I won tickets to 'The Last Jedi' via @theevergrey & @pacsci

I'm a firm believer in a closed mouth not getting fed, so I carry that same spirit into the world of IG and enter every single contest or giveaway of interest. I feel like I've been vibrating at a higher energy level because I've been winning a TON of stuff lately.

Seattle-based events newsletter (The Evergrey), hosted an IG contest giving away 2 tickets to see "The Last Jedi" at the Pacific Science Center. I actually saw "The Force Awakens" at PacSci back in 2015, so I was excited to see I'd been chosen as a winner to watch the latest installment.

Before everyone moves on to the highly anticipated "Black Panther" premier next month, if you still wanna checkout "The Last Jedi" I'd highly recommend going to the Pacific Science Center and seeing it in IMAX.


Pros:

~ The sound is amazing!!!! They did a bunch of upgrades to their sound a few years ago and everything sounds next level.

~ The Pacific Science Center reinvests money spent on ticket sales back into their STEM programs!

~ Reasonably priced snacks (cheaper than other theaters)


Cons: 

~ No assigned seating, so if you're watching a movie (especially in 3D), you'll want to get there SUPER early so you can sang a good spot. They typically open the line up a few hours before the movie time, so you can bring your friends, a snack and a game and wait inside. It's not the worst thing ever... I usually make sure my phone is charged, I have a snack and make the most of it.

"Brown Girls" Seattle Viewing Party 2/15

While it's a shitty time in our country, it's a great time for people of color in television and film. Brown Girls is the latest addition, showcasing the friendship between two women of color in Chicago (my hometown). I'm all about #BlackGirlMagic and women of color having our stories shared on a large platform, adding depth and balance to what can sometimes feel like an over-saturated market of bullshit reality TV.

"The near two-minute trailer introduces some of the shows leading characters, Leila, a South Asian-American writer who is seemingly trying to navigate her own sexual orientation; and her close friend Patricia, a black musician who is struggling financially, creatively, and romantically. In just a short period of time, the clip, which is guided by the sounds of Chicago native Jamila Woods, illustrates a fusion of both of the women’s backgrounds, while addressing themes of love and relationships, family and sexual orientation.

Unlike other series, Brown Girls is led by a crew of 95 percent women, people of color and/or women, according to director Sam Bailey. “When I was putting the crew together, I really focused on making sure that the people behind the camera represented the story they were telling in front of the camera,” Bailey said of handpicking the BG team. “We got on set every day and the energy was just different. You could feel it. Everyone was so invested. It was personal for them and I think that comes through in the final product.” - Vibe Magazine

The Seattle viewing party will take place on Wednesday, February 15th @ Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar in Cap Hill (11th Ave. between Pike and Pine). The event is free, but starts PROMPTLY at 6p, so make sure you head over early to snag a good seat.

Click here for more information.

"Straight Outta Compton" -- a remarkable, must-see film (@ComptonMovie)

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Straight Outta Compton and the movie was awesome! I laughed. I cried. I wanted to stand up in the aisle and c-walk. I felt so many feelings, but pride was high on the list.

I was born in the mid 80s and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, so I was too young to understand N.W.A.'s impact during their prime, but the movie did a wonderful job telling the story in a captivating way. The cast of mainly newcomers allowed me to easily see them in their roles as members in N.W.A. It should also be noted that Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., did a stand-out job playing the role of his dad. Nepotism was NOT at work as O'Shea proved his worth and ran with the role.

I can't speak to the overall "accuracy" of the film and what was included vs. left out, but keep in mind that they're trying to condense over 20 years of history into a roughly 2 hour film. You can only do so much. I promise that you'll enjoy the movie, find it both refreshing and timely, and walk out of the theater glad you came.

This isn't about supporting black films, but supporting the art of story telling and telling stories that NEED to be told.

