Boyz n the Hood is a coming of age story and follows Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.) as he grows up in South Central Los Angeles. We meet his friends Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut) and Darren 'Doughboy' Baker (Ice Cube) and learn the harsh truths of living in the hood. This film hurts. It pulls... Continue Reading →
Do the Right Thing Review
Do the Right Thing is director Spike Lee's fourth film, and it packs an emotional punch. Lee tackles everyday racism, police brutality, and white privilege in this amazing story. The film follows Mookie (played by Spike Lee) as he works for a pizzeria owner named Sal (Danny Aiello) and his two sons, Vito (Richard Edson)... Continue Reading →
Sounder Review
Sounder is a film based on the William H. Armstrong novel of the same name. We follow the Morgan family as they survive the depression. Nathan (Paul Windfield) gets arrested for stealing food, and it's up to his eldest son, David Lee (Kevin Hooks), and his wife, Rebecca (Cicely Tyson), to take care of their... Continue Reading →
In the Heat of the Night (1967) Review
In the Heat of the Night is a mystery drama based on John Ball's 1965 novel of the same name. We follow a Philadelphia detective named Virgil Tibbs, played by Sidney Poitier. After passing through a small town in Mississippi, Tibbs is taken into custody for a murder simply based on his skin color. After... Continue Reading →
The Defiant Ones (1958) Review
The Defiant Ones star Sidney Poitier as Noah Cullen and Tony Curtis as John "Joker" Jackson. Cullen and Joker are two escaped prisoners who are chained together and must learn to depend on one another. The film tackles the subject of racial prejudice and crafts a thrilling and heart-warming tale around these two characters and... Continue Reading →
Cabin in the Sky Review
Cabin in the Sky was released in 1943 and stars Ethel Waters (Petunia Jackson), Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (Joe Jackson), Lena Horne (Georgia Brown), Rex Ingram (Lucifer Jr.), and Kenneth SpencerĀ (The General). The film is a musical comedy that is based on the 1940 Broadway musical of the same name. Fun fact: Waters and Ingram... Continue Reading →
Imitation of Life (1934) Review
Welcome to the first review in my Black History Month series. Here, we will be reviewing films starring black actors from the 1930s all the way to the 2010s. This is my way of celebrating black excellence and showcasing just how far we've come in the last 90 years. In this review, we'll be taking... Continue Reading →