on the dig

A friend of mine posted a Facebook video blog claiming Barry Jenkins’ debut film Medicine for Melancholy was the best film he’d seen in years.  And since I’m a sucker for anything that’s smart, meaningful, witty and, in this case, revolves around an indie black couplet… well I ran to the theater.  Medicine for Melancholy…

The story has been circulating from quite some time.  South African Sandra Laing was born and classified as “coloured” in the 1950s, but both parents were “white”.  And certainly that’s genetically possible:  white parents bringing home a bouncing baby girl whose complextion is a bit more golden than theirs and whose hair shows a bit…

Rush Limbaugh, the Republican’s darling, is no stranger to straight-from-the-gut politcal commentary.  It’s what’s in his gut that demands examination.  And his latest rantings about Obama’s stimulus package as well as the Civil Rights-trained dummies who support him… well, they rank high on his diseased gut crazy.  Unlike many, I certainly don’t believe Limbaugh was…

Joaquin has always ranked high among my favorite American actors.  From John Ridley’s U-Turn to Signs to Walk the Line, Phoenix brings a courageous exploration of humanity in most of his roles and that’s important to me.  So the flags went up several weeks ago when he announced he was leaving film acting to pursue…

Sundance honored Chris Rock’s documentary Good Hair over the weekend with A Special Jury Prize for U.S. Documentaries.  Apparently, Good Hair was one the most talked about projects up there in Utah.  And that’s no surprise.  Black folks love or hate us some “good hair”.  The documentary, inspired by Rock’s daughter’s disappointment in not having…

Producer-director Lee Daniels [Monster’s Ball, The Woodsman] has hit the high mark with Push.  A coming of age tale about Precious, a pregnant Harlem teen who navigates through incest, physical and emotional abuse, racism, self-hatred, illiteracy, HIV and obsesity [this is not a Disney flick]… Precious struggles until she stumbles upon a radical schoolteacher who…

The makers of the Beanie Baby Dolls have unveiled their latest:  Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia.  A couple of bronze-skinned dolls who the company insists are not inspired by Barack and Michelle’s daughters, in name or resemblance.  However, every Sarah, Kendra and Bobby, too, will be directing their parents through wind, sand and rain to…

This is a sweet day for me.  I know a few of the Oscar nominees, personally.  I mean, I know them know them.  Like we break bread, shared the same shower [not at the same time – hehe] and I literally spoke to one yesterday afternoon [I’m lying about that, but it felt good saying…

I wish I could say yesterday, with all its disorganization and claustrophobia, was one of the most amazing days of my life.  And it was, until the sun fell, and millions of people packed up their gear and headed home.  I was one of those people.  See, I wasn’t able to make it to any…

The long and frigid journey to witness President Barack Obama take the Oath and give his inauguration speech as this country’s 44th President was worth every chilling minute.  Even if I did have to watch from a Jumbo-Tran on the Mall some million or more people away from him.   Most of the official entrances to…