Black Art/Independent Films

[loyola llothta]

Codename: Falcon

The first installment in the "Codename: Falcon" franchise of movies starring Michael Jai White, titled "Falcon Rising," enjoyed a limited theatrical release last fall. If you didn't see it, or it just didn't play at a theater near you (or you'd rather just watch it at home), the movie is now streaming on Netflix.

 

[Knicksman20]

Codename: Falcon

This was good

 

[Knicksman20]

Still haven't seen this yet but want to:

 

[loyola llothta]

Still haven't seen this yet but want to:

it was on Netflix. now looking back its the same dude from Selma

 

[loyola llothta]

In case you missed the "Evolution Of A Criminal" limited theatrical run, it premiers on PBS' January 12

If you didn't get the opportunity to see Darius Clark Monroe's deeply moving feature documentary, "Evolution Of A Criminal," during its limited theatrical run, you should know that it's coming to PBS this month, which will make the film far more widely available to audiences.

"In examining a bank robbery committed by Texas high school students, Darius Clark Monroe’s film interweaves suspenseful reenactment footage with candid interviews from people involved in every angle of the crime. The twist? The filmmaker himself was one of the men involved in the robbery. In 'Evolution of a Criminal,' filmmaker Monroe explores what led him to pull a heist as a teenager in Texas, and returns to the scene of the crime. By interviewing family members, close friends, and mentors, we learn about his transformation from a joyous childhood to the moment he realized the severity of his family’s financial problems, and how their struggles changed his outlook on his own life. Coming back to his neighborhood many years later, Monroe creates an incredibly intimate and personal journey of reflection and forgiveness while beautifully examining lower class struggles, the desperation of a teen under pressure, and the emotional impact that rippled in the aftermath of that day."

PBS will broadcast the documentary throughout the month, premiering it on January 12, as part of its Independent Lens films series, which will include in a diverse slate of films that will take audiences to practically every corner of the United States, as well as Afghanistan, continental Africa, and Haiti.

Ahead of the film's debut, PBS has shared 3 clips from "Evolution of a Criminal" as well as a promo trailer, which are all embedded below. Check your local listings to find out when exactly the film will air on your local PBS station this month:

 

[loyola llothta]

Let The Fire Burn (On Netflix Now)

It's about the 1985 fire bombing of a "radical" black group in Philly by police. you might cry at the end

 

[loyola llothta]

Well Go USA Entertainment has announced a January 30, 2015 North American theatrical debut for Deon Taylor's racially-charged psychological thriller "Supremacy," which made its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival, earlier this year, to critical acclaim.

Starring Danny Glover and Joe Anderson, the film tells the story of a white supremacist (Joe Anderson) who shoots a cop on his first day of parole, driving he and his girlfriend to take an entire family hostage. Now, the father of that family (Danny Glover) must use his understanding of the racist mind to keep his family alive.

Dawn Olivieri, Derek Luke, Evan Ross, Lela Rochon, Mahershala Ali and Anson Mount, round out the film's key cast.

"Supremacy is a very powerful film that deals with racism and family," says director Taylor, adding, "As a filmmaker, the film was often at times very hard to work on for the simple fact that you are dealing with very powerful issues and beliefs that are not often spoke about. They are in fact taboo! I truly believe that Supremacy is one of the most powerful films that has been made in the last few years that speaks directly to racism."

“Deon calls Supremacy a ‘real-life horror story,’ and he’s absolutely right,” said Doris Pfardrescher, CEO of Well Go USA. “It’s intense, it’s going to shock, but it’s also this complex, gripping story that’s going to challenge people. Those stories make the best kinds of movies, and we’re very proud to bring it to North America.”

"Supremacy" is produced by Vincent Cirrincione and Roxanne Avent of Taylor’s Hidden Empire Film Group. Robert Smith and Shannon McIntosh are executive producers along with Aaron L. Gilbert of Media House Capital. Margot Hand and Patrick Murray of Media House Capital serve as co-executive producers.

After its screening at the LAFF, Nijla reviewed the film (here), and interviewed the filmmaker (here).

A first trailer for the film has been released and is embedded below:

 

[loyola llothta]

As a reminder that the film was picked up for USA distribution by Strand Releasing, and will be released in theaters - likely a very limited release - at the end of this month, January 30, 2015.

