rhythmandnews
  • Home
  • Rhythm And News Blog
  • Radio Shows

is it 3 times the charm for viola davis who makes history as 1st black actress to receive 3 oscar nominations?

1/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Actress Viola Davis talks to an audience at a preview screening of 'Fences' at the National Film Theatre in London

When the Oscar nominations were announced earlier this week, the talented Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Viola Davis found herself being nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance as Rose in the film adaptation of the Tony Award August Wilson play, 'Fences'.This major achievement arrived mere weeks after winning the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for the same role. Her co-star, and director of the movie, Hollywood heavyweight, and 2-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington, also finding himself nominated for Best Actor. It is fitting that both actors should be recognised for their extremely fine work in the film as it measures up to the performances they delivered on the Broadway stage in the 2010 production of 'Fences', earning them both Best Actor and Best Actress Awards, respectively. As someone who actually caught the play in New York, I can honestly say seeing  these two acclaimed actors deliver their powerhouse performances in the flesh gave me one of my most memorable theatre experiences ever. It is now refreshing to see after the debacle of last year's nominations, with it's distinct lack of people of colour, causing the widespread emergence of #OscarsSoWhite on social media and beyond, Ms Davis and Mr Washington, along with several other non white actors achieve acknowledgement for their outstanding work from the industry. 


Amidst all the joy and celebration of a nod from the Academy for Viola Davis is the fact she has made Oscar history. After becoming the first black woman to win an Emmy for a lead actress in a drama series in 2015 for 'How To Get Away With Murder', she is now the first  black actress ever to receive 3 Oscar nominations. Her first Best Supporting Actress nod came in the 2008 drama 'Doubt', which starred Meryl Streep (close friend to Ms Davis, even appearing with her when she was given a Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame earlier this month) and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Though her contribution to the film consisted of only two scenes, one being an extended conversation with Streep and the other only appearing on screen for 10 seconds in silence, it was felt her heart wrenching performance clearly warranted a nomination.The Academy chose to highlight her work again in the  civil rights 1960's set 'The Help from 2011, and though she did not receive the Best Actress Oscar, her co-star Octavia Spencer (yet another actress of colour who has been nominated this year, in the US surprise box office hit 'Hidden Figures') managed to collect the big prize for Best Supporting Actress. So now we come to 'Fences'. Will the third time be the charm? It has already been stated on many occasions by many of the Hollywood industry, including by the aforementioned Meryl Streep, it is only a matter of time before Ms Davis has that little golden statuette in her hand.  I, for one am a believer and simply for what she brings to the film 'Fences', if there is any justice, come 26th February 2017, Viola Davis will join the ranks of Oscar winners, and it will be richly deserved.
Viola Davis discusses her role in 'Fences'
Viola Davis wins Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe 'Fences'
0 Comments

1st look at 'rocky' movie spin-off 'creed'

7/1/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
MICHAEL B. JORDAN IS ADONIS, APOLLO CREED'S SON IN THE UPCOMING 'ROCKY' SPIN-OFF FILM, 'CREED'
Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone's mega-successful 'Rocky' boxing movie franchise looks set to continue towards the end of the year with the release of a brand new film entitled 'Creed', although this time around the character of Rocky Balboa will not be heading into the ring. Instead the main action will centre on the son of his former friend and rival, Apollo Creed (who appeared in the first four 'Rocky' movies), Adonis, played by Michael B. Jordan, who impressed many with his sensitive performance in the Sundance Film Festival 2013 winning drama, 'Fruitvale Station' and is now set to appear in the big budget summer release 'Fantastic Four'. The story will involve Balboa acting as a mentor to the young boxer.

