Slow Jam Saturday : J-Stylz, Christmas Without You
J-Stylz, formerly of the legendary group Blackstreet, gave fans a wonderful holiday slow jam last year with “Christmas Without You.” The song starts with J-Stylz professing his intentions for his lady love but simply stating that all he wants for Christmas is you!
American Underdog is a good ole fashioned crowd pleaser
Christian filmmakers, The Erwin Brothers continue their trend of inspirational stories with their seventh film American Underdog from Lionsgate. The film is a biopic of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stock boy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback.
Denzel Washington directs Michael b. Jordan and Chanté Adams in the sentimental A Journal For Jordan
For his fourth film as a director, legendary actor Denzel Washington helms an adaptation of a New York Times bestseller in A Journal for Jordan from Columbia Pictures. A Journal for Jordan is based on a period in the life of First Sergeant Charles Monroe King (Michael B. Jordan), a soldier deployed to Iraq
The King’s Man avoids threequel pitfalls
Director Matthew Vaughn returns to the world of The Secret Service in The King’s Man from 20th Century Studios. The third chapter in the Kingsman franchise, an adaptation of a comic book series, is a prequel to the first two films.
Second Listen Sunday : B2K, Santa Hooked Me Up
Their debut achieved gold status and the concerts stayed sold out. Prior to releasing their third album Pandemonium in December of that year, label execs had the bright idea to release a Christmas album. Arriving in stores on October 29, 2002, Santa Hooked Me Up is clearly a cash grab for the tween crowd of the time.
Slow Jam Saturday : Ne-Yo, I Want To Come Home For Christmas
R&B singer Ne-Yo released his first Christmas album, Another Kind Of Christmas, in 2019. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday selection, I chose to highlight his cover of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want to Come Home for Christmas.”
Don’t Look Up is a sharp political satire
Director Adam McKay assembles an all-star cast in Don’t Look Up from Netflix. Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student, and her professor, Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio), make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system.
Mahershala Ali delivers another stellar performance in Swan Song
Five years after winning an Oscar for Best Short Film, director Benjamin Clearly makes his feature debut in Swan Song from Apple TV+. Set in the near future and told through the eyes of Cameron (Mahershala Ali), the film is an emotional journey about what we will do for those we lov
Fortress is another stinker for Bruce Willis
Director James Cullen Bressack and writer Alan Horsnall help Bruce Willis retain his direct-to-home-market crown in the action flick, Fortress from Lionsgate. Willis plays Robert, a retired CIA agent living at a private resort out in the woods. One day, his estranged son Paul (Jesse Metcalfe) drives to the camp for a visit — but he’s followed by Robert’s old nemesis, Balzary (Chad Michael Murray).
Second Listen Sunday :Daron Jones, Christmas In Atlanta
Daron Jones had already made a name for himself as a founding member of 112 in addition to writing for the likes of Usher, Jamie Foxx, and 112 when he released his Christmas album, Christmas in Atlanta, on November 30th, 2015. Jones opens the project with Christmas in the Air, a midtempo bop that showcases Daron’s brisk baritone.
Slow Jam Saturday : Boyz II Men, Let It Snow
R&B quartet Boyz II Men were still basking in their massively successful single “End of the Road” when their first-holiday album, Christmas Interpretations, hit stores in the fall of 1993. The first single from the album was “Let It Snow,” and while the group could have gone the pop route and just covered the Vaughn Monroe standard, the four gents from Philly delivered a holiday slow jam classic.
Simon Rex lifts off to a career best performance in Red Rocket
Director Sean Baker continues his trend of small-town America based with his junior feature Red Rocket from A24. Simon Rex portrays Mike as a down on his luck washed up porn actor who returns to his small Texas hometown. Baker introduces us to Mike in a disheveled appearance and a bruised face.