A few things I walked away learning (no spoilers):

1) I didn't realize how much Ice Cube wrote! His talent is remarkable.
2) Dr. Dre was gifted from the start and blessed with the ability to really nurture the talent in himself and others.
3) Eazy-E was never a real musical talent, but he had SO much raw business talent, hustle, and personality!
4) Suge Knight was always a dusty ass dude whose only talent was the art of intimidation.


Icing on the cake? Check out the interview Kendrick Lamar (one of my favs) did with N.W.A.

DOPE Movie (via @DOPEMovie)

I just saw the trailer for DOPE, and already know it'll be a summertime classic! It's exciting to see the next generation of rising black actors shining in this refreshing film. DOPE will be closing out the SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) this weekend (6/6 & 6/7) and I've already snagged my ticket. It premieres in theaters 6/19, so I'd say beat the crowd and get a look at the film early. SIFF tickets are $13 and can be purchased by clicking here.


ABOUT THE FILM:

Dope

USA | 2015 | 115 minutes | Rick Famuyiwa

Like a 21st century urban update of Ferris Bueller, this remarkably fresh comedy follows a trio of friends, fronted by college-bound ’90s hip-hop head Malcolm, who stumble into a duffle bag full of designer party drugs, leading them down a riotous rabbit hole into the criminal underbelly of the hood.

Malcolm (newcomer Shameik Moore in a breakout role) doesn't fit in with the other kids in his tough Inglewood, California neighborhood. A self-described geek into white shit like Donald Glover, he is smart enough to be on the fast track to Harvard, yet chill enough to spend lazy afternoons debating the finer points of classic “Yo! MTV Raps” episodes with his fellow outcasts and bandmates Diggy (Kiersey Clemons), a snarky ultra-cool lesbian, and Jib (The Grand Budapest Hotel's lobby boy Tony Rivoli), who claims to be 14% black. When this crew stumbles onto a backpack full of designer party drugs, it leads them down a riotous rabbit hole into the criminal underbelly of the hood. Director Rick Famuylwa's coming-of-age comedy was the toast of this year's Sundance Film Festival, combining the attitude of Ferris Bueller, the kinetic visual style of Spike Lee, and the brains of Neil deGrasse Tyson for a totally new kind of film, one that is both modern (Bitcoin, drones, Snapchat) and nostalgic (flattops, Air Jordans, a soundtrack filled with ’90 s hip-hop classics), while also being fresh, funny, smart, uncompromising, and, yeah, totally Dope.

Go see Selma (@SelmaMovie)

This past weekend I went to see Selma and y'all... it was definitely a must-see film. This movie reached deep down and touched my soul, my inner desire for humanity and ... I mean, just taking time to process that this film was based on history... and not some history that happened a million years ago. There are people still alive who experienced this stuff first hand and it blows my mind.

We've come far, but have not really made much progress. I feel like racism in the US has just evolved. Hate and discrimination are still widespread. Human life is still not all valued the same. This group feels superior to this group... that group doesn't want to see this one thrive. We're all stranded on this island called Earth, fighting over limited resources, refusing to work together... running amok and acting like fools. Between the police brutality happening in the US, terror attacks in Paris and Nigeria, and just overall steady stream of bullshit the world continues to crank out on a daily basis, it's easy to feel discouraged.

I found Selma to be a touching film and perfectly timed. The cast was stellar and it was nice to see this snapshot of American history and MLK Jr.'s life. If you have yet to see it, I'd suggest checking local listings in your area and making a date of it. This is a heavy movie, so our group opted for a matinee showing. I'd definitely recommend seeing this in the daytime.

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom Movie Screening (via @CocaCola)

Tomorrow night come out and honor the great life and memory of Nelson Mandela as Coca-Cola presents the screening of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

This event will feature a red carpet kick-off along with refreshments and prizes! Doors open at 6p, with the movie starting at 7p. While admission is complimentary a RSVP is required. Space is limited so early arrival is strongly encouraged.

To RSVP click here.

