Posts Tagged ‘film’
VL At The Cine: Cop Out
4:29 pm By BiancaLaureano · Celebrities|Movies|race · 3 Comments
25 Feb 2010
The good thing about the film Cop Out is that the term “coonfest” does not completely describe this film. The bad thing is everything else. I admit when I first saw the trailers for the film I said to myself “…but I’ve seen the 48 Hours films already.” Unfortunately, Kevin Smith (Clerks, Dogma) did not have a lot to work with regarding the script brothers Robb and Mark Cullen (Heist) wrote and gave him.
The story is about two police officers in California who have been together for nine years. Jimmy Monroe performed by Bruce Willis (Die Hard) and Paul Hodges performed by Tracy Morgan (30 Rock, First Sunday) have formed a “unique” way of attempting to solve crimes. Yet, their crime-fighting capabilities lead them to a 30-day suspension. While Jimmy worries about how to pay for his daughter, Ava’s (Michelle Trachtenberg) wedding, Paul is preoccupied with the possibility that his wife, Debbie, performed by Rashida Jones (I Love You, Man) may be having an affair with the neighbor. Instead of agreeing to have Ava’s stepfather Roy, performed by Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl), pay for the wedding, Jimmy chooses to sell a baseball card he’s had since his childhood. Upon attempting to sell his card the store is held up, his card stolen, and he convinces Paul to search for the missing card with him. This search leads them to a drug cartel run by (who else?) a Mexican crew led by Poh Boy performed by a very tired looking Guillermo Díaz (Weeds).
Women of Color Arts & Film Festival, Atlanta: Film & Art Exhibition Submission Deadline Friday, January 29th 2010
12:58 pm By Maegan La Mala · Arts|Media|Movies|Women · Comments Off
8 Jan 2010The 6th annualWOCAF (Women of Color Arts & Film) Festival, the only festival of its kind in the Southeast that focuses on the achievements of women of color in the arts and media from across the globe, will be closing its first call for submissions for films and art work on January 29th 2010. The WOCAF Festival is currently accepting applications for film and videos as well as art work made by and/or about Women of Color. For a festival submission guidelines, including application and fee information, please visit www.wocaf.org to download application forms.
The four day festival scheduled for March 25th -28th 2010 will feature screenings of over 20 films, a music showcase and an art exhibition, all by and/or about women of color. “The immense growth of the festival confirms a need for a platform that celebrates Women of Color’s creativity” states Festival Director Mojisola Sonoiki. This year’s festival promises to be just as exciting as the previous WOCAF festivals and is a must see. Please mark your calendar and stay tuned for the schedule of events for WOCAF 2010.
About WOCAF:
Now in its sixth year, the WOCAF’s schedule of films, music and art attracts a diverse audience of women and men. Each year, films from across the globe are showcased. The music portion features International artists and the visual arts exhibition promotes local Atlanta Women of Color artists. Founded in 2005 by Mojisola Sonoiki, The WOCAF Festival is dedicated to promoting cultural, political and social issues about and/or related to women of color. WOCAF’s goal is to utilize the arts as a powerful vehicle to inform, enrich and entertain.
Via / Quirky Black Girls
VL At The Cine: Sherlock Holmes
12:45 pm By BiancaLaureano · Movies · 4 Comments
2 Jan 2010
My exposure to Sherlock Holmes stories growing up was limited. As a result, when I heard that Guy Ritchie (RocknRolla, Snatch) was working on a film starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, I let myself stay in that space of vagueness about the origins and history of the characters. There are times when you just want to be surprised, and often Ritchie’s films have been pleasant surprises, especially in the casting choices for characters. I’ve found that Ritchie’s films have helped in normalizing the people of Color that live in parts of the UK that US audiences may not get exposure to/consider/know about. I desired to have this same element of surprise for this film.
I do enjoy a mystery and even more a psychological thriller, and I do believe Sherlock Holmes offers both of these to viewers. There were some things I knew to prepare for regarding the film, such as a 2+ hour-long experience, and some UKish accents. Our theater was sold out and as we watched the trailers, my friend and I were not impressed with the films that are coming out in the near future. I was hoping this was not trying to set us up for a poor film experience.
Read more…
VL At The Cine: The Ministers
1:59 pm By BiancaLaureano · Arts · 4 Comments
19 Oct 2009
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Have you heard of the film The Ministers? I didn’t either until last Tuesday when John Leguizamo sent a tweet about the film. I immediately went to search for more information on the film and watch the trailer.
Once I realized that it was a new Franc. Reyes film, had an all-star cast of people of Color, and centered the stories of people living in NYC I knew I wanted to see the film. I very quickly began to realize that I had never heard of the film because I had not heard anyone talk about it nor had I seen any trailers. Marketing for the film was/is less than exceptional. All the more reason to have my time and money counted for on opening day.
As the week progressed and Friday got closer, lots of media was created online about how the film was not receiving any marketing as other films coming out the same day. One of the main contributors to the online community voices was Casper Martinez with Latino Film Chatter. Commentary went from anger to the lack of marketing for the film, to encouraging communities to see the film, to boycotting AMC theaters (specifically 42nd Street which is one of two theaters showing the film in NYC). The boycott did occur later in the evening on Friday, but I was not there to participate. You may view a video created by and with folks at Being Latino here.