The first trailer has been released and contains some interesting pieces of information, including the fact that Adonis states that he never met his father, who passed away in 'Rocky IV'. The cast includes Phylicia Rashad who plays Mary Anne Creed (Apollo's widow and the mother of Adonis) and Tessa Thompson ('Dear White People') as the boxer's love interest. All of this alone would have caught my attention, but what really sealed the deal for me was the re-teaming of Michael B. Jordan and director/writer Ryan Coogler who showed much promise with his feature length debut, the searing aforementioned 'Fruitvale Station'  with Jordan as the lead. Now, once again his strong directing and writing skills have been put into play for 'Creed'. The decision on whether this movie is a winner or not will be revealed in America on 25th November.
Picture
HANGING WITH DIRECTOR/WRITER RYAN COOGLER AT THE SUNDANCE LONDON FILM FESTIVAL IN 2014
1 Comment

the story of rap's 1st album, 'hustlers convention' is finally told

6/18/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
AT THE LONDON PREMIERE OF 'HUSTLERS CONVENTION' WITH THE MAIN MAN HIMSELF, JALAL A.K.A. LIGHTIN' ROD (PICTURE BY GARY THOMAS KYPA)
In 1973 Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, a member of The Last Poets, the group of poets and musicians who rose to prominence in the late 1960's commenting on the plight of African Americans during the civiil rights struggle, released a solo album under the name of Lightin' Rod. It would be called 'Hustlers Convention' and its creation would introduce the world to rap music. Though I feel sure Jalal did not realise this at the time, this record would heavily influence many who would follow in his footsteps and go on to enjoy major worldwide success in their own right. Indeed Jalal's intention was simply to tell a visual story on record of one strand of urban African American life, a tale of two hustlers attending the so-called convention and ending up in a shoot out and dramatic police chase. Along the way the rapper brings many colours and textures, such as culture, greed and ambition so skilfully to the fore, that the imagery in listeners minds were made vivid. Many people felt here was an honest view of the street. The impact and popularity was so strong that soon after many people in different neighbours could recite the whole record world for word. Unfortunately, as is so often the case in the music business, the success of 'Hustlers Convention' was stifled before it really began. Rap's 'best kept secret' was known to a 'select' number, but ultimately would be brushed under the carpet and remain unknown to the majority of hip hop fans the world over. Most would be totally unaware of its significance until in recent years.

Director Mike Todd spent 3 years making the documentary 'Hustlers Convention' precisely to redress the balance, not only introducing the record to a brand new audience, but also telling the story of how the record came about and showing the reason why Jamal can truly be called 'The Grandfather of Rap'. The documentary displays the roots of the art form (this was a time long before hip hop was seduced by money, corporations and big business), allowing Jamal the chance to explain the social backdrop on which the record was made. The calibre of the interviews goes a long way to show how huge an album this was. Melle Mel says 'Hustlers Convention' was a direct influence on his ground breaking rap on the Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's classic 'The Message'. Other contributors include Public Enemy's Chuck D (who served as associate producer), Ice-T, KRS-One, MC Lyte and Fab Five Freddy. The documentary shows clear proof that the record changed the course of music in a major way. So it feels only fair and just that its importance and relevance, even to this day, should be acknowledged. Hopefully this documentary will help 'Hustlers Convention' the album it's rightful place in hip hop history.

'Hustlers Convention' is being shown at selected cinemas in the UK right now.

An American release is planned for the autumn of 2015.



    
Picture
'HUSTLERS CONVENTION' - LIGHTIN' ROD (ALBUM COVER)
Picture
AT THE LONDON PREMIERE WITH MIKE TODD, DIRECTOR OF 'HUSTLERS CONVENTION' (PICTURE BY GARY THOMAS KYPA)
1 Comment

new trailer for sundance film festival hit 'dope'

3/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
A SCENE FROM THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL BREAKOUT HIT, 'DOPE'
In keeping with the usual vibe of this blog, here is an early 'heads up' of a film, yet to be released commercially anywhere, but has already earned itself a pretty positive reputation, and all of this due to it being screened earlier this year at Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival, held annually in Utah. Over its many years of existence, Sundance has been the first port of call for numerous films that have gone on to worldwide popularity and acclaim. It was here, back in 1991, that a then unknown Quentin Tarantino unleashed his debut, 'Reservoir Dogs', and in recent times, both Best Documentary Oscar winners, 'Searching For Sugar Man' and 'Twenty Feet From Stardom' had their very first public screenings. Known for being a perfect showcase for independent film, Sundance gives us an early look on what could be the following year's cinematic gems.


