Current Movie Releases

Movies — By Buddy Sampson on May 23, 2010 at 2:14 pm

Lightkeepers

Richard Dreyfuss and Blythe Danner Excel in a Timeless Love Story

By Buddy Sampson

Richard Dreyfuss stars in Lightkeepers, a movie with a message that many men have realized, “the world is nothing without a woman or a girl,” to use a slice from the James Brown song, “It’s a Man’s World.” In Lightkeepers, Dreyfuss plays the part of Seth Atkins, a lighthouse keeper in Cape Cod, 1912, that lives without women because of his hatred of them. “In those days, there was a society of men, academics, professors, whatever, who were so shy and anti-social, or asocial, they didn’t know how to deal with women,” said Richard Dreyfuss. “They were the original ancestors of nerds. And they became known as women haters, but they were never women haters, they were just men who didn’t know how to ask women out on a date.” In a twist of fate, a mysterious stranger, John Brown (Tom Wisdom) is washed ashore near the lighthouse and becomes Atkins’ assistant, sharing Atkins hatred for women. The plot thickens considerably when two women arrive, Ruth Graham(Mamie Gummer) and Mrs. Bascom, her housekeeper (Blythe Danner) for a vacation in a cottage near the lighthouse.

Richard Dreyfuss and Blythe Danner are excellent in this movie and put on a very tender and moving performance. Filmmaker Daniel Adams captures a love story with a simple and poignant message. He expertly captures the time period and is perhaps one of the more underrated filmmakes in Hollywood.

This film is a movie not seen often, in our time of sensational fight scenes, sex scandals and the like. It is a very sweet love story and has a very simple and tender message- Ah, women, you can’t live in a lighthouse to escape them, they’ll find a way to find you anyway and turn your life upside down.

Lightkeepers will be in theaters this weekend, May 7th. The Scoop LA highly recommends this movie. It’s a great and timeless love story.

41ST & Central: The Untold Story Of The L.A. Black Panthers

By Kim Webster

“My father was a Panther, I met other Panthers and I decided to do this project,” said director Gregory Everett. Everett’s father, Jeffrey Everett was an excellent source of information and inspiration for this film. “41st & Central: The Untold Story Of The L.A. Black Panthers,” is the first in a series documenting the activities of the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party provided many services to the community, most notably, establishing the free breakfast program for children, free medical clinics, and assistance to the elderly. These programs set a blueprint for future government programs assisting the needy. Everett uses archival footage and interviews with former Party leaders and members to enforce the authenticity of this film. The speakers include: Geronimo Ji Jagga, Elaine Brown, Ericka Huggins, Roland & Ronald Freeman, Wayne Pharr, Jeffrey Everett, Long John Washington, Muhammad Mubarak, former L.A.P.D. Chief Bernard Parks, US Organization member Wesley Kabaila, U.C.L.A. Professor Scot Brown.

This film gives insight into the Southern California Chapter, under the leadership of Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter. The tragic murder of Carter and John Huggins at U.C.L.A. in 1968, the conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the US Organization, the WATTS uprising, and many other historical events are explained by people who witnessed them. “41st & Central: The Untold Story Of The L.A. Black  Panthers”  made it’s world premiere at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival and was chosen as the 2010 Audience Favorite Documentary.

Children and adults will be enlightened by this film. Encore showings begin March 26 – April 8 at the Culver Plaza Theatre, 9919 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. For more info please go to www.paff.org .

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Nate Parker stars as Ben Chavis in Blood Done Sign My Name.

Blood Done Sign My Name…In Theaters Now

By Deidra Burtonelli

Blood Done Sign My Name, by Director and Producer Jeb Stuart, is a civil rights film that takes place in the 1970s. In an era that the civil rights movement was said to be over, Blood makes the connotation that the war of injustice is far from over. Where Blood was filmed, in Oxford, North Carolina, racism was especially unblemished. The film is based on a true story about the life of Ben Chavis, a civil rights activist and teacher. At the age of 22, Chavis was a young teacher who stood up for the rights of African Americans and encouraged others in Oxford to do the same.

Torn between continuing the fight and letting it rest, the city of Oxford became an atmosphere of pure havoc. When hopes of rising above a hopeless situation had turned into destruction, Chavis steps in with help from the few he knew who kept a positive attitude, and introduced a peaceful approach to the chaos going on in the streets.

