bv-at-the-movies

In a season where movies about black families are all the buzz in Hollywood, along comes the film 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,' which arrives in theaters Feb. 8.

Loaded with a talented ensemble cast, the film takes a funny look at remembering your past and the people that help you attain success... your family.

Comedic veteran, Martin Lawrence plays the lead character, Dr. R.J. Stevens, a successful motivational speaker who has left behind his humble beginnings in the south and when he returns, he has to deal with the family that has always known who he is.

And what a cast of colorful characters he has to deal with.

As previously noted on It's All Reel, the Malcolm Lee-directed movie stars James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, Mo'Nique, Cedric the Entertainer, Joy Bryant, Mike Epps, and Nicole Ari Parker.

The popular comic actor, who has had success with a string of box-office hits such as the Bad Boys and Big Mama's House franchises, sat down down and talked up his latest movie project with Black Voices' very own Denver C. Louis during a promotion tour of the film in Beverly Hills.

Find out what he said about 'Roscoe,' the importance of family, some of his TV projects and more below.

I love Hollywood early on in the year... it could be that movie producers and directors resume taking their anti-depressants; but whatever it is, the movies at the beginning of the year are refreshing after a slew of based-on-a-sad-but-true-story, inspirational and mellow-dramatic films they push on us (and the nominating committee) just before Oscar time.

'Smokin' Aces' is a film I would expect to surface from Quentin Tarantino's basement (and I really do mean that in the best possible way, I'm a fan). The cast was made up of three components -- the cool guys, the bad guys, and the cops. I use the term 'guys' loosely, because the femme fatale duo that 'Aces' director Joe Carnahan pulled together (let alone the rest of the star-studded cast) was definitely praiseworthy.

"...when our schools get all the money they need and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber." I saw this on a bumper sticker a few months ago. I've gotta get myself one of those!

No matter how painfully annoying it is to watch Hillary Swank try to keep a beat while bobbing her head to Tupac's 'Keep Your Head Up,' this story is sure to hit home for many of us. 'Freedom Writers' is a good reminder that our public education system continues to fail us... miserably.

I remember being pushed through the bureaucratic chaos of public school. During my freshman year of high school I was failing most of my classes. Little did I know that there was only one thing that mattered to the school administration -- my test scores. They had to do something to try to keep me -- any everyone just like me -- on track. "Get good grades, get paid." That was the unofficial slogan for a pilot program that was brought into my high school. While the thought of getting paid $50 for every 'A' I earned sounded good, even that wasn't enough to motivate me into coming to class. I understood that I was being taught to memorize rather than learn. But as long as students tested well in school, teachers weren't facing pay-cuts from their already below-average salaries, and unfortunately this was, is, and will likely continue to be the bottom line.

It's easy to play the blame game, but in reality there are so many factors as to why this system has failed us. We can start with the government, who has placed emphasis on spending for weapons and security as opposed to resources for our youth and future leaders. We can move on to the teachers and school administrators who care only to follow along with class curriculum and make it through the day. And we can end with the parents who have swept their kids out the door to be raised by the streets. This is the cycle, and the message that 'Freedom Writers' makes a good effort to deliver.

The film was a testament to what we've known all along; our kids can't be expected to succeed in substandardsocial conditions, especially when they are forced through a public school system that expects them (and ultimately sets them up) to fail miserably in the end. Looking past the dialogue (which sounded more like a compilation of refrigerator magnet quotes) and overworked inspirational scenes, I can appreciate the real life Erin Gruwell for her unobstructedeffort to change the way these kids perceived education and their own capabilities. Frankly I could care less about the cliché 'white teacher saves the day again' story line. If there were more Erin Gruwell's in this system, we would be making some serious progress towards educating our youth beyond tests.

Controversial author and educator Akil put it best in his recent writings, which I have embraced and I respect him for his forthright honesty: "Just because the student has "memorized" information, doesn't indicate that the student has developed the ability to think, intellectualize, contemplate, or mentally problem solve. This "memorization" is not mind-development; it is mind programming. This memorization doesn't train a person to use their mind as a productive tool at all, it just uses the mind as a dysfunctional empty bucket to hold irrelevant information."

Posted by celiaherrera12

I almost felt obligated to jump on the bandwagon with the hype over 'Dreamgirls.' I have the utmost respect for these legendary women in entertainment, and of course the behind-the-scenes people who paved the way for the rest. But at the end of the day the movie just didn't do it for me.

I don't think the 13-year-olds in the house realized what they were in for either when they spent their hard earned $6.50 on tickets. The "ooohs" and "ahhhs" from the audience quickly turned to grunts and sighs as the film revealed itself as a musical.

It's unfortunate that the dialogue wasn't worked in more tactfully. There was one point where I'm sure there were 10 extremely loooong songs back-to-back.

Don't get me wrong... the acting was superb. Jamie Foxx plays Curtis Taylor Jr., the lowdown sleazy manager and love interest to Deena Jones, played by Ms. Beyoncé Knowles. Eddie Murphy got another chance to shamelessly rock his skin tight pants and half-buttoned shirt as James 'Thunder' Early. And Jennifer Hudson belted out some of the most soulful sounds the music industry has heard since the glory days of Motown, no kidding.

But again, the movie just didn't do it for me.

There is really only one scene that I can remember clear as day, strictly for the irony. Deena Jones is reminding Curtis Taylor Jr. that his forte is music... not movies. It just doesn't get any better than this folks.It's almost as if she was talking to every rapper/singer gone actor, and every actor gone rapper/singer.

Truth be told, this one is for die-hard musical fans, or young bucks who just don't know any better.

Posted by celiaherrera12

In 1970, Marshall University was crippled when a plane carrying 75 members of its football team, family and fans crashed en route home from a game on the road. For the past 36 years the community of Huntington, West Virginia has worn the scars of this tragedy. 'We Are Marshall' celebrates the road to recovery for the entire town as they struggle to salvage MU's football program in memory of their fallen friends.

Now, I'm not one to cry in the theater but I definitely had a worst-case scenario going here -- 'Marshall' was a serious tearjerker, and all I had to wipe my face with was a stack of painfully stiff napkins -- so you can imagine the hot mess I looked emerging from a dark theater.

Acting was stellar all the way through (Matthew McConaughey in his usual charmingly goofy routine), but Anthony Mackie really stole the show. Mackie plays Nate Ruffin, MU's talented free safety and the team's co-captain. Previously a football player (coincidentally, Mackie was also a free safety in his glory days on the field), Mackie was right at home working his talent both on and off camera.

In preparation for his role, Mackie had a chance to connect face-to-face with the Ruffin family. Mackie and company ended up playing a game of Spades for hours as they shared their memories of the real Nate Ruffin. In an exclusive interview with Miki Turner, Mackie talks about his experience on the set of 'Marshall,' his connection with the Ruffin family, and his guilty pleasure in reliving the fashion of the 70's.

Sadly, though Nate Ruffin was one of only four MU players who narrowly missed the disastrous flight, he passed away in 2001 from cancer. In his will, Ruffin wrote a last wish to be buried alongside his old teammates -- six MU players who were burned so badly in the plane crash that they could not be identified.

If you don't want to be stuck in my predicament when you head out this weekend to check out 'Marshall,' take a hefty pack of Puffs with you. The good kind... with lotion.

Posted by celiaherrera12