Movie Review: Baggage Claim

When I accepted an invite to pre-screen Baggage Claim, admittedly I wasn't expecting much. I had seen the previews and written it off as one of those "black movies" that crams in a bunch of talent, has a shoddy story line and sub par acting. So, last night I blew the dust off my social life and attended the pre-screening with some of the ladies in the Seattle meetup group I joined.

In short, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, the plot was predictable... very typical of most romantic comedies. However, the acting was pretty good and Jill Scott definitely stole the show. Both her and Jennifer Lewis were funny and great co-stars. Being honest, the only acting that was blatantly "off" was that of Paula Patton.

I don't know if I'm alone in this... but Hollywood is really trying hard to cram Paula Patton down our throats as the "silly, hopelessly in love, black romantic comedy" chick. I'm sorry. I can't drink the tea. She's not a good actress. She comes off as very airhead/ditzy in most of her roles... and I can't tell if she's acting or if that's just her. #KanyeShrug

Some of the ladies from the Seattle meetup group

Anyways, the movie was decent. I'd recommend seeing it with your girlfriends this weekend. This isn't something you'll get dolled up to see at night. Save your night and either see it as a matinee or before 6p, so you can grab drinks/dinner/etc afterwards. It's only about 100 mins run time... give or take, so you'll still have most of your night to yourself.

Sidebar: Why wasn't Adam Brody included in the movie poster? Him and Jill Scott were the main co-stars for Paula Patton's character. This just felt strange to me... plus Tia Mowry and Lala had such small roles, they could've been left out.

Dustin Hoffman speaks on role in Tootsie

I was watching the news the other day and saw a video with Dustin Hoffman and it struck a chord with me. It's only 3 mins and worth taking a look  - - but Hoffman explains his approach to playing a female character in the movie "Tootsie" and how he had an epiphany during the film:

The first time Hoffman saw himself in the mirror in full makeup as his character Dorothy Michaels, he says, he was surprised.

"I was shocked that I wasn't more attractive," he admits. "I said, 'Now you have me looking like a woman, now make me beautiful.' I thought I should be beautiful if I was going to be a woman. I would want to be as beautiful as possible."

When the makeup team assured him that there was nothing else they could do to make him more "beautiful," Hoffman says he had an "epiphany" that shook him.

"It was at that moment I had an epiphany, and I went home and started crying," he says in the AFI interview, fighting back tears as he recounts his realization. "Talking to my wife, I said, 'I have to make this picture,' and she said, 'Why?' And I said, 'Because I think I am an interesting woman when I look at myself on screen. And I know that if I met myself at a party, I would never talk to that character because she doesn't fulfill physically the demands that we're brought up to think women have to have in order to ask them out.'"

"She says, 'What are you saying?'" he continues. "And I said, 'There's too many interesting woman I have … not had the experience to know in this life because I have been brainwashed.'" - US Magazine

'The Butler' Movie Trailer

"The Butler" (the latest movie from Director Lee Daniels) is slated to be released in theaters August 16th, and I'm so exited! This is the first non-action movie I've been looking forward to seeing in quite some time and the cast looks stellar.

Something about watching the trailer makes my eyes well up with tears. I don't know if it's seeing his history of working on a cotton field which my family did in Mississippi, or the gentle reminder of how much we have been through as African-Americans in the US. I mean, we just are never really taught our history and we so often don't take the initiative to learn it ourselves. I sometimes struggle with enjoying the mind-numbing topics on social media like celebrity gossip, twerk videos, etc... but then remembering how easily we can be set back as a people. *le sigh* I could seriously go on and on about my views on this...

Anyways, check out the trailer and let me know how you feel? Will you be seeing "The Butler" when it comes out next month?

#SummerofGatsbyChi hosted by @Afrobella & @mitzimoments

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of attending the Gatsby movie viewing hosted by Chicago blogger Afrobella and Jet Magazine's Mitzi Miller.

