Interestingly, the final movie I saw in my 2019 Oscar race was my favorite. I loved this movie. It provided everything that I want in an excellent film. The movie tells a compelling story. The characters are well developed. I liked the characters and cheered for them, even with all of their messy parts. The…
For the first time, a super hero movie is nominated for Best Picture. This might be the first time too so many people under the age of 15 have seen a Best Picture film. This makes me happy. So too did watching Black Panther. I should start with a couple of confessions: First, I am…
This film is beautiful. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful in how it’s told, in the love of family, in the belief in others, in tenderness. It’s beautiful visually. It’s beautiful to experience. It’s also, though, heartbreaking in the reality that is injustice. And discrimination. It’s heartbreaking in the reality of hate-filled people. It’s…
Some time ago, someone I know on Facebook (I don’t recall who) mentioned watching BlacKkKlansman and commented not liking this movie “that was supposed to be a comedy.” I was busy, so I didn’t stop to comment, but I should have. I’m not sure who gave her that impression, that this film is a comedy.…
I was tickled to see another performance by Jacksonville’s local Five and Dime Theater Company, and as expected, they did not disappoint. First, the play: Clybourne Park is a powerful commentary on the changing face of urban neighborhoods—-tracing the “white flight” to suburbs and the subsequent gentrification of those original locales. The play, set in…
I have such admiration for Al Letson, a Jacksonville local and the creator and host of State of the Re:Union* on NPR, “a series of in-depth, compelling stories exploring communities and how they are connected.” He also hosts “Freestyle: A Mixtape with Al Letson, “an original broadcast combining storytelling, podcasts and other public radio content.” I first saw…
The Help was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The story is inspiring and moving and sets a scene many people would rather forget. As much as I enjoyed the story, though, it did not speak to me in ways it did to other friends. Perhaps that involves my background of growing up as a minority, or…