Who's your mother?

Picture this, the setting is the year 1928 where racial segregation is very prominent and the ability of voting privileges for women is very recent. Male superiority and chauvinism is the way of life as well as the increasing need to gain power is a dominant factor. Los Angeles, California resides manger of local phone operations Christine Collins (played by Angelina Jolie) who is making a decent living for herself and her son Walter. After a long day of work and entrusting that her son will behave while away, Christine notices that Walter has been added to the list of many children who turn up missing. Collins then gets word that her son has returned but then comes face to face with an orphan that is posing as Walter Collins that happens to be a set up by the LAPD. After attempting to persuade Captain J. J. Jones (Played by Jeffery Donovan) Jones tells her that the little boy has changed but he is indeed her child. The determination of this woman with the help from the local reverend, forces her to go to the media about proven instances that this stranger/orphan is not her son Walter. This attempt leads her in a mental institution arranged by Captain Jones, but there is a secret back story that could or could not shed light on this situation.

Based off of a true story, this leads the audience in shock of how corrupted the LAPD has been over the years even before the Rodney King beatings of 1991. Even with all these instances of the misuse of power. The question on the mind of many is posed as the inquiry of the boundaries of that of not only the local government but the national and international government as well. How can one give a parent the wrong child on purpose and convince the parent that this orphan is their “developed” or “evolved” child. Even with there being a difference in location, that environment doesn’t physically alter the appearance of a person as drastic as the time span of two months. This movie gives a rather grim look into how the government manipulates people in order to portray a squeaky clean image.

So why rent this movie? This movie keeps the audience in suspense while watching Jolie re-enact not only the emotional stress of a worried mother but the audience is able to view Jolie become a member of the mental institution as she previously did in her 1999 film Girl Interrupted starring side by side Brittany Murphy and Winona Ryder. Changeling will keep you guessing about the next move while leaving you disgusted in our nations crooked police force which contradicts their oath of “To serve and protect”.

It Was All A Dream

BRAVO!!! Notorious is by far one of the best rapper biography films I have seen in a long time. The production was superb. Kevin Ladson, the prop manger, nailed every detail from the phones to the magazine covers. The wordrobe and costume department had all the old coogi sweaters and leather jerseys you could think of. Everything came togehter to give you the ambiance of standing next to Big in Brooklyn in the 90's.

An outstanding job by Jamal Woolard who plays Biggie in the movie. Before the movie came out 

my friend Winston said, "Who ever is going to play the role of Big has all of Brooklyn on his back. Either he's going to be great and get nothing but love or it's going to be all bad." Well, I dont think Jamal has anything to worry about after such a spot on performance. Then there is Naturi Naughton who plays Lil' Kim. Although, there are many who are disgruntaled by her potrayl 

of the "Queen B," I believe she did a fantastic job for such a risky role as her first major film apperance (what a long way from 3LW). Last but not least, is Derek Luke who plays Diddy. I was a little skeptical at first when watching the previews, but seeing him on screne was a different experience. Derek Luke can now say he is the best Diddy impersionator ever. Seeing him dance around the stage and 

deliever such lines as "Drop me in the forest and im coming out with two furs and 5 pounds bigger," only thing that could make his character more complete is hearing him say "Take that, take that, take that, it's bad boy" just one time. 

Outstanding Performance Goes To?

Derek Luke for Diddy Jamal Woolard for Big Naturi Naughton for Lil Kim Antonique Smith for Faith Evans

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Diddy Blogg: Making Notorious 

(You can view all the videos on Notoriousblog.net)

Cast & Crew


Brooklyn

Production

Casting 

Dressing Biggie and Faith

Props

Mrs. Wallace

Vibe Photo Shoot

Do you know where your man is?

I found this movie in a friends collection when I was going out of my mind not having cable. Had never heard of it before, but the cover looked interesting and I figured it would be something new to see. The movie turned out to be very interesting. A crazy plot about a middle class family who moves from Atlanta to Philadelphia when the father receives a job promotion. It is when they arrive in the city of brotherly love that things become interesting. With the mother clinging to her faith trying to hold her family together while friendships and relationships are put to the test.

This movie is a great conversational piece, dealing with many different subject matters such as faith, substance abuse, infidelity, and STDs. Therefore, I'm want everyone to find a copy this week and watch it. Next week I will post a few follow up post pertaining to different aspects of the movie. But I want to give you a chance to see it before I start giving away most of the movie.

My Pimped Out Cadillac

Its last two weeks and we all know what that means....... last time to make up what ever grades and function(party) one last time before returning to the reality of home for a month. I decided to take a break and hit the movies, with choices being slim this weekend I decided on Cadillac Records. A story about the rise and fall of Chicago based Chess Records. With an all star artist roster of Etta James, Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry, they took over the charts during their time. Chess records played a pivotal part in the desegregation of the airways and creation of rock and roll by way of the blues.

A good job by director Darnell Martin (who might I add is a woman, trail blazer indeed), who's last major project was Oprah's TV movie "Their Eyes are Watching God." Excellently shot on location in Louisiana, New Jersey, and Mississippi. What surprised me the most was the cast, composed of Jeffery Wright, Beyonce Knowles, and Columbus Short to name a few (see end for complete list). Kim Hardin, the casting director, brings together this eclectic cast of new, rising, and veteran actors to create a very believable on screen chemistry.

There are a few performances that I must highlight. First is Ms. Knowles (or should we say Carter). With the release of her latest album Sasha Fierce, you can see the evolution in her singing. However, I still cant get passed her singing in movies. When she sings all I can her is the destiny child Beyonce, especially in Dream Girls, which is sad because I often loose sight of her true talent. It is one scene in the movie where she begins to sing in the bathroom, it was at that moment when I felt chills and was once again reminded of her true talent. Sadly, as the movie progresses you really don't hear it again till the end of the movie. On the flip side, she is beginning to blossom as an actor. In this movie I didn't see much of Beyonce, I saw her character Etta James. Although, if Etta James was that curvy.........oooppp now look. Her best scene would be her dinner meeting in an all white restaurant. It is in this scene you see Beyonce exhibit real emotions contrary to her everyday life.

Another star performance was Columbus Short. He and his management have done a great job in selecting roles roles that develop him as an actor, roles that allow him to shine, and progress him forward to be more believable in future roles. For example, his first note worthy performance was "Stomp the Yard", where he plays a troubled black male that turns his life around through dancing while attending a HBCU. The next role we see him in is "This Christmas", where he plays a young man in the military trying to juggle family, marriage, and morality. Now he plays (Lil' Walter) a round character where we gain a 360 view of the characters life and development. While watching this you often forget it is Short playing Lil' Walter and being to see only Lil' Walter.

Overall I recommend this movie for all viewers; it has a little something for everyone. Hey it kept my attention until the end (I do fall asleep on movies in the theater).

Overall Rating 3.5

Cast

Adrian Brody.............................The Jacket

Emmanuelle Chriqui.................Entourage, In the Mix, Don’t Mess with Zohan

Cedric the Entertainer..............Madagascar 2, Street Kings

Mos Def.....................................Be Kind Rewind, 16 Blocks

Beyonce Knowles.....................Dream Girls

Columbus Short........................Stomp the Yard, This Christmas

Gabrielle Union.........................The Perfect Holiday, Daddy's Little Girls

Eammon Walker.......................ER (3 episodes), Lord of War

Jeffery Wright............................Invasion, Casino Royale, Quantum Solace