The Official opinion ::: Cuba Godding Jr.

Actors come and actors go in the tough game of Hollywood. The ones that stay have few options unless they had a string of hits that garnered huge success. Then you have the anomaly that goes by the name of Cuba Gooding Jr.. This guy does what the fuck he wants to do or it is becoming painfully clear that H-town no longer wants to see his mug on the big screen as a lead role. Which is it? Or is it something totally different than that of obvious. With a string of home movie classics it is safe to say that Mr. Gooding is an actor worth every dollar put behind him. However why the straight to video career. Does it make sense to do it this way? Is there more money involved? Does Cuba have a following that guarantees him the money he seeks? I seek to answer these questions.

Let's take a look at his latest film first to get an idea of the man, the myth, the legend. Linewatch is a hardcore look into a mans life and the affects his past can have on him. When he is hit with a propasitional chance of redeeming his past he is caught between a promising future and a past that causes him to lose sleep at night. Will he lose control? Does this make up fore something huge from the old past of his life?

This role may seem cliche, tried and tested, but the stroy is being told for once with honesty and with actors who can play the roles without the cheese covered dialouge that leeds nowhere. Films like that leave you wanting more or wishing that you never sat down to watch it in the first place. Linewatch is not one of those films and it will have you in suspense once you get past the initial slow start.

Although Cuba does not say much in this movie, he ads something to the role that very few actors can and that is that little extra that is missing on the faces of so many actors. That intensity can be taught but it is those who believe in it that make the roles come to life. Which leads me to ask the question again. Why straight to video?

Watch the trailor and I will be back next week with more of an aswer to this breaking questions.

Trailer

Linewatch- in Video stores Now

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Movie to reconsider ::: What Love Is (2007)

For once you have a movie that takes on the task of asking the question of love, from both male and female perspective. This is not your average date movie, but one that will answer many questions that I am sure, reached into the mindset of both sexes over the years. The movie that would answer the preliminary questions of love and its often confusing interactions, has arrived.

This move is a crash course in getting a better understanding of the opposite sex from both sexes points of view. “What Love Is” tries to answer the question the title asks by cramming emotionally diverse men and women on a small set. A witty spin on romantic comedy, “What Love Is” was an enjoyable exception to the rule of answering that age old question, does he or she feel what I feel or are they just as confused as we are?

Once you accept the varied temperaments of the characters in the film you will find the character that suits you just right. This is not a self righteous undertaking, but a trip in the right direction of film making. Although it has a stage play feel to it, you will enjoy the extended monologues of poignant banter from each character. This film is Crash and Babel, for love wrapped up in an easy to digest play brought to you on screen in the form of a romantic comedy, that will actually breed more romantic films showing you both aspects of love, doing away with the patronizing nature of romantic films past.

If you can get past a one act film made up of dialogue you will enjoy this for years to come and perhaps even with its faults use it as a point of reference. Cuba Gooding Jr., seems to be the only actor in this film who required multiple takes. It is as if he does not own the character and he is just a name on the marquee. However Matthew Lillard, Sean Astin, Anne Heche, Mars Callahan, Tamala Jones, Andrew Daly, Gina Gershon, and Jud Tylor, all own the film and made it memorable.

So grab your main squeeze, huge bag of popcorn, and a note pad. I am sure you will take notes on this one. If you don't you don't have nor own a pulse.

After watching the film let me know what you think. Comments are coveted.

Trailer :



Clip:

Movie To reconsider :::: Shadow Boxer

Ever since Cuba Godding Jr. began doing quirky films I began to wonder if he had it in himself to do films that broadened his range. I was wrong and immature in my perception. So what; he, threw on a dress, and took a boat trip! As far as acting is concerned he did a good job, it was just a film that did not interest my taste. However being that I am putting together this section I took some time out to review his films and realized that lets see if he does the film that will bring that about. So what he should do is leave the Daddy day (anything) camp to Eddie Murphy.

When you have gems like ShadowBoxer which is an all around film that has floated under radar. With a plot offering something; that very few films offer. The ability to offer up raw cinematography with great acting, coupled with simplistic, raw, unadulterated directing.

In my opinion studios need to focus on the literature before the cinema and make a great translation. All too often it gets lost!

Leave the big budget at home, give me a great piece with acting that is consistent. Although I do enjoy my big budget blockbusters, but when it is called for. There is nothing I hate more than a dressed up script that should have hit the trash.

Here you have a film about hidden redemption that drags you in way into the last frame leaving you begging for more. With Gangsters and Assassins going head to head in a film that breaks out the mold, all the while offering you a theme that is not to far off base. This a is a cultural piece of art, that has a diverse range in presenting characters that are multi layered and interesting.



The Film stars, Helen Mirren, Cuba Gooding Jr., Vanessa Ferlito, Macy Gray, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, with Monique and Stephen Dorff, directed by Lee Daniels. This cast of characters make up a raw diversity with out over emphasizing it. It is the next generation in film making and it the element in film making that is missing. Seeing actors work together with common interest, and characteristics, is opening the door to an equilibrium that will shatter stereotypical concepts, attaching them to one group or another. Barriers have been broken with this film, no matter how subtle.

Here is the trailer:



Clip is a re dub from pieces of the film with Christina Aguilera's Dirty featuring Red Man focusing on Helen Mirren's and Cuba Gooding's Cahracter interaction :



Stephen Dorff Scene a not for the office :

Movie to reconsider ::: Dirty

Cuba Godding Jr. ; rips the screen apart in this California; good cop, bad cop, portrayal. It is reminiscent of Training say, however with all of its twist and turns it keeps you at the edge of you seat and is by no means a knockoff of the critically acclaimed Denzel Washington, Award winning film. It is the next chapter in a book on Los Angeles and the police forces that has sworn to server and protect it.

Dirty stands on it own two feet and delivers a wallop that you will feel for weeks. It sticks with you like ribs from Crenshaw Blvd on a hot Saturday afternoon, and you will love every minute of it. With Clifton Collins Jr, who is one of Hollywood hidden gems that you can always count on to deliver a solid performance, within the boundaries of Dirty, he deliver a powerful one, and I do not use this term loosely.

With a supporting cast that delivers the grit all that way to the end. Keith David, one of Hollywood's solid supporters, you can always count on him to add the realism to the screen that very few supporting actors can. Keith David brings the grit and and the subtle edge you need to fill out the story with elements that leaves a lack to question.

The movie is also starring in no particular order, Wood Harris, Wyclef Jean, Aimee Garcia, Brittany Daniel, and Cole Hauser.

This film is a must see if you love cop films with edge and twist that keep you in suspense long enough to lose any surety that you may have about the directions the plot is taking you.

Enjoy this clip :



This scene is really interesting once you know how it began and what the kid is about to do next.

Here is another clip:



I am not a movie spoiler so dust off your DVD player and take a look at this fine film that slid under the radar.

50th annual Grammy Awards ::: Amy Winehouse Performance