I remember reading The Great Gatsby back in high school and knew it was a "hit" in the literary world, but was admittedly a bit fuzzy on the details. The Jay-Z produced soundtrack initially peaked my curiosity (great marketing) and I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype... After seeing the movie in 3D at Icon I left with mixed feelings.

First can I just take a moment to appreciate the grown man sex appeal oozing out of Leonardo DiCaprio!! I feel like he grew up overnight and finally has some grown man weight and swagu drip dropping off of his life force essence. Ooo-wee!! That man is scrumptious.

As for his performance, I think he did a decent enough job, but overall the movie felt a bit flat. Instead of diving in deep, it seemed more like things were glossed over and more about capturing the glitz of the parties in 3D than putting forth a stellar performance.

Another disappointment was the soundtrack! Color me truly surprised, but I found the Jay-Z tracks more distracting and overall it felt like a huge disconnect. There were maybe 2 songs that fit, but for the most part I didn't like the music. I scrunched my face up multiple times.

This was a movie on my list of summer must-sees, and I feel fortunate to have been able to see if for free and in 3D... but my advice to others is that you could skip seeing it at Icon VIP and in 3D. It's not necessary. A solid movie, but hard to compete with other action packed movies coming out this month. I'm an action girl, so if left to pick and choose, this would be more of a chick-flick I'd see solo on a Monday night... not rushing to see this on the weekend.

My favorite part of the evening was socializing during the mixer after the movie, eating delightful snacks and running my mouth (per usual) lol.

So, are you planning on seeing Gatsby this weekend?

@Chris_Stark interviews Mila Kunis: Best Interview Ever

Clearly I'm American and had never heard of BBC 1 Radio's Chris Starks, but let it be known that this is by far the best press junket interview I've ever seen. Though he technically didn't really do his job of getting facts about the movie out of Kunis, he let his personality shine and showed, once again, how amazing of a person Mila Kunis is. It has to be said that's she's managed to survive success in Hollywood while maintaining her down to earth nature. I love that girl.

Can we get a movie with her and Jennifer Lawrence? That'd be awesome chick overload!!

Must-See Movie: Django Unchained (starring @kerrywashington)

From the mastermind Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained is more than just a slave story... it's an action flick aiming to shed light on the past, but with a refreshing twist only Tarantino can do! The cast for the film is stellar (Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel Jackson, etc...) and I can't think of any movie that has approached the horrific reality of slavery in such an entertaining way. I don't think the movie is to make light of anything, but the fact is that slavery happened, it was unimaginable, and I commend Tarantino for putting together a film that tell a story in such a different way! I'd urge everyone to go out and support this movie... and it shouldn't be a hard choice because it looks pretty freaking amazeballs! If you're looking for something to do after the gifts have been opened and your belly is stuffed full of treats, head to your nearest theater and check out Django Unchained!

The Bourne Legacy: A mini review + Rant

People act completely nuts when it comes to free stuff. Seriously. I don't know if we're technically still in a recession, but Tuesday night I had the opportunity to attend an advance screening of The Bourne Legacy (free event), and people were showing out.

The other half of #TeamDoubleTrouble gifted me the tickets and I was excited to check out the film. It was held at the Icon Theater in the VIP section, and I think that's what started most of the issues. Those unfamiliar with the way the VIP section works messed up the entire process. Seats, though free, were assigned. Tickets were handed out and people should've had the sense to actually sit in their assigned seat. I mean, it's very simple. Look at the number on your ticket. Sit in that seat. Well, that proved challenging for the masses.

20 mins into the movie and folks were still looking around crazy because they weren't in the right seat. We weren't in the right seats because the people next to us (in our actual seats) couldn't move. Know why? Because the people next to them were in their seats... refusing to move... and all this started because someone was in their seats too! It was a mess. I could see the frustration on the faces of the Icon employees (not to mention they were bitching and moaning), but seat issues aside the move was pretty good!

