Jun 20, 2011
You learn something new everyday, but today I’d never have suspected it would be Black Hair 101. “Good hair is white [girl] hair,” and this movie gives new meaning to the words “Bad hair day.” Hair is a woman’s glory, so narrates Chris Rock in an amusing and entertaining look of the business that is kinky hair, relaxer, extensions, weaves…a business that is second only in religion to the Vatican. Every year the Bronner Bros. in Atlanta Georgia have their hair show (for African American women) and they take seem to take it more seriously than The Westminster dogs “Best in Show.” Apparently you have to love black hair in its natural state and if “its nappy, you’re not happy” explains one hair stylist to the stars. But it’s the behind the scenes information that turns an otherwise hilarious documentary into some serious news. Black women perm their daughter’s hair often at the young age of two where it’s been scientifically proved to burn the scalp and infiltrate the skin. You should just see what the chemical can do to a soda can in one hour. The business of black hair is an expensive one. Forget asking your man for an engagement ring, these women’s men have to be prepared to spend some serious money ($1,000 a weave) in their monthly mortgage and car payment budgets. But don’t you dare touch my hair! These men can only admire it from a distance. Yes, black men have pressures that white men never even dreamed of when it comes to their women. And the best weaves are in Los Angeles “The weave capital of the world” originating from the biggest religious market – the hair temple of India. And where do we learn much of our information from? Reverend Al Sharpton, who is quick to explain “Never mind if I touch my wife’s hair. The question is do I let her touch mine…” Three tiaras
Jun 20, 2011
(Rated R)
We can always depend on an annual summer blockbuster, (and I use the term loosely), from “The Rock” “Con Air” “Armageddon” producer, Jerry Bruckheimer. And, it usually stars Nicolas Cage. Boston writer Scott Rosenberg’s parents were in the row ahead of me for the screening and one can only wonder what they really thought. Sure it had the heart thumping surround-a-sound music, slick visuals, over the top car chases and stunts, but despite the “you-have-4-days-to-steal-50-cars-or-your-brother-dies” ticking clock, there was little plot tension. I never really cared for these characters that ex auto-thief ‘Randall “Memphis” (Nicolas Cage) rallies together to help save baby brother, Kip (Giovanni Ribisi). By the way, Cage is an ‘ex’ car thief because his mother ‘asked him to stop’ so that baby brother wouldn’t follow in his shoes. Yeah, sure. Detective Roland (Delroy Lindo) is on Cage’s tail throughout the story but amazing that he appears in almost every scene except the ones where Cage is lifting cars. Among his ignition picking pals are Oscar winning, Angelina Jolie as Sway, Scott Caan as Tumbler and Vinnie Jones as The Spinx, with Robert Duvall as sort of the daddy/Zen of the thieves. Duvall’s wife is played in a minor role by Frances Fisher. Will Patton portrays Atley, the man of Cage’s past who delivers the info on the cars — or else. Seems like a lot of wasted talent on a movie that despite a few good laughs, is slightly racist and makes heroes out of car jackers as if it’s some trendy, hip and sexual pastime. Whenever that ticking clock counted down on screen, I knew we were closer to the movie’s end. I can only hope that “Gone In Sixty Seconds” lives up to its title at theatres.
Jun 20, 2011
Ben Affleck knows Boston. Ben Affleck knows Oscars. About a decade ago he won one for “Good Will Hunting” his Boston-based story. In “Gone Baby Gone” he goes back to his hometown to this time write/direct a story about two detectives (real life brother Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) who investigate the disappearance of a missing four year old girl. Ben Affleck should never get in front of a camera again. He’s an instantly stunning and master director pulling gritty performances out of his actors. Captain Doyle (Morgan Freeman) is overseeing the police unit and he knows the pain of losing a child. His died a few years ago. The mother (Amy Ryan) of the missing girl gives an Oscar worthy performance as a grieving mother with some trashy tricks up her sleeve. Enter Detective Remy (Ed Harris) who believes in justice, determined to see all the world’s pedophiles put away. Yet the twist of this movie isn’t what it is, it’s what it seems. The plot slowly thickens and becomes one of personal vs. professional conflict to the bitter end. Which by the way, is not the cookie-cutter Hollywood ending you’d hope for. Three and a half tiaras
Jun 20, 2011
(Rated PG-13, 94 mins.)
He’s back baby, grrrrrrr! And this time there’s four of him. In this third and funniest installment of the Austin Powers series, Mike Meyers returns as Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard and now Goldmember. Austin is called back into action when Dr. Evil and Mini-Me escape from a maximum security prison, but that’s only the beginning. Before Austin can stop Evil’s evil, the strangely inept doctor has traveled back to 1975 and unearthed Goldmember, a psychedelic golden-dude boogeying the night away at Studio 69 (Studio 54). Naturally, Goldmember is intent on destroying the world, and his chief weapon is a ship called “Preparation H” (don’t ask). Michael Caine, perfectly cast, joins the crew as Nigel Powers, Austin’s daddy, as does Beyonce Knowles, late of the pop group Destiny’s Child, as Foxxy Cleopatra, a streetwise but stylish relic from the era of ‘Shaft’ and ‘Superfly.’ Among the welcome returnees are Seth Greene as Dr. Evil’s wayward son and Michael York as Austin’s right-hand man. The movie’s overwhelming energy becomes exhausting and the storyline manages to get lost, yet miraculously the fun never fizzles, because the laughs are nonstop. Incredible cameos by Tom Cruise, Britney Spears, Gwyneth Paltrow, Danny DeVito, Steven Spielberg and Kevin Spacey, to name a few. Yeah, baby! Groovy!
Jun 20, 2011
(rated PG)
He’s an 180-foot-high gorilla-type monster, who’s been aroused from his 6,000 year sleep in the depths of the Japanese trenches. So, he’s a little cranky. His mission, now that he’s awake, is to set up battle between a UFO that’s come between him and the Japanese citizens of Shinjuku. No, this is not the bad Matthew Broderick sequel of “Godzilla” from Hollywood. This is the Japanese version. And, it’s worse! The story is pointless and there isn’t really a plot. Just a lot of noise despite some nifty camera work.
