whatchuSEE: make sense cinema
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
WhatchuSEE Special Reports covers news and entertainment events with a focus on media, youth, and culture.
October 24, 2006
Catch a Fire
By A.L. "Toni" Anderson
.jpg)
Derek Luke (Glory Road - 2006) and Tim Robbins (Mystic River - 2003) star in Catch a Fire (2006), the dramatic new film by Australian director Phillip Noyce (The Bone Collector - 1999). The film is based on the life of Patrick Chamusso, past employee of the Secunda Oil Refinery in Transvaal, South Africa, and present political activist. The overwhelming injustice of apartheid in 1980s South Africa converts a loyal “company man” into a raging revolutionary.
Catch a Fire is a fascinating story of racially segregated life in European-dominated South Africa, which closely parallels our struggle for civil rights here in the U.S. Throughout the film, there is a bloodthirsty search for African “terrorists” who are merely seeking to regain their dignity.
The film begins with random military-style checkpoint activity, vicious police dogs prowling, and unconscionable violence against alleged members of the African National Congress. Robbins is Nic Vos of the Police Security Branch, one of the prime perpetrators of the out-of-control violence, in search of “terroristic activity” within the oil refinery plant. The picture of blatant racism and cruelty is enough to make one want to weep — or to fight back! Chamusso chooses to do both.
On the surface, Chamusso seems to be an ordinary upright citizen. He is a hard-working man who holds a position of responsibility in the refinery. He has a fine family that he loves at home. He also has a secret that places it all in jeopardy, and ultimately is instrumental in bringing about his personal downfall. It is the revelation of this secret that is at the heart of a devastating betrayal, and the loss of family and freedom.
Chamusso’s comely wife is played by Bonnie Mbuli (Drum - 2004). Other supporting cast are Mncedisi Shabangu (Hijack Stories - 2000) as Zuko September, Tumisho Masha (Drum - 2004) as Obadi, Sithembiso as Sixpence, a soccer prodigy who plays on Patrick’s youth team, and Mxo as rebel warrior “Pete My Baby.”
Patrick Chamusso appears in person at the end of the film, interacting with actor Derek Luke. Also appearing in the film are Chamusso’s wife and many adopted children, along with the orphanage they run entitled Two Sisters (www.twosisters.org.za). There is a cameo appearance by Nelson Mandela, former President of the ANC and of the Nation of South Africa.
The film is named for an early album by Bob Marley and the Wailers, and prominently features their music. With its gripping documentary footage and presentation of the people’s fight against injustice, this excellent film is likely to ignite a fire in you! The film opens in theaters on Friday, October 27, 2006.
Comments
Gridiron Gang
By A.L. "Toni" Anderson
Gridiron Gang (2006) is based on the true story of a group of teenaged male juveniles housed in Los Angeles County’s Camp Kilpatrick in Malibu, California. WWF wrestling champion Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as probation officer and camp counselor Sean Porter. Along with several other of the real life individuals, Porter appears in documentary footage at the end of the film.
The screenplay for the film Gridiron is written by Jac Flanders and Jeff Maguire, and is directed by Phil Joanou (Heaven’s Prisoners - 1996). [The original made-for-television documentary Gridiron Gang (1993) garnered Lee Stanley an Emmy Award.]
Rapper Xzibit (Pimp My Ride) is cast as Malcolm Moore, camp counselor and assistant coach. Leon Rippy (Deadwood) is camp director Paul Higa; Kevin Dunn (All the King’s Men - 2006) is associate camp director Ted Dexter. Willie Weathers, who turns out to be a phenomenal runner, is played by Jade Yorker (Third Watch). Jurnee Smollett (Eve’s Bayou - 1997) is Danyelle, the girl who influences him to be a better man.
As the title implies, the majority of the camp’s residents are gang members, some of whom are murderers and long-time sworn enemies. In the facility and on the street, there is great violence. It is a way of life for the camp’s inhabitants, and is the only method they know of resolving difficulties. As a result, it is not uncommon for residents to return to the facility after being released. Coach Porter is instrumental in turning the destructive behavior around.
