I hated it and then I gave it a try

I have never been a big Clint Eastwood fan. Something about him always came off as stiff and unaffected. I respect his career in artistry. He has a loyal fan base that I can now say I am a part of. Gran Torino will reduce the strongest to tears and skeptics to laughter. I loved this film and can honestly say it was one of my faves of the past year. It should be on DVD soon. Please check it out. This film challenges you think outside the box and to put down those rose colored glasses. Ignorance is ignorance regardless of who the target is. Whether it be gay, black, asian, or white, we all bleed the same blood. The sad part is this revelation is often made too late, when blood is shed.

I absolutely loved it....

As if I'm already not one of the biggest Jill Scott fans, but she's sold me on yet another venture of hers. The acting thing is not a fluke, she's multi-faceted and I can't wait for the next episode. I loved it! Please check out the No.1 Ladies' Detective on HBO Sundays.

2 Caucasian Persuasions That Irritate The Sh*t Out Of Me!

Okay these two white people have been giving my television a headache lately. I'll start with the big gimmick that is Becky a.k.a. "Buckwild". Her "homegirl" act is old and I really wish she would stop all together. I caught an extended glimpse of her best "Quandalesha Bongesha" impression on an episode of I Love Money 2. Now, I must admit that all of the characters on there have to be a tad bit embellished but she is by far the worse. She got busted on Flavor of Love for being a fraud. You'd think she'd given up the whole thing by now. You'd think that someone like Saaphyri, her BFF, would have checked her on that insulting BS by now. I digress. I'll probably catch another episode or two or three, lol.
Now anyone who has been watching American Idol has got to be familiar with Nick Mithcell/Norman Gentle. Can I be one of the first to say that Norman Gentle isn't even funny. This mofo has worn out "And I Am Telling You..." . I wonder if that is the only song he knows. The gig has to be up. The weird thing is that when he sings, there are actually parts that reveal that he can possibly be a decent singer. I thought that he would've scrapped the crap last night and performed as himself. Needless to say, he brought out old trusty and made an ass out of himself. He can not advance with that B.S. I know there are millions of people that auditioned that are probably throwing remotes and other inanimate objects at their flat screens when he pops up. Well these are two white people that really annoy the sh*t out of me. I could create a list of their black counterparts but that would take up a couple of posts, lol.

Okay India, I get it.....

As any follower of this blog can attest, I acquired a new found respect for India.Arie over the last year or two. I wasn't big on her initially. I loved "Brown Skin" and Who didn't love "Ready for Love". I was going through a real rough patch with work, myself, and relationships when I purchased my first India.Arie CD, Testimony: Love and Relationships, Volume 1. I don't know if she's a mind reader or psychic. She really fed my soul with her infinite wisdom and melodic voice. I can remember weeping in my cubicle at work, listening to some of those heart felt tunes.
Fast forward to this past summer and she was the special guest at a Rachelle Ferrell concert. She blew me away and I made sure to own everything else that I was missing from her repertoire. I became a true fan.
Fast forward to this month and the release of her newest offering, Testimony:Love and Politics, Volume 2. I would've posted sooner, but to say that I was initially underwhelmed is an understatement. I didn't like it at first. After a few listens, I realized why I didn't like it. India.Arie is a chameleon. She is an artist that doesn't stagnate. She moves with the pulses of this earth. I think I was expecting something she had already produced. After A few listens, I fell in love with it. She's tied everything in with an interlude Grains. This interlude really speaks to how everyone is connected. It doesn't matter if you are gay, straight, Mexican, Dyslexic, rich, or poor, we are all made from the same grain. I really love the remake of a Sade classic entitled "Pearl", "Psalm 23" (featuring MC Lyte) and "Yellow" (featuring cutie, Terrell Carter). So, I get it now India, you speak to the current situations through your music. We shouldn't expect a repeat of your past musical conquests, but get with the times, as you have so beautifully done. Go get it! Go burn it! Whatever you do, experience it!

Ikea, Etta, and Chris "Beat 'em Down" Brown"

Is anyone else loving those new Ikea ads? I think they are frickin' hilarious. I love it. The black lady that mysteriously appears is known as "The Muse". I love it and I hope they continue running those. Who knows? The Muse might be the next Snapple Lady, LOL.