Read more…
Peruana Wins Top Honor at Berlin Film Festival
11:47 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Arts|Culture|Events|Germany|Movies|Peru · Comments Off
26 Feb 2009Young Peruvian director Claudia Llosa is getting a great start on a promising career. Her film The Milk of Sorrow (which has a more interesting title in Spanish — La Teta Asustada) was honored earlier this month at one of the world’s most important film festivals, the Berlinale in Berlin, with the top honor: the Golden Bear for best film:
In the politically tinged drama, which also has elements of magic realism, a disease is being passed from mother to daughter through breast milk. It turns out, the mothers were all victims of the decades-long battle between the Peruvian government and Shining Path terrorists.
Check out the trailer for La Teta after the jump. Read more…
Mexico City celebrates Cine Chicano
1:31 pm By Maegan La Mala · Culture|Entertainment|mexico|Movies · Comments Off
29 Nov 2007
Mexico City is a film lover’s paradise, with myriad cinemas and a film festival every month. This month is no different, and with the arrival of a new festival celebrating work by Mexican Americans, the city is abuzz.
This year marks the first ever Mexico City Chicano Film Festival, which began on Tuesday and looks to be shaping up quite well. There are 10 documentary features, 7 fiction features and a slew of shorts, some of them in competition. The festival will also feature a retrospective of Chicano film classics, among them Un dia sin mexicanos, Selena and Zoot Suit. And — no podía faltar — Edward James Olmos will be there are a special guest.
This festival is to be applauded for opening up the world of Mexican American culture to Mexicans via film. There are so many misconceptions on the other side of the border about those born on this side, so efforts like this will help dispel stereotypes and bring appreciation of U.S. Latino culture. Though, speaking of stereotypes, they could use some help with their logo.
Via / Festival de Cine Chicano
Argentine director dies suddenly
1:02 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Argentina|Celebrities|Movies · Comments Off
30 Jun 2006
Acclaimed Argentine director Fabian Bielinsky, 47, died in his sleep on Wednesday in Sao Paulo of what appears to have been a heart attack.
Bielinsky was, after directing only two feature length films, one of Argentina’s most acclaimed directors, most notable for his film Nueve Reinas:
…winner of 21 international awards, and later for the police story El Aura (2005), for which he had just won six awards at the Cóndor de Plata awards ceremony.
Cuban American filmmaker defies U.S. embargo
5:06 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Activism|Cuba|Movies · Comments Off
5 Jun 2006The U.S. embargo of Cuba hasn’t worked, according to Cuban American filmmaker Luis Moro. And while for the most part Americans aren’t allowed to set foot on the island, Moro went to Cuba to make a movie precisely on this premise.
Now he’s being investigated by the U.S. government and fined:
The film, linked as it is to Moro’s personal crusade against the U.S. embargo, led U.S. officials to investigate Moro for possible violation of U.S. laws that make it almost impossible for most Americans to legally visit communist Cuba.
If officials act against him, Moro says he will refuse to pay any fines, even if it means jail time.
“It’s a farce — the embargo has not worked, and it is not going to work,” Moro said of the policy imposed since the early 1960s. “I’m committed to fighting this to the end.”
Moro, who left Cuba with his mother at the age of 5, says his campaign doesn’t mean he favors the Cuban government or its leader
Fidel Castro.“I’m not pro-Castro. I’m anti-embargo,” he said by telephone from Los Angeles.
Chile’s film industry revitalized
2:47 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Arts|Chile|Culture|Movies · Comments Off
30 May 2006
The Hollywood Reporter reports on new hope for the Chilean film industry via a cash injection from the Chilean goverment, and as evidenced by Chile’s increased presence in this year’s edition of the Cannes film festival:
After years of single-digit production volume, Chile now puts out at least a dozen features a year. The state-run Arts and Audiovisual Industry Council, which oversees financing, development and production for local film projects, estimates the nation will release 14 pictures this year.The recent upswing largely is because of more available state funding. Last year, various government funds provided a total of $5.2 million in financing to the film industry, a significant amount considering budgets range between $300,000-$1 million. Of the 14 feature films released last year, five received full state financing and five others had at least partial support.
Cuba without words
3:26 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Cuba|Movies · Comments Off
13 Mar 2006
Checking out another Latino blog, I was reminded of a very moving film I saw on television when I was in Spain a few months ago. It’s called “Suite Habana” and it’s a documentary — made with no dialogue whatsoever — which chronicles a day in the life of some of La Habana’s inhabitants.
…the characterization of each person is patiently constructed as morning passes to afternoon, afternoon to night. Just a sampling: a hospital launderer by day performs in drag by night; a railroad mechanic plays saxophone in his church’s choir; a young man does carpentry work on his family’s home before dancing ballet; an elderly woman keeps house for grandson and husband before painting in night’s silence.
What could be a very tedious film — a lot of scenes are shot in real time with little editing — is just the opposite. I was sucked in from the first moment by the voyeuristic feeling that this type of filmmaking gives you and the trueness of the characters. They exude authenticity because they are caught on film just living their daily lives.
The film, shot in 2003, seems to be pretty much unavailable here in the U.S., though it was shown at the Havana Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. If you have the opportunity to see it, do, because it’s a very rare and objective (as much as it can be) glimpse into the lives of Cubans on the island, and doesn’t get bogged down with politics. Sometimes silence is the best way to communicate.
Via / OffOffOff
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