Under this light comes a film called 'Dope', written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, who  previously made 'The Wood' and 'Brown Sugar'. His latest effort was generally seen as the breakout hit film everybody was talking about at this year's festival and tells the story Malcolm (played by Shameik Moore), a 90's obsessed geek, living in modern times Inglewood, California, who finds himself caught up in a drug dealer's ring. From the look of this very first trailer, released this week, it looks to be a hip hop influenced light comedy. The film is produced by Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (who plays the narrator in the story), Pharrell Williams and Sean ''Diddy' Combs. The cast includes Kimberly Elise ('Set It Off'), Zoe Kravitz ('X-Men: First Class) and rapper A$AP Rocky and is due for release in the US on 19 June.


It definitely looks mighty promising....  
0 Comments

david oyelowo gets deep and emotional in sag interview

2/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
DAVID OYELOWO AS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING IN 'SELMA'
As the much lauded and critically acclaimed film 'Selma', looking at the civil rights struggles led by Dr. Martin Luther King in 1965 to allow blacks the right to vote in overtly racist Alabama, is on the eve of its UK release (6 February), I thought it would be highly appropriate to present an interview given by the film's star, British actor David Oyelowo, who plays the icon, Dr, Martin Luther King, at a Screen Actors Guild gathering in Hollywood. The interview took place on 28 November, 4 weeks before 'Selma' would be released in America on Christmas Day, and although at that time it was unknown how well its reception would be at the box office, there was already a huge buzz of anticipation within the film industry, as you will be able to tell by the captivated audience, who had just seen the movie. The signs were in the air that 'Selma' would be making a major noise and there seem to be no doubt it would be in the running for major awards. This was indeed a time before the 'snubs' would tell a different story.

So it was under this glow of across the board outstanding reviews from the American film critics that Oyelowo takes to the stage and gives a very personal and quite revealing interview, which runs at 35 minutes. In it he talks about the vision he had from God that he had to play the role of Dr. King, how he had a hand in getting the job of directing the film to the talented Ava DuVernay, who did such a tremendous job that at the very least, she surely deserved a Best Director Oscar nomination. In his very articulate and intelligent way Oyelowo 


0 Comments

a first look at the 'entourage' movie

12/24/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
The gang's all back for the motion picture outing of 'Entourage'
Fans of the successful US cable HBO comedy series, 'Entourage', which ran from 2004 - 2011, and looked at the crazy lifestyle of Hollywood through the eyes of a major movie star, Vince Chase (Adrian Grenier) trying to navigate his career with the help of his buddies, Eric, aka E (Kevin Connolly), Drama (Kevin Dillon) and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), and of course not forgetting his agent, Ari (Jeremy Piven), will be pleased to learn that after much discussion, the movie version is now on course for a summer 2015 release. The very first teaser trailer has just arrived online and the general mayhem seen on the TV show (girls, booze, drugs etc.) looks set to continue, to what I am sure will be a delight to its many fans.
 
We now find the power hungry and egotistic Ari the head of a movie studio, where he has given Vince and E $100 million to make a film, in which Vince plays a DJ who is not entirely human. Of course the film goes over budget and Ari, in his own distinctive manor, begins to panic. As was a regular item in the show, many famous faces appear (sometimes as themselves) and these include Billy Bob Thornton and Liam Neeson. Mark Wahlberg, who actrually co-produced 'Entourage', which was based on his own early experiences as a young actor hanging out with his friends in Hollywood, also provides a cameo. There is a nice touch of reality thrown in the trailer as a girl asks Turtle "Didn't you used to be really fat?!!!". Regular viewers to the TV show will remember Turtle was the pretty heavy set member of the crew, but since those days the actor Jerry Ferrara has slimmed down to a svelte t-shirt hugging size.

'Entourage' hits US cinemas on 5th June 2015. As always, hopefully a UK release will not be too far behind. In the meantime, take a look at what's in store.