Ben Chavis witnessed more racism at a young age than current generations ever will. Progress has been made, even in his hometown of Oxford. Chavis hopes that viewers of the film will realize the struggle it took for African Americans to gain freedom today. He visits schools and colleges to remind young people to continue to progress and not to take advances in civil rights for granted. “The purpose is to try and help us become less complacent when it comes to injustice,” said Chavis. “When I was growing up, we didn’t allow any injustice to go unchallenged. It just was part of our being.”

Chavis described the progress made in his hometown of Oxford. “Since the 70s, schools have been integrated and blacks are allowed to work downtown,” he explained. “Rather than integrate movie theaters, however, they have been all torn down. Moviegoers of Oxford will have to drive 30 miles to see the movie from where it is based.”

“Progress has to be organic,” he continued. “It has to be alive. We are hoping this movie will inspire all young people to realize the power they have in their own hands to make change and transform their reality.”Richard Nixon, who served time in the military, was president when Chavis’s first cousin was shot. There was no proper military burial for him.

The many incidents that colored Chavis’s life were chronicled into a story, first published in a book by historian, Tim Tyson. Tyson grew up with Chavis as a family friend. Sadly, the murder of Chavis’s cousin, was by Tyson’s friend’s father.

In writing the book, Blood Done Sign My Name, Tyson wanted to tell a story that hadn’t been told about racism in the south. Civil rights films, post- Martin Luther King, Jr. are limited. Tyson has years of research and the true stories of families that helped color his writings. “Most civil rights movies are a bunch of sugar-coated confections of pseudo-history that tell America that this was a non-violent call on America’s consciousness, which America answered,” said Tyson.

Fall Down Dead

By Buddy Sampson

Sometimes, you just want to take in a good horror/suspense thriller-one that will leave you on the edge of your seat with good acting, a suspenseful plot with all the elements that make for a good flick. Dominique Swain and Udo Kier excel in the movie, Fall Down Dead, a story of a truly maniacal killer, Aaron Garvey, “The Picasso Killer,” who seeks human flesh as part of a painting, a monstrous creation made of skin. Garvey (Kier)  happens on Christie Wallace (Swain) who accidentally discovers Garvey in the middle of a slaying and decided she was the centerpiece of his “masterpiece.”

With an engaging score by mega-talented composer Pinar Toprak, this film, from beginning to end is a certified thriller and definitely not for the faint of heart. Christie grapples with her justifiable fear, which makes a nice backdrop to the mostly bungling cops that try to assist her. David Carradine cameos in Jon Keeyes’ exciting film as a slow and inept security guard, which provides the scary psycho drama needed comic relief. He made the word slow to appear to be warp speed. Fall Down Dead is a very, very disturbing, but entertaining film. In theaters now.

If You Haven’t Seen Them….Well…:

We Are All Precious

Deidra Burtonelli

Friday the 13^th Release of Precious Not Phased by Superstition

The jaw dropping drama directed by Lee Daniels, hit theatres Friday. The movie Precious, formerly entitled Push after its novel by Sapphire, sheds light on the darkest reality for an illiterate, overweight teenager learning to cope with life’s hardships in spite of being abused in every way possible by her parents. This breakthrough film has a storyline so courageous it will blow viewers away.

The role of Claireece “Precious” Jones is played by screen novice, Gabourey Sidibe. Her sarcastic honesty is charming in midst of her raw struggle. All odds are against Precious since birth with an absent father by whom she is abused, impregnated , and given HIV. Her mother is an emotionally and physically abusive shrew, played by comedienne, Mo’Nique. Precious’s only escape is in her mind when she has ironic day dreams about being a famous supermodel and indulging in an unlikely relationship with her math teacher. Under such unbelievably harsh circumstances, Precious is another child left behind in a failing Bronx, New York school system. Neglected by unloved ones, Precious was forced to trust few. Paula Patton gives a refreshing performance as the alternative school teacher who’s intention was to get Precious to open up about her thoughts, but as her misfortune unraveled, she had no choice but to make a call for action that gave her hope. Be not fooled by the ordinary reputation of the lovely A-list co-stars of Precious. Makeup, Hair, and Wardrobe crews seemed to be busy with other projects during this film. The plot was real and the ladies of Precious followed suit. No weaves, faux lashes, or flattering lighting-just life in the projects during the eighties crack epidemic.

