'tick...tick...tick...'

This is one of those old movies that is so powerful you wonder how it even got
made. ‘tick…tick…tick..’ is an MGM film from 1970, with Jim Brown as the lead
character, Jim Price, the newly elected sheriff of a small Southern town. George
Kennedy plays John Little, the man he replaces due to an election that saw all
of the Black people vote Price in. The film goes on to show all of the tension that
both men endure in the town, tension that seems to build and build to a possible
explosion.

‘tick…tick…tick’ is a heavily underrated flick. It covered the complexities of racial
relations in a straightforward, sometimes brusque manner. This was Jim Brown’s
ninth film, and one where he was well established as a credible star and also 
as a Black leading man who was more virile in manner than others prior. What’s
interesting is that there are some who consider this film a contributor to the rise
of the blaxploitation genre. George Kennedy is outstanding as John Little, who
struggles with losing his job and the jeers of the townfolk - even the little kids.
Look out for another former NFL player turned actor, Bernie Casey here as well.
Even Fredric March, in his last acting role ever, appears here as the mayor. One
major flaw is that this movie is NOT available anywhere except Warner Brothers’
online archives. It’s a flaw because this movie still has enough weight to matter
today. ‘tick…tick…tick’ is commentary that will make you think long after the
clock stops. 

Film: 'Mighty Jerome'

Harry Jerome was a sprinter from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
But he was much more than that, in spirit and action. In watching this riveting
documentary by Charles Officer (Nurse Fighter Boy) and the National Film Board
of Canada, you can’t help but be moved by Jerome’s life. And in some respects,
you’ll find yourself asking, ‘why wasn’t he more heralded?’ Officer’s brilliant pacing
of the story pulls you in, supported by recollections from Harry’s family and friends
as well as film reels and dramatic re-enactments. And the cinematography of black
and white lends a beautiful touch. Because in hearing of Jerome’s rise to world fame,
crippling setbacks and his triumphs over those, Mighty Jerome does seem like a 
snapshot in time. One that needs to be looked at over and over again.

Mighty Jerome is available through iTunes.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/mighty-jerome/id522264343

Documentary: 'J-Dilla - Still Shining'

“J.Dilla: Still Shining” from B.Kyle on Vimeo.

If you wanted a real in-depth look at the life of
J-Dilla, this documentary has that two times over.
Mainly shot on the day of his funeral in 2006, director
Brian ‘B.Kyle’ Atkins manages to get insight from
Ma Dukes herself and a great array of Dilla’s friends
and collaborators. Nah Right had a breakdown of
the documentary on their site, so they get utmost
thanks for this. This is worth 40 minutes of your
time.

2:55) – Work Ethic Starts In The Basement
(7:35) – What To Listen For in A Dilla Beat
(9:10) – J.Dilla’s Range As A Producer. The King of Reinvention
(12:16) – Going Beyond His Influences
(14:39) – The Dilla Approach To Production
(20:21) – Jay The Producer vs Jay The MC
(26:08) – The Personal Side of J.Dilla
(29:04) – A Soldier Unstoppable!
(32:05) – Venturing Out. (as explained by Phat Kat)
(33:59) – Heading Home… Job Well Done.
(34:48) – We Salute You.

Film: Hit!(1973)

The 1970’s saw the rise of the Blaxploitation genre of film,
which fit right in with the rise of a grittier element to all
movies then from comedies to crime dramas. One film
that has been overlooked for quite some time and may
need a revival is Sidney J. Furies’ Hit!, which arrived to
the screens in 1973. Relegated to the occassional viewing
on late night television, this movie has a magnetic appeal
all its own.

The infinitely cool Billy Dee Williams stars here as a
federal agent who has lost his daughter to heroin usage.
Enraged, he makes a bold plan to go after the dealers at
the very top of the chain and assembles an unlikely team
to accomplish the job. The team also includes Richard
Pryor as a demolitions expert. What has to be appreciated
here is the fact that you have two prominent Black stars
anchoring this film in roles that take them out of the
comfort zone you’re used to seeing them in. Billy Dee
plays an agent who works with a seething rage under a
cool exterior. In some moments you find yourself shocked
at this; one particular scene he manipulates a prostitute
with a drug addiction so smoothly that he goes against
his normal casanova role. As for Richard Pryor, you see
the beginnings of the dramatic acting few felt he had
and that he was able to display in later roles in the decade.
The movie is lengthy, and has a few slow moments
especially when dealing with the set-up in the French
locales, but the deliberate pacing and the collection of
perfomances should place Hit! on your movie queue list
along with Soderbergh’s Traffic and other crime noir
fare.

Film: Renaissance

Barthelemy Karas(voiced by Daniel Craig) in Renaissance(2006)

Renaissance was released in 2006, buoyed by the instantaneous global
success of Daniel Craig after his debut as the new 007 in ‘Casino
Royale’. The French film has recieved mixed responses
such as being pulled early from stateside theaters and being panned
for having more flash than substance. What ‘Renaissance’ should be
seen as is a new way to view film noir with fresh perspective.

The scene is set thusly: we find ourselves in Paris in the year 2054.
Captain Barthemlemy Karas, a hard-nosed detective is entrusted with
finding a top scientist who’s disappeared with a highly important
secret and in the pursuit begins to unravel a sinister plot bigger
than he imagined. Craig is well suited for the role of Karas, and is
supported by other notable cast members such as Ian Holm and
Jonathan Pryce. The real star of the film is its look. From the first
minute, it pulls you in with its mixture of CGI and motion capture
based solely on a black and white palette. At times, the characters
and scenery flow so much that it can be distracting, but it does
lend that extra appeal to the story. One can see the homage paid
to such auteurs as Fritz Lang and Ridley Scott in ‘Renaissance’.
This film, if given a chance, should fall in line with other film noir
favorites like ‘D.O.A.’ and ‘The Maltese Falcon’.

Daniel Craig - Karas VO Session

Official Trailer

How To Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and enjoy it)

There may be few popular figures who still are ensconced in enigma like Melvin Van Peebles. You'd be hard pressed to find another person who made such an impact on American culture in a brazen and stirring manner, so much so that you couldn't look away.  How To Eat Your Watermelon in White Company is a visual testament to Van Peebles' genius.

The documentary's title actually stems from the title of an essay Van Peebles himself, had submitted to a magazine in the late 1960's.

The film is a delightful look at Van Peebles' life, told in his words and the words of friends and loved ones. And what a life it has been; from publishing a book while working as a streetcar conductor to his artistic growth in France to his trailblazing film career. Chock full of anecdotes, bittersweet tales and Van Peebles' own stinging but honest ironic humor throughout, this is one documentary that needs to be in every artists' library.

    An excerpt from the DVD courtesy of MVPmovies.com...