Deirdre Childress Hopkins explores the world, entertainment and sports

Archive for the ‘Film’ Category

“The Butler” serves Civil Rights

It’s a very rare film that serves an all-star cast well.
I can think of lots of recent flops like “New Year’s Eve.”

“The Butler” is an exception, it serves pretty much every one of its stars well. And that cast includes Forest Whitaker, Oprah, David Oyelowo, Lenny Kravitz and John Cusack. Who could have imagined Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan, other than Philly’s own Lee Daniels? Yet I am sure she could because Hollywood was her backyard growing up.

Filmmaker Daniels, Cuba Gooding Jr and Yaya Alafia attended the special screening of the film at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theatre, newly fortified with a brand new digital screen, four times brighter and sharper than HD.

The film’s mostly chronological unfolding focuses on the U.S. Civil Rights movement – taking the viewer to the heights of good times, family and friends to the low lights – racism, family strife and infidelity.

There are ugly scenes like spitting on black patrons sitting in at the lunch counters of the South. This is not an escapist film.

But what you cannot escape is the depth of the performances given by Whitaker, Oprah, Gooding and the rest. Even my girl Mariah Carey pops up in here.

Just be sure to make it a must-see when it opens in the U.S. this Friday Aug. 16. @Oprah and cast talk “The Butler”– http://bit.ly/19nHCIS

As I left, the buzz was Best Picture.

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Film

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A Fashion Countdown to the Oscars

Here is a link to one of my fave Oscar stories.

It’s all about the gowns.

Here is a link to the 50 Best Oscar Dresses as selected by the Hollywood Reporter – http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/50-best-oscar-dresses-422169#51

I think they blew it a bit because even if folks don’t like Cher’s style sense – she is on my best list because she is MEMORABLE. They threw her in the worst list of course, but for me, you can’t beat a full black headdress: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0804/gallery.feathers.fsb/3.html

 

And here is their gallery of the worst – http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/worst-oscar-dresses-ever-421781

I commend the judges for the selection of Paltrow’s pink, the cups are not filled dress, as well as the love they gave her on the Best Dressed side when she was Brad Pitt’s arm candy.

And of course there was Jennifer Hudson in that hideous brown. I think that helped her seriously do the Weight Watchers campaign.

And dare I say it? I often question Meryl Streep’s fashion sense, but never her acting.

 

 

 

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Film

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Django Unchained – Part 2

Deirdre C. Hopkins, Dr. Ahati Toure, Dr. Candice Love Jackson, Dr. Jerry Ward Jr. and actress Tiffany.

Deirdre C. Hopkins, Dr. Ahati Toure, Dr. Candice Love Jackson, Dr. Jerry Ward Jr. and actress Tiffany.

Whether Quentin Tarantino’s film, Django Unchained, should be viewed as a realistic or mythological portrayal of slavery in the U.S. dominated a panel discussion Thursday at Delaware State University.

Dr. Jerry Ward, known for his study of the work of Richard Wright, described the film as a very American film, a richly satiric cartoon. He said the filmmaker created a collage to shock the audience, offered moments to glorify in revenge and in some ways added to the romance of slavery.

Dr. Candice Love Jackson described the character of Kerry Washington as Broomhilda von Shaft as connected to the blaxploitation film legend John Shaft andshe  looked at the film in the context of Tarantino’s handling of other heroines played by Uma Thurman and Pam Grier in such films as Pulp Fiction.

Several actresses, one on the panel and others in the audience of more than 100 people, debated their conflicts about roles that are offered but fall outside of the acceptable characters that might uplift or improve perceptions of African Americans. I was able to tie this point back to The Help and the difficulties Viola Davis faced first in accepting the role and finally in the Academy of Motion Pictures inability to reward her for that performance.

My presentation focused on the history of film as studied by Tarantino, his focus on spaghetti Westerns, blood, gore and language. The N-word is inescapable in this film. I distributed a quiz on African American film quotes and again, language is part of our relationship to film.

Dr. Marshall Stevenson of Del State set the tone for the discussion along the themes of sex and violence and how they are intertwined with American history. To them, I would add RACE.

Written

on February 10, 2013

Django Unchained Panel Discussion at Delaware State University

This Thursday, the Delaware State University College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will offer a panel discussion on the controversial film, Django Unchained, by Quentin Tarantino and starring Jamie Foxx.Jamie

The event – entitled “Django Unchained: Myths and Realities of Slavery in the Old South” — is free and open to the public at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 in the Education & Humanities Theatre on campus.

