April 19, 2018
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys are back to announce episode 128, "Come Sunday." The film tells the story of a Black preacher who challenges the very core of his religious beliefs and is forced to come face to face with religious leaders who oppose him. The random topic of the week is all about the latest incident at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, in which two Black men were arrested for just sitting there and not buying anything. Issues of implicit bias towards Black men and the response are discussed.
April 11, 2018
Telling the story of the famed Queensbridge rapper, Roxanne Shante, Roxanne Roxanne takes us back to 1984 during the birth of rap in New York City. Young Shante is the Queensbridge battle rap champion, and sets herself on a path to fame, but is often thwarted by the actions of vicious and selfish men. The story of self-discovery, growing up quickly, and eventual perseverance is at the heart of the female rapper who inspired some of the largest names in the industry to this day. The film stars Chanté Adams as Roxanne Shante, Nia Long as her mother Peggy, and Mahershala Ali as Cross.
March 29, 2018
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the hosts return to preview episode 127, Roxanne Roxanne. The story of the famed 80s rap pioneer, Roxanne Shante. The film is currently available on Netflix. The hosts also discuss the reactions to the "March for Our Lives" anti-gun violence rally that happened in DC with the survivors of the Parkland shooting, and around the world. They also discuss black gun ownership and the 2nd amendment in reference to Black people.
March 20, 2018
Eight married college friends plus one other non-friend go to Colorado for their annual week-long reunion, but the mood shifts when one couple's infidelity comes to light. Secrets are revealed and each couple begins to question their own marriage. Over the course of the week, the couples battle with issues of commitment, betrayal, and forgiveness and examine their lives as individuals and as committed couples. This film explores the resultant emotional impact that infidelity and love have upon the constitution of marriage.
The film stars Tyler Pery, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Malik Yoba, Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Richard T. Jones, Denise Boutte, and Keesha Sharp.
March 14, 2018
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys are back to introduce the next film. It's that time again, our once a year deep dive into the crazy that is Tyler Perry. You asked for it, and we shall deliver. Next week's episode is on the 2007 film, "Why Did I Get Married." Dealing with married couples who each have unique interactions and problems. The random topic of the week is all about the rekindle conversation around cultural appropriation/appreciation and Bruno Mars. Is he a culture vulture? What does that mean in the modern era, and why is there such a rift between some GenX and Millenials on this particular topic?
March 7, 2018
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss "Roman J. Israel Esq." The legal drama starring Denzel Washington as Roman J. Israel Esq., a lawyer who has spent his career as the man behind the curtain so to speak. An eccentric legal savant, Israel must confront his hardline views of helping the poor and the disaffected when he is thrust into a world of money and power that he's only seen from a safe distance.
When an opportunity for a different life comes into conflict with one's beliefs, this is where the character must decide if his lifelong held convictions are truly worth the sacrifices that he has made.
Cast:
Denzel Washington
Colin Farrell
Carmen Ejogo
March 2, 2018
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys are back to announce the next film starring Denzel Washington just in time for Oscar season, "Roman J. Israel Esq." The film depicts Washington as a former civil rights lawyer trying to find his way in the world after he loses his lifelong legal partner. The random topic this week is all about other minorities desire to get their own "Black Panther" level film to represent them, and some odd pushback from some Black folks on social media. A wider conversation on why Black people are always the first through the door when it comes to racial equity issues and why our actions after that matter greatly to other minorities in the long run.
February 19, 2018
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys are back to discuss the latest Marvel film, and the show's first comic book movie, Black Panther. Not just an exciting comic book film, but there is so much more to Ryan Coogler's third film of his career.
Making his big onscreen debut in Captain America: Civil War, the character of Black Panther/T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) gets to finally step out on his own solo adventure. While the wait was long, it was more than worth it. Director Ryan Coogler manages to deliver Marvel's most diverse and unique adventure to date. Taking place in the fictional country of Wakanda, a hidden gem of Africa with technology that far surpasses the rest of the world, we see the coronation of the new king T'Challa. After watching his father be murdered in Captain America: Civil War, he must become the new leader of his people and learn to balance that with his superheroics and need to be a good man.
T'Challa will be challenged not only at home by other tribes but also from enemies from afar, including the arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) and a newcomer, Erik "Killmonger" Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) whose background is most complex than it appears. T'Challa does have the benefit of not having to fight alone. He is supported by his tech genius sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), head of his royal guard, the Dora Milage, Okoye (Danai Gurira), and his former lover and spy operative Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o).
February 16, 2018
The guys have decided to toss away their previous movie choice and jump right in and handle the likely biggest Black film in the last 10 years and probably for the next 10, Black Panther. The first comic book movie that has ever been done on the show, but a timely and important one. Marvel's latest film isn't just a run of the mill action adventure (though those elements are there), but there is an undercurrent of Blackness that runs through the film that it deserved the Black on Black Cinema full treatment. The preview topic this week is all about Quincy Jones' interview with Vulture in which he spills the beans on Michael Jackson, Marlon Brando, Ivanka Trump, Richard Pryor, Marvin Gaye, and many others. We also get into how freeing it is to be old and Black.
February 7, 2018
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys are back to discuss the 2016 comedy film, Barbershop: The Next Cut. This is the third movie in the Ice Cube led Barbershop series. We are once again taken to Chicago to Calvin's Barbershop to deal with Black issues that are brought up in the shop as well as movements of fighting against Chicago's gang problem.
Ice Cube is joined by Common, Nicki Minaj, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Deon Cole, Eve, Anthony Anderson, and many others to once again showcase one of the most important staples in Black America, the Barbershop (and Beauty Shop).
