Zoe Saldana To Play Eartha Kitt In Biopic

After all the fuss in regards to Zoe Saldana playing Nina Simone in a biopic, I was psyched to learn she's been picked to play the late singer, actress , and activist Eartha Kitt. From what I've learned about Ms. Kitt, this role is tailor made for a ballsy actress like Saldana who is reportedly a big fan of the late legend.

I did my research on Ms. Kitt, and I must say she lived a very colorful life, a life tailor made for the big screen. Kitt grew up biracial and was born on a cotton plantation. She became a huge international star when she was blacklisted in America after voicing her opinions on the Vietnam War to Lady Bird Johnson. After bringing Johnson to tears at a luncheon , the then First Lady fled the room she was that upset. Ms. Kitt was also a linguist (she spoke in 4 languages and sang in 7).

This sounds like the perfect vehicle for someone like Taylor Hackford to direct who did a phenomenal job with Ray.

The Single Mom's Club: My Review

The two words “Tyler Perry ” leave a bad taste in movie critics mouths. Even though the majority of his movies have done good box office and his series and plays are successes, Perry cannot seem to catch a break or any praise for his work. Well his latest is no exception. The Single Moms Club is Tyler’s tribute to all the single moms out there doing their thing, and it boasted a cast that includes Nia Long, Cocoa Brown, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Zulay Hunao, and Amy Smart . The ladies all portray single mothers from varying rungs of the economic ladder who are placed together due to their kids’ misbehavior,  and in the process become sounding boards for one another.  Of course the ladies do not all click instantaneously, but when they do they decide to form a club where one of the ladies looks after the kids while the other ladies go out for a girl’s night.  Hence The Single Mom’s Club is born.

Is the movie perfect? No.  There were a couple of scenes that made me cringe because they were either badly executed or the dialogue seemed corny to me, but all in all I enjoyed the movie.  I was surprised that the opening weekend boasted weak numbers, but despite the lackluster box office, OWN is bringing the series version of the film to the small screen with an entirely new cast.  I just hope the revamped cast will have the audience believing in the power of friendship and girl power as much as the movie cast did.

Oscars 2014 : My Recap

As a moviegoer I always watch the Oscars, but this year it felt different. A lot of it has to do with having seen a lot of the movies nominated, the whirlwind known as Lupita,  a tight Best Actor and Best Picture race, and all things Jared Leto.

The movies that came out last year were unbelievably good. 12 Years A Slave took me on a journey that was depressing and dark, but it was a story that needed to be told. Is it a movie I would want to see again? A few months ago, I would have said no, but now I would change that to a maybe. I feared that the Academy's demographic would not see the film or would find it too graphic and in your face to award it Best Picture. They did not give the honor of Best Director to Steve McQueen, but the film did win the highest honor of the night which was well deserved and for Best Adapted Screenplay. Giving the Best Picture Award to American Hustle would have been a joke because let's face it even though the cast was stellar, the story was a miss. Gravity was a beautiful film, but it did not carry the emotional weight of 12 Years and these two films were 12 Years biggest competition during awards season.

The Best Supporting Actress category had me on edge due to the juggernaut known as Jennifer Lawrence. Yes Lupita won the majority of awards going into the Oscars, but Jennifer won some major ones as well including the BAFTA and Golden Globe. Lovely Lupita did win though, and I was beyond happy. She is a class act and her performance in 12 Years was mind blowing. Lupita has what it takes to go far, and I hope that casting directors are taking note of what she can bring to a film. With her beauty I would also like to see Lupita land a contract with a cosmetics company or design house which would boost her brand even more.

Cate Blanchett's win for Blue Jasmine was not surprising because her performance in that film was fabulous. I highly recommend that you rent Blue Jasmine if you have not seen it. Jasmine is not the most likable character, but Cate did an amazing job as did Sally Hawkins who plays Jasmine's sister Ginger in the movie. Sally was also nominated for her performance.

I do feel like a major slacker because I still have not seen Dallas Buyer's Club which is the movie that won Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto their first Oscars. I have been a big fan of Matt's ever since A Time To Kill,  and I love that he is getting recognized as a character actor after going the rom com route. Now I am not knocking rom coms, but most have no depth. There are very few exceptions (When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman) that do, but most are fluffy and cute. Matt's over being fluffy and cute, and that's fine with me. If you can do more, do it. If you are limited as an actor, stick to what you know. 

Jared Leto on the other hand is one of those guys I had heard of, but never really paid much attention to. Basically all I knew about him was that he was once engaged to Cameron Diaz and was on that show My So Called Life. Now that Jared has won the Oscar, here's hoping he is not going to take another 6 year break from acting. Not only is he a talented actor and musician, but gorgeous and seemingly humble and together. Plus any guy who would go the lengths he goes to for parts (gaining over 60 lbs for Chapter 27 and losing 40 for DBH) is an actor worth respecting. I can't wait to see what he does next!

