The greatest Black films ever - in domestic dollars

Here is a list of the highest grossing films to feature Black actors, directors, writers and on. It's something you never really hear about, but Black film makes money. And lots of it.

1. The Lion King ($576 million inflation adjusted dollars) - yes I know it's animated. And yes I realize that its about animals. But this is Africa. The reality is that this film, if portrayed by human beings (even animated ones) is about Black people.

2. Shrek 2 ($530 million) - there is no shrek movie without one of the most successful Black actors ever, Eddie Murphy. He is a co-star of the film and a central theme. So this film counts.

3. Independance Day ($516 million) - the word is Will Smith.

4. Beverly Hills Cop ($500 million) - An undisputed Black film. And the first film that stars prominently and solely and African America - Eddie Murphy.

5. Blazing Saddles ($471 million) - the film is co-written by Richard Pryor (the Sheriff Bart role was supposed to be his). It stars Cleavon Little. It's about the racist history of America, in a very comical way. Yes, it's a Black film, made by jewish Mel Brooks.

**Note ** The next should be The Passion of the Christ which made $445 million. Because Jesus was Black - unless you think a man with bronze skin and hair of wool describes your average European. But since Mel Gibson chose to depict him as he did I won't include him in this list.

6. West Side Story ($417 million) - ok so they aren't Black but Puerto Rican. So am I. And the Caribbean was filled with African slaves. Ok, it doesn't belong on the list but deal with it.

**Lawrence of Arabia (417 million) - Again a film that was made about Africans and Middle Eastern people, that I define as Black, that were all shown as White.

7. Men In Black ($407 million) - Will Smith again.

8. Aladdin ($391 million) - That isn't a suntan every character in this film (except the genie) had.

That would make the top ten list of greatest grossing Black films ever, if you include the notes I made. I'm sure there is dispute about many of these films. I'd like to hear that dispute.

But the next time you hear some dumb Hollywood exec make an obtuse statement like "American won't watch a show starring an African American/Latino/person of color" remember this list. Because American will watch people of color and African American, so long as the film good. Just like anyone else.

The numbers are from Box Office Mojo

Will Smith and Jay-z put Afrobeats on Broadway

Are you familiar with Afrobeat music? Well Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Jay-Z hope that you want to find out.

Afrobeat is a style of music that originated from Nigeria in the 1970's. It was created by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who traveled the world introducing this music to various artists and fans. Fela Kuti was so influential that when he died in 1997 a million people came to the funeral, literally.

But the influence of Fela Kuti did not end with his death. An Off-Broadway play, called Fela!, has carried on the music and inspiration of the man. It also provides a honest look at who he was, including his simultaneous marriage to 27 women and his problems with the Nigerian authorities.

The play has done well enough that it will be opening on Broadway in a week. But it was lacking producers and financial backing. That is where Jay-z and the Smith's come in. They have now signed on as co-producers of the play. Which I call putting your money where your heart is.

Given the star power of Jay-z and the Smith's, it is likely that the play will gain a big boost to it's publicity and probably to the revenues and ticket sales. But the question of the play making back the money the celebrities invested is unknown as no details of how much they have put in has been stated. Considering the business successes of the celebrities, I have to believe that whatever the amount they will make it back.

If you are wondering what Afrobeat music sounds like and who Fela Kuti was, I found this on youtube. It's a video of Fela Kuti performing in 1971. It kind of reminds me of James Brown mixed with jazz.

Men In Black 3 - can Will Smith do it again?

Can there ever be too much of a good thing? Can fans of Will Smith ever not want to see him in a movie? These are a few of the questions facing the potential deal on Men In Black 3.

Yes, MIB 3. They are planning to do it again. Maybe.

The questions floating out there are if Will Smith will return as the ever hyper yet funny J. So far it seems that he has some interest, but no deal has been made. Then again, Will Smith is also without another movie in the pipeline at the moment. Plus when was the last big album from Smith? A soundtrack and music video tie-in could be just the thing for him.

There is also questions about Tommy Lee Jones. He too has been without a film for some time. But less is known about his interest for another trip in a POV and black suit.

But for me the real questions lie with the writer and director. Without quality in those 2 areas, there is no hope of a quality film being made even if the cast is all in place. So who is expected to be at the helm of the writing? Etan Cohen.

The name, like most movie writers is probably not familiar. But this is the man responsible for Madagascar 2, a Sherlock Holmes film with Will Ferrell (who I think is all played out now), plus the ever so forgettable Tropic Thunder. Obviously the man has his bad days, and when he does, it can really be bad.

The same can be said of Barry Sonnenfeld. He was the director for the 2 prior MIB films. The second being not quite as fresh, interesting or engaging as the first. he is also responsible for the television show Pushing Daisies (which was cancelled as I recall) and RV starring Robin Williams. I'm sure everyone involved wants to forget about RV.

So what if all the stars align, and get big paychecks, the writer has a good day, and the director gets his mojo back? Will all of that be enough? Can Will Smith have yet another $100 million dollar film in a row?

I hope so. But think about all the films you've watched get to the third in the series. How many have been good? The movie trailers will say it all in 2011 (rough expected launch I'm guessing will be the summer blockbuster season).

Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan redo The Karate Kid

Jaden Smith is really turning out to be quote they superstar. After finishing the film with his father, and then showing up Keanu Reeves in The Day The Earth Stood Still (hard not to show up that fiasco of acting), he is now out in China with Jackie Chan. That’s a pretty impressive summer job he has for himself.

Considering his age, and the general trends of Hollywood, it’s impressive to see that he is growing in his abilities and that directors are taking notice. The only real shame is that so far he has not really been in a huge success. Yes the films with Reeves and his dad made money. But they are not big hits.

The latest film, Kung Fu Kid, is a revisioning of The Karate Kid. While I generally despise revisioned films, the inclusion of Jackie Chan makes this interesting. It will take place in Bejing, is current day, and will emphasize the abilities of Jaden. This very well could be a huge hit for this young actor.

Of course the fact that his father is one of the producers, plus the fame of Chan, and then add in the nostalgia for the original, and you have a film that should definitely be a hit. Except there is one hitch in the film. The director.

That would be Harald Zwart. He was responsible for the flops One Night At McCool’s and the revisioned refuse Pink Panther 2. The only other film he has done that you might know internationally is Agent Cody Banks, which was decent but no blockbuster.

How this director was attached to this project is unknown to me, but likely the only thing that could cause the film to be worthless. Well that and writer’s that have no clue what made the original worth watching.

If this does turn out to be a hit film, I think that Jaden will be well on his way to a career that will exceed his father. Considering that Will Smith is familiar with working his way to the top, has had the experience of losing it all, and knows the fickle nature of critics and fans I expect that Jaden will be well prepared for added fame. This is one child actor that should never see the front page of a tabloid – except for any woman he might date.

If this film fails though, I expect that it will be the fault of the director. Based on his trend, this is an uphill battle. Still a bit of failure may be just the thing to keep his head from getting bigger than his britches. In fact I think that every child star should have some degree of failure to help balance out their expectations. Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan are great examples of the potential if they don’t.

The film will be out in 2010 I expect. So there should not be too much time for speculation. Either way I think it will be another step forward for Jaden Smith. Hopefully it will be just the thing for his 12th birthday.

40th Annual NAACP Image Awards

For those that are needing another Awards show fix until the Oscar Awards, there is hope. The 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards show is just over 24 hours away. Rejoice.

Actually this awards show should be interesting for more than the fact that it highlights the achievements of people of color, something rarely done by the Academy Awards. This year is also the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. Thus I expect the television broadcast to be quite special.

There will be stars a plenty as well. Halle Berry and Tyler Perry will be presenting. Which says nothing of those celebrities in attendance. All of whom I expect to note the significance of what the NAACP has done over the years.

A special honoree will be Muhammad Ali. He is a man well deserving of recognition and I am happy to know he will be singled out for praise. He is one of the major catalysts in some of the changes that have occurred in sports, television, and international perceptions of African Americans. More should credit what he has done and achieved.

Another honoree will be Russell Simmons. He has been highly influential beyond just music. He has been a great role model of how successful any African American businessperson can be. His empire of clothing, music, finance, televison and film ventures is the match of most any business. Such is the power of a mind dedicated in its purpose.

But on the pure awards front here are a few of the categories and my thoughts.

Outstanding Picture:
"Cadillac Records"
"Miracle at St. Anna"
"The Secret Life of Bees"
"Seven Pounds" – I expect this to win
"Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys"

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Derek Luke – "Miracle at St. Anna"
Don Cheadle – "Traitor" - This is my pick
Jeffrey Wright – "Cadillac Records"
Rob Brown – "The Express"
Will Smith – "Seven Pounds" - The main competition

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Alfre Woodard – "Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys"
Angela Bassett – "Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns" - Probable winner
Dakota Fanning – "The Secret Life of Bees" - main competition
Queen Latifah – "The Secret Life of Bees"
Rosario Dawson – "Seven Pounds"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Cedric the Entertainer – "Cadillac Records"
Columbus Short – "Cadillac Records"
Dev Patel – "Slumdog Millionaire" - Great choice for popularity with the Oscars
Mos Def – "Cadillac Records"
Nate Parker – "The Secret Life of Bees"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Alicia Keys – "The Secret Life of Bees"
Beyoncé Knowles – "Cadillac Records"
Jennifer Hudson – "The Secret Life of Bees" - The winner
Sophie Okonedo – "The Secret Life of Bees"
Taraji P. Henson – "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
"Ballast"
"Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom"
"Rachel Getting Married"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"The Visitor"

I am amazed that this category did not include A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy or Diary of a Tired Black Man. I would really have loved to see Diary win too. But such controversy is beyond the NAACP I suppose.