 
0 Comments

early look at martin luther king 'selma' movie

11/13/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
A scene from 'Selma' with David Oyelowo as Dr. Martin Luther King (centre)
Next year will see the 50th anniversary of the famous 1965 Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama civil rights marches intended to spotlight and in turn destroy the racial discrimination experienced by black people at the voting booths in the American south. The Jim Crow-ism of the era, though now starting to crack, was still prevalent and the civil rights leaders were determined to get a Voting Rights Act approved by the US government. Its most prominent speaker, who helped bring their struggle to the world, Dr Martin Luther King led the historic marches and now a film on the subject has now been made. Directed by Ava DuVernay and featuring a star-studded cast, 'Selma' looks to be a rousing and emotionally charged affair. DuVernay has revealed she wanted to use the movie as a chance for the audience to get a glimpse of King as a real man, and not just an iconic figure, telling an audience at a recent urban film festival, "What we are attempting to do is present Dr. King as a man. Not a statute, not a speech, not a picture, but as a brother who had a wife, who had a complicated relationship with her and the people around him. Who was sometimes great and sometimes not so great."

The cast includes Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr., hip hop artist Common and British actress Carmen Ejogo who plays Coretta Scott King. That British flavour continues with Tom Wilkinson playing President Lydon B. Johnson, Tim Roth playing the racist Governor of Alabama, George Wallace, who deeply opposed and fought against the marchers, and perhaps most surprising of all, though it shouldn't be, the very talented David Oyelowo (who recently had a pivotal role in 'The Butler) as Dr. Martin Luther King. In fact he had been cast as King when the film was originally going to be made by Lee Daniels in 2007. From the trailer the actor is almost unrecognizable. He achieved his desired look by gaining weight and shaving back his hairline, saying "At one point I looked in the mirror and I couldn't see myself......Dr. King was staring back at me." Adding "It's very costly emotionally, physically, spiritually. You cannot go into an endeavour like this without going there. King felt a lot of guilt about the people who were cut down because of the movement and the cost on his children, his wife. So you have to go there, and I can proudly say I went there."

Read More
2 Comments

harry belafonte receives special 'humanitarian' oscar

11/13/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Harry Belafonte receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in Hollywood
Last Saturday evening (8 Nov), acclaimed actor, singer and human rights activist Harry Belafonte was given a very special honourary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in Hollywood for his tireless years of hard work and devotion to helping the plight of oppressed people around the world. His extensive contribution has ranged from marching with Dr. Martin Luther King in the civil rights struggles of America and speaking out against the injustice of apartheid in South Africa to fighting for education, famine relief and Aids awareness, as documented in his quite moving  biography 'My Song - A Memoir of Art, Race and Defiance' and the 2011 documentary film 'Sing Your Song' which served as a visual companion piece to the book.

The event where he was honoured was The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences 2014 Governors Awards, held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland Center, and as was befitting the stature of the 87 year old veteran, the auditorium was filled with many of the film industry's leading lights and power players, including Steve McQueen, the black British director of the Oscar winning '12 Years A Slave', who said of Belafonte, "He basically took those powers of celebrity and fame, and used them for a bigger cause than just his own." Leading actress Susan Saradon observed that Belafone was "the ultimate example of a great artist and a lifelong social activist".

The man himself took to the stage to accept his Oscar and proceeded to deliver a 12 minute speech that was eloquent, insightful, heartfelt, honest (at times brutally so for the mainly white Hollywood establishment in attendance), yet ending on a positive note for the future of the film business. Touching upon his youth in Harlem watching 'Tarzan' movies with its distortion of images of Africans and the celebration of the D.W. Griffith film 'Birth Of A Nation' in 1915, generally viewed as a classic motion picture, even with its overly racist views as shown on screen with the Ku Klux Klan as heroes. In telling these stories Belafonte was showing how far we have all come in the journey for equality and mutual respect, acknowledging there is still more work to be done. He urged the film makers of the future to take the lead in making a change for the better.