Porter’s own background in football and his continuing love for the sport makes the decision to coach a football team a no-brainer. What remains to be seen is whether the proposed team members have what it takes. On the gridiron, the gangs slowly develop into a team, exhibiting loyalty, cohesiveness, and the ability to act in unison. They even prove themselves to be fairly decent football players.
Although the film is based on real-life characters and events, some of the events are altered for the film, and some of the characters are composites of real people.
Much of the filming takes place at the actual facility, which is not scenic by a long shot. The acting here is also not fabulous. The story, however, transcends the film’s shortcomings. Initially, it appears that the violence will overwhelm and practically obliterate the more positive images. Though the violence continues, there is a much greater balance toward the end of the film. Surprisingly, there is reason to laugh and to cheer. As Porter encourages and inspires the players, so is the audience encouraged and inspired. If you can deal with the initial violence, you will be as well.
Comments
Miami Vice
By A. L. “Toni” Anderson
At long last, the movie version of a favorite television series of the late 1980s, Miami Vice, has been brought to the big screen. The original Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) were some of the coolest guys ever to grace a television set. Can Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx measure up? Could anyone, ever?
Tubbs and Crockett are back undercover and on the case, on the trail of cop-killing drug distributors in and around Miami, Florida. Only this time the action takes place in Paraguay, Brazil, Haiti, Argentina, Colombia, and Cuba. Maybe this should be called International Vice instead.
The original Miami Vice was a slick, stylish tribute to fast cars, sexy music, and beautiful people. Twenty years later, Crockett and Tubbs seem to have aged accordingly, and the years have not been kind. Miami Vice was as much a feeling as anything, and it appears that the thrill has gone. The adrenaline rush has vaporized. If the intent is to appeal to an older generation of fans of the television series, the makers of this film should know that the attraction of remakes is the recapture of one’s own youth. Absolutely nothing is recaptured here. The atmosphere is totally lacking, the music is disappointingly low-key, and the language itself is often nearly unintelligible.
As usually happens when a 60-minute “episode” is expanded to fill a two-hour movie bill, the pace of the film is a bit on the slow side. There is not really enough going on to fill 140 minutes, and the film suffers for the attempt. Tubbs’ character tries to fill in some of the dead spots with Foxx-esque humor, but even that falls flat. Bits of dialogue are borrowed from 1970's private eye Baretta; they sounded better coming from Robert Blake.
Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest - 2006) plays Tubbs’ love interest, Trudy, and Gong Li (Memoirs of a Geisha - 2005) plays the “businesswoman” who turns Crockett’s head. Barry Shabaka Henley (Lackawanna Blues - 2005) is the lieutenant supervising the operation. Various good and bad guys are portrayed by Elizabeth Rodriguez (The Shield), Spanish-born Luis Tosar, John Ortiz (Take the Lead - 2006), and Domenick Lombardozzi (Entourage). The part of El Tiburon is played by Mario Ernesto Sánchez, who appeared in several episodes of the Miami Vice television series. Michael Nunn, the executive producer of the original, this time plays the roles of director, producer, and screenwriter. The music is provided by John Murphy, with selections by Moby and Nonpoint. How can you have In the Air Tonight without Phil Collins? How can you have Miami Vice without Phil Collins?
As excited as I was to see the new Miami Vice, my excitement quickly dissipated As much as I like Jamie Foxx, he can forget about an Oscar nomination for this one.
Comments
Archive:
Catch a Fire
Gridiron Gang
Miami Vice
Blues Masters Art Exhibit
The Sentinel
Inside Man
Freedomland
Something New
Hip Hop Colony
The Black Dot Collective: New Orleans to Oakland
What Time Is IT? Clocking The Soul of The Black Cinema Nation
Great Film for "The Greatest"
Bamboozled and Befuddled