Outstanding Foreign Motion Picture
"Captain Abu Raed"
"The Class"
"Mongol" - Possible winner (but I have not seen it)
"Song of Sparrows"
"Under the Same Moon"

Outstanding Documentary
"The Black List"
"Black Magic"
"CNN Presents: Black in America"
"Dare Not Walk Alone"
"Trouble the Water"

I have no idea in this list, but I would guess it will be CNN. Mostly because of the very positive coverage of President Obama throughout the election.

I am not covering the television choices because I feel that there really is no choice available. There are virtually no lead actors, and too little diversity in television to really have a selection to choose from. That is not the fault of the NAACP, but Hollywood and its double standards. [Though I will say that Sean Combs should never win.]

So with that said, there is your next Awards fix.

Forbes recognizes the obvious about Will Smith and people of color

Oh how shocking. Will Smith is the most bankable entertainer in Hollywood. With the record for the most movies grossing over $100 million in a row, who could have guessed?

Honestly I am not amazed. But I really hope that the executives in Hollywood are paying attention to the numbers. Because it flies in the face of the notion that

“American audiences want to only watch people similar to themselves.”

That is the industry code words for the functional equivalent of “White only” - to me - which is present in the overwhelming number of television shows, movies, and even work behind the camera.

In fact, according to Forbes, the top of the Star Currency list includes Denzel Washington at number 8. On the Celebrity 100 list the start is with Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods. That list goes on to include Beyonce Knowles and Jay-z in the top 10.

Yet for all of that, and the many other people of color that made each of the lists, Hollywood avoids us. Which is odd for an industry that is best known for copying anything that is successful to death.

Just look at the 30 remakes that are going to hit screens or announced so far in 2009. Look at all the copycat stories that fill the television screens and theaters; they even copycat success from other countries (Life on Mars, Leverage, Bangkok Dangerous, ect.). And there is hardly any escape from some form of reality programming on every network including cable television. There are few original ideas in the industry, especially over the last decade or so. Except if it involves people of color. Then there are really none.

Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Samuel Jackson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy are the key male African Americans that fill screens and bring in revenue. Halle Berry and Queen Latifah are the Black female counterparts. Several of them have been doing so for decades. Yet Hollywood ignores the majority of Black actors, preferring to fill the ranks of new actors with virtually only White faces. And it’s not because there is a lack of a potential pool of actors to select from.

Television shows like the Cosby Show, A Different World, My Wife and Kids, The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire dominated the small screen. And once they were off the air nothing even close replaced them. The various networks didn’t even try to copy the shows.

It’s not that I expect every show to have people of color in them. I don’t want to see a television schedule of crap that is made to have people of color fill the screens and then be rejected with a casual ‘well we tried.’ But to honestly expect that in the 21st century, as people are declaring the era of “post-racial America”, we see almost the same number of African Americans, Latino/Hispanics, Asians and so on in any medium you wish to chose as were around in the 70’s. It’s deplorable.

Perhaps I wouldn’t get as upset if other aspects of the media were better. But news media still loves to depict people of color as violent and guilty of any wrong-doing or lack of success whenever a video is needed. And it is conspicuously remiss in reporting any news event that identifies people of color as victims of crimes via police brutality or other circumstance.

Just look around for the coverage of Oscar Grant, Adolph Grimes, or Robbie Tolan. All you will see is continuing coverage of Casey Anthony and the Petersen case in Ohio. Or how about the last time you saw national attention of a Black child that was missing?

But at least Forbes is taking notice that America loves it’s celebrities and entertainers of color as much as anyone else. Hopefully one day Forbes might just get involved in entertainment and things will improve. Or the racially blind execs in Hollywood will be replaced by open minded people. If only.

America likes quality not color in movies

I just want to back track for a moment. At the end of 2008 there was a top of 2008 list that I think most have never heard of nor are they aware of who made the list. While this list is mostly for acting entertainers, movie studios and movie theaters it bears worth mentioning.

The Quigley Poll has been around for 76 years. It surveys movie theater owners and asks them whom they feel was responsible for the most revenue generation in the year. This is important to Hollywood as it confirms or changes how much an actor/actress is worth, and who they want to star in additional films. And it also influences what films will be made, indirectly. If an actor/actress who is know for dramas brings in enough to top the list for drama films, Hollywood with their tunnel-vision will make more of those types of films especially with that entertainer.

In 2008 Will Smith topped the list. Now that is very significant. He is only the second Black actor to top the list in 76 years. The last time an African American topped the list was 40 years ago, and he was Sidney Poitier. Just imagine that.

That means that all the success of Denzel Washington was not enough. Samuel Jackson didn't count. Even Jamie Foxx was not seen as successful enough. Not to mention Don Cheadle and many others over the decades.

This also means that Will Smith (the first and only actor to have 8 films consecutively gross over $100 million) has attained a level of acceptance in America not seen in 2 generations. In the late 60's America was forced to open it's eyes to all the people in the nation. Leading that charge on screen was Poitier. He opened doors that had been closed for the better part of a century. Then America looked away again.

This is important because Hollywood uses the excuse

"White people won't go to see a film or television show starring Black people. They can't connect with them."

That feeble attempt at justification enables television to mirror the 1950's mentality, and denies opportunity in front of and behind the cameras to thousands of qualified and non-White Americans every year.

But Will Smith has given just cause for that excuse to die. He again proved that America wants to be given quality, not just repetition, in their entertainment. It is the American spirit of competition that says the best demand equal time regardless of race or any other superficial factor.

I love quality Black cinema. I hate Soul Plane and other such trash. And I enjoy equally as much quality work of any capable actor/actress in multiple genres. But I cannot say that I will begrudge Hollywood if they finally join the rest of most of America in the 21st century. Will Smith is just one example, as is Spike Lee, Bill Duke, Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Forest Whitaker and on and on.

Americans go to see the top actors/actresses in the top films. It's time that Hollywood look around and see who really is in the A-list, regardless of color.

How much for a Yahoo accolade?

I noticed something over the weekend. Yahoo had a little blurb on the top movie stars of 2008. It was an interesting photo selection for one big reason. Almost every one of the people they were touting had a flop in 2008.

The list starts with Gong Li. You may not recall her name. Then again you probably didn't recall Hannibal Rising, with good reason. The list moves on to Nicole Kidman. She has become synonymous with Hollywood failure, which the film Australia confirms yet again. But then the list loses all perspective. It goes into a tailspin of stupidity.

The next "actress" on the list is Paris Hilton. A woman so without talent she couldn't make sex look interesting to watch. Her claim to fame was the film the Hottie and the Nottie. The hottest thing about the film is akin to the apparent intelligence of Hilton - just not being there at all. Is the possibility she will inherit a major company really that important to Hollywood?

The list moves on to Jennifer Lopez. Who is lauded for giving birth to twins. Which does deserve notice. But not on a list of top movie performers. Even when some thought she had a movie career she was bad. And she hasn't gotten better.

To disguise the fact that there were so few good movies and to bolster the huge number of movie stars with flops the list then goes international with Aishwarya Rai. She is a top Bollywood actress. I've never seen her in a film and have no comment.

But the list jumps back to the ridiculous with Hillary Duff and her performance in the mega-flop War, Inc. I reviewed that movie and to summarize both her performance and the movie, disappointing and a waste of time.

The list goes on to name Mary Kate Olsen, The Wackness, Lindsey Lohan, Chapter 27, Jessica Alba, The Love Guru, right up to Angelina Jolie. Jolie is the only actress on the list with a film the average person can say they saw, and actually liked. She is the only woman on the list (perhaps excluding Rai) that had films that made real money. In effect only she and perhaps Rai deserve to be on a list of top movie stars. The rest need to be on the top of a pile of dung for their performances.

The list then turns to men. And the choices are only moderately better. The star is with Tom Cruise because of his appearance in the flop Tropic Thunder, but more likely the Valkyrie movie that has yet to show. Next we get Patrick Swayze - because he has pancreatic cancer. Like Lopez I have to wonder how that has anything to do with movies. It's sad, but it does not go to the top of a list of movies.

Then the list does another odd change of direction. They pick Denzel Washington, who did not have a film in 2008. But at least he was nominated for an award this year. That's closer to a reason to be on this list then most. The list then flies off with failures like Bankock Dangerous (remake) with Nicolas Cage, Orlando Bloom - also without a movie this year. At this point we finally get to someone who was in a movie that made money and most people saw (for the men).

