April '95 Bought Us Film Greats

 

Through the history of cinema, whether it was coincidental or on purpose there are certain months and years that just blessed movie goers with sheer classics. If you are one of those people like me, who enjoy finding out scenarios like that. You appreciate all the stars aligning to provide us with a certain amount of films of certain levels of greatness, in a short timeframe. April of 1995 is one of those times that somehow has fallen under the radar. It gave us films that are still loved to this day, and are classics in various genres. From cult classics, comedy classics to straight classics.

April is traditionally a slow month for film releases, ahead of the summer season. Though the tide is turning, back in the 90's it was dumping season. April of 1995 was ahead of the curve in being a blockbuster month.  We got cult classics like New Jersey Drive. A flawed but telling movie, about a group of teens products of their environment who steal cars for the hell of it. 

Romantic comedy While You Were Sleeping, starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman which is a hopeless romantics dream film. On the other end of the spectrum John Carpenter released Village Of The Damned. Which by all accounts is not a great movie, but has developed a cult following all these years later.

Drama Basketball Diaries which is still one of Leonardo Dicaprio's best films was released. He truly showed his acting range and depth in this film, which helped him gain bigger roles such as Jack in Titanic. Mark Wahlberg also is in the film in what I can recall was one of his first serious roles. I'm sure he learned alot from Dicaprio that helped him years later.

Besides those films, what that month and year bought us is three heavy hitter films that are still relevant and loved today. For families we were blessed with A Goofy Movie, featuring Disney's favorite R&B singer Powerline.

The film is so loved, a documentary was released earlier this month on Disney plus. While Disney is taking it on the road as part of a 30 year celebration. Visiting multiple cities playing the movie.

Bad Boys which debuted in theaters the same day as A Goofy Movie. The film catapulted Martin Lawrence and Will Smith into super stardom. If not for Bad Boys, Will Smith would not have been considered for Independence Day and start his July 4th reign in the late 90's.

The film sparked a franchise 30 years that is still going strong, evident by the widely praised fourth film in the series that released last summer. Besides the jokes and chemistry between the two leads, the film also had it's fair share of amazing action scenes. This particular one being a all time classic in my opinion.

Then we have Friday which is a stoner classic, a hood classic, and just a classic comedy. Ice Cube's writing debut and Chris Tucker's career launching role. Honestly who doesn't love Friday?

 

It's a very relatable comedy that hits all the right notes. Spawning two sequels and plans for a third. As well as a animated series and several copycat films. It's highly quotable and legendary and is beloved from grandma's to weedheads.

You can still watch it today and laugh like you haven't seen it. While still trying to figure out why Craig didn't have $200, if he got his check the day before? It's a all time classic film that has spanned generations.

And that my friends is April of '95, we as movie fans should be grateful to the film gods.

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Wesley Snipes An Underrated 90's Action Hero

 

Wesley Snipes when you hear the name and think of roles, you think of Blade, Nino Brown (New Jack City), or Sidney Dean (White Men Can't Jump). He has had a long 40 year career that still is quite underrated, and he is also is one of the most underrated action stars ever. When you think of action stars particularly during the 90's Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jean Claude Van damme, Bruce Willis  and Steven Seagal are probably the top names you think of. However Wesley Snipes was no slouch in the action genre, in fact he had a good quiet 6 year run as a action hero you may not remember. Let's take a trip down memory lane.

After a star making role as drug lord Nino Brown and then following up with the comedy classic White Men Can't Jump, Snipes showed he was a martial arts master with Passenger 57 in 1992. In the film he plays a former Secret Service agent who is a security consultant, and must save the day when a plane is hijacked in a ploy to release a notorious criminal. The film is probably known for one of his more famous lines. 

He followed up in '93 with Boiling Point and Rising Sun, starring alongside film legends Sean Connery and Dennis Hopper respectively. While those films were more thrillers than straight up action films, he did get to show off his action skills in both films. Then he took a turn in '93 playing one of my favorite film villains ever Simon Phoenix complete with a blonde fade in Demolition man facing off against Sylvester Stallone.

'94 he was back on the side of a hero in the oft-forgotten film Drop Zone as a U.S. Marshal who get's involved in the skydiving culture to catch some crooks. Then in '95 with Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lopez he was a New York City transit cop caught up in the era of the Money Train. '97 he stepped into the D.C. political corruption and cover-up scene with Murder At 1600 alongside Diane Lane. 

The spring of '98 he starred in U.S. Marshals a sequel to The Fugitive, on the run from Tommy Lee Jone's character Sam Gerard and company. In the film Wesley's character Mark Sheridan show's off his action skills as he tries to clear his name within a government scandal. That film was just a teaser for fan's and what was to come in the summer of 1998 when Blade debuted in theaters. The half-human, half-vampire character essentially set Marvel up on the filmmaking trajectory that would kick off the MCU 10 years later with Iron Man.

With his trademark sunglasses, high powered guns, and katana Blade is arguably the role most synonymous with Wesley Snipes. Just look at how excited fans were when he appeared in Deadpool and Wolverine last summer. It also capped off his run of action films during the 90's and was not a bad way to end that decade. He spent the 2000's and 2010's in mostly B-movie action films, but for the 1990's he was one of the top action stars out there and should start getting his flowers for that. 

