A Talent Boxed In

Luther: Never Too Much is the story of performer Luther Vandross. The crooner who was “Too Black”, “Too Big” got boxed in by the music business. The color codes of the industry meant the New York born native never gained wide stream acceptance, i.e. the White Audiences embrace. After stints on Sesame Street then music… Continue reading A Talent Boxed In

Lebanon’s Foreign Film Pick

Mira Shaib’s Arze has been chosen as Lebanon’s entry for the Academy Award for Best International Film. The story of a single mother keeping her family above water with a home pastry business.  Ambition can be a bad counselor.  After buying a scooter for business expansion, Arze finds herself on a quest through Beirut trying… Continue reading Lebanon’s Foreign Film Pick

Music and Climate Change

From the Tribeca Film Festival there were more titles screening on the subjects of music and Climate Change. Saddled with the description “Too Black, Too Fat,” this label would shadow the acclaimed singer for his entire career. Drew Porter pulls back the sparkling curtain, presenting a story of a singer whose zig zag rise to… Continue reading Music and Climate Change

Music and More at Tribeca

Once again on the Tribeca Film Festival platform I screened a movie on a musical artist who got cheated in three categories; historical, financial and recognition.  BAM BAM: The Sister Nancy Story fills in the blanks concerning one of the most sampled musical pieces in history from a ground breaking performer, Jamaican songstress Ophlin Russell,… Continue reading Music and More at Tribeca

Tribeca Fest 24

The Hollywood Strikes hit the entertainment industry in 2023.  Work stoppages caused disruptions along the chain from Hollywood to independent cinema.  The film festival circuit did escape the five-month long actors and writer’s dispute.   As I cover the Tribeca Film Festival there is a marked difference in the level of entrants. A number of foreign… Continue reading Tribeca Fest 24

The Infuriating Cover-up on St. Helena

Screened at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, the documentary The Story of Bones he recently hit the headlines of the British paper The Guardian. The feature debut from duo Joseph Curran and Dominic Aubrey de Vere is the story of a purposely hidden tragedy. The Transatlantic Slave Trade’s so called “Saviors” were not as benevolent… Continue reading The Infuriating Cover-up on St. Helena

2023 Tribeca part 2

What is the expression? “Be careful what you wish for.” It might come true. CYPHER could be a cautionary work about modern fame and its downside. Tierra Whack from Philadelphia, found online fame rapping on the streets. Her journey to the top had a fairy-tale angle, a young lady from the wrong side of the… Continue reading 2023 Tribeca part 2

2023 at Tribeca

The 21st Tribeca Film Festival kicked off on June 7th. The New York City cinema gathering spools a mixture of indie and mainstream titles. What I like about this festival is the slick production values of entries or debut directors can have well-known performers. I do not review Marvel films because Superhero works are review… Continue reading 2023 at Tribeca