Hey Mofos!

If you are into faith based films then this is one you need to RUN to the movie theaters to see on 8/23! "The Forge" is an excellent reminder of the power of prayer. 

From the press release:

 Hey Mofos! I'm still on the grief roller coaster, but stepped out the house to see the upcoming film Argylle. Let's just say that I was more entertained by the security guards checking for phones and her overuse of the phrase "OVERSTAND AND INNERSTAND." This film honestly could have been a limited streaming series and called it a day. It drops on February 2, in theaters!

Let me give you the low down on what it's about from the press release cuz I'm too lazy and tired to write it myself lol. 

The greater the spy, the bigger the lie.

From the twisted mind of Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman franchise, Kick-Ass) comes Argylle, a razor-witted, reality-bending, globe-encircling spy thriller.

Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World franchise) is Elly Conway, the reclusive author of a series of best-selling espionage novels, whose idea of bliss is a night at home with her computer and her cat, Alfie. But when the plots of Elly’s fictional books—which center on secret agent Argylle and his mission to unravel a global spy syndicate—begin to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, quiet evenings at home become a thing of the past.

Accompanied by Aiden (Oscar^® winner Sam Rockwell), a cat-allergic spy, Elly (carrying Alfie in her backpack) races across the world to stay one step ahead of the killers as the line between Elly’s fictional world and her real one begins to blur.

The top-flight ensemble cast features Henry Cavill (The Witcher), John Cena (Fast X), Oscar^® winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Grammy winning pop superstar Dua Lipa (Barbie), Emmy winner and Oscar^® nominee Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Emmy winner and comedy icon Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service), and the legendary Samuel L. Jackson. Alfie is played by Chip, the real-life cat of supermodel Claudia Vaughn (née Schiffer).

Argylle is directed and produced by Matthew Vaughn, from a screenplay by Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman). The film is produced by Matthew Vaughn, Adam Bohling (Kingsman franchise), Jason Fuchs, and David Reid (Kingsman franchise). The executive producers are Adam Fishbach, Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres and Claudia Vaughn.

Apple Original Films presents, in association with MARV, a Cloudy production. Argylle is distributed by Universal Pictures.

Now that's out of the way, the movie itself wasn't awful but it wasn't something I would watch again. I was into it, until it got to some parts that were utterly ridiculous and would never happen in a real spy movie. I loved that the writer transported into her own story, but it got a little hard to keep up with her life or the novel life at some points. What I did love is that Elly Conway isn't a size 2 heroine that we are used to seeing. She had a body that most women can relate to (not me, cuz ain't a hip to be found on my body), but I loved that she looked normal and not like she was starving for carbs. I also wanted to reach thru the screen and throw that cat Alfie somewhere. I'm not a cat nor a dog person, so seeing this cat the entire time made my eyeballs itch. 

Heyyyyyy Mofos!

I had the pleasure of chatting with the legendary Karen Clark Sheard on Check the Rhymes! 

She is starring in a new film on OWN called "Song & Story: Amazing Grace," that airs on 12/21, so make sure you tune in! 

Here's the audio interview here:

Hey Mofos!

I have been waiting..and I mean WAITING for this movie since the moment Aretha Franklin, THE QUEEN OF SOUL uttered the words that she wanted Halle Berry.. then Jennifer Hudson to portray her in a biopic. Y'all know y'all remember when Ree Ree said Halle Berry in 2010, then Halle said "nawl sis, I can't do no good singing like you," then Aretha sent a fax that said "chile, you ain't gotta sing, just lip sync!" Ok I have the whole drama mapped out in my mind but you get the point. Then Auntie Retha handpicked Jennifer Hudson to use her mighty voice to portray her in the film "RESPECT." The MGM biopic hits theaters 8/13, but I got a sneak peek. But first, the deets-- the film follows the rise of Aretha Franklin's career from a child singing in her father's church choir to her international superstardom. It's the story of a musical icon. 

The film stars Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Titus Burgess, Kimberly Scott, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, and Mary J. Blige. Ya'll see there are some powerhouse sangers in this film right?

The biopic is directed by Liesl Tommy and the screen play is by Tracy Scott Wilson. 

Peep the trailer:

Now let's get to the movie. I LOVED IT. The film focuses on The Queen of Soul's life from young Aretha (Skye Dakota Turner) dealing with trauma and tragedy (that by the way about had me tearing up in them people's theater) in Detroit in the early 50s to the start of her career as a young 20 something with two kids (Hudson) navigating her own personal demons as she becomes an international star in the 60s and 70s. 

Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin and Forest Whitaker as her father C.L. Franklin in RESPECT Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

For me, the film really shined with the vocals. Turner showed out as young Aretha. Hudson sang her face clean off because I loved that she didn't try to sound like Aretha, she allowed Franklin's influence to inspire her sound. Every song brought chills as she evoked the pain and the pride of Aretha's discography. Don't laugh, but I swear fo gawd I thought Hudson also looked like Mary J. Blige from the side in some scenes. I also loved the soundtrack of the 50s and 60s, with my favs Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, I was in my lil old soul element. Every single time, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin had a scene listening to his vinyl records had me straining my eyeballs to see what other records were laying around. I don't have to tell you this, but Forest, as usual, did his good acting in this movie! 

I learned so much from this movie about Aretha. Including her marriage with Ted White (Marlon Wayans) and chile, the violence, and disrespect of it all. Marlon did a great job playing White as the violent, jealous, husband/insecure ass manager. 

Marlon Wayans stars as Ted White and Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in RESPECT Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

I really appreciated how the entire story touched on the theme of "Respect" including Aretha taking control of her personal life and her career. Aretha figuring our her arrangement of Otis Redding's "Respect" with her sisters is a fun light hearted moment. Standing up to her father for what she wanted, whew, that did something to my soul, especially when she decided to return to singing gospel on her terms.  The film also tackles civil rights, addiction, and of course religion. 

This is another film that is a must see in a theater to get that concert feel with the surround sound and J-Hud larger than life on the big screen as Auntie Retha. I wish Aretha were here to see the film, but I think she'd be proud of the way her story was told. 

GIVE THIS FILM ALL THE AWARDS!

Let me know what you think if you go see the movie! 

~Meik

 Hey Mofos! 

New interview on deck about TV One's new movie "Blood on Her Badge." I chatted with Tequan Richmond and Rayven Ferrell about their roles and the film. I even found out that Tequan is a fellow North Carolinian! Check it out here:

The movie airs November 16, 2020 at 8 P.M. ET on TV One. Let me know what you think after you check it out!

~Meik