This is a topic that I hope provokes a lot of discussion. As a film editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer for five years, I grew to not only understand why it is so important to support African Americans in cinema, but to embrace opportunities to discuss how our culture is often held to the standard of one speaker, one view – the monolith. This discussion, just before the Oscars, will give us the opportunity to consider how the story is told and by whom.

Join us if you can!

More info: http://www.desu.edu/news/dsu-host-feb-7-panel-discussion-film-django

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Film

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Monitoring Hollywood IV, “Beyond the Stereotypes: Black Movie Stars and the Oscars”

Tonight at 7, the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, with the Temple Association of Black Journalists present: Monitoring Hollywood IV, “Beyond the Stereotypes: Black Movie Stars and the Oscars.”

Join moderator Annette John-Hall and panelists Deirdre M. Childress of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mike Dennis of Reelblack, Eugene Haynes of Temple University teaching the course African-Americans in Motion Pictures, and Darla Mitchell-Henning of Hyperdrive.com

The event will be at Temple University, Tuttleman Hall Room 103, 1800 N. 13th St. Refreshments will be served.

Not that the announcement is out of the way, let me say that my love of Hollywood stems from being born there. I watched movies and ran into movie stars from when I was a child going to the grocery store, concerts or sporting events with my parents.

Every year, I would plop down in front of the TV and watch the Oscars. I was unaware of the racial implications of some selections until the year of “The Color Purple,” when Spielberg was ignored, I was pissed.

So come out tonight and talk movies. We all have a story to tell.

 

 

Category:

Film

Fun First Friday in Filly (Philly)

Today I did an express video for work.

A quickie on going to the Design Zone at The Franklin Institute, the African American Children’s Book Fest and its 20th anniversary and three DVDs to celebrate Black History Month – Malcolm X, To Kill a Mockingbird’s 50th anniversary and the Oscar-nominated The Help.
http://video.philly.com/services/player/bcpid586400869001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAABNaNQnk~,w9yktOTDkR3rYcFpqLTpkH6urNiFn06H&bclid=0&bctid=1431769316001

Category:

Film

The Oscars

Today is one of those days that cinephiles mark on their calendars months in advance.

I love the Oscars and I was fortunate to cover them in person back when I lived in L.A.

Now, I edit other folks copy on them, but I am having a lot of fun today.

I want to give a shout out to a local crew for “Hell and Back,” nominated as a documentary feature and produced through a crew at Temple University.

Second kudos to Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis and “The Help” because those are three other nominees of color in this year’s Oscars.

And my last hurray goes to Melissa McCarthy and “Bridesmaids”. Thanks Academy for recognizing a comedy that women enjoy!

Category:

Film

Awards Season kicks into full swing

It’s here and I am ready for it.
Everyone always seems to have so much fun – with alcohol or otherwise –  with the Golden Globe Awards.
Right, Madonna? Or should we call you Madge of the tight bodice?

Anyway, now it is time for the Oscar nominations, this Tuesday.

And next Sunday we get the Screen Actors Guild Awards. I want to thank that group for sending me the following “by the numbers” info today:

FOR THE STAR STUDDED ARRIVALS AND TO TRANSFORM THE SHOWROOM the SAG Awards will:
• Lay 15,872 square feet of red carpet in the arrivals area, edged by 585 lineal feet of hedges
• Accommodate 300 fans in three-row six-foot high bleachers placed along an 180’ section of the red carpet arrivals area
• In the event of rain, protect the red carpet from the elements by 23,530 square feet of tenting
• Post five 10’ Actor® statues along the red carpet and onstage.
• Lay 11,800 square feet of black carpet in the interior Shrine entrance and the showroom.
• Drape the interior Shrine entrance with 4,575 square feet of charcoal/silver shimmer fabric
• Post three 10’ Actor® statues along the red carpet.
• Cover the showroom walls with 15,000 square feet of black drape to create a neutral background and block sunlight.
• On the stage, install 700 feet of steel tubing to support 120 running feet of 22’ high set walls punctuated by eight gold and platinum fluted columns and a central radiating backlit golden sunburst. Two stepped deco arches will be accented by 30 feet of translucent etched fins. Crowning the stage will be 400 feet of gold-leafed and copper-leafed deco molding, illuminated by 400 feet of warm white neon tubing.
• Float a 20’ wide “silver screen” framed by a platinum and gold screen-surround illuminated by 80 feet of embedded LED lights at center stage in front of 200 running feet of 30’ high fiber-optic star cloth.
• Line the stage floor with 150 ‘4’x8’ sheets of black Formica.
• Above the stage hang a 5-foot square crystal beaded art deco chandelier that will be echoed by the four chandeliers hung from the Expo Hall’s ornate ceiling.