Twenty six year old Gabourey Sidibe played hooky from class at City University of New York to audition for the role of Precious. The audition had been suggested by a friend of Sidibe‘s who is a theater director at another college. After just one hour on her second audtion, Sidibe was the star of Precious and on her way to making her cinematic debut.

The film proved its worth when it became an instant hit at Sundance, earning a Grand Jury Prize. After the movie’s independent success, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry saw its potential to be a commercial success. By late November, the movie had conjured enough buzz to become a smash hit at the opening gala at AFI Film Festival. The house was packed with super star supporters, including Oprah and Tyler Perry, Gayle, Sherri Shepard, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Sydney Portier, Eva Longoria, plus the cast themselves. The film debuted in theaters everywhere the following week, raking in a whopping $1.8 million. The exposure of this movie was so powerful, it was destined it got the right timing and a powerful “push”. The victory was unforeseen when Precious was in its early makings. Receiving backing for the story was not easy according to director Lee Daniels. Having been amazed by reading Push by New York novelist, Sapphire, in the late 1990s, Daniels stopped at nothing to convince distributors to fund the story. An obese girl learning to read doesn’t necessarily fit the formula of your average fast paced drama. Daniels’ previous and first directorial project, The Woodsman (2008),about a post prison pedophile, was no fairy tale either. Daniels perseverance paid off when Lionsgate picked up the film and Precious was on its way.

Daniels believed in Precious so much that he was willing to expose issues that audiences may not be ready for. In addition, he took a risk with a cast that was known for other talents and gave them a 360 degree character change. Monique (known forQueens of Comedy) who is used to stirring up laughter in urban audiences, did just the opposite in her riveting performance as a mentally sick monster of a woman. Daniels tells W Magazine that he was afraid Mo’Nique’s role might alienate her fan base. Now that the film has been released and already recognized by the Academy Awards, her fan base is sure to be broadened. A glammed down, Mariah Carey, Precious’ social worker, redeemed herself of her eight year Glitter flop ridicule. Music lovers be warned to squint your eyes if you don’t want to miss the surprise appearance by rock legend, Lenny Kravitz. Kravitz is unrecognizable, free of piercing and hair.

While Precious may be relatable to only few, it sends a message to many about overcoming obstacles and that heartache is not far from happiness. If everyday people with closeted skeletons such as Precious can survive insane hardships, anyone can.

Christmas In Canaan

Billy Ray Cyrus shows his acting chops in the Hallmark Movie, Debuting December 12th.

By Buddy Sampson

Billy Ray Cyrus stars in a Hallmark movie, “Christmas In Canaan,” based on a book written by Kenny Rogers and Donald Davenport, a story that takes place in Texas of two young boys affected by the changing tide of racial equality. The movie also stars Jessica McLeod, Darien Provost, Tom Henton, Matt Ward, Jacob Blair and Zac Ludwig. Cyrus plays Daniel Burton, a young rancher and farmer determined not to raise his son with the specter of racism guiding his life. After his son DJ (Zac Ludwig) has an incident with a young Black kid, Rodney (Jaishon Fisher) on a school bus, Daniel decides on a very innovative way to solve the problem. Jaishon Fisher, on the red carpet, talked about a funny moment on set. “We kind of made a blooper,” laughed the young actor. “The dog, Bandit- I was trying to get him to come to me and then he was like just sitting there. And I was like ‘c’mon.” It was hard to stay in character.”  The boys, in the turbulent times of the 60’s,   learn each other’s culture and learn they have more in common than not.

Cyrus, on the red carpet, spoke of how special it was to work on such a project. “It was fantastic, being a part of this great cast, it was a great crew,” said Cyrus. “Before I ever read the script, my management had turned down the role because with my tour schedule, there was no window for me to make a movie that was going to take three weeks. But my intuition just kept saying, “you’ve got to read the script.”

