Southern Girl Movie Review: “35 and Ticking”

Happy Monday!  Last Thursday, as I was driving in to work, I was flipping through morning shows and stumbled upon the “Russ Parr Morning Show” while they were discussing his film “35 and Ticking” which would be on BET that night.  I have to admit, I wasn’t that excited about seeing it, but I figured if I couldn’t find anything else to watch, I would tune in.  I must admit I was glad I did.

The movie boasts an ensemble cast which did an amazing job.  The star is Nicole Ari Parker, a 37 year old single, childless sports reporter who is loudly hearing the tick of her biological clock.  I could relate to her character, Zenobia, on SO many levels!  She tried internet dating, had the date from hell, and past set-ups with men her friends introduced her to turned out to be dreadful.  Her best friend Victoria, played by Tamala Jones, was ready to start a family with her husband of 3 years, but he wants to wait until they’re more financially stable.  Rounding out their friends from childhood are Cleavon, played by comedian Kevin Hart, a “banker” who specializes in deposits and continues to run into the love of his life, and Phil, played by Keith Robinson, a family man who struggles with a wife that runs the streets.

If I can be honest, this movie was much funnier than I thought it would be.  I laughed out loud multiple times.  And as I was mentioning in previous posts regarding television shows, the characters in this film could be my friends and me.  I felt that a lot of the story lines could be taken from conversations I had with people in my cirlce.  I don’t want to give the movie away, but there were some surprises.  The two things that I took away from this movie were: 1.  What you’re looking for could be right in front of you and 2.  Not everything that looks good is good.  I know I complain talk a lot about having quality products that we can view and can even let our (older) children watch.  Well, this movie is it.  There are a number of life lessons that can be taken from this movie. 

I told my friend @OriginalNajeema about the movie, and she mentioned we needed to go buy it. (I’ll be visiting Amazon.com in 5, 4, 3…) 

If you want a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and just enjoy a night in with friends over popcorn and wine, this is the movie for you!  You can’t go wrong.  Honestly, it’s been awhile since I’ve laughed this hard at a movie.  If you’ve seen it, what did you think?  Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city!

“The Heart Specialist” Interview Part 2

A few weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with actor Brian White.  And just calling him an actor does not do him justice; this man is a youth activist, former lacrosse player, and a licensed stock broker.  It was an absolute pleasure to speak with him about the film “The Heart Specialist” and what he has upcoming. 

Brian was initially drawn to the role based on those who were already cast, Wood Harris and Zoe Saldana.  He also appreciated the script because it showed Black people in a role where you don’t often see us-his character, Dr. Ray Howard, is a Harvard educated doctor, and Harris’ and Saldana’s characters have a unique partnership.  In regards to that storyline, White stated, “You don’t get to see the relationship that Wood and Zoe’s characters’ have-a healthy friendship, a respectful friendship. A lot of love there, but you don’t see any sex.  There’s no raw sex.  It’s very classy-a mutually platonic relationship. They’re leading by example, and that’s what Ray sees.   And that’s what people need to see, especially a lot of African-American youngsters.  And that’s one of the messages we wanted to put out there-how to do things the right way.”   Ray lost the love of his life through his womanizing ways but still wanted to hold on to a piece of their relationship.  But through  the tutelage of Dr. Z, Ray was able to grow up.  Through the meataphors of the medical profession, Ray learned how to love. 

Education and the next generation of African-Americans are some of the essential elements important to Brian.   He feels that our community is lacking in parental involvement and in educating our young.  On his recent UNCF tour, he was able to visit Cass Tech High in Detroit, MI.  After talking with the principal, Brian learned that students’ performance is not soley based on funds; it’s based on parent involvement; White stated, “It’s based on how many parents help their kids with homework at night; it’s based on how many parents are involved in the day-to-day, moment-to-moment activities of their kids. It’s how many parents are calling the teachers and principals telling them ‘Don’t take it easy on my kids. Give ‘em the business-we’ll give ‘em the business at home. We’ll tag team them.  They won’t have a chance but to focus.’  Those parents in Detroit do that.  The parents where I grew up in Boston do that.  The parents in Colorado, in Denver, do that.  They’re kicking their kids’ butts, and that’s why schools succeed.  That’s why I’m focusing my energy on our community and encouraging my peers and parents [to become involved].  We can’t say, ’It’s them’ anymore.  We have a Black president.  We have a leading candidate on the Republican side who’s Black.  The playing field is fairly level and that’s how we take advantage of the opportunities that are available to us.  And if I can use entertainment for anything, it’s to get information out to people to empower them.  Complaints go away and information and elevation happens.” 

