Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
It seems that nearly every film has a part now for Africans, so, I have left out “Devotion”, “She Said.” “Black Adam,” “Call Jane,” “Prey for the Devil,” “Armagedon Time,” and “Till.”
But if you watch all of these films, you can see Africans being represented.
It seems that the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards are now requiring this representation, which is a step in the right direction.
When we no longer have to require it, but it just is, we will then have arrived at accepting diversity representation in film.
At least films are not being banned because of Africans being in them, which is not the case if said characters are part of the LGBT community. There is still plenty of work to do before diversity discrimination is a thing of the past.
__________________________________________________________________
VIOLENT NIGHT
VIOLENT NIGHT
Trailer:: Violent Night Trailer #1 (2022) – Bing video
Wiki: Violent Night – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
In this violent Christmas tale, we find out that Santa has been alive hundreds of years, and was once a Viking warrior.
Greed is a central theme, which provokes murder, putting one on the “naughty list.”
Linda, Jason’s estranged wife (Alexis Louder), plays the African mother of Trudy (Leah Brady), the bi-racial daughter of Linda and Jason.
Mother and daughter are the central characters, who are both pure of heart.
They are capable of loving and seeing the good parts of otherwise flawed individuals, such as husband, Jason (Alex Hassell), and Santa (David Harbour).
And, they both know how to defend their turf and loved ones. Linda can shoot a rifle and Trudy can set booby traps.
For a violent, bloody Christmas, this is it.
(Alexis Louder can be remembered in a lead role in “Copshop,” with Gerard Butler. She plays a rookie police officer, who is matter of fact, and unrelenting in doing her job. Louder also had small roles in “Black Panther” and “Harriet.”
In 2023, Leah Brady will be in a Sci-Fi comedy titled, “Relax, I’m from the Future.”)
__________________________________________________________________
SPIRITED
SPIRITED
Trailer: Spirited Teaser Trailer (2022) – Bing video
Wiki: Spirited (film) – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Spencer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loren_Woods
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
“Spirited” is a new scrooge tale, with a twist.
Will Ferrell plays Christmas Present to Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), a modern day scrooge.
Other than avoiding loyalty and money spending responsibilities, Clint appears to be a spin doctor, who is only interested in getting money, not parting with it.
He has zero emotional connection to other human beings, even to his family.
Clint appears to be a hopeless case, but Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) argues his case.
These two appear to have a bromance going between them.
But for some reason, Clint (Reynolds) is paired with Christmas Past (Sunita Mani) and Christmas Present (Ferrell) is paired with Clint’s assistant, Kimberly (Octavia Spencer).
Not that these two romances are impossible, but the women do have something in common, African and Indian lineage.
No one but me would dare to point that out, and I will probably get hit with accusations of racism for doing so.
Mani and Spencer are presented as the stereotypical, sexualized females.
Kimberly is glad to be Clint’s assistant, because she now has money and a corner office, but she questions the morality of her duties.
And Christmas Past has just broken all the rules by getting involved with a client, Clint Briggs (Reynolds).
The climax of this film is whether Clint can actually be converted into a caring individual.
The third African cast in this film is Loren G. Woods, who plays Christmas Yet to Come.
Loren is not an actor, he was a successful basketball player, who was selected for his unusual height (Tracy Morgan is his voice).
In “Spirited,” Octavia Spencer shows that she is capable of playing a romantic comedy role, as does Sunita Mani.
Spencer is better known for her parts in “Fruitvale Station,” The Help,” and “Hidden Figures.”
__________________________________________________________________
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Trailer: GLASS ONION Trailer 2 (NEW 2022) KNIVES OUT 2 – Bing video
Wiki: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janelle_Mon%C3%A1e
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Odom_Jr.
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
“Glass Onion” has two Africans, a bullied ex-business partner, Andi (Janaelle Monae), and a head scientist, Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.).
They both try to convince Miles (Edward Norton), that the business energy source, Klear, is unstable.