Will Smith is 5th with Hancock and the upcoming Seven Pounds. And right above him on the list is Brad Pitt with a flop - Burn After Reading - and the nominated Benjamin Button arthouse film. Leonardo DiCaprio broke even as I recall with Body of Lies but took 3rd. Next is Johnny Depp who like Bloom and Washington didn't have a film, and like Washington was nominated. And of course 1st went to the dead guy Hollywood can't stop talking about - heath ledger.

This entire list is Bollocks. Of the entire group Aishwarya Rai, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith, and Heath Ledger deserve to be on it. Maybe an honorable mention to Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. That's it.

I don't know what pipe the people at Yahoo are smoking, but it must be powerful. Either that, or there must be one hell of a kickback coming from advertising for Yahoo to tout this kind of rubbish as a top list of anything. Maybe if they named it the Top Movies Stars of 2008 - whose companies gave us a lot of money. Or is that too long.

And people wonder why the quality of movies is dropping faster than the average IQ of a high school graduate. When you can buy accolades who needs writing. It's just sad.

Upcoming movies for 2008 holiday season and 2009

Now that the election is over, and while we are still learning how our money is being spent in ways we never considered (thank you Paulson), the need for a distraction is eminent. This holiday season, as unemployment rises and stock market hopes fall, we all need to get away. Escaping to a vacation that we all can afford. A good movie.

The big question though is if Hollywood has anything to offer us. In recent years the obsession of Hollywood in electing a liberal a President as possible consumed the silver screen. Millions of dollars and huge amounts of time were wasted on political statements that were poorly written, and wouldn’t be worth watching if they were on broadcast television with American Idol and Dancing with the Stars on before and afterwards.

To put it bluntly, if you’ve seen more than 3 movies in a theater this year you wasted money and left thinking that you were once smarter than after the movie experience. But can Christmas bring us all what we have been wishing for, entertainment?

Well the answer is yes and no. There are a couple of movies that might compel you to leave the comfort of your own home. Of course these movies are surrounded by crap that you are probably seeing trailers for right now.

Let’s start with what may be worth your groceries for a day or 2.

Seven Pounds


Will Smith is on a roll (like he stopped). You watch this trailer and you get a couple of thoughts. Why is he doing this? What is the secret? Will this be uplifting? I don’t know the answers but I am very sure of the ability of this actor to make it worth the time for find out. This movie will make money, but more importantly it will entertain you. It will let you share an emotional response with everyone in the theater, and that’s why we see movies.

Transporter 3


Jason Statham tends to always deliver. He is the man of action films these days, and with good reason. His characters tend to be intelligent, the plots tend to make some kind of sense, and the action is not filled with CGI or stunt doubles. Generally the more sequels you have the worse the movies get, but the Transporter series has done well to date. This should easily be worth the price of admission, because he can drive!

Valkyrie


Tom Cruise has finally gotten this movie ready for theaters. I mentioned this earlier when this was planned for the summer. I’m looking forward to the film. But I must admit that with reflection, and seeing additional trailers I have one problem. Cruise. He seems to boyishly happy and young to be a Nazi Colonel that is going to try to kill Hitler. While it’s a true story, I would expect the look of the real schemers to be a tad bit grim. But I will see if all the brightness in the film hinders or benefits the plot.

My Name is Bruce


Ok, I admit I am a Bruce Campbell fan. I just love his movies (and television shows most don’t recall). He is funny. So this film sending up his celebrity and still focusing on what made him famous is spot on. The trailer got me chuckling. Will I see it, yep. Will it win an Oscar, nope. Will it be entertaining? More likely than not. Bruce Campbell may not be Will Smith (on many levels) but one thing they both do well is pick movies that they can excel in. Now where is that boomstick?

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans


I thought this movie had been made a while ago (like Vin Diesel’s Chronicles of Riddick – which supposedly has the 3rd film done years ago) so I’m not surprised it’s coming out. The first film was well worth the price of admission. The second not as much. But redemption seems at hand. This 3rd film is more of a prequel though. And a good thing too, because I really wanted to see more of the Lycan-Vampire war. Mythical creatures, medieval setting, swords, warfare on massive scale. Yep this should be good. And I like the lead actors too! Bonus.

Not Easily Broken


Morris Chestnut is definitely the go to guy in Black films. He has done very well in taking roles that are uplifting, and afrocentric. This is another of those films. I like this personally because, besides the quality acting and plot, it is an example that being African American does not mean being in a pigeonhole of stereotypes the media loves to display us as. This will actually be out in January 2009 (in time for the inauguration – how interesting), so thankfully it will give the Black community a choice besides seeing Notorious – which I do not recommend.

Forbes best paid actors - my version

On a less important and trivial note, news came out today on the top paid actors in America. Now this list has nothing to do with talent per say. Several people on the list are horrible if you ask me. So even though they may have made money I want to present the list in the order of quality each actor on the list has, and I’ll throw in a movie I think that justifies my though.

Let me know if you agree.

• 1. Will Smith. Forbes had him at #1 and he deserves it. He made $80 million in the past 12 months and has a record-setting 8 consecutive films breaking $100 million to show for the salary. Sci-fi, drama, action, you name it and he can act his ass off. So much for those that argue that White audiences cannot connect with a leading actor that is of a different race. – See Ali, Hancock, Independence Day and so on to see what I mean.
  
• 2. Johnny Depp. Another great actor, capable of a range that equals anyone else on this list. He may prefer esoteric roles like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, but when he wants to go mainstream it’s like a day in Tortuga. Forbes had him in 2nd and I would say it’s as close as his $72 million makes it look. – See any Pirates of the Caribbean.
  
• 3. Bruce Willis. Here Forbes goes by the numbers and I go by quality. Of the remaining actors and actresses he tops the list. He is the everyman that gets the job done with style. He may be the oldest and only made $41 million for Die Hard 4 (which made $380 million) but he most importantly delivers entertainment. – See Hudson Hawk, 5th Element, or any Die Hard film
  
• 4. Nicolas Cage. While you wouldn’t imagine that he was paid $38 million from movies like Next and Ghost Rider, he still can get it right more often than not. He is another of the versatile entertainers on this list. – See National Treasure
  
• 5. Mike Meyers. He is still coasting of the success of Shrek and Austin Powers. And he needs to considering his turn as the Cat in the Hat (thankfully Dr. Seuss was dead before the movie was made). Still Shrek is funny, though not worth the $55 million that he made. – See Austin Powers, or the first Shrek
  
• 6. Eddie Murphy. I would put him higher as he has more lasting power than most on the list, and he has enough talent to do nearly every role in a movie. But his last couple of films were not that good – Norbit and now Meet Dave. Yet as an entertainer he can wow the audience with roles like Dreamgirls (he was robbed of the Oscar plain and simple). His $55 million is like paying a couple of actors each, and it would have got him over his Shrek co-star but his overly family friendly films don’t work above the age of 11. – See Dreamgirls and be amazed.
  
• 7. Keira Knightley. The first lady on the list. She only makes it one step above her Forbes ranking in terms of cash, but she is miles ahead of the next closest female entertainer. She’s sexy, smart, and can do a bit of action – yet none of it over the top. For $32 million I think she is getting underpaid. –See Star Wars episodes 1,2,3
  
• 8. Adam Sandler. While his low-brow comedies are a hit or miss proposition he is more than where he started from. He has grown to do quality serious roles like in Reign Over Me (with a good dose of help from Don Cheadle – massively underpaid) which helps us all forget films like Little Nicky. My guess, his career will grow, and his pay of $30 million, if he stays away from dumb comedy like The Gong Show (yes I know it’s a television program). - See Spanglish.
  
• 9. Leonardo Di Caprio. Basically I put him here because I dislike the rest of the actors even less. I don’t find him all that good and I wouldn’t pay the price of admission to see any film he starred in as sole lead. But he made $45 million so some Hollywood exec must think he is worth it, though some exec greenlighted Soul Plane too. – see something he is in. I wouldn’t know.
  
• 10. Will Ferrell. I liked Elf. Moments in Ricky Bobby (or whatever it was called) were funny, though most of it was exactly what most of America tends to think of when they think of NASCAR. Sadly though he has been paid $31 million to keep playing the same sort of character found in both those movies, over and over again. Semi-Pro didn’t do well because of this, Stepbrothers probably will fare the same. He needs to change or the entertainment career will be like his work on Saturday Night Live, a flat bomb. – See Elf.
  
• 11. Cameron Diaz. She only precedes the next guy because she is a lady and I thought I’d be nice. I don’t find her funny, attractive or talented. Seriously she is ugly and needs to gain weight. I believe the only funny film she was in was Something About Mary (and luckily it was an almost good film for Ben Stiller too) and any other work she has done is too vapid to remember. The $50 million she was paid needs to seriously be spent on other actresses. – See the revisioned remake of Charlie’s Angels, you’ll go to sleep but it’s better than the next guy’s films.
  