Brian has TONS of things upcoming!  His latest movie, “Politics of Love”, co-starring Mallika Sherawat, Ruby Dee, and Loretta Devine, premiered in the US, Asia, and Europe.  In February 2012, “Good Deeds” will be released.  And “The Cabin in the Woods” makes its U.S. debut in April of next year.  He also wrote a book, Black Carpenter, the ”young person’s guidebook to essential tools for life”, which is currently available on its website at www.blackcarpenter.org and www.amazon.com.  And don’t forget that “The Heart Specialist” is currently out on DVD. 

To stay in touch with Brian, you can find him on Twitter at @ActorBrianWhite, on the web at www.brianwhiteonline.com, and to see his tour schedule, visit the Black Carpenter website.  I want to thank Brian for allowing me to interview him.  He has such a warm spirit and genuinely cares about people and leaving this world a better place than when he found it.  He not only talks about empowering others-he’s doing something about it.  For those of you in DC this weekend for Howard’s homecoming, you may see Brian out and about…and your favorite Southerner!   Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city!

“The Heart Specialist” Interview Part 1

“The Heart Specialist”, a romantic comedy based on a true story starring Wood Harris, Zoe Saldana, Brian White, Mya, and a host of other stars, initially premiered at the Boston Film Festival as a short in 2006.   After winning the festival, it took writer/director/producer Dennis Cooper a few more years to secure funding and turn this film into a full length feature.  This past Tuesday, October 4, “The Heart Specialist” was released on Blu-Ray and DVD.  I had the great pleasure to speak with two stars from the film, Mya and Brian White.  This post will detail my conversation with DC area native, Mya.

We all became familiar with Mya with her debut single “It’s All About Me” in 1998.  Since then, she has gone on to release six studio albums, appear in dozens of shows and movies, and won a SAG award for her performance in “Chicago”.   She’s currently working on her 8th album K.I.S.S. (Keep it Sexy & Simple) Version 2.  With an upcoming birthday (October 10), Mya is continuing having fun in her life but staying busy.  “The business is challenging”, Mya states, “but I stay grounded by having my spirituality and having a great support system.”  When asked what drew her to the role of Valerie, the ex-love interest of Brian White, Mya told me it was her “personal experience.  I was interested in the way the film exposed the medical field; plus the script was pretty funny.”  While she originally filmed this in 2006, she didn’t spend too much time with the entire cast, many of whom were added on later, but she still keeps in touch with Zoe (Saldana) and Wood (Harris). 

Mya always knew she wanted to act…but in the theater.  Growing up as a dancer, she had no idea her career path would take her down the road she’s travelled.  When asked if she knew her musical career would branch into modeling and film, Mya stated, “I never saw myself as a model; that’s not something I aspired to be.  But I did design a lot of sketches and outfits I saw being made for stage shows.  I did that before I even got my record deal.  So I definitely thought I would be designing over modeling.  Regarding acting, Broadway was something I wanted to be a part of early in my teens; so definitely acting, but maybe more in a theatrical way, in live stage performances.”   Regarding her experience while performing in the Oscar winning movie “Chicago” and thus winning her Screen Actor Guild’s Award for Best Acting Ensemble, Mya described her experience in one word-”AMAZING!” 

Mya continues to stay busy and has numerous projects and activities on which she’s working.  First, K.I.S.S. Verson 2 will be released via her website, www.myamya.com, in December 2012.  She will also participate in a marathon on November 6 in New York City for the ING NYC Marathon.  To find out more about Mya’s team, to hear her personal message, and to donate, visit her site at www.AnimalLeague.org/RunMya.  To keep in touch with Mya, visit her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MissMya. 

I want to thank Mya for allowing me to interview her.  Don’t forget to get your copy of “The Heart Specialist”, currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD!  Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city!

Mya with co-star Brian White

My Rant for the Day

First things first- Can I say that I am beyond SHOCKED that news has surfaced Will and Jada have separated????  Yes, I know that I don’t know them, but let’s be real.  We hold celebrities to certain statuses in our lives, especially when it comes to relationships. weight, looks, money, etc.  And it seemed that the Smiths had it together-a beautiful family, talented kids, businesses, both were currently working.  I know more than a few of us thought that Will and Jada were the epitome of Black Love, right up there with Ossie and Ruby, Angela and Courtney, Bill and Camille, the list goes on.  I know it’s NOT going to happen, but we should leave the Smiths alone during this very personal matter. 

