FILM REVIEW: SPIKE LEE "Red Hook Summer"

Red Hook Summer, a new Spike Lee Joint was released this weekend in NYC about a kid, Flik Royale, who is visiting the Brooklyn hood for the summer to spend time with a distant relative and unravels truths about his family's dark past.

It is undoubtedly clear that Flik doesn't want to be there. He is Atlanta born-bred, middle class youth thrust into the projects - a recipe for comical scenes like his boisterous reaction to his temporary abode featuring images of a white Jesus and other religious symbols that adorn the apartment of his grandfather, a high ranking member of the church, Bishop Enoch Rouse.  

Soon after he gets settled into Red Hook, hidden truths about himself and his family begin to unravel. Spike takes us on this journey very carefully as he weaves the various personalities of the residents of the 'Hook. I wanted him to dig a little deeper into the characters just for a spell to give us more than their stereotypical outward appearance of being a thug, wanna-be rapper, preacher of all sermons, single mother, curious youth girl and outspoken young boy. Spike did just that - he never disappoints! If you don't know these people-types beyond what you hear or read, you definitely left the theater with knowing a bit more.

I commend Spike Lee for creating an in-depth cinematic masterpiece that spoke loudly about religious balance in a world of the faithless and the overwhelming poverty-struggle as well as preaching about the secrets of truth coming to light regardless how much you try to "cover it up". 

Aside from painful secrets being uncovered, there was a burgeoning friendship between Flik and Chazz, a young sassy girl from the projects being raised by her mother a vocal member of the church that Bishop Enoch presides. Initially the youths clashed but they found a common ground by way of Carmelo Anthony. He showed her his Atlanta through his eyes and she showed him Red Hook, Brooklyn through hers. This is the most beautiful part of this film.

I highly recommend that you see this film during these last days of summer in a theater near you! 

In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

-Chante

FILM: "MARLEY" - The Bob Marley Story

If anyone deserves a documentary is the legendary man himself, Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley. 


Growing up in Brooklyn, the music that pulsating the streets especially in the summer at block and house parties was reggae music inspired by Bob Marley. Mr. Marley was (and still is) a religion, so to speak. The first few chords of any Marley song transports you into a euphoria without the assistance of a particular herb..lol. His music moves masses and souls onto a positive journey.  


This befitting film entitled "Marley" pays homage to the man, his music and his love of being rooted from an island in the heart of the Caribbean. With interviews with Marley, his family, children as well as unreleased footage of music and concert performances, we get a glimpse into his life a bit more and ponder what could've been if he had lived beyond his passing in 1981. 


The film hits theaters and will be released on Itunes on 4/20/12. 

-Chante

Film: "Upside Down, Left To Right: A Letterpress Film"

"Upside Down, Left to Right" is short film by Danny Cooke about letterpress and one of the few remaining movable-type printing workshops in the UK, situated at Plymouth University, featuring Paul Collier.




Upside Down, Left To Right: A Letterpress Film from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

-Chante

FILM in REVIEW: A Year in 9th Wonder

This review is in the words of SR’s Chante…

“The Wonder Year” documentary about the legendary DJ/Producer Patrick Douthit bka 9th Wonder was an eye-opening experience. To this day, the only thing I knew about 9th was seeing his name in the liner notes of CD covers of artists that he’s worked with or when Jay-Z dropped his name in a song that they’ve collaborated on. I never knew that he was one third of Little Brother (along with Phonte from The Foreign Exchange), that he has taught the history of hip-hop at distinguished colleges like Duke University and many others or that he was such a influential part of hip-hop history. Who knew?

This documentary, filmed by Kenneth Price, started out as 9th helping Price complete his thesis project and it ended up being something more – many great things are! Price’s approach was capture the essence of the private man that made everyone curious with twelve months. 9th is known for making killer beats out of music that many have overlooked taking minuscule parts of a song and within minutes create something magical- How does he do that?! He’s a family man who sets aside quality time with his kids to not miss the special moments while collaborating with so many artists – How does he do that?! His students hang onto his every word as he goes through the history of hip hop from the 60’s to 1997 (the year of the Notorious B.I.G’s death) – How does he do that?! He just does because he’s 9th!

The film opens up with 9th in the midst of a lesson with his students. He literally dug in the crate, pulled out a record that he has never seen then spins it and within five minutes (or less) he found a sample, looped it and created something that made you say “dammnnn”. This is was great way to kick of this film – to enter his creative process was genius. Some people might say that he’s giving away his secrets but it’s not b/c it gives you an inner perspective on how badass this man is when it comes to his craft. He breathes music, he exudes music and he inspires many to be progressive in creating their own music.

