A Few About To Be Released Films You Need To Know About

I've been seeing promos and trailers to quite a few movies recently that I can't wait to see. I'm really liking the direction that some of the films coming out this Spring and Summer - documentaries and indie flicks to big budget films and plenty of diversity.

Here are a few that I caught the trailers for and am already planning to go watch:

Free Angela & All Political Prisoners

I've always been interested in the story of strong black womyn, activist and political icon, Angela Davis. The story which will be told by Angela herself and those closest to the events gives this film an authenticity that I appreciate because often times in the movie world, someones story is recreated without their involvement which gives it the "Hollywood" spin instead of the grounded truth.

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The life story of Jackie Robinson, the first black player to play in the baseball big leagues, is a story of inspiration and resilience that is an important one to tell. It's a big budget film starring Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman and I'm just happy to see the story of a black legend played out on the big screen and to have his story told. There needs to be more of this for many other of our legends as well.

The Great Gatsby

The American dream and all that it represents was played out in F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel. I can't wait to see such great actors (Leonardo Dicaprio, Tobey Maguire, etc) bring this story to life. I also love that Jay-Z will score the soundtrack for the movie with a track list including Beyonce, Andre 3000, Emilé Sande and so many more! Can't wait to watch and hear the soundtrack to this movie.

Will you be checking out these movies or any others?

The Conflict With 'Django Unchained": Slavery as a Comedy?

By now, I'm sure you have heard all the press and talk surrounding Quentin Tarantino's latest film Django Unchained. The film, in typical Tarantino fashion is quite unconventional in that it tells the story of a slave-turned-bounty hunter who sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. 

There have been plenty of rave reviews so far including one from Oprah who called the film, “laugh out loud funny” and “cathartic”. Are we talking about the same movie? Folks, clearly this is not your typical Roots or Alex Haley's Queen film that shows the same image of slaves that we've seen for many years.

The reviews pouring in so far and pre-screenings have had quite a few people up in arms about the lightness in which the film is portrayed. Spike Lee spoke out this past weekend, stating that he refuses to see it. He later posted to his Twitter account that, "American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It Was A Holocaust. My Ancestors Are Slaves. Stolen From Africa. I Will Honor Them."

To find humour in a subject that runs so deep that we still see the effects of it to this day, does not sit well with a lot of people. One of the darkest moments in history is now a story that is projected onscreen for all people of all races to see and to potentially find humour in?

It is a difficult issue to draw the line on because as a comedian I understand the importance of humour. Especially with serious topics, comedy often serves as the medicine in a candy as it creates the ability to get a message across and reach people in a way that resonates with them. Humour often creates openness and dialogue. But, can you sugar coat a film about slavery?

We haven't seen a story told about slavery in a very long time as it is a topic that has increasingly become one that is swept under the rug for people to deny its current day impact. Perhaps, this film can serve as an entertaining way to appeal to the masses and re-start the conversation on our history.

I'm still deciding on if I will go and check it out. Will you be hitting up the theatres this week to see Django Unchained? Who saw it yesterday? Let me know your thoughts and reviews!