Cyrus called his manager back after some thought and asked his manager to have the script sent to him. “When I read it that night, I just fell in love with it,” he said. “As an actor, I basically set out to be my dad in 1964. I just thought if I can be my dad throughout the 60’s and the early 70’s and bring in that realism to this character Daniel, then this might work.”  Cyrus applies the same principles his dad raised him with, hoping to inspire his and other children to a higher level. “I tell my kids to follow their dreams, follow their heart and know that we all make mistakes, nobody’s perfect, I happen to be very good at making mistakes” said the grounded superstar. “And I tell them that. The key is, if you make a mistake, life is about adjustments and if you feel like you made a mess when you should have made it right, then stop and get yourself together and live by the law of what is right.”

A sentimental story, “Christmas In Canaan” addresses untold racial issues, some of the very positive interactions that have led to advances in racial harmony. It is a story of family, tragedy, racism and most of all, love. It is a family movie that captures the essence of Christmas, a meaning lost in the current age of cell phones, materialism and the Internet. It is a look into the tolerance of families in Texas, a story rarely told. The Scoop LA highly recommends this movie.

“Christmas In Canaan” premieres on The Hallmark Channel Sunday December 12th. See your local television listings.

Kathryn Joosten-Star of Desperate Housewives Makes Startling Revelation About The Show

“Somebody Dies,” she says.

Actress Kathryn Joosten, who plays Karen McCluskey on the mega popular show “Desperate Housewives,” was recently spotted on the red carpet of the premiere of “Christmas In Canaan,” starring Billy Ray Cyrus, a Hallmark movie that will debut December 12th.

She spoke about the best thing about working on the popular show. “The crew,” Joosten said when asked. “The crew is phenomenal. Everybody came back after the strike, remember the strike? And we were so afraid that we were going to lose some people, but we didn’t. They all came back and it’s a phenomenal crew.”

Well what about the cliffhanger, that viewers of the show are hearing about? Is she leaving the show? “No,” she said. “But somebody dies, somebody dies.” When pressed further, she declined to answer. So we guess we’ll have to tune in to see what happens.

Sometimes, the show has sexual themes and, during rehearsal, there’s a lot of levity that goes on. “We just had a scene yesterday that we shot that had to do with sexual matters, so we have a lot of fun on set kidding around about it, stuff that you’ll never see on camera.”

Joosten, who will be seen this winter in “Alvin and the Chipmunks” spoke about her role. “I do a stunt in that one,” Joosten laughed when asked about her role in Alvin and the Chipmunks. “It’s quite a stunt. And I did it three times.”

The charismatic actress, who admires Helen Mirrin, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp and Katharine Hepburn among others, will be celebrating her birthday on December 20th and she has big plans. She will be having a party which will be comprised of cast members and a special treat for her. “My kids will be here,” she said. “And we’ll have a good time doing that.”

Check out the show “Desperate Housewives” Sundays on ABC. Check your local listings.

G-Force

By Jaime Yanez

Three hamsters, a mole and and a fly. Who would think that a movie that features those characters would be successful? Disney thought so and it appears they have a hit in Jerry Bruckheimer’s movie, G-Force, debuting in theaters today, July 24^th.

Dr. Ben Kendall (Zach Galifianakis) is contracted by the F.B.I. to teach and train animals for reconnaissance missions. The animals, sent on a mission after training, had to prove themselves in order to continue to receive funding. They fail in their first mission and the F.B.I. shelves the project and confines the hamsters, which manage to leave their confinement, in various means of escape.

Using a translating device created by Kendall, the animals have funny dialogue, led by Blaster (Tracy Morgan) a tough and integral member of the G-Force, known for his toughness and weapons skill. Speckles (Nicholas Cage) is the star-nosed mole. “Jerry showed me pictures of the ‘G-FORCE’ characters and said I could play any role I wanted,” says Cage. “When I saw Speckles, something about it got to me, and I thought I could do something interesting with the voice. It was important to me to create a new voice that was unrecognizable from my own vocal patterns. It was also important to me to go into an area that had kind of a zany intensity. To me, that’s what would make Speckles fun to play and hopefully  fun for the audience.” Cage, a big fan of Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other cartoon characters, relished the opportunity of working with Bruckheimer in a much different capacity than his other roles. “I thought it would be fun to create a whole new voice for this marvelous looking little mole in ‘G-FORCE’,” he said.

