Typical action fuels High Heat
Director Zach Golden transitions to the action genre for his sophomore feature, High Heat, from Saban Films. Screenwriter James Pedersen makes his debut with the film. Former KGB operative Ana (Kurylenko) has left that life behind and turned chef.
Adam Driver leads the puzzling White Noise
Eclectic filmmaker Noah Baumbach reunites with his Marriage Story star Adam Driver for the comedic drama White Noise from Netflix. The screenplay for the film was adapted from the 1985 novel of the same name by Don DeLillo. For trivia buffs, this is Baumbach’s first feature that is not based on an original story.
Second Listen Sunday: Jaheim, A Really Chill Christmas
Sixteen years into his musical career, New Jersey native and R&B crooner Jaheim gave his fans a musical gift with his first Christmas album, A Really Chill Christmas. While some of his newer material hasn’t lived up to his full vocal potential, with A Really Chill Christmas
Slow Jam Saturday: Johnny Gill, Bad Santa
As the Christmas season winds down, the last pick for my holiday-themed slow jam is one that recently saw a release, “Bad Santa,” from legendary balladeer Johnny Gill.
Sure to divide audiences and critics, Babylon is a mess
Oscar Winner Damon returns to cinemas with his fourth film in Babylon from Paramount Pictures. Before the opening credits, we meet Manuel “Manny” Torres (Diego Calva), a Mexican immigrant working odd jobs in the thriving silent film industry and aspiring filmmaker.
Brendan Fraser delivers a career best performance in The Whale
Love him or hate him, filmmaker Darren Aronofsky teams with comeback kid Brendan Fraser for his eighth feature film, The Whale from A24. Playwright Samuel D. Hunter pens the screenplay as an adaption of his same-titled play.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is delightfully fun for the family
Under the direction of Joel Crawford, Antonio Banderas makes a voice return to one of his most beloved characters in Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. Paul Fisher pens the film script, which marks a return to the Shrek universe for the first time in more than a decade.
The Best Man: Final Chapters is a worthy close to the franchise
Peacock brings Malcolm D. Lee’s iconic Best Man franchise to television in The Best Man: The Final Chapters. It’s been nine years since we last saw Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), Robin Stewart (Sanna Lathan), Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut), Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long), Julian Murchison (Harold Perrineau), Candace Murchison (Regina Hall),Quentin “Q” Spivey (Terrence Howard) and Shelby Taylor (Melissa De Sousa).
Second Listen Sunday: Freddie Jackson, At Christmas
By the time Freddie Jackson released his first Christmas album, At Christmas, in 1994, he had already established himself as one of the finest balladeers. He had released six albums to his credit. On the album’s opening track, One Wish, Jackson collaborated with Gordon Chambers and longtime collaborator Barry Eastmond. The trio created a midtempo bop that is a suitable introduction to the album.
Slow Jam Saturday: Troop, Santa Can You Help Me
While R&B quintet Troop had yet to release an album since the late nineties, the group stayed active with touring and solo offerings from some members. In 2014, the group surprised fans by releasing a new song, “Santa Can You Help Me.”
Anna Gunna is out for revenge in The Apology
Filmmaker Alison Star Locke teams up with Emmy Award Winner Anna Gunn for her writing/directorial debut in The Apology from RLJE Films. In the aftermath of the disappearance of her daughter Sally twenty years earlier, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen (Anna Gunn) is preparing to host her family’s Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen (Janeane Garofalo).
Second Listen Sunday : A Kenny Lattimore Christmas
R&B crooner Kenny Lattimore had twenty years in the game when his first holiday CD A Kenny Lattimore Christmas, arrived in 2016. Lattimore has one of the natural voices; he can sing anything and sound good. The first time I saw Mr. Lattimore live, he sang opera and wowed the audience with his instrument. That said, I didn’t want this review to focus on his covers of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” and “O Holy Night because he sings them with ease. Instead, I want to focus on the original songs.