What I appreciate about the Knives Out Mysteries, is its championing of the underdog.
In the first mystery, a Hispanic nurse/caretaker is vindicated and advanced.
In this mystery, a Black female partner is also taken for an easy target, which is ultimately turned on its head.
The viewer, who is paying attention, also realizes that Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) must be gay.
All the business partners share in the bullying, because they do not want to end up like Andi, so they go along with the betrayal.
The story takes place during the Covid pandemic with a long list of cameo guest stars, like Ethan Hawke, Hugh Grant, Stephen Sondheim (posthumous), Angela Lansbury (posthumous), Yoyo Ma, Jake Tapper and Serena Williams.
Plus, it was filmed in Greece with fun over-the-top characters.
This is a winning strategy.
“Glass Onion” was only in theaters for one week on November 23, but was shown to full houses.
If you missed it, it will be streaming on Netflix on December 23.
I personally think that “Glass Onion” could have lasted longer in the cinemas.
__________________________________________________________________
STRANGE WORLD
STRANGE WORLD
Trailer: Strange World | Official Trailer – Bing video
Wiki: Strange World (film) – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Union
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaboukie_Young-White
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
The computer animated “Strange World” not only deals with a mixed race marriage, but their bi-racial son, Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White), is gay.
Disney pulled this film’s release in 20 countries due to the openly gay main character, not because of the mixed race family depiction.
The bi-racial son, Ethan, has a crush on Diazo.
His mother (Gabrielle Union), is of African lineage, and does not seem to have a problem with her son’s orientation.
However, people in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and China do have a problem with it.
Needless to say, “Strange World” did not do that well in the box office.
The story itself deals with father/son conflicts and takes place from within the bodily environment of a mammal.
The story also touches on green electrical energy and how to revive a diseased heart.
Gabrielle Union’s voice can be recognized from her other film credits in “Think Like a Man,” “Girl’s Trip,” and “The Inspection,” which also deals with gay orientation.
(On June 10, 2021, it was announced that Young-White would be teaming up with Issa Rae and her production company Hoorae to develop the book The Gang’s All Queer: The Lives of Gay Gang Members by Vanessa R. Panfil into a series for HBO. He will write and executive produce the project.[27]
In late 2017, Young-White came out as queer during his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He is of Jamaican descent.)
__________________________________________________________________
BLACK PANTHER – WAKANDA FOREVER
BLACK PANTHER – WAKANDA FOREVER
Trailer: Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Official Teaser – Bing video
Wiki: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Bassett
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letitia_Wright
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danai_Gurira
Facts Only Huge Fans Know About Black Panther’s Ayo (msn.com)
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
BLACK PANTHER – WAKANDA FOREVER
Number one in the box-office for five straight weeks, “Wakanda Forever” has delivered with an almost all African cast.
With a budget of $250 Million, this film has made $769.9 Million, so far.
Reeling from the loss of Chadwick Boseman from cancer, Angela Bassett appears to be the rock holding this film in place.
I feel the filmmakers made an excellent decision not to replace Boseman’s T’Challa character with another actor, but instead, respected his death.
The story’s culture seems to value the warrior, so Shuri (Letitia Wright), T’Challa’s younger sister, must find a way to fill his shoes, and she does.
The film stays relevant by making Wakanda one of the present day countries making a presentation at a United Nations meeting.
Power hungry countries want Wakanda’s vibranium, but cannot be too obvious in seeking it.
(The Chinese censors rarely explain their decisions, and each of the Marvel movies have been scuttled for a different reason recently, but it’s likely that LGBT content in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the underlying reason behind the ban, as it reportedly was for Thor: Love and Thunder and Lightyear. In the Wakanda Forever, Michaela Coel’s Aneka is in a relationship with Florence Kasumba’s Ayo. )
__________________________________________________________________
12/13/2022 # AFRICANS IN FILM # Part II– “Violent Night,””Spirited,”“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Strange World,” “Black Panther- Wakanda Forever.”