Movies
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John Boyega's Experiences With Racism Throughout His Star Wars Journey Made Him 'Much More Militant'
Like his Star Wars character Finn, John Boyega is a trooper in the midst of the storm in that he’ll get his work done—but best believe, he’ll fight for what is right, even if it means ruffling a few establishment feathers (also like Finn). What wasn’t right (and downright disgusting) was the racist treatment he…
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Chinonye Chukwu Is Directing a Film About Mamie Till Mobley's Relentless Pursuit of Justice Following Emmett Till's Brutal Murder
We will never forget the image of Emmett Louis Till’s grotesquely disfigured face, after his mother Mamie Till Mobley decided to intentionally leave his casket open so the nation could reckon with the hateful evil that caused it. Additionally, we shall never forget the stark pain on her face as she stood over her son’s…
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Gabrielle Union Noticed Isis Was a 'Bad Stereotype' in the Original Script for Bring It On—So She Made Changes
Hey, Hollywood! You want to continue with the lazy Black stereotypes? Well, bring it on—because folks like Gabrielle Union will call you out for it and make sure it’s changed. In a recent interview with Vogue, Union reflected on her experience on the set of Bring It On, where she played the iconic head cheerleader…
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8 Reasons Why The Five Heartbeats Are the Best Fictional Black Movie Music Group of All Time
The Five Heartbeats, the 1991 movie written and directed by—and also starring—Robert Townsend (Keenan Ivory Wayans was a co-writer) is easily one of my favorite movies of all time. For my money, The Five Heartbeats is the greatest fictional Black music group of all time, and that is indisputable. Sure, there are other fictional groups…
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Toronto International Film Festival Taps Denzel Washington, Ava DuVernay and Barry Jenkins for Virtual Conversations
Like many other hallowed Hollywood events, the 20th anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival will look very different this year. The popular festival is expected to be held virtually from Sept. 10-19 and will hold several virtual conversations with industry heavyweights. According to The Hollywood Reporter, TIFF booked Denzel Washington, Ava DuVernay and Barry…
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Black Is King Director Blitz Bazawule to Direct The Color Purple Musical Film
Samuel “Blitz” Bazawule is booked and busy. Naturally, having your name in the directing credits of Beyoncé’s Black Is King automatically increases your profile to astronomical levels, causing everyone to want to work with you. Well, Blitz already has an upcoming huge project in the works and it’s a beloved classic. According to Deadline, he…
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You Can Watch These Films for Free During the 'Black Stories Matter' Series From AFI and Universal
Running out of content to watch during the lockdown? Well, most folks have been finding comfort in rewatching their favorite films and television shows so if you’d like to do something like that, the American Film Institute (AFI) and Universal Pictures have teamed up with something special for you. As part of the AFI Movie…
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First Look Clip: Janelle Monáe Breaks Down White People's Fear Masked as Anger in Antebellum
There’s a quote attributed to George Washington Carver that applies to many things: “Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater. Keep your thoughts free from hate, and you need have no fear from those who hate you.” That quote applies to the very…
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Issa Rae Is Producing a Film About Tanya Smith, a Black Girl Who Outwitted the FBI and the U.S. Banking System
The Issa Rae machine won’t stop, y’all! Speaking of machines, Rae’s latest project involves teaming up with David Heyman to produce a feature film adaptation of Tanya Smith’s upcoming memoir, The Ghost in the Machine. Smith will executive produce the film. Deadline breaks down the fascinating story: The memoir tells Smith’s unbelievable story— of how…
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Will Smith and Kevin Hart Set to Star in, Produce Planes, Trains & Automobiles Reboot
Planes, Trains & Automobiles—the 1987 Steve Martin and John Candy-led comedy film from the late John Hughes—is set to get a 21st-century reboot, with Will Smith and Kevin Hart reportedly locked to star and produce. The original film is centered around two men attempting to use various modes of transportation in order to get back…