One thing I forgot to mention yestereday was that Tyler Perry didn’t make the obvious choice of casting  Robin Givens as the selfish, obnoxious character. How refreshing that this actress didn’t get typecast once again. Between A Rage in Harlem, Boomerang and even Head of State, she’s somehow been relegated to the role of femme fetale, golddigger or basically up to no good (after coming to our attention as such a good-goody on the sitcom Head of the Class.) And unfortunately, those monickers seemed to stick to her in real life too after that infamous Barbara Walters interview when she was still married to Mike Tyson. Read the full story

The Family That Preys, the latest movie by Tyler Perry, the mega-millionaire who brought Madea into our lives, opened this weekend at #2 at the box office and an $18 million take. This is not the strongest showing for Perry but apparently this is a decent showing since this movie isn’t built upon one of his stage productions. I saw the movie over the weekend and think it isn’t as satisfying as Why Did I Get Married but also not as derivative as those Madea-centric flicks. (I guess you can tell that a man dressed as a loud, black woman is not my particular cup of tea but I do recognize that many people adore her/him). Read the full story

There has been so much advanced disapproval of Robert Downey Jr.’s turn as (see if you can follow me) a white actor who is playing a black soldier in the campfest movie-within-a-movie, Tropic Thunder, that I thought I should see it. And I kept waiting to be insulted. But I actually thought  the movie was actually hilarious. Read the full story

You’re probably wondering why I would write a post about Mama Mia on a site dedicated to sisters. Well, as I sat in the movie theater the other day watching the delightful Meryl Streep sing and dance her way through this story I thought to myself. “This could never be a black story.”  Why? Well, its the plot. Young girl is getting married and finds out that her father could be one of three men. And that in itself is the cause for nearly two hours of singing and dancing. As Steve Harvey says, “Stop right there!” Read the full story

A few months ago, Entertainment Weekly’s story about the upcoming fall season revealed that the only new black character would be Cleveland Brown, the star of the new Family Guy spin-off called Cleveland (which actually won’t debut until next year). But Mike Henry, who originated the role and is not black would supply his voice. I don’t remember any big protests about this but rather there was more concern about the lack of real black characters in prime time television. But perhaps Fox thought it would be easier to address the ethnic diversity of this show rather than actually casting actors we could see on any of its new projects. That said, I am glad to hear that Sanaa Lathan will be the voice of Cleveland’s wife, Donna and Nia Long  will lend her pipes to the rebel in the family, stepdaughter Roberta. Read the full story

It comes as no surprise that Meet Dave tanked in its opening weekend. As of Saturday it had made a paltry $5 million. This is not a movie I want to see. However, as I watch the trailer and see the underutilized Gabrielle Union wasting her talent in this thing that passes for entertainment I wonder why all these beautiful black actresses continue to star opposite this man in one crappy film after another. Read the full story

Will Smith’s latest action flick is another certified hit, grossing over $100 million in its first five days of release. It is certainly good (although I wouldn’t say it’s great) but there is one thing that has bugged me more and more since I’ve seen the movie. (Okay, if you haven’t seen the movie and like surprises please stop reading now *Major Spoiler Alert).
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I will admit it, I enjoy a good romantic comedy. I was also a fan of Sex and the City but I wasn’t sure how an expanded plot would play out on the big screen. My early intel told me not to expect much so I went into the movie with low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. Although lots of folks hated the movie, I thoroughly enjoyed the main story lines. I even shed lots of tears (yeah, I know that’s corny).  
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When I heard the news that Angela Bassett would be joining ER this fall I had mixed emotions. First, I am glad that this sister has a steady gig. There aren’t a lot of movie or television roles for a black woman about to turn fifty. Yeah, I know that Meet the Browns has made over 40 million at box office to date but that role as well as some of her other recent turns are a long way from What’s Love Got to Do With It, Waiting to Exhale or even How Stella Got Her Groove Back. But part of me is sad because of the timing. ER is going into its last year. Truthfully, I thought the show was already off the air. I know I stopped watching it at least four or five years ago. Do you know anyone who watches it? Is there even an original cast member left? Read the full story