Next up, I saw “The Help” last Sunday.  While I appreciate my girls inviting me out and having a bang-up Sunday night, I really don’t know my thoughts on the movie.  I had no desire to see the film, but I didn’t have any plans (and they changed the time they were going just for me), so I decided to go.  “The Help” was an enjoyable film, but I don’t know if I liked it.  Honestly, I have to see it again before I can do a real Southern Girl Review.

I bought Beyonce’s “4″ about a week after it came out.  I am probably once of the biggest Bey Stans there is, but I don’t think I’m a fan.  As I told a friend, I’m not a Ballad Beyonce fan (think “Listen”); I like more up-tempo, dance hits (think “Single Ladies”).  And since her newest album is more ballads, I wasn’t feeling it.  I have been listening to it more with the intent to give the album an honest listening to and determination in my opinion.  As of today, the jury’s still out. 

So, that’s my rant for the day.  No rhyme or reason, no logic.  Just my thoughts on some things that are going on in pop culture.  And for those of you who know how I feel about the Kardashians, I purposefully did not discuss Kim and Kris’ nuptials this weekend.  Until next time, I’m just a Southern Girl…in the city!

Way Back Wednesday-”Jungle Fever”

In 1991, Spike Lee released a film that changed the way America looked at interracial dating.  This past weekend, I decided to watch ”Jungle Fever”, seeing as how I haven’t watched it in its entirety in some years (and it was part of the The Spike Lee Collection that I had just purchased).  And as is expected, my take-aways from the movie have evolved over the years.  I don’t exactly remember the source, but I do remember reading somewhere that Spike initially wanted to make a movie portraying how the crack epidemic was tearing up families in America.  He thought that people would not be receptive to that concept, so instead he decided to focus on interracial dating and have drug abuse be a subplot. 

Let’s be honest-interracial dating, in most cities across this country, is still considered taboo, so just imagine how it was tweny years ago.  Unfortunately, Flipper and Angie couldn’t make it work, but there are multiple interracial couples in the United States, despite funny looks and harassment from families and strangers alike, that have made it work.  Any relationship is hard, but let’s face it; interracial relationships can be extremely difficult.  The couple has to overcome obstacles and opposition that may arise from outsiders in regards to their relationship.  For some, race isn’t an issue.  For others, it’s the first thing they think about in the morning.

Twenty years ago, interracial dating was mainly focused on black people and white people.  Today, interracial dating has expanded to include blacks, whites, Asians, and Latinos.  I would like to think that as Americans, we have overcome the whole issue we have regarding dating outside of our race.  But I’m not naive, so I know this isn’t the case.  As a 21 year old, I dated a white guy for a few months.  When we went to most places, I was very cognizant of the looks we received, mainly from blacks.  He and I never discussed it, so I’m not sure if he was aware.  I do remember when he and I went to see “Bad Boys 2″ and some white teenagers sitting behind us where making derogatory comments about blacks and whites under their breaths, he quickly turned around and told them to “shut up!”.  It was an ok relationship; we were ridiculously young, but he was totally infatuated with me.  In the end, I don’t think he really had any ambition and I had just graduated from FAMU, so I felt that we weren’t equally yoked.  I think I would date interracially again, but I’m not sure I would marry a non-black man. 

The film brought to the silver screen conversations and issues that were occuring all over the U.S.  There’s a scene in the movie where Drew, Flipper’s wife, and her girlfriends sit around and discuss interracial dating, how black men leave black women for white women, and so forth.  I’ve had similar conversations with my friends, as I’m sure most black women in this country have.  But let’s not forget that Paulie, Angie’s ex-boyfriend, decided to take out one of his shops black customers.  He was ostracized and beat up for it by his fellow Italians.  Angie even received violence against her at the hands of her father.  In regards to drug abuse, Spike touched on how no matter what families do, if they have a loved one that’s on drugs, they may not be able to help them.  And there’s nothing like a mother’s love; Lucinda loved her oldest son, Gator, until the very end.  It took her awhile to see that Gator was no good, but by then he had already “borrowed” so much money and stole her television.  The movie also brought Halle Berry in a small but powerful role-a role that helped her win the part of a former drug addicted mother wanting to gain back custody of her son in the film “Losing Isaiah”.  We also saw Queen Latifah on the big screen for the first time.  Personally, I love “Jungle Fever”.  As a twenty-something year old, I’m much more appreciative of this movie than the first time I saw it as a teenager.  It had a great story line, great acting, and made you relate to the characters.

What have we gained from “Jungle Fever”?  Has the world evolved over the last twenty years when it comes to interracial dating?  Are we still having problems with drug abuse in this country?  What are your thoughts on the movie in general? 

Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city!

Related articles

• ‘Jungle Fever’ 20 years later (thegrio.com)
• Interracial Dating (reneamac.com)