Movies
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Alfre Woodard Embodies the Escape a Tired Black Woman Needs and Deserves in Juanita
We’ve all heard the black woman motto around this clusterfuck of a world that needs fixing: “Fine, I’ll do it.” But what of the black woman who is tired of doing it? When does she get to rest? When does she get to escape? When does she get to just … be? Cue Netflix, with…
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3 Generations of Shaft Are Premiering at the American Black Film Festival. Will I Be There? You Damn Right
Remember that complicated man who was misunderstood by everyone but his woman? Well, now there are three of them. It’s been 19 years since the release of John Singleton’s Shaft, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Can you believe it?! And even longer since we first saw Richard Roundtree don the baddest jacket in the game: 48…
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A Whole Blue World: Will Smith's Final Form as the Genie Is Revealed
Will Smith promised us blue, and damnit, we got blue. When first-look images of Disney’s live-action Aladdin surfaced in December, Smith’s Genie looked more like a transracial genie, and the original animated film’s fans weren’t amused. But Smith assured us this was only his human disguise, not his final form. Basically, the actor reminded us…
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What Men Want: Inside the Minds of Actor Aldis Hodge, Producer Will Packer and Writer Tina Gordon Chism
If you had the ability to read one person’s mind, who would you choose? Would it be someone you know, a celebrity, or a historical figure? Starring Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Richard Roundtree, Tracy Morgan and Erykah Badu, What Men Want follows Ali Davis (Henson), a successful agent who feels stilted in the “man’s…
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'She's Small Like Me': First Look at Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman
As film is a visual medium, it makes sense that buzz heightens once the audience gets a peek at movie stills, photo shoots or other behind-the-scenes photos connected to a film. Such is the case with Harriet, an upcoming biographical drama from Focus Features, chronicling the story of Harriet Tubman, who helped free hundreds of…
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One Moment in Time: Only Once Have 2 Black Women Been Nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in the Same Year
Picture it: 1973, at the 45th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, attended by the most celebrated filmmakers, actors and creators in the world. Two cherished living queens in black history, Diana Ross and Cicely Tyson, sat in the audience awaiting the result as Raquel Welch and Gene Hackman rattled off the Best Actress nominees that year.…
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Sundance 2019: Chinonye Chukwu Becomes 1st Black Female Director to Win Grand Jury Prize
The white mountains in Sundance just got a bit blacker—and we, specifically, have a black woman to celebrate! Chinonye Chukwu, the director of Clemency, has made history as the first black woman in the festival’s 35-year existence to win the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic. Clemency, starring Aldis Hodge and Alfre Woodard, follows Warden Bernadine…
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10 Thoughts About Ocean’s 8, After Watching It 57 Times This Week During the Polar Vortex
There is weather happening outside. During this weather happening period, HBO has been kind enough to air Ocean’s 8 literally every moment of every day, and I was fortunate enough to catch (at least) 57 of these viewings this week. Here are some thoughts. 1. Although the diamond necklace heist was the point of the…
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Julie Dash to Direct Angela Davis Biopic, Iconic Activist Will Be Involved in Production
Criminally underrated and mother of black film, Julie Dash is tackling a much-needed biopic. As the Daughters of the Dust helmer told Shadow & Act at Sundance, she’ll be directing a biopic about Dr. Angela Davis. Filming is set to begin in June. The biopic will come from Lionsgate, with Brian Tucker confirmed as the screenwriter…