Read More
1 Comment

'dear white people' delivers a clever, funny satire on race

10/16/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
After making several 'short' movies, director Justin Simien presents his feature length debut, the funny and sassy 'Dear White People', which he also wrote, with an assured confidence and definitely with a voice not heard too often in cinema. Its arrival at the Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year resulted in this small independent movie winning the Special Jury Award, and you can see why it did so.  As a 30 year old African American film maker who had seen too many stereotypical roles for people of colour on screen, Simien set about putting together a film, albeit a comedy, about the situation of race, especially among the young of America. Who fits in where? How should people view other people? He has written a script that pulls no punches, yet covers so much of the hard facts with humour. The (mainly) young cast rise to the challenge of bringing the subtle textures needed to make this work. On the surface it may look like another broad based 'black comedy', however the questions raised from the story shines a light on everybody involved, whatever colour they are.


 At the beginning of the film we find ourselves at a fictional Ivy League place of higher learning, the prestigious sounding Winchester University. Here we find several interesting black students trying to find their role within the system. These include the geeky looking, huge Afro wearing Lionel, who happens to be gay and  a Mumford & Sons fan, played with great deadpan flavour by Tyler James Williams (better known as playing Chris in the Chris Rock TV comedy 'Everybody Hates Chris'). Then there is the mixed race, militant, fiery Samantha (Tessa Thompson) who leads the charge for her black brothers and sisters, yet has her own personal identity issues. Dark skinned Coco (Teyonah Parris) refuses to be labelled as ''yet another sista from the 'hood' and tries desparately to hide the fact she is from the South side of Chicago. Troy (Brandon P Bell) sees himself as the 'smooth, cool dude' whose success is pretty much a done deal, especially with his father (TV '24''s Dennis Haysbert) is the Dean at Winchester. However, even he feels as if he has a 'role' to play in order to get ahead.


Read More
0 Comments

review: 'fruitvale station' - Powerful film hits the uk on friday 6th june

4/28/2014

0 Comments

 
PictureHanging with writer/director Ryan Coogler
In the early hours of New Year's Day 2009, Oscar Grant, a 22 year old African American, unemployed with a fiance and a young daughter, found himself pinned down on the floor of a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transport) station by several police officiers in the Bay Area of California, close to San Francisco. As shocked onlookers from the train standing at the platform observed (and filmed from their phones), the unthinkable happened. The unarmed Grant was shot in the back by one of the law enforcers which culminated in his death a few hours later in hospital. This very real event is the subject of a very moving and  powerful film called 'Fruitvale Station', named after the very place where this notorious incident occurred.

Written and directed by newcomer Ryan Coogler, who himself hails from the very same Bay Area, this film is indeed a strong debut. He said the whole sad event of yet another young African American male being unlawfully killed, especially so close to his own neighbourhood, made him feel compelled to exorcize his own personal feelings through his art of film making. His approach was to look at the very last day of Oscar Grant's life, actually in a very matter-of-fact manner. We, the audience get to experience his day, without any cinematic dramatics, no heavy handed nod as to what was to come. It was all about a normal guy from the hood, trying to take care of business.


Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous

    EON IRVING

     DJ, Remixer, Producer, Writer
    Involved in the music business since the very late 70's Beginning work at Island Records. DJing since the early 80's both in London and abroad, including the US and Europe. Along the way performing at many high profile events for such luminaries as Prince, Public Enemy and Lennox Lewis.
    Aside from radio and club djing, remixing and production work in the recording studio has meant working with the likes of Loose Ends, Junior Giscombe, David Morales, Gwen Guthrie, Sly & Robbie, Maxie Priest and Madonna.
    An intense lifelong love of cinema has blossomed itself in several ways including presenting to the UK public for the very first time such films as 'Boyz In The Hood', 'House Party' and 'A Rage In Harlem'.
    My passion for music, cinema and all other interests manifests itself through my writing. I am also a Contributing Editor for the music and entertainment website magazine, DeeperThe Beats  www.deeperthebeats.com



    Archives

    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Film
    Literature
    Music
    Theatre
    Trailer
    Tv
    Welcome

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.