" arm of Sony's Columbia Pictures, which produces and releases smaller-budget science fiction, horror, teen movies, farce or "ETHNIC" films, with more centralized target audiences. Some of their previous releases: Two Can Play That Game, Love And A Bullet, Breakin' All The Rules, Resident Evil, This Christmas and First Sunday, amongst many others...

Can't wait...
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