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Why The Wood Still Holds Up 25 Years Later

 

In the summer of 1999 blockbusters films such as The Mummy, Wild Wild West, American Pie, and Blair Witch Project were released. Amidst the crowd was a low budget coming of age movie called The Wood. This week marked the 25th anniversary of The Wood and the film is a hidden gem in the world of cinema that is in all actuality a classic.

The film features present day best friends Mike (Omar Epps), Roland (Taye Diggs), and Slim (Richard T. Jones) tryna make it to Roland's wedding as he goes awol earlier in the day. Throughout they reminisce about their time growing up. That's where the heart of the movie comes into featuring young Mike (Sean T. Nelson), young Roland (Trent Cameron), and young Slim (Duane Finley).

The three friends truly come of age in the flashback scenes. Learning about life via crushes, losing their virginity, tips to talk to young ladies and staying out of trouble. They also frequently crack on each other which is what friends do.

The movie is not only a coming of age story for young Black males. It also is about brotherhood and that foundation that its built on. You truly believe these guys have been friends for years. Message of the film aside, it is a damn funny movie regarding everyday life. It also had a soundtrack that could be in the conversation as one of the best movie soundtracks ever. 

First seeing the film when I was 13 Years old, I thought it was enjoyable, and relatable with some of the puberty jokes. Now as a adult I really appreciate the movie for capturing the magic that is young friendships/brotherhoods, especially amongst young Black men.

25 Year's later, I will still watch the movie and laugh like it's my first time seeing it. I'll randomly say in a down south accent "Stacey!", and discuss the benefits of tic tacs.

And forever stand around and say the words Mackin and hanging.

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Why We Still Love House Party 30 Years Later

“I don’t give a damn if Marvin Gaye ‘Gonna be there, you Won’t!”- Pops

That line sums up the basis of 1990’s House Party which has become a classic in the 30 years since it’s release. Released March 9th, 1990 and starring tarring rap duo Kid N’ Play, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, and Robin Harris the movie was a film the culture didn’t know it needed until it was released. High schooler Kid gets into a scuffle with school bullies (Full Force members B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou, and Paul George) during lunch That causes Kid’s dad (Robin Harris), to ground him and keep him from the biggest party of the year thrown by his best friend  Play.

What ensues is a night of dodging bullies and the cops, getting the girl, and having fun. In the early 90’s most Black films highlighted inner-city youth and issues, and the aggression that a lot of Black youths harbor. House Party on the other hand showcased an often under depicted demographic middle-class Black youths who just want to get laid and have fun.

House Party carries so many attributes of the culture that still resonate today. Kid N’ Play and all their friends care about how they dress and look. They just want to rap and dance and look good doing it. Throw in sneaking out while you’re grounded, worried parents who are also pissed. Dealing with overzealous cops, high school bullies that look too damn old, and playing the game to get the girl. The soundtrack is a time capsule of late 80’s hip hop and r&b, and the now legendary New Jack Swing sound. Everyone knows and loves the classic dance off in the middle of the film between Kid N’ Play and Tisha Campbell and A.J. Johnson. 

We can’t forget the quotable lines that make the movie enjoyable to watch time after time. “I smell Pussy”, “follow the drip”, “What the hell is a Public Enema?”, “I would put my shoe so far up your ass, you’ll be shitting sneaker for a month.” "I'll fight a girl", "I know you will, I seen your ass get beat by a couple." And so many other lines you can still quote today, and those in the know will instantly get it.

House Party also is one of those movies that has a lot of stars or actors with consistent work, that you did not realize. Martin Lawrence is a comedy legend who starred in the classic sitcom Martin a couple of years later, and inspired a generation of comedians. Stand up legends Robin Harris and John Witherspoon displayed why their two of the funniest comedians ever. Tisha Campbell has built a nice career displaying her comedy chops between Martin and My Wife and Kids.  A.J. Johnson has built a fitness empire for herself. Everyones favorite scumbag Clifton Powell has an appearance. Funk legend George Clinton steals his scene as a DJ at a party. Daryl Mitchell, Anthony Johnson, Kelly Jo Minter, and Joe Torry all faces you may know more than the name, all have small appearances in the film.

House Party is a movie that those under 18 who watch it enjoy it because of some of the adult content, and looking forward to being in those at times dangerous but relatively harmless situations. Adults on the other hand can watch and relate to the carefree teenage days when you just needed to get home before your parents realized you were gone.

House Party has left a legacy between two direct sequels starring Kid  N’ Play, and a sequel starring music group immature that is related to the original strictly by title. There was also a sequel released in 2013 in which Kid N' Play make a cameo appearance. There are plans to reboot the original with Lebron James producing it, which goes to show how influential the film is years later.

It has made legends out of Kid N’ Play and let several Black youths know dance moves can get you the ladies. House Party is a simple film with a  simple mission, enjoy life and have fun doing it which is why we still love it 30 years later.    

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