Biopic overdose

  This past Monday lifetime premiered their latest biopic “Searching For Neverland” based on Michael Jackson’s later years of his life told through his bodyguards eyes. It was a farrrrr cry above the mid 2000s Michael Jackson starring Flex Alexander, but it was a typical lifetime production.
  In watching the movie I thought about something, are we about to reach a point of market saturation regarding biopics?  Whether we like to admit it or not we all enjoy learning a bit more about celebrities and the paths they took to reach success and anything they endured on their level of success. With that though comes some biopics being produced for folks who don't need them or who’s story is not yet complete to tell an engaging fully fleshed story.
  After the New Edition Story was released in January creating the trifecta of biopics along with The Jacksons: An American Dream, and The Temptations. We as fans started asking what’s the next story to be told? What I have seen coming down the pipeline shows Hollywood's reliance on following trends. Rumors or a Jodeci biopic being developed surfaced after the New Edition film released. There are two biopics in development for Xscape which no disrespect to that group but I don't know if they have a compelling enough story to tell. Dionne Warwick, tv one is supposedly developing a biopic on Debarge which if done right could be very interesting. A biopic about Bobby Browns story aside from New Edition, Outkast is rumored to have one in the works, Master P, Faith Evans, Bobbi Kristina is getting a biopic told through her eyes.
  There are also biopics that the subject deserves their story being told. Othe big budget scale we have “All eyez on me” based on the life of Tupac released later this month which I believe has the potential to be a very good film.  Richard Pryors biopic has been stagnant for years, along with a biopic of Marvin Gaye. Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire) is slated to play Miles Davis. Jennifer Hudson has been rumored to play Aretha Franklin in a movie. Jamie Foxx as Mike Tyson. The Supremes deserve a biopic, Whitney Houston deserves another proper biopic.
   With multiple biopics in the work projects become watered down and films are rushed to capitalize on a recent craze. Also throw in the fact when there is no participation from the subject of the biopic or their estate, it leaves a mostly hearsay sometimes silly depiction. Throw into account when the producers can't obtain the music rights….it’s not even worth making the movie at that point. We all saw the Aaliyah movie and saw how that turned out.
    I love a good biopic as much as anyone especially when I'm a fan of that artist. Sitting down for a few hours seeing their path all the while jamming to their music or recalling certain events I remember shown in the film are always fun. I just hope they are done with care and planned out so that we as an audience don't suffer from biopic overdose and eventually turn away for good.
 

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The Get Down: Gone Too Soon

   Netflix has canceled the ambitious Baz Luhrman production “The Get Down”. While it’s rare for Netflix to cancel shows that receive good feedback the cost of “The Get Down” was just too much. Reports say the series cost $120 million which is by no means chump change.

   I’m not here to get into the behind the scene's cost and politics of the Get Down, I’m here to bring up the missed opportunity caused by the cancellation of the Get Down. Hip Hop and the exact origin of Hip Hop has never received its due in pop culture and the Get Down set out to change that.

  Incorporating all five elements of hip hop(djing, Mcing, break dancing, graffiti writing, and knowledge) and incorporating it into the main character's of the Get Down Brothers.  Zeek aka Books, Shaolin Fantastic,Dizzee, Boo-Boo, and Raa-Raa their adventures across 1970's NYC while learning a new genre bought them into hip hop legends such as Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool Herc, and Afrika Bambaataa.  That's where I think The Get Down had the most potential.
   

The last episode mentions Sugar Hill Gang “Rappers Delight” being released in September 1979 a year from the timeframe of the last episode. Had there been more certainty regarding another season who’s to say the Get Down brothers wouldn't have been in the room for the initial performance of rappers delight?

   Depending on how many season's the show could have had the crew could have been in the surroundings of pivotal moments in hip hop, they could have been our “eyes” and tour guide through the early year's of hip hop.

   Episodes started in the mid 90's during a Books concert and the story picks up in 1977 during Books teenage year's. That's a 20 year span the show could have covered jumping a few years between seasons. The crew trying to get signed to Sugar Hill record's, or other early hip hop labels, meeting a young Bronx rapper named Krs-One, being a catalyst for breakdancing taking off, hearing about a new record label Def Jam, seeing things change when Run Dmc and Aerosmith collaborate,  the crew being a pivotal part in the golden era of hip hop in 1988, disbanding by the 90's.

   To me having these characters growing as individuals and a team along with hip hop against the real backdrop of hip hop's rise was the most untapped potential of the show. The first half of the season was wayyy better than the second one but they had sooo much more to explore. We’ll never know what the creator5s had in store for future season's but while it would have been over the top I’m sure the stories would have improved and seeing hip hop's birth, the culture, and the seeds that would influence the world would have gave a new generation the history they need on this great culture.