• 12. Ben Stiller. He came from a comedy family. He’s been in films with huge talents. He was paid $40 million. Yet this guy cannot stop playing the same insipid character in every movie. I will say this for him; he has mastered the art of doing the same thing badly and getting paid well for it. – See The Royal Tenenbaums, not because he is in it but because everyone else in the film is great.
  
• 13. Last and least of all the entertainers on Forbes list of the best paid (and some of the most overpaid in my opinion) is the #3 woman on their list, Jennifer Aniston. Simply put she needs to eat some food and stick with unrealistic television sitcoms. – See Friends because you won’t have to focus on her and it’s slightly better than the Charlie’s Angels remake.
  

Since no list should go to 13 I will add one more I think deserves to be on the list – Denzel Washington. If he is not the highest paid actor per film he should be. He is quality and can act against anyone on this list and make them all look good via osmosis (yes even Aniston and Stiller).

So that is my take on Forbes. How would you rank them? Who would be your 14th entertainer on the list?

Potential football stars that already shine

Football is an America standard. Its fans are at least as passionate as any baseball fan, devoted more than in basketball, and the most intense game for players from the earliest grades. Fathers rarely stand prouder than when their son throws the winning touchdown pass, or catches it – even though if after that moment a television camera is on hand and the player calls out to mom.

Such is the phenom of football. Such is America.

So there should be no surprise that I mention Oaks Christian High School. Never heard of it? It’s a private high school that in 2006 had Jimmy Clausen, the best in the nation’s high schools as quarterback who then went to Notre Dame, Marc Tyler, now at USC, and another 9 players that are now in Division 1 schools. Oaks Christian may be a private school but it has groomed many gridiron heroes.

Still if you are not familiar with this school I doubt you will continue to be unaware of it. That’s because there are 3 players whose future holds the torches of their fathers before them. The sons are Trevor Gretsky, Nick Montana, and Trey Smith. Yep, dad for these 3 are Wayne Gretsky, Joe Montana, and Will Smith.

Now if you were paying attention to this high school earlier you might have noticed that the elder Smith and Gretsky appear at these games. In fact the helicopter used by Will Smith to get to one of his son's games may have been hard to miss. It might not be eco-friendly, but I’d have been damn proud to see my dad fly in just to watch me play.

But if you are expecting to catch the games, the sons, or their famous fathers and family on Access Hollywood or the various celebrity rags you’re going to wait a long time. The school has banned Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight, and security is on a constant watch for paparazzi. And in case there are any real media hoping to capture the son of one of the best Black actors in this generation, or arguably any, he is a media blackout. Trey is off-limits to all media.

Now I applaud Will Smith’s decision. There is enough pressure in high school, and it’s amped up being in football. Add to that the fact that recruiters and scouts are at all the games and it’s a boiler. No need for the added scrutiny of mobs of reporters and camera toting yahoos.

But I understand Wayne Gretsky allowing his son to be photographed. His son is good (though not at hockey which he doesn’t play at all) and with the schools reputation for top division schools getting used to the media is part of the drill. [I believe that all their sons are too young and will not include their photos. Were they in movies or television and thus the public eye already I would have a different opinion.]

So expect to hear more in the next couple of years about college and the names Gretsky, Montana, and Smith. And for the football fans, Gretsky – quarterback JV, Montana – quarterback new to team, Smith – receiver JV.

As for me, I wish the kids good luck. And most of all I want to mention the son and father currently ignored by the media frenzy on the famous fathers. The son is Tony Macarena who is the Varsity quarterback for Oaks Christian. Tony is 5’ 11” in the class of 2009. I believe he is looking to go to Fresno State. His father is Sergio Macarena. He should be applauded for the fact he has a son going to college and an excellent athlete – in that order. And it should be noted that the elder Macarena “lifts furniture” for a living. If nothing else he deserves a mention for that.

WANTED - the movie review

So I went to see WANTED this weekend. I know that everyone was out to see Will Smith in Hancock, and that Wanted is a week old – but I wanted to see it. And regardless of how good Hancock may be I was not disappointed.

By now most have seen the very Matrix-esque scene of a guy jumping out of a window. Some might think that the film is trying to rip off the Matrix like Equilibrium did. Thankfully this is not true. But much like the Matrix this film starts off with a pill for viewer to swallow. In essence there are people with abilities that bend the laws of physics, and they are assassins.

From an opening scene that creates the footprints of a chess match you are caught as off guard as our protagonist Wesley Gibson, James McAvoy, (if the name is a play on Gibson of Mona Lisa Overdrive I don’t know). Gibson is a loser. There is no other way to put it. It’s reflected in his best friend, his “girlfriend”, and his all too normal and common job.

Add to this he has been led to believe that he has anxiety attacks. I for one thought almost immediately that he looked more like he was fighting the urge to choke the crap out of someone that desperately needed it. But for all his failures, he is not hopeless. He does get a glimpse of something coming, and if you pay attention to the little details in the background and in the words on signs and elsewhere you will see it too.

When that something does hit, it’s huge. And of course Angelina Jolie, as Fox, leads the way in this. It’s one of the better car chases I’ve seen in a long time. It’s a game of chess and determination. It’s an expression of absolute willingness to do what needs to be done. You’ll love it.

Literally this is a rush that’s a bit too much for our protagonist, and the movie take a momentary pause to deliver a cute laugh before we move on with quickness.

Once Wesley is back up, he is introduced to the truth. A version of the red pill so to speak. Provided by perhaps the single best image of gravitas our generation of actors has. Morgan Freeman.

Let me side step here. Some may want to see this movie for the action, and there is plenty. Some will definitely want to see Angelina Jolie (though she looks a tad thin in this film, but still sexy). Some might even come to see Lonnie Lynn Jr., otherwise known as rapper Common, which would be silly in this film – though it’s going to be the only reason to see Green Lantern – as he gets about as much time and lines as is deserved by most rappers-turned-movie stars. I did want to see 2 of the 3 points I just mentioned. But I love a film with a brain.

That’s where Morgan Freeman comes in. The former Easy Reader of Electric Company today is the one actor that can add credibility to almost any film no matter the premise. Want to talk about a guy getting the power of God, make God Morgan Freeman and it can work. Want to make a serious commentary about race and the human spirit overcoming idiocy – call Morgan Freeman. Want to get people feeling desperate and cheering the protagonist, well you know.

But how many times can you recall Mr. Freeman being a bad guy? And when I say bad I mean icy cool, completely in control, killing machine? In fact he is so badass that he only holds a gun 3 times in the film, but you never doubt his lethality. And if I had a favorite part in the film it would be the end when he curses, just once, and it makes you stand up and take notice.

Now I won’t give away details, but our little Wesley learns quickly that he has a shot at a life. He grabs at it, a keyboard signaling his fight for independence (it makes sense when you see the film). And he needs all the gusto he can find because once he gets in, his education has nothing to do with books and everything to do with pain.

But he does have an ace up his sleeve. The anxiety attacks I mentioned at the beginning. Plus he is not stupid. So as he learns, grows a pair, and figures out which piece on the chessboard he represents we get more than a few get special effects. By this point you’ve either accepted that some can do things that seem improbable, or you’ve gone to get your money back.

As the movie reaches its crescendo we are privy to secrets, truths, deceptions, double crosses, and revenge. Not bad for a film that’s quite short on dialogue. And a lot of thinking. This is not a Rambo style film. Everything has a reason and plan. Some of it is kind of obvious, like in the wax room. Some is more subtle like the tribute to Mark Millar who created the limited series comic book this is based on. (Yep another comic book film – bet you didn’t know).

Now I have to say that I am no fan of McAvoy. He was ok in the Children of Dune cable movie. Beyond that I have no real impression other than he is an actor I have noticed in other films. But he makes this character believable, and when he does get his gun on it works well – especially with the Repair Man.

Angelina Jolie is of course sexy and aggressive. She may be a bit type cast these days but it’s a good type to play. She plays her dedicated, badass, lethal character with just a touch of compassion and pride. This explains in part her near-end of movie reaction.

I will say this; I am upset with the ending. I see how they will make a sequel to this film. There is room for it without silly plot holes. But they definitely took the Tim Burton Batman movies approach. That is something I thought was unnecessary and disadvantageous. It really detracts from the possibilities.

This film is another in the select few these days that I would see again. I will buy it on DVD and look for a few more of the key signs and details that are all over the film if you take the time to notice them. I can also just watch it and enjoy it.

So if you want to take an hour and 48 minutes and slip into a place where your 9 – 5 becomes a little less tedious, this is a film for you.

Will Smith vindicated - 2.22.2008.1

Well here is something else that you probably won’t see in the news in the U.S. today. Not long ago I wrote a post in regard to the well publicized article of one reporter claiming that Will Smith thought Hitler was a ‘good guy’ in essence. The major news media focused on this like vultures, in another example of what I believe is their deep seated need to promote negative images of successful African Americans.