TO SET THE DINNER TABLES, the SAG Awards will:
• Place over 3,600 Opus champagne, wine and water glasses, 2,400 pieces Scalini silver flatware and 1,200 square glass dinner plates, on 86 rectangular dinner tables and over 2,400 glasses at two 16’ beverage bars and two wine tasting bar.
• Create custom table coverings from 1306 linear yards of gunmetal crinkled organza, complemented by 1,200 silver satin matte lined napkins
• Soften 1,200 Silver “Simply X” Chameleon chairs with 1,200 black suede seat cushions
• Create a stunning visual setting through the use of florals. This year’s inspiration is a return to the roots. It is an organic approach using the various elements of foliage creating a textured landscape in shades of greens. The compositions incorporate thousands of stems of various foliage, green dianthus, various grasses, calathea, equisetum highlighted with hundreds of succulents, complimented with over 3,000 blossoms of miniature green cymbidium orchids and 4,000 white miniature cala lilies. Each of the arrangements is made in a glass container lined with frosted glass adding a slightly contemporary look to the textured landscaped style. It is the look of a newer Hollywood.

THE DINNER MENU

Guests will dine on antipasto plates conceived by James Beard Award-winning chef Suzanne Goin, deliciously prepared and artfully arranged by Lucques Catering, consisting of:

MAIN PLATE:
• Slow-roasted salmon with yellow beets, spicy carrot salad and raita
• Roasted root vegetables with quinoa and persimmon salsa
• Grilled chicken breast with black rice, pea shoots and tangerine vinaigrette

VEGETARIAN PLATE:
• Spicy carrot salad with yellow beets, cucumber and black mustard seeds
• Roasted root vegetables with quinoa and persimmon salsa
• Black rice salad with english peas, pea shoots and tangerine vinaigrette

Because how the famous eat is no different than you and I right?

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Film

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George Lucas speaks on ‘Red Tails’

It’s funny but what George Lucas is saying about Hollywood’s familiar to fund his new film, “Red Tails,’ brings another all-black, or let’s say – the lead roles, to mind.

Today on the Jon Stewart show, Lucas talked about trying to get $58 million together to produce one of the greatest black history moments – ever. Tough sell with the movie studios.

I had the pleasure of meeting several of the Tuskegee Airmen last year and I can tell you they are real black history and it’s too bad it did not go easy for Lucas. The airmen were cordial, polite and some of the smartest gentlemen I’ve had the pleasure to meet. They signed a book and passed it along the row for me. I know when a piece of history is being handed to me – and with a smile.

Truth: I have assigned two stories on this film and now we are waiting for a film review. I am doing what I can because sometimes a project is just plain worthy, something that needs to be shared with everyone.

So, yes, if this lack of respect is familiar, I am right there with you. It’s happen to us for year but there was one time it felt acute, like a heartache. I had to turn away from my beloved Oscars for a moment.

Remember Steven Spieberg’s  ‘The Color Purple” and how the Oscars gave it no love? How many people remember any lines from “Out of Africa” which won the Oscar that year?

But hey, I’m not advocating someone hand Miss Celie a razor, but…..

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Film, Uncategorized

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Hello Readers!

Today I re-launched my blog as the entry point to all of my journalistic efforts that focus on entertainment, film, sports and world travel. The title is the inspiration of my daughter who’s had a front-row seat to my work. My traveling nature is inspired by my father, John W. Childress III, a physicist who made his last overseas trip to Bejing, China, where he heard the news they had just received the Olympics. My movie passion began with my Mom, Dr. Odile Claude, who encouraged me to watch old Elvis films on Sunday afternoons and other flicks. She gave a mean rendition of “Bali Hai” from South Pacific. And I was born in Hollywood and raised on the Lakers. This blog is where all of this love merges.

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Film, Sports, Travel

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