Final film review: At the Gates of Water

At the Gates of Water is an original film that touches on the untold story of George McKinney who played a critical role in a huge piece of American history.
The film takes viewers through the final events of the Watergate scandal from the perspective of Mr George McKinney who was Maryland's first elected black US Marshall. Viewers are rightfully treated to an inside look of the life of George McKinney. The actor delivers a perfectedley cool performance. Simply put, George McKinney played a cool role in American history. He should truly be appreciated by the black community. His big moment in history is righteously projected through the film when McKinney delivered the subpoena to former US president Richard Nixon ordering him to hand over the tapes of the Watergate scandal. This part of the film is well edit using quick cuts in editing and unique angles in its.cinematography. The film is beautifully shot and the actors truly bring light to a unique moment in American history. The lead actors of McKinney and his wife were well casted as At the gates of water uses several actors for each part of the journey of George McKinney. The film ends with featured actual interviews from the family and friends of George McKinney who recently past away in the summer of 2012 at 77 after serving 30+ years in government.
All in all, At the Gates of Water is an amazing film that finally shines light on Mr George McKinney who deserves a historical spot in American history.

FR: Battle of Algiers

Battle of Algiers offers a untold story of terrorism verses corrupt government and colonization.
While most films glorify the side that is fighting terrorist, Battle of Algiers uniquely allows viewers to build an emotional connection to the characters commuting the "terrorism' against the corruption that is destroying their city. Battle of Algiers is truly a black and white classic. It's one of those timeless pieces in film that can allow for future filmmakers to always go back and take notes on how to produce a classic. Battle of Algiers is shot almost in documentary type style. It does not use interviews to drive it as a doc might but it does feature some shots and scenes where the viewer can almost feel like the camera is a character is itself. Their are some shots where the actors or extras look right into the camera. There are also other shots where it seems like the cinematographer just went out on an unplanned day shooting random footage of a day in Algiers. Acting is a plus for Battle of Algiers although due to the lack of technology, some scenes where characters get shot and injured look false and fake. It would be great to see this classic get revisited through a remake with today's technology.

Film Review: The Black Candle

Kwanzaa is an internationally celebrated pan African holiday that lasts seven days with a different principle on each day. These principles are called the nguzo Saba. Kwanzaa is a holiday which allows the Black culture to be embraced and glorified, and educated.
The Black is a documentary that does well in capturing this embracement. The Black Candle offers a history of how Kwanzaa began under Dr Karenga, and how the Black community embraces this celebration. The film features interviews from Dr Karenga himself and several other activist, poetry by MK Asante and the legendary Maya Angelou, and also great music that really allows for the emotion of the film to be carried along with the inspirational provoking words of the speakers. The Black Candle is truly a well produced documentary that should leave every viewr feeling inspired and proud.

Film Review: When We Were Kings

The G.O.A.T. is the best title for this film.
When We Were Kings is an awsomely produced film. The film uses archival footage from 1974 and prior to really get down to the nitty gritty behind the scenes chit chat of one of the most monumental fights of all time that really allowed for Black Americans and Africans to join at the top of a pedestal as kings. Ali vs Foreman in 1974 is one moment in history where Blacks were really at the top as kings.
When We Were Kings captures this. It is a well paced documentary that uses interviews with various people who were members of the media at this great fight, or icons such as Spike Lee, or friends of Ali or Foreman.
It is such a well produced documentary. There is such an abundance of archival footage used that the viewer can really go back in time and travel through the journey of Ali and Foreman as they prepared to be launched into a legendary moment in history. Each person interviewed offered a different angle to the telling of this legendary moment. The archival footage served as magnificent b roll to allow viewers to connect with  the words of the interviewee.
 In one of the interviews the film shows, Ali describes how film can allow other people to connect with other places they have never been. Specifically, Ali says how Black America will be able to connect with Africa and their culture to see how great Africa really is. Spike Lee also touched on the subject telling how in America, Black Americans were so brainwashed by media that if an African American called another African American an African, than it would have been seen as an insult when in reality our riches cultures is rooted right from Africa, right from home. The interviews with perhaps Ali, who is perhaps the most influential athlete of all time were also great.

Film Review: Chameleon Street

Chameleon Street is a drama based on a true story about a con-artist. Con artist can be depicted by society as some one who is bored with their own life so they fake another life. Chameleon Street does well in capturing the boredom a con artist must have.
 The protagonist, William Douglass Street, is off the back, a boring character but ironically entertaining. The film really pushes the boredom of the protagonist by using extremely monotone voiced, sloth-slow voice overs.
The boredom is also captured in how characters react to times that should be escalated moments of panic. One particular scene is when William Street actually slits the throw of his child. The mothers' reaction is what captures the entire satirical, comical, theme in one. She simply grabs the child from Mr. Street and gets a towel to wipe her neck. The child is also calm and remains in a playful mood. The shots and the cutting of the film in editing is kept at a steady pace which allows viewers also feel the boredom. The comedy is one of the gripping aspects of Chameleon Street that keeps viewers looking.

Film Review: How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and enjoy it)

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and enjoy it) takes an interesting look at the life of the revolutionary, Melvin Van Peebles. The film uses several layers to detail Mr Van Peebles life chronologically.
Their are several interviews with people of Melvin Van Peebles life including his son, his daughter, and several business acquatainces that he ran into on hsi journey and also a couple of female acquaintences who he had relations with. Interestingly enough the film also follows the making of his wax model for a museum exhibition.
Clips of his wax model being made is trickled through out the film as How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and enjoy it) remakes the life of Melvin Van Peebles. The film also uses a lot of archival footage that almost have's a home-video feel to it. The archival footage shows Melvin Van Peebles on set and also their are clips of some of his movies such as Sweetback's Badasssss Song.
The film is well produced. It has a concert documentary format to it but instead of using concert footage, the making of the great Melvin Van Peebles wax model was being used to lead the viewer to the ultimate revealing of the wax model at a museum and also him being honored with an award. All in all, How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and enjoy it) allowed viewers to be educated on a great icon who was rightfully honored with an award and wax model. Melvin Van Peebles tore and ripped down barriers for the black entertainment industry during high times of the civil rights movement. His legacy along with his wax model, should live on forever.

Film Review: Sweet SweetBack's Badasssss Song

"Sweet Sweetback's Badasssss Song" is truly an original. The film, which was released in 1971, at the closing end to the prime years of the civil rights movement, is a very cutting edge film that, just from the title, pushes the envelope of the time period. The civil rights movement brung along great change, but also a brutal rawness. This brutal rawness is captured in the character of Sweetback and in the awkward editing of the film.
In several scenes, superimposed shots and cuts on action allow the viewer to capture the unsteady pace of Sweetback's journey from sex show super-stardom and female moans to screaming police sirens and angry White officers chasing him as he savagely sprints through deserts.
 Sweetback's journey can uniquely be seen as a stress reliever for the Black male community. Sweetback saves a fellow Black man as he's beaten by cops, he makes a white corrupt sheriff look pitiful to the press, he murders two White corrupt officers, has sex with many woman at their own eagerness, has sex with a white woman who serves as a leader of a white male motorcycle gang, and he gets away with it all making the white sheriff look pitiful to the press despite desperate attempts to capture Sweetback. Sweetback can be seen as the Black Batman for the community.
Despite the awkward editing and poor quality of some of the angles chosen by the cinematographers, "Sweet Sweetback's Badasssss Song" is a must see. It truly is a classic for the Black community which allows humor and anger to be uniquely intertwined.