Of note, Karidja Touré and Assa Sylla - stars of one of the most buzzed about films of the last year, directed French filmmaker Céline Sciamma - were selected by the French Academy to be honored with its Révélations des César (essentially a breakthrough award for newcomers; or performers to watch). The César, of course, is the French equivalent of the Oscars here in the USA, so this is a top honor for both of them.

"Girlhood" follows Marieme, a high schooler who feels oppressed by her family environment, dead-end future prospects, and the rowdy boys in her neighborhood, whose life gets a much-desired lift when she meets a group of 3 free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her dress code, and quits school to be accepted by her new friends, hoping that becoming a part of their clique will provide her with the escape she's long wanted.

The film, which made its world premiere as a 2014 Directors’ Fortnight selection - a Cannes sidebar which is distinguished by its independent-mindedness, and its non-competitive nature, striving to be eclectic and receptive to unlikely forms of cinematic expression - was eventually picked up by Strand Releasing for USA distribution.

Both Zeba and Wendy reviewed the film (at TIFF 2014 and LFF 2014 respectively), and both praised it! Read their thoughts here and here.

It'll premiere on January 30, 2015, starting in New York.

Trailer below:

 

[Sane]

Some interesting movies here

 

[Knicksman20]

5 New Additions to Netflix's Streaming Library to Add to Your Holiday Watch Lists

5 - "The Watsons Go To Birmingham," a Hallmark Channel Original Movie produced Tonya Lewis Lee, is a film adaptation of the historical fiction novel of the same name by Christopher Paul Curtis.

Directed by Kenny Leon (Lifetime's "Steel Magnolias" remake), the film's cast includes: Anika Noni Rose, David Alan Grier, Skai Jackson, LaTanya Richardson, Wood Harris, Bryce Jenkins, Pauletta Washington and Harrison Knight.

Co-produced by Nikki Silver, "The Watsons Go To Birmingham" centers on an African American family living in the town of Flint, Michigan, who visit their grandmother's home in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, a turbulent time during the civil rights movement.

"Set in the Summer of 1963, Flint, Michigan is home to the Watsons, a close knit "All American Family" made up of Daniel and Wilona Watson (Harris and Rose) and their three kids, 15 year-old juvenile delinquent Byron (Knight), nerdy 11 year-old Kenny (Jenkins) and eight year-old adorable sister Joetta (Jackson). When Byron's antics go over the top, his parents realize enough is enough and they decide the family needs a dose of Grandma Sands (Richardson) no nonsense approach in Birmingham, Alabama. So the Watsons load up the 1948 Plymouth Brown Bomber outfitted with a true tone Ultra-Glide turntable and head South with plenty of comedy en route. When they finally make it to Birmingham, they meet Grandma Sands and her friend, Mr. Robert (Grier), who show them around town, and the Watsons discover that life is very different there than in Flint - and not necessarily for the better. During that historic summer, the Watsons find themselves caught up in something far bigger than Byron's antics. Something that will change their lives and country forever."

What they get "caught up in" is the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in September, 1963, which proved to be one of the pivotal events of that year in the fight for civil rights.

The book was Christopher Paul Curtis' first novel, and it received a Newbery Honor, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Golden Kite Award.

The project is part of "Walmart and P&G Present Walden Family Theater," a new series of family movies created by Walmart, P&G, Walden Media and ARC Entertainment.

Trailer is below:

Just watched this with my son. Good flick

 

[loyola llothta]

Spike Lee has partnered with Vimeo's Vimeo On Demand service to release "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" starting today

Spike Lee's Kickstarter-funded "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus," which, as we've already told you, is a reimagining of Bill Gunn's woefully-underseen 1973 film that revolutionized the vampire genre, "Ganja & Hess," was set for a theatrical and VOD release, starting on February 13, 2015, via Gravitas Ventures.

The filmmaker has opted to now release the film a month ahead of schedule, but only on VOD - at least to start. The theatrical release is still a go on February 13, although, very likely in a limited run, for those who'd rather wait to see it on the big screen. I do wonder why the VOD and theatrical releases aren't happening simultaneously.

Lee has partnered with Vimeo's Vimeo On Demand service to release "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" starting today. You have 2 choices: rent it for 24 hours for $9.99; or buy a digital version to own for $14.99.