At the time I stated

“This applies to the Will Smith lead character Neville in I am Legend. For those that are not familiar with the original book, or the prior 3 movies, Neville is the bad guy. He is the monster in the night that kills people in their sleep. He is the Dracula, or Frankenstein’s monster. He is the thing under the bed. Net result, he is the bad guy that the people of the world fear, and speak of in legends and ghost stories late at night…

There is no reason to slap the image and personal character of Will Smith. It’s an affront I have never seen made of any other actor. I have heard dozens of actors of note that have made similar statements when portraying questionable or reviled characters. None have ever been accused of promoting the base nature of the character they portray.

You have never heard say Kevin Kline advocating animal cruelty or violence (Fish Called Wanda), or Al Pacino advocating devil worship (The Devil’s Advocate). How about Al Pacino being a role model for cocaine use (Scarface), Sir Anthony Hopkins being Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), or Henry Fonda as an assassin for hire (Once Upon a Time in the West). Of course not. To claim such a thing is ridiculous. But if you look at each character you can see where they have a motivation that is positive (from the bad guys perspective) and that makes the character engaging and deeper.”

But the major media never once made a similar connection or observation. I never noted this commentary in cable or television news and celebritiy telezine shows. They left the commentary, in general, that the comment made by Will Smith was odd and that he was upset. Thankfully they at least mentioned his statement about the article.

But a casual glance will show you that NOONE is covering the fact that a court has awarded Will Smith damages, vindicating his point that this article was misleading, damaging, and an embarrassment. He will also be receiving a public apology, not that the U.S. media is going to cover a second of this.

How do I know this? Because I found this news on Haaretz.com. Not on yahoo or via a cable news channel. The major U.S. media is too busy discussing how unfair and inaccurate the NY Times article against Senator McCain was (and I agree).

Is this different in any way the media covered ther Wesley Snipes trial, who was similarly vindicated? No. Was it different in the way the media ignored the Jena 6? Or the brutal and vile toture, rape, sexual abuse, and kidnapping of Megan Williams of West Virginia – or the fact that 3 of the 6 White men and women arrested for these crimes that covered an entire week have already plead guilty as charged.

I hate that examples like this exist. That discussion of the Oscar Awards, for movies the average American has not seen and an event that is not cared about this year, takes precidence. That the media wasted no time nor money in each of these events to glorify the negative view of African Americans, even if that view failed to convey the true facts and full scope of events.

Well I will simply say this. Congratulations Will Smith. I hope that the public apology will be able to be found here in the U.S. (if any of my readers in Britian see it, please forward me the link) and I will happily republish it. The major news media may not be able to cover the positive news related to African Americans (entertainers, celebrities or otherwise) – as they are too busy covering the birthday of Ashton Kuchner and obviously don’t employ enough people – but I will!

2008 films of note - 1.31.2008.1

So Rambo has come out along with Cloverfield. 2 of the more anticipated movies of 2008 are now out and everyone is looking forward to see what will be coming up next. The choices seem slim to me, and I’d expect the box office numbers to be lower than in 2007.

As I have mentioned in the past, Star Trek fans can look forward to the latest installment of the series that delves into the earliest days of James T. Kirk, Spock, Bones McCoy and the rest of the original crew. The cast is mostly unknown or little known, which can be good or bad. But the teaser trailer that is out, is just a waste of time.



Notice the snub to William Shatner, the original Kirk, in that his friend and original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, speaks the ever so famous intro lines. Hopefully this will be a good movie, and has none of the writers from Star Trek: Enterprise.

I’ve discussed Iron Man, Batman: The Dark Knight, Speed Racer (a while ago – I don’t like the trailers I’ve seen so far), and WANTED previously.

In the world of sequels expect to revisit HellBoy 2 to do well.



It’s a bit over the top, but at least it’s honest about that. The first was entertaining, and the Dark Elf looking villain in this film could be of interest.

For more original fare we have what will undoubtably become a hit film Kung Fu Panda. I mean how can it go wrong. It’s animated, has Jack Black’s voice, a comedy, and has martial arts fighting. This will clear $200 million easy.



Of course that looks like it has far more laughs and interest that the latest film by Adam Sandler. He’s been very hit and miss of late, more miss than hit. Don’t Mess with Zohan seems to be on that miss list, even though it’s sure to make $100 million. Perhaps it’s just me but this film just doesn’t hit the mark. At best it’s just a DVD film, but I won’t spend $20 to see it in a movie theater.



The real winner in comedy is probably the anti-super hero film Hancock. Will Smith takes the concept of a superhero and Superman in particular and twists the concept. It’s a superhero with issues and problems, some especially entertainers and celebrities tend to have. It looks good, and may be a sleeper hit (or at least a sleeper for a Will Smith lead film).



In the line of over the top, silly, action filled comedy there is Postal. This film doesn’t look to have a single serious moment. Of course that does not count what is the opening scenes of the film. Guaranteed to piss off Muslims, and highly likely to anger many New Yorkers (and anyone who lost someone in 9/11) just because of the start of the film. I’ve seen several trailers that look good. The opening isn’t one of them. You can see the other clips at many places, but this is the start, which is not funny to me.



Perhaps it will be worth the time, after this opening, but the question will be can anyone get past that. Sure to gain a lot of protests, who knows how it will go.

What I will go see is some of the following.

Jackie Chan and Jet Li in the same film. Do I need to say more? Forbidden Kingdom



Wanted, Iron Man, Vantage Point



I’ll give you more as the year progresses.

Sean Combs: A Raisin in the Sun - 1.30.2008.1

Sean Combs is many things. Grandstanding, self-aggrandizing, successful, lavish, intelligent, somewhat talented, and thoughtful. As you can tell by my description of the personas Sean “Puffy” "P.Diddy” Combs evokes mixed emotions in me.

I respect his drive and proven ability as a business man. I dislike the rap music and most of the clothing lines he has promoted and created a minor empire off of. He both exceeds and dwells firmly within the stereotypes of a Black man in hip hop. Perhaps neither is the real persona that his close friends and family know, but I can only go by what he presents to the world.

In a way I also admire the determination and self-confidence that Mr. Combs has. He has jumped into several different fields of the entertainment industry. Most have met with general success and moderate to high acclaim. Even the stuff you may not like is balanced by the work and effort he has place in other endeavors. Because of that alone you have to respect what he has done.

But all things are not equal. Sean Combs may be a decent hip hop artist, and a better producer, but he is hardly what might be called an accomplished actor. I in fact would barely call him an actor at all. His lack of training, minimal experience, and pairing with far better entertainers have never worked to his advantage. Suffice to say, were it not for his success in other entertainment and business genres he would never be in a major motion picture like Monster’s Ball.

It is that other than acting success that has given him the title actor. But I will give him the fact that he has tried to grow in his ability. His work in the theatre is part of that growth. The mixed reviews he received for his portrayal of the Sidney Poitier renowned role of Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun show that he is far from ready for such a prominent role.

“Then there's Combs, a music star who has appeared in a couple of movies but has no real stage experience. It shows. He has a tendency to act by protruding his lips, but seldom does much with the rest of his face, body, or voice. More importantly, he doesn't have a firm grasp on Walter's dreams; a major part of the plot concerns Walter's desire to buy a liquor store, but his emotional state doesn't seem to change whether he just desires it, sees the opportunity slip away, or experiences the final result of his attempts. The rest of Walter's major moments receive similarly ineffective treatment.”

Yet he brings in an audience that is new to the theatre. Many of today’s youth are unfamiliar with the stage, or the many rich stories that are found there. The stage is not something you can listen to on an Ipod, or be immersed in on a laptop, and thus has impacted few as compared to the past. This is most notably true among African Americans and minorities.

It’s a true shame. The youth of today have no idea what it’s like to have seen Dreamgirls live on stage. They love the movie, but no matter the emotional power of watching Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson on the big screen, seeing it live is superior. At least that is the comparison I can make having seen the live play in my younger days, and the movie.

Couple that with the relative lack of knowledge by many in the hip hop generation of great actors and stories and I must admit a cringe escapes me. Sidney Poitier is a phenomenal actor, who rose up in a time (roughly a short 40 years ago) when America ‘suddenly’ realized that African Americans can do more than stand agape in the background. [I do NOT mean that to diminish the many Black actors that preceded the 1960’s. They made possible every actor after them, like Denzel Washington, Jennifer Hudson and everyone else. But I am commenting on the standard roles that America limited most of their performances to, wasting the talent that was available to the nation merely because of prejudice and racism.]

The rich stories that can be found outside of jump-scene, frenetic, CGI dominated, action oriented films of today are virtually beyond count. The best of which have often become not just one movie but several. And the actors in which often become the strongest and most famous actors we all recognize on site, or by a mere utterance of a line.

While this may all seem like a digression, it is not. My point of all this is that A Raisin in the Sun is now coming to a broadcast television near you. On February 25th, ABC will be broadcasting the televised version of the play. It will star Sean Combs in the title role, and will also have Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad, Sanaa Latahn and others reprising the roles they had when the play was revived recently.

This is a powerful story that delves deep into the lives and hopes of a Black family in Chicago. The fact that the timeline takes place in the past is irrelevant to its ultimate meaning. So I am happy that Sean Combs took on the role of executive producer to get it into a format that the youth of today can connect to. Sadly though the titular role is that of Walter Lee, which Combs portrays.

