HBO's awesome Lakawana Blues, based on the acclaimed autobiographical one-man show by Ruben Santiago-Hudson (who wrote the adaptation and appears in the film) co-produced by Halle Berry and Santiago-Hudson.
The film's full of African American talent and heavies - MosDef has a role as an oh-so-smooth performer in the jook joint - gettin' everyone jammin'. (I love me some MosDef ta def!) Del Roy Lindo, Terrence Howard, Louis Gossett, Jr., Rosie Perez, Macy Gray, Jimmy Smits (who gives a great performance,) the incomparable 
Jeffrey Wright - an unhearalded super talent (watch his performances in Shaft, Boycott and LB - phenomenal!) Of course, LB wouldn't be LB without it's two key actors young Marcus Carl Franklin and S. Epatha Merkerson, who convincingly became "Nanny" Crosby, owning the role which garnered her an Emmy, and rightly so IMHO. (I've never known how to prounce her name. I have a whole new respect for her acting talents after her performance in this film.)It's interesting seeing the processed hair of both men and women of the period. There's a wonderful scene where Rosie Perez is hotcombing Macy Gray's hair and accidentally burns her.
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings('76) starrying Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor. I had never seen this film before. The title is so misleading - no wonder I'd never seen it. I only stumbled upon it this weekend while channel surfing. It was fun watching all the greats. I enjoyed the writing and seeing Billy D all sharp, cleaned and processed in that yellow suit in the closing scene!
Color of the Cross
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings('76) starrying Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor. I had never seen this film before. The title is so misleading - no wonder I'd never seen it. I only stumbled upon it this weekend while channel surfing. It was fun watching all the greats. I enjoyed the writing and seeing Billy D all sharp, cleaned and processed in that yellow suit in the closing scene!
Color of the CrossThe first depiction of Jesus as a black man, Color Of The Cross is also the first to suggest that the Crucifixion could have been racially motivated. Color of the Cross presents a fresh, never seen before perspective on the history of Christianity.
The movie addresses four areas: Jesus and his disciples, the state of mind of the Romans occupying Judea, the issues facing the Rabbis in the Sanhedrin, and the family life of Joseph, Mary and their remaining children as they were affected by Jesus' persecution.
The film blew me away! It's one that I will watch again and again because of it's depth. I love the fact that it's references and script are historically true to the KJV of the bible and the portrayal of Jesus as a wooly haired Black man took my breath away and moved me. Debbie Morgan's portrayal of Mary is intense and dynamic giving me cause to "see" the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixation in a broader, human context.(These opinions are mine - and not intended for public debate.)
5 comments:
I figured something was up since we had not had a post in a while. I certainly hope you get to feeling better, that flu bug is taking a toll on everyone that has it
Thanks for the movie referrals!
I just noticed the nice comments you wrote about "Color of the Cross." Thank you! I am the writer. Jim Troesh. You can find my name on the back of the DVD. Two of the producers whose idea it was to create a story about black Jesus also took a writer's credit, but I did the research, and wrote the dialogue, and created the unique scenes and three-dimensional characters that you seem to like.
I am very proud of the film and was privileged to be a part of it. I even devoted an episode of my podcast "The Hollywood Quad" to it. You can find it on my website on the Hollywood Quad episodes page.
Oops, forgot to put my web address! jimtroesh.com.
Jim, I'm flattered that you some how stumbled upon my blog. Congratulations on the ground breaking "Color of the Cross" - it is absolutely phenomenal. After visiting your site, I'm even more curious as to what lead you to make such a profound and powerful movie. Let me thank you personally for this groundbreaking depiction of Christ.
Blaq this is a wonderful post. Thanks for taking the time out to post this information.
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