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Movies to checkout in May

          This past weekend Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was released, helping kick off the summer blockbuster season. My quick review of GOTG 2 was that I enjoyed the movie, good action scenes and good acting butI felt it got bloated at times and some of the jokes fell flat. The core message of the movie was a very good one and in my opinion helped save the movie. The soundtrack also was very good the choice of songs were completely different than the first films, but it fit the story this one was trying to tell.
     Now onto the summer blockbuster season I am a big movie buff. With everything that’s grasping for our entertainment dollars nowadays, I still really enjoy going to the movies on opening weekend with my popcorn and watching a movie I’ve anticipated seeing since it was announced. I always enjoy the trailers and sometimes wish I haven't seen most of them already by time I see it in theaters. Random rant aside this blog is about what movies to check out in May.
     First up coming out Friday is King Arthur: Legend of the sword starting Charlie Hunnam (Jax from Sons of Anarchy). This rendition of the King Arthur is suppose to be put a gritty spin on this age old mythology explaining the origin of the Excalibur sword and King Arthur's rise. I honestly don't think it’ll be a good movie the King Arthur myth is a interesting one, but I don't think the market is there for a medieval tale no matter how “cool” their trying to make it.
     For the ladies Snatched starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn as a mother and daughter on a exciting excursion will probably suck. It looks like another run of the mill movie meant to cash in on Amy's popularity and Goldie's star power with her generation.
     May 19th brings us Alien: Convenant which I hope rights the wrongs bestowed upon the alien franchise from alien 3 all the way up to 2012s Prometheus. This movie has a lot of potential to introduce a whole new generation of fans to the alien world and continue to build on that legacy.
     Also on May 19th is a reboot of the Diary of a wimpy kid franchise The Long Haul. Call me a big kid but I really enjoyed the original trilogy of the wimpy kid films and with the books still very popular hopefully the new films can maintain the fun, wacky adventures of a kid just trying to get ahead in life.
     The Heavy hitters of May are Baywatch and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Baywatch starring The Rock and Zac Efron I really think will be funny. The trailers have given enough hint of some over the top comedy and wisecracks but since it’s Rated R it’s the tip of the iceberg. I’m sure the jokes will be raunchy and hilarious and we’ll be laughing uncontrollably once it’s released.
     Pirates of the Caribbean has been a fun if misguided film series. Lots of explosions, wild twist and turns, memorable characters. Everything you can ask for in a traditional summer blockbuster. After the so-so reaction to at worlds end and On stranger tides I hope Disney goes back to the streamlined formula that made the first one and parts of the second one work. Javier Bardeen as Capt. Salazar has potential to be a more cutthroat and frieghtening villain than Capt. Barbosa.
     I’m including Wonder Woman even though it comes out in June since it’ll be released before I probably do my June suggestions. I was really apprehensive about Wonder Woman Gal Gadot is a very pretty woman but a eh actress. Along with the epic fails the D.C. Movie Universe has produced so far especially Batman Vs. Superman my hopes for this movie were low. The trailers have drastically improved my expectations and I’m turning the corner where I believe Gal can be a believable bad ass, exotic, amazon female warrior. Way more attractive and dangerous than Xena: Princess warrior. Not much has been given regarding the true villain which I think could be a good thing as some things you have to save for people actually seeing the movie. I’m hoping this film turns around the fortune of the D.C. Universe.
     These are my suggestions for May check out one or check out all if you can. I’ll write up suggestions each month for blockbuster season...until next time.

   

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Are we our own worst enemy?

   David Banner recently interviewed with the breakfast club. In his interview he said that he doesn’t mind white people being racist because they are looking out for other white people. Black people on the other hand are not racist enough. This raises a good point and question.
   For all the call’s of being “woke”, being my brothers keeper, and more for the culture. We still have a overwhelming majority of the population who still harbor that crab in a barrel mentality. There are still a lot of successful black people who are in position to help other black people and refuse to. Not just financially but in mentoring, encouragement, etc. We’re quick to throw one another under the bus.
   Are we our own worst enemy? For the most part we are. Despite all our accomplishments and advancements sometimes it seems we haven't learned much. While we acknowledge mistakes previous generations have made we aren’t doing enough to turn that tide. We’re still glorifying a lot of bullshit. We know we don’t keep our money within our community yet don't really do enough to support businesses in our community.  When we do we as consumers always expect a discount when shopping at black owned businesses. On the other hand a lot of businesses in our community don't know what it means to be a business or customer service.
     Generations of bad financial decisions are passed down. Going through life with no life insurance, not saving, rather buy certain items to maintain a image as opposed to maintaining a good foundation. Fathers still not dealing with their kids because of a dispute with the child's mother, even though their father was not in their life for that very reason.
    One big issue that makes us our own worst enemy is we don't show each other enough love. We dont give each other enough credit when we succeed. When someone is into different hobbies that’s not understood by the masses their questioned for their choices. We’ll walk by one another as strangers and not say a friendly hello as respect to one another and keep it moving.   
     These are a few issues within our community. There are more complex underlying issues that contribute to some situations we find ourselves in. These are a few where we could instantly work to fix. We’re  a very resilient, ambitious, creative, intelligent community but when will we look in the mirror as a community, make that change, and better ourselves  to become a more respected community not just now but for generations to come.

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