The good is that this will add diversity to a generation that has been fed films like Teeth, Soul Plane, and the Honeymooners (miserable remake of a television show). One can only hope it will inspire some to look for the original motion picture, and delve into the movies like In the Heat of the Night, that starred Sidney Poitier and other actors of that time. Perhaps it will be the first step of some on a career that will be grand and rewarding.

"Sometimes people come to a place and don't expect to get the message. This generation, they come for entertainment ... then they realize, 'oh man, this movie is really touching. It's making me really appreciate my family."' - Sean Combs

The bad is of course what I mentioned before. Sean Combs is not an actor, or at least of any serious quality. He does not deserve this role, on television or in a play. His fame may drive viewership and ticket sales, but he isn’t worthy. Maybe he will be one day, with far more training and a lot more work in less significant roles.

I hope that his involvement does not spew a trend, even more than has existed for some time, of rappers and hip hop artists that believe they have talent in every entertainment field because they are popular in one genre. It’s fatiguing to see the pitiful attempts of the majority that have already tried to cross over. Few are capable to any degree. And fewer are willing to take the time and effort that Will Smith, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J and one or 2 others have strived to do to achieve the recognition they deserve.

So is this a positive or negative? Should we be happy or upset with Sean Combs? Both. Like all his endeavors he provides a living visage of what yin and yang can be. Is ability may be lacking, but his spirit is strong. He may be unqualified for this role but it will draw attention and hopefully inspire. He will extend the life of this story, and the scope of a generation in what they consider art and worthwhile.

In the end we all will make our own decision on February 25th. I can only hope to be pleasantly surprised.

M V Consulting, Inc. reports growth in 2007 - 1.9.2008.1

New York (PRWEB) January 9, 2008 -- M V Consulting, Inc. announced today that the final numbers for the entire year of 2007 have been tabulated with phenomenal results. The Company's websites have grown at a remarkable pace, exceeding expectations and indicative of positive acceptance by internet users. In addition the Company's sites were involved with several promotions and events that could not be anticipated, and display the impact that has been made to date.

"2007 was a great year. The blogs of the company grew by over 100% in virtually every metric that can be identified. The give away contests sponsored by the company were well received, if predominantly regional. We were surprised and pleased to receive the opportunity to work with TV One on live coverage of the Heartland Presidential Forum on December 1st 2007. That's something you just can't predict and we are thrilled about it, while looking forward to working with TV One again in the future," stated M V Consulting, Inc. President Michael Vass.

Actual performance numbers are considered proprietary by the Company, but percentile growth and other metrics are available for the public. Some of the most important metrics are:

• Visitors to the site tend to be 41% men, and 59% women
  
  
• 46% of visitors tend to be between the ages of 25 - 54
  
  
• 51% of visitors are college educated, with 37% having no college education at all
  
  
• Visitors to Black Entertainment USA for the 12 months ending December 31st 2007 increased by 156%.
  
  
• Individual pages viewed by visitors on Black Entertainment USA increased by 367%
  
  
• The number of visitors from countries across the globe increased by 35%
  
  
• At the Vass site the breakdown was (this blog only existed for the last 4 months of 2006):
  
  
• Visitors for the full year increased by 5900%
  
  
• Individual pages viewed by visitors on Vass increased by 9700%
  
  
• While the number of countries remained relatively flat. The lack of growth in countries outside the USA may be attributable to the increased focus on the Presidential race and candidate's campaigns throughout 2007 as well as the limited time of existence in 2006.
  
  The M V Consulting, Inc. corporate homepage was launched in May 2007 and therefore has no comparative numbers. Growth was solid and comparable to the first 7 months of either blog, reaching on average 48 countries across the world.
  
  The Company also owns an online store which features 12 separate and distinct clothing lines, as well as providing custom designed mugs, mouse pads, Teddy bears, gift cards, journals, postage stamps and more. Individual sales figures for this division are not reported.
  
  Results of the Company's SEO division are not reported and considered proprietary.
  

Other events

Several other events occurred in 2007 that were of significant importance. The Company created and sponsored 3 separate contests in 2007.

Robin Roberts book - From the Heart - in association with Authorsontheweb.com

Dinner at the Instinct Restaurant - in association with Instinct in Endicott, New York

$1000 for the holidays - run by M V Consulting Inc. with a $100 bonus added to the winning prize given to Cheryl W of New York State.

In addition to these contests, the company was contacted by TV One, which reaches 40 million people via its cable network channel. On December 1st 2007 TV One had a live webcast of the Heartland Presidential Forum, for which it selected 5 political bloggers to comment on live. Of the thousands of potential bloggers available, President Michael Vass was selected for his writing at the Vass blog, and was invited to join the event as one of the 5 bloggers. The company accepted, creating over 9 posts related to the event (prior and after the event) including 6 live during the event.

TV One and M V Consulting, Inc. cross-promoted the event via the individual websites of each company.

Additional items

To date, the various blogs of the Company have created nearly 1000 posts in total. In 2007 alone there was an increase of 201% in the number of posts. The blogs had a total number of posts that exceeded the number of days in the year, thus exceeding publication rates of virtually every other media format and/or syndicated author.

The blogs of the Company have dealt with some of the most topical issues of the year, if not several of the most controversial in perhaps 100 years. Those topics included the death of Anna Nicole Smith and James Brown. The scandals surrounding Don Imus, Duane 'Dog' Johnson, Michael Vick, and Megan Williams. The Presidential candidates of both political parties. Also news involving entertainers and celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and more. Not to mention reviews of restaurants, movies, books, and video games and information about Darfur and the Child Solider Prevention Act.

President Michael Vass is also a contributing author for the 1800blogger.com family of blogs. Mr. Vass writes for a total of 8 additional blogs on a regular basis besides those of the Company.

Mr. Vass stated, "This is only the beginning. Growth has exceeded all expectations and for 2008 we have raised the bar. While visitors to the various sites of the Company equaled or exceeded several metropolitan areas of the United States, our goal now is to reach the equivalent population of the major urban centers of the nation, if not New York City itself. Expect to see our clothing lines in colleges across the nation. And we are looking to lock down 2 exclusive sponsors for the various sites, further minimizing advertising clutter and providing an immersive and non-distracting atmosphere near term. Expect more news on other events soon."

For additional information please contact M V Consulting, Inc. President Michael Vass at info@vassconsult.com or 718-344-6921.

About M V Consulting, Inc. and Michael Vass:

Mr. Michael Vass is a former securities industry account executive of good standing, and currently works in the field of investor relations. He has served in the US Marine Corps Reserves, as well as worked and studied in such diverse fields as entertainment, communications, philosophy and chemistry. He has lived abroad, in Moscow and Tbilisi, as well as in various cities throughout the United States.

Mr. Vass is President of M V Consulting, Inc. a diversified private company that maintains divisions in search engine optimization, an online store, political and entertainment celebrity blogs.

It is the combinations of these unique experiences that have led Mr. Vass to the creation of M V Consulting, Inc. The Company owns Black Entertainment USA (www.blackentertainmentblog.com), VASS (www.mvass.com), a corporate website (vassconsult.com), and an online store (cafepress.com/nova68).

39th annual Image Awards nominations announced - 1.8.2008.1

Amid all the conversations of Senator Barack Obama leading or slightly trailing Senator Clinton in the New Hampshire primary other things are going on. I must admit my own failing here because I have been dedicating a huge amount of time on the ongoing Presidential race. I’ve been following it all since December of 2006, and you can hear my comments on all of that at my Vass site.

[By the way, a Google search today shows that I rank higher than answers.yahoo.com and the heraldtribune.com for Republican pros and cons and wiki.answer.com on Democratic pros and cons. I also am 3rd, 4th, and 5th under pros and cons of Presidential candidates, 2nd – 5th for pros and cons of Republican Presidential candidates, 2nd – 4th on pros and cons of Democratic Presidential candidates. I suggest you take a look at why.]

So what else has been happening? Well the 39th annual Image Awards nominations are out. And while there are no clear surprises, there are no serious letdowns either. The choices on television whittled down a bit, and there were fewer choices among movies, but several items stood out.

There will be a special tribute to Stevie Wonder who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Great Debaters, about the history making group of Black youth that beat the Ivy Leagues in debates in the 1930’s and were denied their place in history, received 8 nominations. This film also stars Forest Whitaker, and Denzel Whitaker (no relation) who is garnering a lot of acclaim.

Best Picture nominations included Talk To Me, with the inspiring and very talented Don Cheadle, I Am Legend, starring the equally talented Will Smith, American Gangster, another good film starring Denzel Washington again, and Why Did I Get Married?, by the ever popular Tyler Perry.

Everybody Hates Chris and Girlfriends again gathered multiple nominations as they did last year. Joining them are 30 Rock, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and Ugly Betty - again.

Dramas included Grey’s Anatomy (again),House (again), K-Ville, Lincoln Heights and The Unit.

