Review: A Raisin in the Sun

I wouldn't have missed Monday night's ABC broadcast of A Raisin in the Sun for the world. Three of my favorite actresses all in one movie? It's a film-lover's dream come true.

Phylicia Rashad was brilliant as Lena Younger. Just brilliant. Loved her as always. Audra McDonald as Ruth Younger, amazing. The range of emotions she and Ms. Rashad displayed were breathtaking and heartfelt. I honestly don't know how they do it. Sanaa Lathan was captivating in the role of Beneatha Younger, a character I believe was born well before her time. I loved her youthfulness and energy. And those little things she does: the eye rolls and the way she clips her words...those little things added a little something special to her performance.

And then there's Sean Combs. I have to admit, I watched him carefully because I wanted to clown him. But I couldn't. I honestly couldn't. No, I would not call his performance as Walter Lee brilliant. I think that's an honor reserved for actors with that special something. But I thought he pulled it off better than expected. I can't hate on him. I honestly can't. I read somewhere that he pulled from his own early experiences as a man on the grind to make his character believeable. I could see that in his performance. And I have to applaud him for his efforts. Offscreen, though, he's so....*sigh*

As great a movie as it was, I'm told I should see the original with Sidney Poitier (I've only caught bits and pieces over the years). I will do that because Mr. Poitier's talent is incomparable. And then I'll also get the 1989 version with Danny Glover because I'm curious to see what he brought to the Walter Lee role. I've always respected his work and I can't imagine anything less than brilliance from him as well.

So that's my take. And the only other thing I have to say is...can we please have more black movies of this calibre? Please?

Who Cares What Those Writers Do?

I just returned from having dinner with my mother and several of her girlfriends. As is always the case when a group of women are gathered, several different conversations were going on at once around and across the table. I asked one of the ladies, who has dabbled in writing for years now, what her thoughts were on the impending Writers Guild of America strike. Before she could offer up an opinion, my mother made a face and--in a voice dripping with disgust--said, "Who cares what those writers do?"

Exactly.

That's exactly the mindset and mentality that has brought on the Writers Guild of America West member strike, which officially begins (picket lines and all) just a few short hours from now. I'm not a television writer, so I definitely don't understand fully the Ins and Outs of it all. What I do understand of it is that since 1984--when Hollywood unions made a deal to accept a really really small percentage of home video sales because at that time it was an untested market and studios argued that production costs were high--writers have been twisted out of alot of money, which is shameful because they are, after all, responsible for the words that come out of the mouths of the actors who make these shows successful. (These days, for example, writers only get about 3 cents on a typical DVD retailing for $20.) Writers just want a little bigger piece of the pie. And why not, considering the way DVD sales have taken off since then, even becoming more profitable for studios than box office receipts. Let's not forget the countless hours of television programming streaming all day every day via the internet. Believe it or not, the writers of those shows don't get paid for that either.

So what will television be like if this strike should drag on and on? Viewers and studios may not fully appreciate the impact of it all until they ask, as my mother did just a couple of minutes after expressing her unsolicited opinion, "So what's good on television tonight?" and find nothing but repeats and--God forbid--even more Reality TV.

Congratulations, Brandin Jay!

Creativity runs in my family. My cousin, Natarsha Garcia, is the founder of a performing arts school in Atlanta, where she discovers and nurtures the talents of young future stars. One of her brightest stars is her own son, Brandin Jenkins, who is appearing in the role of Junior in the upcoming Martin Lawrence movie Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins. Everybody is in this movie: Martin, Mo'Nique, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Nicole Ari Parker, James Earl Jones. Wow. Way to kick off an acting career.

But there's even more to this kid! Brandin is also a rising singer/songwriter. Check out his work on his MySpace page. And watch for more from this talented triple-threat.

Some People Just Get Everything!

Variety is reporting that Tyra Banks has inked an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. to develop scripted shows, reality programs and direct-to-DVD projects. She also signed a series development deal with the CW and has restructured her Bankable Productions staff.

Glad to see her doing her thing, but I also have to admit that I'm just a wee bit envious! I'd love to pitch and develop some projects too. Gimme one day in the life of Tyra (minus the modeling and photo shoots, of course)...

I know, I know, I'm whining again!

Why Did I Get Married?

I haven't seen it yet, but I can't wait to! I've said before how much I enjoy Tyler Perry's movies. From what I hear, this doesn't disappoint (unlike his television series, House of Payne, which I admit is improving, but is a long way from being there). With such a stellar cast, how can it go wrong (just look at the box office figures)? I'm sure I'll have a lot to say about it once I've seen it some time this week or next weekend.

In the meantime, I continue to be in awe of the journey this man has taken to get to where he is today. It's inspiring to those of us who have yet to arrive, but are strolling the path to our own individual successes.

Congratulations, Tyler!

Tyler Perry and Madea's Family Reunion

I actually got out to see a movie on its first weekend this past weekend! My movie of choice was Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion. Now I'd seen the stage play on DVD and loved it, so I was curious to see how it would play out in the movie version.

I was not disappointed, though it was a little heavier than I thought it would be (I think all the really comical parts were shown in the trailers) but I was still entertained. I left the theatre with a lot on my mind. It was deep...

I want to talk about Cicely Tyson's speech at the family reunion. Poignantly written, and breathtakingly delivered. I wanted to cry, but I don't do that (smile). Is it on the soundtrack? I haven't looked into that. Someone needs to put that somewhere it can be played again and again. Honestly, I didn't know Tyler could pen words like that. While I've been a fan for quite a while now, I didn't appreciate him as fully as I do now.

And Maya Angelou's poem. I loved it so. Another work I'd like to see in writing or hear again and again on a CD.

Lynn Whitfield was amazing as usual. Blair Underwood played his part so well it frightened me. I'd never noticed Rochelle Aytes before this movie. She was wonderful, especially in her scenes with Lisa Arrindell Anderson, who I have always loved. Why she doesn't have a bigger career, I don't know. She's amazing.

But I'm not really reviewing the movie. That's not my purpose for bringing it up here. I'm really just expressing how much I love Tyler Perry's writing, especially on serious issues. I appreciate him so much more now. I truly, truly do. I'm anxious to see what non-Madea material he comes up with.

Tyler (can we roll on a first-name basis?), write on, brother. Write on.

And So I Wait...

I'm gonna leave Hollywood alone.

See, I've had a script at a MAJOR (and I do mean MAJOR) production company for a few months now. My agent has been working diligently, doing her thing, taking meetings, making phone calls. And we're now at the point where they're trying to attach actors to the project, which will determine whether or not they will buy the script and move forward.

My nerves are wrecked.

I'm trying to keep my mind off of it. I'm trying to focus on those projects that I can control. Like the Reggie Brown series. And The Brownstone. And K My Name Is Kendra, which I'm writing for our impressionable teenage sisters (because I think they're being ignored literarily). And The Micness because The Brownstone release date keeps changing from week to week and I feel like I need to put something out there so people don't peg me as just a children's book author (and there is not a thing wrong with that, but I'm just sayin'...) and ignore all my other work.

But I can't help but think about this script. The waiting...oh, the waiting. I just can't take it! How do screenwriters do this project after project??

So I've decided...if they do end up buying this script, I'm gonna count my blessings, cash my check, and then I'm done with Hollywood. Period.

Then again, I do have this other completed script...and then there's still my file of incomplete movie treatments and storylines ready to be pitched at a moment's notice...

sigh