I had never seen any of the Bourne movies, but as a newbie I felt it was easy to follow the story line. It was action packed, good acting, and a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. I wouldn't have had any issue paying for the film and think it'd make a great date night show. If you need some weekend plans I say go for it!

The Countdown Begins...

Next week this time I'll be getting ready to see The Dark Knight Rises!!! I'm definitely on 10 (do people say that anymore? lol) to see the flick... especially after how disappointing movies have been thus far in 2012. I wish so badly they cast Scarlett Johansson as Cat Woman, I mean... Anne Hathaway? Really? But the tickets were bought a few weeks ago and I know the movie will not let me down. I feel like everyone that isn't living under a rock has had their tickets lined up for the past few weeks. So, did you land coveted IMAX tickets? Unfortunately I didn't lol... but I'll be catching it VIP @ The Icon in the South Loop.

Sidebar: Is anyone else feeling disgruntled with the shift the ICON has taken? I don't know if it's the free parking, proximity to the Red Line or what... but the crowd that frequents there now is not what's up in these streets.

Snow White and the Huntsman [Update]

** I wanted to update everyone that I rushed, like an overzealous nut bag to see this movie opening night. I was pissed that the 730 and 1030 shows were sold out, but jumped at the chance to snag tickets for the 1155 show. Yes, it was super late, but I had been sucked in by the trailer and seeing it opening night was a must. Umm... Yeah, that was a bad idea. The movie was too much "snow white" and not nearly enough "huntsman"... it actually made me annoyed to watch it. Yes, Charlize Theron was gorgeous and Chris Hemsworth gives me life... but VIP seats to a midnight showing of a so-so movie? Fuck that son. I'm not about that life. I'd recommend waiting for this to come on HBO and saving your bucks. I really felt hoodwinked by seeing this in theaters. Oh well... You've been warned! **

Truth be told I have no inkling of the original Disney "Snow White" movie, but this right here? This looks amazeballs! Best believe I'll be parked in the theater this weekend and watching this all wide-eyed and bushy tailed. The trailer sucked me in and let's be real - - Thor (Chris Hemsworth) stars in the movie and I don't need an excuse to watch him. All day, every day! He can get it - - STAT! Okay, okay... let me simmer down a bit. I've been getting amazing sleep all week and I'm in a great mood. Even the shitty Chicago weather isn't dampening my spirits. I've secretly enjoyed rocking my Fall-esque clothes and boots again. Anyways, if you're on the hunt for a movie to see this weekend I highly recommend "Snow White and the Huntsman."

Have a great weekend!!!

XOXO

Red Tails...

It's not often I watch a movie trailer and tear up, but Red Tails has done just that. Produced by George Lucas, Red Tails is set in the 1940s and tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen that fought during World War II. More impressive than the fact Mr. Lucas is financing this movie with money out of his own (albeit deep) pockets, the quality of acting and story line is superb!

Just watching the trailer I found myself tearing up a bit. It's easy to forget how far we have really come as black people living in the US. Movies like this portray the strength we have as a people and really hits a nerve with me in a positive way. It may seem dramatic, but wow... black people were doing some AMAZING things in the 40s, 50s and 60s! It makes you shake your head at the things we see on TV nowadays and the ways in which we're not only portrayed by others, but portraying ourselves.

I like guilty pleasure TV and gossip as much as the next person, but movies like this remind you of how many more amazing things we could be doing with our lives and talent other than starring in shows like Basketball Wives or writing songs like "Racks on Racks."

I'm so very excited to support this film and amazing lineup of actors. Will you be watching Red Tails?

Best Movie Ever...

One word: Bridesmaids!

I absolutely loathe when people hype a movie up and it seems to fall flat (i.e. Hangover I and II), but for once Bridesmaids lived up to all the hype. Icing on the cake? My husband loved it too! Ladies, this isn't just a "chick flick," but a refreshing comedy that you can see with your girlfriends or your man.