The list for best actor/actress and several other nominations follow below:

Actor in a Motion Picture

Columbus Short - Stomp The Yard
Denzel Washington - The Great Debaters
Don Cheadle - Talk To Me **My choice
Terrence Howard - Pride
Will Smith - I Am Legend

Actress in a Motion Picture

Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Halle Berry - Things We Lost In the Fire
Jill Scott - Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?
Jurnee Smollett - The Great Debaters
Taraji P. Henson - Talk To Me **My choice

Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Chiwetel Ejiofor - Talk To Me
Denzel Whitaker - The Great Debaters ** My choice
Forest Whitaker - The Great Debaters
Nate Parker - The Great Debaters
Tyler Perry - Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?

Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Janet Jackson - Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? **My Choice
Loretta Devine - This Christmas
Meagan Good - Stomp The Yard
Queen Latifah - Hairspray
Ruby Dee - American Gangster

Documentary

Bastards of the Party
Darfur Now **My personal pick
Desert Bayou
Price of Sugar
Sicko

Directing in a Dramatic Series

Darnell Martin - Law & Order: CI: Bombshell
Kevin Hooks - Lincoln Heights: Pilot
Paris Barclay - CSI: Meet Market **My choice
Roxanne Dawson - Heroes: Run
Seith Mann - Friday Night Lights: Are You Ready For Friday Night?

Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television)

Denzel Washington - The Great Debaters
Kasi Lemmons - Talk To Me **My choice
Preston Whitmore - This Christmas
Sunu Gonera - Pride
Sylvain White - Stomp the Yard

Song

Beautiful Flower - India Arie
Just Fine - Mary J. Blige
Like You’ll Never See Me Again - Alicia Keys **My choice
Stronger - Kanye West
Umbrella - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

Album

Alicia Keys - As I Am
Chris Brown - Exclusive
Kanye West - Graduation
Mary J. Blige - Growing Pains
Seal - System (Warner Bros. Records)

Literary Work - Fiction

Blonde Faith - Walter Mosley
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz
Cion: A Novel - Zakes Mda
Knots - Nuruddin Farah
New England White: A Novel - Stephen L. Carter

The list goes on, but that gives you a cross section of who has been recognized. The Awards will be given out on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Good luck and congratulations for everyone nominated.

You can see the full list here.

Allegations against Will Smith - 12.26.2007.1

So I’ve read the response of Will Smith on the allegation that he claimed “Hitler was a good guy”. It is complete idiocy. How someone can come to that conclusion is beyond comprehension to me.

Let’s take the actual quote made by Will Smith.

“Even Hitler didn't wake up going, 'let me do the most evil thing I can do today.' I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good.’”

Now when you think about that, I find it hard to see that as an endorsement. You really have to reach to come to any conclusion that is positive about Hitler. Add to that fact that Mr. Smith is an actor, and a very good one.

I do not know how many times I’ve heard actors discuss the motivations of their characters. From Forest Whitaker discussing playing Idi Amin, to Denzel Washington discussing his crooked cop in Training Day, to Gary Oldman in the Fifth Element or The Professional. You can go on and on, but the consistent thought has always been that an actor needs to find what motivates their character. And for the bad guys it’s often that the character does not see their actions as bad or evil. Often that character views their actions as a positive, either for themselves or the world at large.

This applies to the Will Smith lead character Neville in I am Legend. For those that are not familiar with the original book, or the prior 3 movies, Neville is the bad guy. He is the monster in the night that kills people in their sleep. He is the Dracula, or Frankenstein’s monster. He is the thing under the bed. Net result, he is the bad guy that the people of the world fear, and speak of in legends and ghost stories late at night.

But Neville does not realize this, and the audience is not given that perspective until the end of the movie and book. It’s a perspective few films take on, and it changes the view of the world and our traditional views of it.

Thus in looking at the motivation of the character, and preparation of the role the actor must look at it in a manner where you would say “he set out to do what is good.” And there are far too many real life figures that did the same. Vlad the Impaler (who is a positive figure in his native land), Genghis Khan, the first emperor of China, Idi Amin, Alexander the Great, and yes Hitler all thought they were improving the world. That fact that they were repulsive, to at least parts of the world if not all the world, does not change their motivations. To say this is not to endorse their actions but to state a truth of their mind set, and a motivation for actors portraying them.

So when a writer states, immediately before Mr. Smith’s quote,

“Remarkably, Will believes everyone is basically good.”

That is out of context and an insult to Mr. Smith. It’s an attempt to sensationalize a common acting tool and a historical truth. It’s a twisting of words for the monetary gain, and an attempt at international fame for the gratification of the Daily Record writer. And it offends me.

There is no reason to slap the image and personal character of Will Smith. It’s an affront I have never seen made of any other actor. I have heard dozens of actors of note that have made similar statements when portraying questionable or reviled characters. None have ever been accused of promoting the base nature of the character they portray.

You have never heard say Kevin Kline advocating animal cruelty or violence (Fish Called Wanda), or Al Pacino advocating devil worship (The Devil’s Advocate). How about Al Pacino being a role model for cocaine use (Scarface), Sir Anthony Hopkins being Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), or Henry Fonda as an assassin for hire (Once Upon a Time in the West). Of course not. To claim such a thing is ridiculous. But if you look at each character you can see where they have a motivation that is positive (from the bad guys perspective) and that makes the character engaging and deeper.

Some might say this is a racial thing. I feel it’s more an American thing, and a rich thing. Will Smith is a successful American, and Black. Overseas there are many that would love to poke at Americans, and the wealthy. The additional fact that Mr. Smith is African American is just another bonus. It’s a trifecta for a mean-spirited and self-aggrandizing writer. And it has no place in fact or criticism of Mr. Smith and his acting ability.

If anyone believes that Will Smith advocates or excuses the actions of Hitler, they are far too small minded to understand actors portraying roles or the difference of a personal motivation and the actual effect of those actions. It would appear that the Daily Record employs such a writer. I feel bad for the readers of that publication as they are being given a disservice.

I can only hope that the American major media stand by Will Smith, and recognize the insulting and defamatory nature of this writing in the Daily Record. And I ask the Daily Record print an apology to Mr. Smith for the actions their writer and editor allowed to appear in their publication. It’s the least they can do.

The movies of 2007 in retrospect - 12.12.2007.1

As 2007 is coming to a close I looked back on the films of the year, and the actors that made them what they were. It’s quite the mixed bag, with far too many massively overpaid for underperformance. Quite a few are, in my opinion, without the ability to justify the pay they receive, while others are a bit surprising in the modest pay they receive, relative to Hollywood payouts. Thankfully there are many that are worth the money that are a bit long in the tooth, making ‘older’ folks like myself feel a bit better I suppose.

In terms of the films that were hits, that lived up to the hype we all seemed to have. Included in that list The Bourne Ultimatum, Live Free or Die Hard, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Saw IV, Harry Potter, 300, Spiderman 3, I Am Legend [I include this because the storyline has been good enough to make this the 4th version of the film, and I have that much confidence in the ability and choices made by Will Smith] and to a lesser amount Hitman.

There were several films that failed, and most were no surprise to me. That would include Underdog, Fred Claus, The Mist, The Comebacks, Halloween, Code Name: The Cleaner, Alpha Dog, Hannibal Rising, The Hoax, Rush Hour 3, The Brothers Solomon, Lars And The Real Girl, 30 Days Of Night, The Invaders and a few others.

And then there are the special mentions like Aqua Teen Movie, Red Line, Georgia Rule, Ocean’s 13, Talk To Me, Bratz Movie, Rendition, Darfur Now, Lions For Lambs, Redacted, This Christmas, and American Ganster.

The leading films all boasted great casts with some of the best in the industry. It’s no surprise that Johnny Depp made a reputed $92 million this year. The same can be said of the $32 million for Matt Damon, the $23 million paid to the top 3 in Harry Potter and the unknown amounts for Bruce Willis and Will Smith (I would guess in the range of $20 million a piece). As for 300 or Spiderman, every dollar spent on the effects was worth it as that was the real stars. And Saw is just what you expect so it did its gore fest above par.

The worst films, which the list is hardly complete for, were all bloated poorly written refuse that amazed me someone greenlighted. Underdog proved that not every show or cartoon from the past needs to be remade or done live action. Stephen King continued his long streak of failing to convert his quality and success from books to film. Rush Hour, and Hannibal show that making sequels just for the money doesn’t always make money, and Cedric may be an entertainer, but he’s not an actor. Didn’t anyone get the clue from the horrendous Honeymooners movie? They just need to stop making him the lead in movies. The rest were just really bad ideas that turned into really bad movies.

The list of movies that qualify under that last sentence is too long to write. I’m sure we all could think of a couple of those movies, if we wanted the torture of thinking about that. The good news is that 2007 is over and they can only be reseen on DVD, if you get bored burning $20 bills. (The bad news is that 2008 will probably have at least as many gruesome failures – at $20 million a film Nicole Kidman is burning buildings full of them)

As for the last category of films, well they are special. Aqua Teen Hunger Force is a special interest – mostly targeting college kids up late watching cartoons that are distracting and meaningless (which is why we like them). Georgia Rule deserved to fail because of 2 things Lindsey Lohan and Hanoi Jane. I cannot fathom any film that contains the America hating Hanoi Jane that deserves to make a single dime. I dislike her and revel in her failures, personal and professional. [And I don’t care if anyone likes her for any reason, I despise her.] Equally fathomless is the concept that a film based on anorexic dolls could work. Seriously, anorexic dolls with attitudes?

