Slow Jam Saturday: Tamia, Still
There’s no question that Canadian singer Tamia is unsung. While she has six Grammys nominations and numerous other awards, mainstream success has yet to be in the cards. I was a month into my first overseas assignment in England when she released her third album, More.
Insidious: The Red Door is a ho-ho hum finale
A horror franchise gets its final chapter from first-time director Patrick Wilson in Insidious: The Red Door. Scott Teems pens the screenplay from a story by longtime series writer Leigh Whannell. The latest entry in the franchise is a direct sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2.
All You Hear Is Noise evokes crowd pleasing nostalgia
Directors Ned Castle and Matt Day collaborate with producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter for a good old-fashioned in-the-crowd pleaser in the documentary All You Hear Is Noise. The screenplay crafted by Castle and Day successfully balances audience appeal while abstaining from the typical stereotypes and oversimplifications frequently portrayed in media representations of intellectual disability.
Confidential Informant is a travesty of a movie
Director Michael Oblowitz delivers another stinker with his latest film, Confidential Informant from Lionsgate. The director pens the screenplay with Michael Kaycheck and Brooke Nasser. Tom Moran (Dominic Purcell) and Mike Thornton (Nick Stahl) are war veterans turned cops on the beat in the Big Apple.
Harrison Ford’s charm overrides the clichés for his Indiana Jones farewell
Iconic film star Harrison Ford returns as the man with the hat for one last adventure in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny from Walt Disney Pictures. James Mangold, an Academy Award nominee, has now taken over the film series previously directed by Steven Spielberg.
Second Listen Sunday: Michael Jackson, Invincible
As a music enthusiast, I will never forget June 25, 2009. That day, a fellow passenger on the shuttle bus informed me of Michael Jackson’s passing. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I revisited Jackson’s tenth and final studio album, Invincible. It’s common knowledge that Jackson faced legal issues in 1993, which affected his career.
Slow Jam Saturday: LL Cool J feat. Boyz II Men, Hey Lover
This weekend is about celebrating The King Of Pop, Mr. Michael Jackson, and his legacy. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I initially had plans to do a write-up on “The Lady In My Life” from Thriller. However, in honor of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary, I decided to go with one of my favorite Hip Hop ballads, “Hey Lover,” which samples the song.
Hijinks and fun continue in Is It Cake Season 2
Comedian Mikey Day reunites with Netflix for Season 2 of the hit show Is It Cake. Deception is the name of the game for the world’s most talented bakers, who will compete to create hyper-realistic cakes that look exactly like everyday objects – with cash on the line. But are they good enough to deceive a panel of celebrity judges… and you? You’ll be asking yourself, ‘Is it real?’ Or…Is It Cake?”
Asteroid City will please Wes heads young and old
Acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson assembles another all-star cast for his eleventh feature film, Asteroid City, from Focus Features. The film starts perplexingly in the titular fictional town in the late fifties.
I’m A Virgo puts an eccentric spin on the coming of age tale
The acclaimed filmmaker Boots Riley, known for his exceptional work on “Sorry To Bother You” in 2018, is back in an exciting new project for Prime Video titled I’m A Virgo. The series follows the journey of a young man named Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), who, at 13 feet tall, has never once set foot outside his sheltered existence world.
Second Listen Sunday: Gerald & Eddie LeVert, Father & Son
Today is Father’s Day, so I wanted to highlight a legendary father and son duo for Second Listen Sunday. Arriving in stores on Sept 26, 1995, Father and Son was the first full-length collaboration between the late great Gerald LeVert and his dad Eddie LeVert.
Slow Jam Saturday: Eric Roberson feat. Pop, Do The Same For Me
Next to New Edition, one performer who I always make time to see any time they are in my city is Eric Roberson. I’ve lost count of times I’ve witnessed Erro wreck shop on stage. One performance that sticks out was in 2016 at The Birchmere in Alexandria. During a “Do The Same For Me” performance, Eric brought his dad on stage to sing the song with him.