Spring is looking good for movies - at least as far as I'm concerned. Aside from Dreamgirls, I haven't exactly been racing to the movie theater lately.
Chris Rock has a new film coming out called I Think I Love My Wife. It's about an investment banker that is bored with his marriage - in part, because his wife (Gina Torres) is caught up in her career and with their children - so he passes the time fantasizing about other women. He has no intention of actually cheating (they never do, right?) until an old pal (Kerry Washington) shows up. The film is also a remake of the 1972 French film Chloe in the Afternoon, the last of the Six Moral Tales by Eric Rohmer.
I haven't seen Gina Torres in anything other than Cleopatra 2525 (Yes, I am one of about 3 people in the world that has not seen each installment of The Matrix), so I can't wait to see her here. Oh, and congrats to Gina and her husband Laurence Fishburne on their impending arrival.
I am also happy to see Kerry Washington in what looks like another good movie for her. She's had some very good, pivotal roles lately. I can't wait to see her get a truly breakout role. And, Mr. Chris Rock. I'm always rooting for Chris. I've met him twice (a long time ago) and I was always struck at what a quiet guy he is. Last summer, I saw him walking down the street one night with some takeout in his hand. I guess he was going home. Still got that quiet vibe from him.
Also, I'm glad to see that he doesn't think he loves his wife, he just loves his wife.
* I'm a big Mira Nair fan, so I will definitely be in the theater next weekend to see her latest film, The Namesake, an adaption of Jhumpa Lahiri's wonderful novel. Lahiri won a Pulitzer Prize for her
amazing story collection, Interpreters of Maladies and The Namesake is nearly as good. Also, check out The Namesake blog hosted by the film's star, Kal Penn. He has come a long way from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, bless his heart. And he's from Jersey!
* I'm also looking forward to Terrence Howard's latest film, Pride, which will open on March 23. Bernie Mac and Kimberly Elise also star in the film. Terrence plays a Philadelphia coach that founded a black swim team in one of the city's roughest neighborhoods. Evan Ross, son of Diana is also in the film. I think he is a really good kid. I met him about a year or two ago at a show featuring his big sister Rhonda Ross Kendrick. I couldn't believe how nice and mature he was (he had to be 16 or so at the time.) You know how it is, teenagers tend to give you one word answers when their eyes aren't glazing over. Not so with young Mr. Ross. He was really a gentleman. I'm expecting good things from him in the future.
* Halle Berry and Bruce Willis's Perfect Strangers is finally coming out on April 13th. I feel like I've been hearing about this for a while, so I hope it's good. Speaking of Halle movies, where is Nappily Ever After Miss Berry? And Composition in Black and White? That's what I want to see. I really hope both films are truly in the pipeline. Oh, and by the way, if Alicia Keys doesn't work out as Philippa Schuyler, perhaps Jurnee Smollett can take over the role? I haven't seen her since Eve's Bayou and yet, I am still convinced that there is an Oscar somewhere with her name on it.
Love and (Black) Marriage
* Uptown and Down by Jennifer Anglade Dahlberg. Trouble in the Harlem Paradise of a chic Manhattan magazine editor and her record label owner husband.
* Jump at the Sun by Kim McLarin. Yes, I featured this in my Valentine's post, but it happens to fit here. A black stay-at-home mom seems to regret her decision to leave her promising academic career behind.
* Couples in the 2008 Race via Newsweek. The Obamas vs. The Clintons.
* Michelle Obama: Reluctant Political Spouse? Not really.
* Diane Patrick lends her voice, personal touch via The Boston Globe. A June 2006 profile from the campaign trail on the woman who is now Massachusett's first African-American First Lady, Diane Patrick.
* Michelle Fenty Enjoying Life As D.C.'s First Lady via NBC4 in D.C. Michelle Fenty says that everytime someone calls her 'first lady' she has to chuckle.
* Why Did I Get Married? Janet Jackson, Jill Scott and Sharon Leal (Dreamgirls) will star in Tyler Perry's next film. Should be interesting.

















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