I equally reveled in the failure of equally America hating films Rendition, Lions For Lambs, and Redacted. The abject failure of these films to garner any interest is a testament to the good taste of everyone except the people who greenlighted them. I can only hope that the actors in these films were doing them for the paychecks and not their political views. I would also say that if the producers and writers of these films feel that strongly (especially Mark Cuban) give up your citizenship and move to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan or any other nation that will take you. I will not mourn your loss or the money you have.

But there are also films that should have gotten real attention and distribution. Talk To Me and Darfur Now were thrown to the wayside, the corporate execs sleeping well at night because they got them into theaters. In fact both were solid films deserving of recognition for what they had to say and the performances. Luckily both have Don Cheadle in them, though he is only acting in one. I have to wonder, considering the wide release of Cedric’s movie, that execs fear promoting a film with a Black actor that makes any serious political and social statement. You can’t pay a major media company to acknowledge Darfur has been going on, least of all for 4 years, and America has yet to do ANYTHING about it. We can run around the world and help fix everyone’s problems, but forbid we even distribute a movie about a genocide we can do something about.

Lastly there is American Gangster and Ocean’s 13. Denzel Washington is a solid, brilliant actor. The film is quite good (even with 3 rappers in it). But I have a problem with the promotion of a negative style of life for African Americans. Far too many will see this as a vindication or motivation. The mindless find inspiration in odd places, thus the film upset me. And Ocean’s 13 just proved that sometimes you can make a sequel just for the money and it’s ok.

So there are my thoughts on the films of 2007. Get the DVD’s of those you like, target shoot the ones you hate and get as a gift. And gird yourself for 2008, because Carrotman (it’s an old obscure comic book character) the movie hasn’t been greenlighted, yet.

[Again I say, Iron Man will be the massive big winner of the year.]

Iron Man, Dark Knight, Darfur Now, I Am Legend and more movie previews Part 2 - 11.3.2007.2

Continued from Iron Man, Dark Knight, Hitman and more movie previews Part 1...

Then there are the films that are seriously interesting. Most notably is the film Darfur Now.



I am a fan of this film. I support the call to action that people like Mr. Don Cheadle and others have been championing for years. I am angered by the failure of the United States to address or act in behalf of the people being killed in Darfur. This movie deserves to be seen. Not because it is a fantasy, or escapism, but because it is real and we can do something about it. The major media has failed to address this. Politicians have stuck their heads in the sand about this. Even ultra-liberals fail to discuss this, let alone having had this as part of a single Presidential debate to my knowledge. Watch this film and then do something. Or just do something. Seriously.

Another film for the holiday season goes in a very different direction. A family oriented film, The Ten Commandments will be brought back to the theaters. This is a remake of the classic Charleston Heston film. But the difference this time is that it will be animated. Similar to the Heston classic the voice actors are a group of renowned actors including Mr. Christian Slater (as Moses), Mr. Ben Kingsley, and Mr. Alfred Molina.

Sadly after so many years we still don’t get a decent racial diversity in the telling of this story. The characters may look Black, as they should, but the voices are solidly not. I will never get over how in the Heston Classic, which is well done, everyone except Yul Bryner is White. Now it seems that in this animated film we will have virtually no one that is African or Black, yet this is happening in Egypt.

Oh, add to that the fact that it will also probably be dumbed-down as it is targeted to children. Still the artwork is quite good, and the story it is based on is quite good. And the actors are well up to the task, if not a diverse group. It will easily make $100 million, but the quality I’m not so sure of.

Not to be forgotten is the Will Smith lead remake I Am Legend. I’ve already spoken about it but here is that trailer now. It should do well, and the storyline is quite good. Good enough to have been made into 3 different versions over the years. Definitely a winner.



Of course if this is all too high a quality, you can always watch Harold & Kumar 2 or Fred Claus. But I wouldn’t advise it.

On the far horizon, keep an eye out got Hulk 2 (pray they don’t have Eric Bana in it, and they get a real story), Captain America (now who will play that enigmatic role?), and Wolverine. Not to mention the next installment of Star Trek with the young versions of Spock, Kirk, Bones and the rest of the crew.

Don Cheadle movie coming out in November - 10.30.2007.1

**This can also be seen at All American Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

In the list of things that many may not see in movie theaters there is one movie coming out that deserves more attention. This one movie needs to be seen in wide release. This one movie needs to get publicity and critical commentary. This one movie deserves the media hype and sales pitch given to forgettable films like 30 Days of Night or Transformers, but it won’t get it.

The movie is Darfur Now. A simple title and statement. And I would ask, do you even know where Darfur is or what has been happening there for years? Are you aware of what our government is doing about Darfur? If not, why?

But as for the movie, it details 6 lives that are trying to make an impact and those that work with them in this endeavor. In my humble opinion, all those fighting to bring attention and resolution in Darfur deserved the Nobel Peace Prize far more than Mr. Al Gore and his questionable movie. That’s the real intent of the Prize I always thought. The Nobel goes to people like Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King and such. Not an overly politicized, overly glorified, politician that has not, to my knowledge, even publicly acknowledged Darfur.

Over a million people have been allowed to die without more than a glance by the major news media. Even with the attention major stars like Mr. Don Cheadle (who is featured in the movie), Mr. George Clooney, Mr. Brad Pitt and several others the media and Congress placed this story on the back burner.

For all the movies and news out about wars and conflicts in the world, most discuss the past. This movie discusses the on-going genocide of a people in Darfur. I say that again, on-going. Yet the major news media feels that Ellen Degeneres crying about a puppy deserves 2 day+ of news coverage. Years of murders, with approximately 1 million dead and a puppy going to a different family than where Ms. Degeneres wanted gets 2 days of coverage.

This movie deserves a wide release. It needs coverage. It’s a story that should be told in a big way, even if the studios don’t make a ton of money. Underdog was a complete flop, but they put that out nationally and made a big deal of it. If they could right of that loss, why not take a loss for something that matters and could have an effect of saving hundreds of thousands of lives, literally.

Suffice to say, I suggest seeing the movie. There are plenty of other films coming out by the end of the year to get you into the holiday spirit (not that I think Fred Claus is going to do well or be a good movie) or just thrill you (Mr. Will Smith has a remake that should be quite good out in December). Why not take one day [actually slightly more than 1 ½ hours of one day] to see what is happening in the world, which the major media seems to think you aren’t adult or mature enough to handle.

Comments on Stanley Crouch's Opinion Part 2 - 7.2.2007.2

Continued from Comments on Stanley Crouch's Opinion Part 1...

And we must recognize that this is not just something that is limited to rap. Far beyond the music entertainment industry, there is video and television and movies. They have all promoted and molded the culture to be a commodity that is sold daily. I recall Mr. Chris Rock saying in one of his stand-up shows, ‘Not one of you white people out there want to tade places with me. You could be a one-legger dishwasher, and you won’t change places with me. And I’m rich!’ I believe it went just like that. But that same person that wouldn’t change places with Mr. Rock, and definitely not with somone of more moderate means like yourself or I, is happy to purchase a piece of our lifestyle by owning some FUBU or Rockawear, listening to Snoop Dogg and watching a music video on BET. That’s not an example of a person selling out, it’s a culture as a commodity.

And I want to focus on BET for a second. A television network that is known for it’s singular targeting of African Americans. What does the Viacom corporation think we are interested in? Well loking at today’s line-up, music videos, the Wayan’s brothers show, In Livin Color and gospel. Oh I forgot the 3rd rate blaxploitation film, Leprauchan: Back 2 Tha Hood. Of all the movies, television programs and media that could be provided by Viacom, that’s the best we get.

BET has promoted the rapper image, and music video exploitation of women, more than any other cable channel. Under the guise of giving the community what it wants. Of course several of the shows by Mr. Bill Cosby (beyond the last 2 most are familiar with), Mr Will Smith and those with notable African American leads didn’t make the cut. Not even the original Mission Impossiblwe series, which was one of the first to have a permanent Black supporting character that had a purpose and intelligence. Thanks BET.

I have no comment on the Real World rip-off College Hill. I find the concept unfathomable. S.O.B. is a Candid Camera rip-off that seeks to add in a touch of Punk’d, just enough racial tension to get a laugh I suppose. And Hot Ghetto Mess I will have to dedicate an entire post to seperately.

BET may have sponsored the town hall meeting, but it has promoted and been a part of the problem as much as rappers themselves.

Mr. Crouch has a great point. The town hall meeting is a good step. The growing awareness is fantastic. But we cannot forget what has contributed to the state of the community today and the hurdles that need to be surmounted tomorrow.

This is what I think, what do you think?