G-Force is led by Darwin (Sam Rockwell). “Oh, it’s very strange,” admits Rockwell about bringing a non-human character to life. “But when they said ‘action guinea pig movie,’ I showed up—I was like, ‘I’m there!’ Darwin is a superspy and has sort of a Steve McQueen guinea-pig vibe, so it’s fun to play an action hero.” Hurley, played by Jon Favreau, meets with the other members of G-Force in a pet store. “I’m the flatulent comic relief in the film,” says Favreau. “I think that if you’re going to play a guinea pig, you want to be a funny guinea pig.” Hurley thinks that Darwin is his brother, based on a birthmark that they both have, and he’s taken quite a shine to the guy.

Juarez (Penélope Cruz) is the sexy  martial-arts pro of the group. It is perhaps the first time that Cruz has played an animated character “Juarez is a knockout you can’t knock out,” Bucky (Steve Buscemi) is the angry, bi-polar hamster of the group. “Bucky is a fun, angry hamster,” says Bruckheimer. “Steve did it to perfection.”

The trailers for the movie don’t begin to capture the fun of this movie. Ideal for adults and children alike, the movie has non-stop action and other surprises that make this 3D movie a must see.

The Scoop LA highly recommends this movie for a great evening of family entertainment.

Movies on Rental

Next Day Air

By Buddy Sampson

I’ve been writing for The Scoop Newspaper, now The Scoop LA for 20 years and I’ve seen a lot of “first” projects-first actors, first writers and many other firsts. Well now, another first- a movie with a first time movie director and a first time writer, Next Day Air.

Benny Boom and Blair Cobbs, the director and writer of Next Day Air, respectively, have a terrific and hilarious film on their hands. It’s the funniest film since the Ice Cube film “Friday.” Destined to be classic in the African-American community, the film explores what can happen if a bumbling, opportunistic gang receives a shipment of cocaine that belongs to someone else. Donald Faison plays a weed-smoking courier, Leo, that’s so high doing deliveries, he delivers a package destined for a would be gangster, Jesus, played by Cisco Reyes to the wrong apartment. The antics continue when the drug kingpen, Bodega, eerily played by Emilio Rivera, demands that Jesus find his drugs. Jesus’ squeeze, Chita, hilariously played by Yasmin Deliz, joins in the action to find the drugs and Leo’s partner, Eric (Mos Def) becomes their foil. Brody (Mike Epps) and Guch (Wood Harris) are would be drug entrepreneurs who are conflicted on what to do with their newfound fortune and the result is a hilarious film with a surprise climax. Debbie Allen is funny as Leo’s mother and Yasmin Deliz, a singer/performer who has starred in many music videos has a bright future as an actress. She brings spunk, beauty and hilarity to the film.

The Scoop LA recommends Next Day Air. Get out to the theaters and support this very funny film. It’s time the African-American community support great efforts by African-American filmmakers. Okay, we know that you can probably get this film by buying a bootleg copy on the street. But make an exception and go to the theaters to see this film. The movie studios will be encouraged to make more Black films. Besides, it’ll be worth every penny. We guarantee you’ll laugh your butt off.

Seven Pounds

By Buddy Sampson

Seven Pounds, released in theaters, December 19th,  is an epic film that features positively magnificent performances from Will Smith and Rosario Dawson.

Smith, a  two time Academy Award nominee, demonstrates his range and depth as an actor, by showing in this film that he is capable of a gripping and emotional performance, outside many of the action parts he plays. Seven Pounds is a mysterious and suspenseful film that has many surprises, so many that it is very difficult to give a synopsis of the movie without revealing many of the intricate plot lines.

Smith plays Ben Thomas, an IRS agent that seeks to change the lives of seven people, seven total strangers. But along the way, he falls in love with Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson) who has a heart condition, but changes his life path drastically.

Seven Pounds is a tearjerker of a film.  It spotlights love, sacrifice and mystery. Moviegoers, especially those that enjoy the classic films of the 40’s and 50’s will enjoy this film, simply because it’s unlike that blockbuster films of the current day-devoid of special effects and CG. It’s a simple story of tragedy meets love. It has sensational performances from Smith and Dawson, who have terrific screen chemistry. The Scoop recommends this film highly.

Films of this calibre, probably, as usual, will be overlooked by the Academy, but it deserves accolades as a terrific piece of work. This writer actually worked in the film as an extra in scenes with Woody Harrelson and Will Smith and had the pleasure of watching two pros, two icons work up close.

This film is a very special and classic film, deserving of widespread recognition. On DVD release now.