Tag: Black Representation
-
‘Fatherhood’ is the Most Wholesome Film to Come Out of 2021 So Far
In ‘Fatherhood’(2021) we follow Matthew Logelin (Kevin Hart) in the aftermath of the passing of his wife, Liz, (Deborah Ayorinde). While coming to terms with this major life change, he must adapt to another: being a single parent to their daughter Maddy (Melody Hurd). (Spoiler warning for major plot lines and ending.) The first thing…
-
I Can’t Believe I Just Now Heard of ‘Tangerine’; We Need More Narratives Representing Black Transgender Women
Films staring black transgender actresses/actors are few and far between, it’s refreshing to see a demographic represented in film that hardly gets any attention. This is especially important as the Black trans community has been shown in studies to face the highest level of discrimination amongst general trans and non-binary groups. That is why it’s so…
-
‘Monster’: Young, Black, and On Trial Means Guilty in Most Cases
Monster’s plot is built around Steve Harmon’s false accessory to felony murder accusation, and the anxiety and desperation experienced by him during incarceration and the corresponding trial.
-
Who Needs ‘Independence Day’ When You’ve Got ‘Sorry to Bother You’?
Sorry to Bother You ultimately speaks to the unfair advantages that the country’s power structures award to those with the resources to control others, as Lift’s easy access to the media allows his opinion to be the only one that matters in the eyes of the unsuspecting and easily impressed public. Moreover, it reveals the…
-
In The Heights: The Case for Diversifying Diverse Films
In the film adaptation, director Jon M. Chu turns each musical number into a massive show stopper, with grand set pieces and a wealth of diverse dancers. Yet, in this attempt to show reverence for the people of the Washington Heights barrio, Chu, or maybe more specifically those in charge of casting, left out a…
-
In the Long Run, the Answer To COVID Hangover.
A few episodes in, I realized the most prominent theme of In The Long Run wasn’t culture, race or even finding independence–but the idea of belonging.
-
“She’s Gotta Have It” was Ahead of the Curve in Portrayal of Female Sexuality
In Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It (1986), we follow the love life of powerful female protagonist Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) and explore the relationship dynamics she has with her partners. She sees three men simultaneously: Greer Childs, (John Canada Terrell) Mars Blackmon (Spike Lee), and Jamie Overstreet (Tommy Redmond Hicks). Though an 80’s…
-
Reflecting on ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’
Lee Daniels’s Billie Holiday biopic The United States vs. Billie Holiday was released on February 26th, 2021, and my immediate reaction to it was one of discomfort.
-
Three Moments in “The Star-Spangled Man” That Aren’t Being Talked About Enough
This past Friday, Disney+, and Marvel released the second episode of their new original mini-series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Directed by Kari Skogland and written by Michael Kastelein, this is the first to see Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) battling together. With the announcement of John Walker (Wyatt Russell) as the new Captain America (ugh)…
-
“Keanu” Paved the Way for “Get Out”
Jordan Peele’s turn to horror with “Get Out” isn’t as unexpected as it may seem. He primed his fans for a disturbing and nuanced exploration of racism with his work on “Keanu” and “Key & Peele.”