It's as film that I saw last summer, at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) where it premiered, and, suffice it to say that, while I appreciated its somewhat experimental nature, I had, shall we say, some *issues* with it. Although it is better to be provoked, than not, especially when it comes to art, I suppose. But Zeba Blay, who also saw it at the ABFF, reviewed it, expressing some of my own thoughts on it as well. If you missed it, read her review here.

In short, the film stars Stephen Tyrone Williams and Zaraah Abrahams in what Spike describes as a new kind of love story. Dr. Hess Green (Stephen Tyrone Williams) becomes cursed by a mysterious ancient artifact and is overwhelmed with a newfound thirst for blood. He however is not a vampire. Soon after his transformation he enters into a dangerous romance with Ganja Hightower (Zaraah Abrahams) that questions the very nature of love, addiction, sex, and status in our seemingly sophisticated society.

Rami Malek, Elvis Nolasco, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Joie Lee, Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, Jeni Perillo round out the film's cast.

To rent or buy the film now, go to: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dasweetbloodofjesus

Watch Spike announce the films Vimeo premiere, which is followed by the film's trailer:

 

[loyola llothta]

I Will Follow(On Netflix Now)

"I Will Follow" takes place roughly in a single 24-hour period, entirely in one location, with a smattering of characters. In short, it chronicles a day in the life of a grieving woman, and the visitors who help her move forward.

It’s what I’d call a meat and potatoes kind of effort. No gimmicks, no pretentiousness - except for the occasional flashback sequence, shot in what looked like a color-saturated glow, delineating the subtle differences between the present and the past, positively affecting the film’s progression, and, given the content of those sequences, provided just enough well-timed humor throughout the mostly dramatic film.

Filmmaker --- Ava DuVernay: Selma and Middle of Nowhere
.......
So if you haven't seen it, and you have a Netflix streaming account, check out what's not quite the film that started it all (Ava was a documentary filmmaker before "I Will Follow"), but the film that came before the film that seemed to push her to the fore in "Middle of Nowhere," which earned her the Best Director award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, a history-making event, as she became the first black woman to win the award.

Omari Hardwick, Tracie Thoms and Blair Underwood also feature in "I Will Follow."

Trailer below:

 

[Droopy]

 

[loyola llothta]

"Sara Solves It" Pilot (c) Amazon Studios; Amazon's new series for preschool-aged children. support the new animated kids pilot

New animated kids pilots called, "Sara Solves It," which Amazon says is for preschool-aged children.

This animated musical produced by WGBH and Out of the Blue Enterprises titled "Sara Solves It," which follows 9-year-old whiz kid Sara and her younger brother Sam as they work together in order to solve mysteries in their apartment building, at school and beyond, using creative problem solving! Each mystery is an interactive, problem, steeped in musical goodness.

In the pilot episode, which, again, is now available to watch, viewers use math and music in a creative way as they help Sara and Sam solve the "cheesiest pizza mystery!"

The 15-minute per episode series comes from Carol Greenwald ("Arthur," "Martha Speaks," "Curious George"), and Angela C. Santomero ("Super Why," "Blue's Clues") with animation production handled by DHX ("Inspector Gadget").

if you enjoy it, let Amazon know, so that it can be ordered to full series. The way it works is that audiences are invited to watch each pilot, and then provide feedback on the shows they want to see turned into full series. The more positive feedback a pilot gets, the more likely Amazon is to produce a full series of it.

All pilots are available via the Amazon Instant Video app on Fire TV, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, and certain smart TVs. Or you can also watch directly on Amazon's website.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at "Sara Solves It."

 

[loyola llothta]

5 New Additions to Netflix's Streaming Library to Add to Your Watch Lists

1 - A South African film directed by Andrew Mudge, titled "The Forgotten Kingdom" - winner of several international film festival awards - which centers on a young man named Atang, who leaves Johannesburg for his native land of Lesotho to bury his estranged father. Atang falls in love with childhood friend Dineo, who cares for her HIV-positive sister. Through falling for Dineo, Atang confronts his past in the remote village in which he grew up. Conflict arises when Dineo's father wants to relocate their family, to escape from the public stigma of Dineo's sister's HIV infection.

Cast includes: Moshoeshoe Chabeli, Lillian Dube, and Jerry Mofokeng.


Trailer below: