The BEST Horror Movie I've Seen in a Long Time - Coming Soon

Attack the Block

Written & Directed by: Joe Cornish

Produced by: Nira Park, James Wilson, Mary Burke, Edgar Wright

Cinematography by: Thomas Townend

Released: July 29, 2011 (USA)

Summary: A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion.


REVIEW

I usually post movie (and other media) reviews at Cool Black Media . I don’t usually post movie reviews here at the ‘Nother Brother Entertainment Blog, UNLESS it is an independent film worthy of distinction and Attack the Block is such a film.

This is absolutely the best horror movie I’ve seen in a long time. Even though I’ve grown tired of the Final Destinations and Saws I have seen others like the remakes to Friday the 13th (2009) , A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) and sequels like Scream 4 (2011) and felt woefully unimpressed like I have from those original films. These new films failed to capture the peril and excitement and plain ole fun of those original films.  Attack the Block made me feel like I did when I watched those originals - with black people to boot! To digress a little, these are black kids because it’s not set in America so they can’t be African American even though they are “negroes”. You can’t call someone like the British Idris Elba African American can you?

Back to the “Block” this movie had the usual horror movie prerequisites, teens trying to make sense out of numerous murders, and then trying to stop it themselves. This film took a conventional plot and injected a lot of originality and fun into it. The humor was balanced with real fear and suspense along with a kickass climax.

But don’t just trust what I say, and I don’t know why you shouldn’t, these are some other blurbs I found about the film.

Following its premiere at SXSW, Scott Wampler of The Examiner rated it A+ and said it was officially the best film of the festival and likened it to other debuts such as Neil Blomkamp's District 9 and Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.

Matt Patches writing for Cinemablend said "Attack the Block, even on its small scale, may wind up as one of the best action movies of the year".

IGN gave it four stars saying "Cornish directs with the confidence of a seasoned pro" and calling the film "a blast from start-to-finish."

Block is fun and with its cast of mostly unknowns features some nice standout performances, particularly the kid who plays the leader of the hoodies, John Boyega (who's got great screen presence). –Hollywood Reporter

I cannot agree more with the last quote. Those who know me and have read my writing know that I'm discerning and I don't really recommend anything that I don't think is of high caliber. When I see a great performance I recognize it.

Last year when I saw True Grit I thought the movie was good, but I was WOWED by the performance of Hailee Steinfeld (the little girl in the film) and was SHOCKED that she was only nominated for “Best Supporting Actress” and not “Best Actress” at the Academy Awards®  for she was excellent. (You can read what I said about True Grit here )

Having said that, I think John Boyega (pictured center above) gave another excellent youth performance. Like the above quote stated, he had “great screen presence” which A LOT of actors do not have.

It’s a difference between being a “star” and having enough screen presence to be a lead. You not only rooted for this unlikely hero, but when he gave orders you could see why everyone in the film listened to him. He wasn’t just the hardass all the time either. You could see his vulnerability when dealing with his boss and the plight he was faced with in the film. I hope he has a long and prodigious career unlike other child phenoms like that Sixth Sense kid. Where is homeboy? LOL. In any case remember this guy.

John Boyega

UPDATE: September 1, 2011: John Boyega has been cast in the lead of a HBO boxing drama being helmed by Spike Lee. (The pilot eventually WAS NOT picked up ny HBO) Read more about it here


Their trailer is below

MORE UPDATES

UPDATE: September 15, 2012: Attack the Block is coming to Blu-Ray/DVD on October 25, 2011. Read all about it here

UPDATE: November 1, 2011: John Boyega has been cast in the lead of a HBO boxing drama being helmed by Spike Lee called Da Brick read all the news about the show at our sista blog Cool Black Media via the link more about it here

UPDATE: August 1, 2011
Attack the Block opened last weekend July 29-31 and became the HIGHEST GROSSEST FILM...however, according to the great site Shadow & Act-

The film opened in only 8 theaters across the country making a total of $130,000 with an average of $16,250 per screen.

That makes it the highest grossing film per screen, better than The Smurfs which came in second with $10, 660 per screen average, though it opened in 3,395 screens nationwide.

If you know the business of film,  "Per Screen Average" is a huge barometer of a film's success. Hopefully Attack the Block will soon be coming to a screen near you.

UPDATE: August 23, 2011
Read about the current Box Office at More Attack the Block Updates at the post here

Related links-

Read a great interview with the Writer/Director of Attack the Block Joe Cornish and star John Boyega at Ebony/Jet.com here

The Best Film I Saw At The 2011 Maryland Film Festival…

Before I get to that film (I know I’m worse than Ryan Seacrest with his “we will reveal who’s eliminated…right after the break”, but give me one (a break) LOL. Allow me to digress for a moment.

Every year I try to see all of the black films I’m interested in. Not all of the films I see are black films, but the majorities are. I take this opportunity to see films I most of the time would not get from Netflix, Red Box or more than likely would not watch on Cable if I’m channel surfing. Sad to say, a lot of films must get media attention or a lot of attention through my grassroots networks for me to see it. Another reason why marketing and distribution is important. I saw a truly bad independent film because a friend of mine heard about it through marketing (I spoke of that film, though NOT by title, here ). Film festivals are also important for filmmakers, like me, and film lovers alike to seek out what a festival’s staff choose to put on. Don’t get it twisted I’ve seen movies at the festivals that wasn’t that great, but you can’t like everything ESPECIALLY a discerning chap such as myself.

So the Best Film I Saw At The 2011 Maryland Film Festival was…

Here’s what I said on our ‘Nother Brother Entertainment Facebook page-

I really enjoyed this documentary for it did what the best docs, which are not about really dense subjects; do…be informative, sometimes amusing, and sometimes tense. It also had an inventive visual style that I will not give away, but is clever. In the end this documentary was fun and informative about what it’s like to be in a band that throughout its history, while influential, has been teeter-tottering on success.

Of the five films I saw this year, this was easily my favorite. I liked all of the films I saw this year (not always the case), but this one was a whole buncha fun. From the very beginning with the “inventive visual style” I thought “this is good”. The first time I even heard of Fishbone was in the Damon Wayans comedy special ‘Damon Wayans: The Last Stand?’ (1990). He talked about this black rock group Fishbone and the only one I ever heard of before was Living Colour (NOT related to the television show ‘In Living Color’).

At the Q&A after the film, the directors Lev Anderson & Chris Metzler said that while Fishbone won’t necessary make money from their film, they do allow the group to show the film at their concerts for free and hopes that it will prompt interest in their music and that’s true. Even though punk-funk is not my cup of tea, after the movie I did check out their music at online music stores.

As a fan of “all black everything” I wanted to see this film and discovered that the group did indeed strive to combat racial stereotypes. A black punk group? Who ever heard of that? You mean “P-Funk”? No PUNK, as in a form of rock music. Black people play that? Yes and its name is Fishbone.

See what my favorite film from the 2010 Maryland Film Festival, a film you can see for FREE NEXT WEEK right here here

I wrote about ALL the films I saw at the 2011 Maryland Film Festival EXCLUSIVELY at our Facebook page and Twitter feed. Click the buttons below to check them out @ http://bit.ly/2011MFF

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone Official Website
http://www.fishbonedocumentary.com/

Watch their 'Everyday Sunshine' trailer below
(WARNING: Brief nudity (buttocks))

"Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone" - documentary trailer

UPDATE 2012
You can see direct links to ALL the films I saw at the 2011 Maryland Film Festival HERE

Freedom Riders - An Excellent Documentary Premiering on TV

Last year this time I saw the EXCELLENT Freeom Riders at the Maryland Film Festival. I thought it seemed like an interesting film since I like seeing African American based films. When I saw it I had no idea I would have such a reaction and had to write about it. After screening around the country the doc is now premiering on PBS stations around the country as part of their American Experience program. American Experience airs documentaries about important or interesting events and people in American history.

PREMIERED MAY 16, 2011

They have a great extensive multimedia websitewhere you NOW WATCH THE WHOLE FILM. CLICK the graphic below to check it out

Freedom Riders website

UPDATE: September 12, 2011
Freedom Riders wins Multiple Emmys

Outstanding Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming - 2011
	Winner Freedom Riders PBS A production of Firelight Films for American Experience Lewis Erskine, Edited By; Aljernon Tunsil, Edited By

Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking - 2011
	Winner Freedom Riders PBS A production of Firelight Films for American Experience Stanley Nelson, Produced by; Laurens Grant, Produced by; Mark Samels, Executive Producer; Sharon Grimberg, Senior Producer

Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming - 2011
	Winner Freedom Riders PBS A production of Firelight Films for American Experience Stanley Nelson, Written By

Go back to the  TOP of this blog entry.

 Check out their Wikipedia page-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Rides

Related post-

You can see the trailer and read about what I said about Freedom Riders here

The BEST Movie I've Ever Seen —About Making a Movie

BAADASSSSS! is a 2003 American biopic, written, produced, directed by, and starring Mario Van Peebles. The film is based on the struggles of Van Peebles' father Melvin Van Peebles (played by Mario himself), as he attempts to film and distribute Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, a film that was widely credited with causing Hollywood to create the blaxploitation genre in order to try to market films to the black audience which it proved existed.

The film also stars Joy Bryant, Nia Long, Ossie Davis, Paul Rodriguez, Rainn Wilson and Terry Crews.

Of Baadasssss! Roger Ebert said "It's one of the best movies I've ever seen about the making of a movie." and I TOTALLY AGREE. An excellent film!

Baadasssss! Wikipedia page-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAADASSSSS !

Watch Ebert's review below.

Coming Soon-Two films to See!

I’ve been involved with the MFF (Maryland Film Festival) for 5 years so far. Three years of those years I was also a volunteer (that’s me as “Line Captain” to the left at the festival). I try to see all of the black films I’m interested in. Not every film I see is great and here is a list of them:


Ok there is no list. I will never do that to another filmmaker for I know what hard work it is to put together a film and no matter how crappy it is, I have to give them props for finishing the film.

I do come across some very good/excellent films and this year was a banner year. I want everyone to look out for these two films:

My tickets stubs from the films 'Freedom Riders' and 'Night Catches Us'.

First I want to talk about the wonderful Night Catches Us

Here is their trailer-

About the film:

In 1976, after years of mysterious absence, Marcus (Anthony Mackie, “The Hurt Locker”) returns to the Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age in the midst of the Black Power movement. While his arrival raises suspicion among his family and former neighbors, he finds acceptance from his old friend Patricia (Kerry Washington, “Ray,” “Lift”) and her daughter. However, Marcus quickly finds himself at odds with the organization he once embraced, whose members suspect he orchestrated the slaying of their former comrade-in-arms. In a startling sequence of events, Marcus must protect a secret that could shatter everyone's beliefs as he rediscovers his forbidden passion for Patricia.-Night Catches Us, official website

The film directed by Tanya Hamilton, distributed by Magnolia Pictures is available NOW on iTunes and OnDemand is scheduled to hit theaters December 3, 2010. I encourage you to check it out on any of those platforms.

About the stars:
I’ve been a fan of Anthony Mackie since I saw him play the lead in She Hate Me (2004). While the film wasn’t that great his performance was great and I could see he was a great talent. He has since starred in a ton of films like Notorious (2009) where he played Tupac Shakur and the Best Picture Oscar winners Million Dollar Baby (2004) and The Hurt Locker (2009). I think he is one of the next big black stars in Hollywood.

Another next big black star is the fantastic Kerry Washington. Kerry Washington also starred in a ton films including Ray (2004), The Last King of Scotland (2006), and the recent For Colored Girls. I’ve seen her in a lot of different films and Kerry is one of the BEST African American female actors in Hollywood.

Update-February 2011 Kerry Washington  has signed on to headline Shonda Rhimes' (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) drama pilot for ABC titled Scandal. Read more about it here

Based on what I described above is why I went to see this film. I really liked it and I think the director Tanya Hamilton did a fantastic job WITHOUT monitors or storyboards. (Filmmakers will know what I’m talking about.)

As usual for the Maryland Film Festival, after the film, there was a Q & A with someone/people from the film to talk about the film. At this Q & A was the director Tanya Hamilton and one of the co-stars Wendell Pierce. Pierce also starred in a ton of films, but is most famous for playing “Bunk” on The Wire. You can see my cell phone pic below. I know you can’t really tell, but it’s them. LOL.

Left to right: Co-star Wendell Pierce and Director Tanya Hamilton during the Q & A for 'Night Catches Us'

2013 UPDATE

New better photo from that night. LOL

Left to right: Co-star Wendell Pierce and Director Tanya Hamilton and MFF Executive Director Jed Dietz during the Q & A for 'Night Catches Us'

I found out Ms. Hamilton was a director much like myself, a person of few words in front of crowds. Wendell Pierce stepped in like the acTOR he is and “emceed” the Q & A. During this Q & A is where I found out that Ms. Hamilton directed this film without monitors and storyboards. (Again filmmakers will know what I’m talking about.)

After the Q & A I got a chance to meet Ms. Hamilton and Mr. Pierce. They both were very cool and Wendell Pierce was really cool. Of course I told him I was a filmmaker and he remarked “Maybe we’ll get a chance to work together”. Your lips to God’s ears bro.

UPDATE: Night Catches Us was released to DVD on February 1, 2011.
You can go to Night Catches Us official website below-

 http://www.nightcatchesus.com/


January 2010
Night Catches Us Producer Ron Simons Blogs From Sundance



Last, but definitely not least, I want to talk about the excellent Freedom Riders
Here is their trailer-

FREEDOM RIDERS is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of six months in 1961 that changed America forever. From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives—and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment—for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws, the Freedom Riders met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way, sorely testing their belief in nonviolent activism.

From award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson (Wounded Knee, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, The Murder of Emmett Till) FREEDOM RIDERS features testimony from a fascinating cast of central characters: the Riders themselves, state and federal government officials, and journalists who witnessed the Rides firsthand.-Freedom Riders, official website

Of the movies I see at the MFF, most of them are African American (narrative) films and documentaries. These films always range from bad, good, very good and excellent. Most of the documentaries I see are good, but toooo looong. They start off good, end off good, but lose something in the middle. If they shaved 45 minutes out of the middle they would be great. Freedom Riders avoids all of those pitfalls.


The official website’s description “powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story” is absolutely right. I was interested, but did not know what a powerful experience this would be. I’ve heard and seen footage all my life about the civil rights movement, yet this was a story I never heard of before. The absolute CRAP the “riders” had to go through was shocking, yet then it wasn’t. I’m never surprised at the depths of depravity that racism would stoop to. What shocked me was my visceral reaction to the amazing real footage and interviews with most of the Riders.

Excellent work by the filmmaker Stanley Nelson and makes me want to check out his other work. I urge EVERYONE to check out this film!

Freedom Riders, a production of American Experience, Premieres on PBS May 16, 2011.

Check out their PBS webpage-
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/

Check out their Wikipedia page-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Rides


UPDATE: September 12, 2011
Freedom Riders wins Multiple Emmys! Read about it here