What I loved most about this movie was how realistic it was. Yes, things were exaggerated and over the top, but all within reason of being something that could just possibly happen.Unlike the Hangover II (which was ridiculously unrealistic-- we saw Thor the same day and I found that to be more believable), Bridesmaids is kinda like that one crazy story everyone has that seems like it'd never happen but actually did - - (I have a few of those lol) but seriously... I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard I was crying!

Without giving any spoilers, my favorite part had to be the airplane scene!! I'm such a neurotic basket case when it comes to flying that I was in tears watching the hilarity and chaos that ensued on their flight.

This is a MUST SEE movie!!



Sidebar: Can I just say how f'ing psyched I was to see a line-up of uber talented women with perfect comedic timing carrying an entire film!!! This seriously put me on a "girl's rock" type of high. This movie is SO funny... instantly in my top 5 funny movies.

Why I won't be choosing the next Netflix Movie...

Last night I finally got a chance to watch Black Swan...

Actually, Netflix sent it over a week ago, but it managed to collect dust on the counter. Nevertheless, I decided to see for myself what all the hype was about. Fast forward a few hrs later and I was left staring at my screen slightly puzzled.

Black Swan did succeed at keeping my attention. There were even times I jumped and had to look away from the screen; however, at the end of the movie I was still struggling to make sense of it all. While I grasped the overall concept of the movie, I didn't understand the amount of hype it received. The acting was good and the story line didn't lag, but I didn't end the movie thinking my socks had been blown off.

This is another instance of how annoying "hype" can be surrounding some movies. Although they may be good, when you walk into the theater with such high expectations there's little room to go anywhere but down.

Another movie I watched a few weeks ago was 127 Hours. *Deep Sigh* This movie was an utter disappointment and actually caused me to fast forward through a few parts. I had wanted to see this film and was excited when the online movie group I'm a part of selected this as their next film... though after watching this movie I was left wanting to cut my own arm off... anything to get away from the screen. I thought the movie was boring and a great example of how real events don't always translate into Hollywood thrillers. Then again, both of these movies got rave reviews from the critics and garnered academy award attention, so could it be that I'm just not drinking the right kool-aid?

My last two Netflix picks have caused my husband to put me on a "timeout" lol. I'm actually nervous to even select anymore movies because these two have been less than stellar choices. I think "The Social Network" was next in our queue, but I'll let him make the final decision... I can't handle another cinematic let down.

If anyone else saw these movies, what were your thoughts? I've been enjoying Netflix a lot lately - - just thanking my lucky stars I didn't drop $$$ seeing these things in the theater.

Movie Night...

Last night my husband and I headed to the movies to see Source Code. Although the movie was pretty good, it's funny to think we paid $45 for a movie that only lasted 94 minutes.

The tickets were $20 and snacks were $25... and let me just say that I cringed at paying $25 for 2 large drinks, 1 small popcorn, and nachos. The kicker is that everyone knows they get over on you at the concession stand, yet most of us continue to buy snacks. In the future I think I'll head to Walgreens and stock up on snacks and bring a bottle of water.

Between streaming movies online from our Playstation 3 and having DVDs dropped in our mailbox, Netflix really has been a Godsend. I'm on the hunt to revise our household budget and save wherever we can. I really suggest any movie lover get a Netflix membership... it's awesome!

Did anyone catch any good movies this weekend?

Black Dynamite Screening Tonight

You and a guest are invited to the advance screening of

BLACK DYNAMITE

Wednesday, October 14th - 7:00PM

Kerasotes City North
2600 N. Western Ave.
Chicago IL 60647

Admission is based on capacity
Early arrival is suggested

Watch the trailer, here: www.blackdynamitemovie.com

Black Dynamite Yo' Self!!!, here: http://blackdynamiteyoself.com/

COMING TO THEATERS OCTOBER 16TH!