All I've got to say about the whole Etta James/Beyonce thing is that it's a tad bit ridiculous. I love Etta but she has to know that none of that inaugural ball stuff was a swipe at her. Truth is, she's probably more inclined to whoop Beyonce's ass if she's seen Cadillac Records, which I finally saw. Beyonce tried, but I couldn't take her seriously. She wasn't bad. She was Beyonce'. I kept seeing Beyonce' everytime she was onscreen. I honestly couldn't give her a chance. Gabrielle Union was surprisingly good though.

The whole Chris Brown/Rihanna ordeal. Can we say stupid? It should never have to come to all that. But it further proves that money cannot buy you happiness or common sense. Chris is about to come to realize that he's not a Michael Phelps. Wrigley's has already pulled his advertisements. I'm quite sure they'll be more backlash against the young, talented, and dumb starlet. I like them both. I hope they are both able to recover from that ignant' mess.

Oscar Contenders Got Oprah In Common

Congrats go out to Ms. Tarai P. Henson and Ms. Viola Davis for their Oscar nominations. I am a fan of both, as I have raved before. It's good to see their talent being given the credit it so deserves. I did catch Viola in Doubtand I must say that she channeled something that was so real. If you haven't seen Doubt, please go see it because one of the underlying themes in the film is acceptance. Not to be a spoiler, but she has a son that many of us can identify with. It was really refreshing to get the viewpoint, albeit fictional, of a mother whose son could be homosexual. Check it out. I can go on and on about that movie.

the Curious Case of Benjamin Button is on my list o things to do. I haven't seen it but I've known Taraji to be nothing but stellar in my opinion. It's great to see that she's coming up for air in the sea of talented black actresses. I know it's got to be hard to out their for a pimp. (lol)

The connection between the two is unique, but not suprising. Oprah Winfrey was considered for Doubt and The Curious Case....

Best wishes to both. I hope Miss Sophia makes a comeback to the small or big screen. I think she's a wonderful talent as well.

Don't Doubt It

I went and saw the big screen adaptation of the Pulitzer Winning play, "Doubt". If you're looking for a film that will keep your interest and stir your emotions, this one is it. I can honestly say that I was moved. Meryl Streep is her usual fabulous self. Viola Davis will definitely get her day with Oscar. She may even walk off with it. She delivers a heart wrenching performance. She's only in two scenes and does the damn thing in! Check it out. You will not regret it.

Random and Black and Entertainment

I've been playing and re-playing the new Musiq Soulchild CD, OnMyRadio. I was on the fence about him until the Mary J. Blige duet, "If You Leave", surfaced on radio. That song really took me back. The CD is right in line with that single. It's worth a listen. Does anyone else feel a resurgence of R&B in the air? A week hasn't gone by that artist, old and new, have sent reminders of where it all came from. I'm excited.

While I'm on Musiq and music, I can't wait until 2/10/09. I have all of the albums and each of them speak to me. I wasn't originally as big a fan as I am now, but this did it for me.

Oprah says she weighs 200 pounds
All I have to say to Lady O is that there nothing to be mad or embarassed about. She must have forgot where she came from. I always liked Miss Winfrey with some meat on her bones. She looked like a bubble head, scrawny gal when she lost all of that weight. I would like to see her discuss being comfortable in the skin she's in. At the end of the day, she's an icon that millions look up to. It's not what we see on her, it what we see in her that counts. The woman is phenomenal, 200 lbs or 130 lbs.

I'm also excited to see some buzz around two black actresses that have been riding under the radar. That radar being Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Sanaa Lathan, Jada Pinkett, and you get the drift. Although Baby Boy was a typical Singleton film, Taraji P. Henson, really caught my attention. I thought she was great. I first encounteresd Viola Davis in Antwone Fisher. I don't think she muttered a word. Her brief appearance on screen was one that really ripped at the heart strings. There is some Oscar Buzz around their performances in some upcoming Holiday flicks. Taraji P. Henson co-stars along the likes of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Viola Davis does her thing onscreen with Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt. Unfortunately, if all of the stars and moons are aligned, they'll have to go at it against one another in the supporting category. They were just announced as contenders for the BFCA Critics' Choice Awards. We have all heard about the lack of roles for black actresses in Hollywood. It's good to see there were at least two this year. LOL