I cannot finish my post without giving a shout out to P!nk and Pharrell who both performed on the show last night and Ellen DeGeneres who gets my vote as Best Host. Anyone who would order pizza for the audience and take a selfie with the celebs is someone whom the producers should want to host the Oscars again next year. She made what was a very long evening into an enjoyable experience. Good job Ellen!

The selfie that broke records

Thanks For Sharing : My Review

Thanks For Sharing is one of those movies that flew completely under the radar. I don't remember it even being shown on screens here in Atlanta, but I did see it playing at a NYC theater on my last visit. Nonetheless I have been awaiting its digital release and praying to not be disappointed (a la American Hustle),  I must say I was more than pleasantly surprised at how good it is.

The film's main protagonists are portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, Josh Gad, and Tim Robbins. These three all know one another from their sex addicts recovery group. Adam, (Ruffalo) is five years "sober", on sabbatical from dating, and the sponsee of Mike, (Robbins) who battles two addictions: alcohol and sex. Mike is also married to his high school sweetheart Katie and the father to Danny, his estranged twenty something son . Gad is playing the clown of the group, Neil who is only there due to the court ordering him to get help in regards to nonconsensual touching. Neil takes none of the meetings seriously, but when his career as an ER doc is affected by his lusts, only then does he make the effort to change.

Gwyneth Paltrow, P!nk (in an awesome film debut),  Joely Richardson, and Patrick Fugit all have pivotal roles in the film as well, P!nk really impressed me as Dede, a fellow addict and hair stylist who befriends Neil and is amazed at the fact she can be "just friends" with a guy and not have sex be a factor. It was also good to see Joely Richardson again whom you all may remember as the ever annoying Julia McNamara on Nip/Tuck.

Rent this film over the weekend. If you do, kindly comment below and tell me what you think! 

Don't Call It A Comeback!

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, but I just wanted you all to know that I haven't forgotten about the The Lewis Effect. I have been pursuing other avenues. Chief on my bucket list for 2014 was enrolling in a T V Writing class and that has been achieved. In my second week and loving every minute of it. I have also looked into entering a film program at my local university this summer. I also celebrated my birthday last week so I have been a busy little bee!

I do have some opinions to share: make American Hustle a Netflix night. Boring movie, story did not hold my interest, and the whole Amy Adams love fest with the awards does not make any sense to me. She was way better in The Fighter and Junebug. Jennifer Lawrence was good but Lupita Nyong'o has the Oscar on lock.

Speaking of Lupita Nyong'o, she is my new girl crush. Not only is she stunning, Yale educated, eloquent, and seemingly humble, but her red carpet game cannot be denied. Hollywood better give her work post the 12 Years A Slave hype. She and Danai Gurira are two of the baddest actresses in the game and their beauty and talent is unmatched.

Yes I am still blasting the Beyonce visual album and probably will be for awhile. The compilation is genius and until something else comes along to blow me away, it's Bey all day.

I am watching  the first season of Being Mary Jane and enjoying it. Gabrielle Union was tailor made for this role, but I am equally intrigued with Robinne Lee's character and want to see her explored more. Robinne plays the wife of Mary Jane's lover Andre and like Mellie on Scandal is just as interesting as the protagonist of the show.

In the wake of Paul Walker's tragic death back in November, I recently saw a movie he did called Running Scared with Vera Farmiga. It's a very suspenseful, violent, mob movie with a Quentin Tarentinoesque feel. Check it out!

Another movie that you must see with a quickness is The Spectacular Now. Miles Teller is an actor to watch. He was also in the movie Footloose and will be in the new film That Awkward Moment. I loved this movie and even though it was geared to a young adult audience, it was still relatable to an older crowd. Shailene Woodley also stars in the drama and she plays Miles' love interest. He is definitely a star on the rise.

And last, but not least even though I have not seen Dallas Buyer's Club, I am so on the Jared Leto bandwagon. Yeah I'm years late on Jared, but I will be following his hotness from here on out and will make it my business to catch up on his filmography.

Britney's Work Bitch Hits the Net

Britney's new track has leaked, and it has left me less than impressed. I guess I wanted another Womanizer, I'm A Slave 4 U, or Circus. Maybe this cut just needs a remix or something, but regardless of my opinion I know that it will probably zoom to # 1 on the digital download charts as soon as it's released.

Have you heard it? If so what do you think?

Wedding Bells Are Ringing!

 I just wanted to send shout outs to Zoe Saldana, LeBron James, and John Legend who all got hitched recently. Zoe was slick with hers having tied the knot in June with artist Marco Perego. Congrats everyone!