Members of Little Brother - l to r: Phonte, 9th Wonder & Pooh

Over the 12 months, the film delves into 9th’s persona. What is the chemical make up of this man – he’s not a robot that churns out memorable beats, he has many sides. When he’s home with his family and visiting his hometown Winston-Salem, NC, he’s simply Patrick. Patrick, since he was a kid, was entranced by music of all genres, along the way he picked up instruments (like the clarinet), joined band and made his first beat in 1998. When he’s with his students and colleagues in academia, he is Professor 9th giving his students an invaluable dose of his wisdom about hip-hop, creating your own sound with samples that keep the music of our past alive and understanding that learning about a culture that you love is a growth in your “knowledge about self”. When he’s amongst his peers, he’s 9th Wonder, a Grammy Award winning producer who has worked with great artists like Jay Z, Beyonce, Erykah Badu, Mary J Blige, Mos Def, Drake, De La Soul and the list goes on and has created over 300 different sounds.

The ActNow Foundation hosted this amazing film and the screening was held last night at the BAM Cinema. I hope that more indie film theaters in NYC will add “The Wonder Years” to their roster of shows – it’s definitely a must see!!!

ActNow Foundation is hosting a mini theater festival fundraiser August 10-13 - Check the website for the show lineup and tickets.


BAM Cinema has many more awesome films to come be sure to get on the mailing list for updates and visit their website.




9th Wonder and Curtis John (ActNow) after the screening
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/VySyn Photography



FILM in REVIEW: A Quest by the Tribe Called

SR’s Chante checked the “Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest” documentary and shares her thoughts about the film…

I finally had an opportunity to check the documentary chronicling the trials, tribulations, successes and milestones of A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ) as well as marking a very pinnacle moment in hip hop history.

This film was a stroll down memory lane for me. I grew up in Brooklyn and was literally surrounded by hip-hop. If you grew up in my hood not liking or knowing anything about hip hop, you lived under a rock - how could you not know about DJ Red Alert, Afrika Bambaataa, The Furious Five, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow and the list goes on. Hip Hop during the beginnings of me (late 70’s, 80’s and 90’s) soured through my veins along with other musical influences. It all intertwined!

The film showed me the true reason why I loved listening and dancing to the Jungle Brothers, Moni Love, De La Soul and, of course, ATCQ. They brought, as they call it, a “conscious party” vibe to hip hop using all aspects of music from crazy percussion sequences, break beats that were sick and loops that made you pause to try to decipher what way-back-when-song did they sample that from – and then there times that I found out that it was the artist’s instrumentation that made many beat hooks that were eventually looped. I’m not going to admit that I’m an expert of hip hop but I respected the genre and the culture that evolved from it

The film sought to not only tell the story of these four friends who met, had a gift and shared it with the world, but it also told the story of what hip hop once was. It showed us who were the pioneers that paved the way for hip hop artists and DJ’s of today who think outside the industry box aiming to achieve a higher level of consciousness in their music like The Roots, The Neptunes, Ja Dilla (RIP), Common and so forth. During the entire movie, I was cheesin’ from ear to ear because it was so nostalgic and it gave me a clearer understanding of the history that was made during my formative years. I remember the block parties where dudes dug in the crates, spun the oldies but goodies and created classic new sounds. I remember the good ole days when most artists created feel-good music instead of using their platform to continue unnecessary beefs. I remember those good times and ATCQ was a critical part of that. What they spoke about, their synchronized movements and their wardrobe was nothing less than legendary. Their energy was invincible on wax and on stage! The only way to destroy that synergy was from within.

The film did address the question of why did ATCQ disband. I personally never knew why it happened. A lot of groups back in the 90’s came together and broke up. That was the nature of the industry beast, I suppose, but the film delved in a bit deeper than that on ATCQ’s breakup. The tension of internal beefs as well as the motivation by members to pursue other life dreams caused the group to eventually implode. For ATCQ to end on such a tragic note was heartbreaking but it was inevitable – you can’t fight fate! Perhaps the union of the members was meant to break because each of these men had to listen to their own inner voice to follow their vision whether its perfecting their culinary skills, fighting their demons for the preservation of life or having a continual impact on all music genres through creative expression. Whatever the reason, I am incredibly thankful to have been a part of a generation that witnessed the historic birth of ATCQ, hip-hop’s pioneers of the native tongue movement.