Marley

For the longest time, people were churning out documentaries about Bob Marley. But doccie after doccie, it felt like we were being told the stuff we already knew. The surface. When this documentary, Marley, came along, I was like 'oh, no, not another one.' But I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually interesting. While the music cannot be divorced from the man, I'd say there was quite a lot offered on both ends and in no way is he painted as a perfect person, least not a perfect father. There is an attention to detail that other doccies on the global icon have missed that is presented here and perhaps it's partly because it wasn't made by sycophants only (depending on where you sit) but executive produced by his son, Ziggy Marley too.  This documentary was screened at the Encounters Film Festival this year but seeing that it was released on the South African cinema circuit this week too, theblagg recommends you check it out.

The Miseducation Of Nola Darling

We love Nola Darling. We love Spike Lee joints. Those Jordan Son Of Mars joints though...the jury is still out on those sneakers. She's Got To Have It is the film that introduced Mars Blackmon to the world and the word "polyamory" to some people's vocabulary. Good on you, Spike. Now, if only we could forget you and Sam Jackson tag-teaming for Ni99as In Paris. It's cool to applaud gamechangers. Just peep the scene:



But, is it still paying homage when one creates whole videos using someone else's audio and another person's visuals? As someone who adores Nola and Erykah, I wasn't too happy about the meshing of the two. Simply because I felt the visuals were trivialised, bastardised even. For instance, the first scene in this tribute video takes on an empowering moment in the film and turns it into some lust thang. I don't think this video accurately or adequately puts to the fore what Spike intended. Or I could be wrong and just writing as a stan. So... Are you guys feeling this video:
[PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST OF THE BELOW VIDEO IS NSFW]

No, No, No, No, No!

You'd be forgiven for thinking Destiny's Child's first hit single, No, no,no,no, no, was a response to Mama Knowles dressing these girls in sea weed. I know people want to show out at the Grammy's but in the always-on-point words of Mya: Oh hell no!

I thought Beyonce's mom's pre-Dereon dress sense was wonky but clearly it's Matthew who needed his head examined. Why, oh, why did he place the girls in this Z-Grade movie? Beverley Hood? Now this is the reason LaToya and LaTavia left the group. 'Fess up now Matty! What do you make of this clip?

TGIF? Are you high?

Word has it (read: the internet says) Ice Cube wants to do another Friday with Chris Tucker. Why would they do that? Have our minds not suffered enough? As you can probably tell by now, The Ordinary Girl is writing this post. It's common knowledge that Dude adores, I mean adores Friday.

To him Friday, starring Ice Cube as Craig and Chris Tucker as the annoying friend aptly named Smokey, is the original Get High film that has gained cult status. Plus it has Dude's favourite late great comedian, Bernie Mac starring too. This movie annoys T.O.G no end. But then again theblaggers don't agree about everything all the time. Anywhoooooooo...



Depending on what blogs you frequent you might hear that Cube took some time out from telling rappers they aren't West Coast enough to speak to The Voice of New York herself, Angie Martinez OR you might have read that he spoke to a movie site. The point is, the former NWA-er told someone that he wants to do another Friday. It sounds to me like he wants to recreate the buffoonery, I mean magic that people loved when he and Tucker where committed to celluloid - not any of the Friday films that followed!

When asked if he would ever think about doing a Friday 4 Ice Cube said, "I want to. But I don’t want to do it without Chris Tucker. That’s what people want. I really want to give people what they want, especially doing it for a fourth time. We can’t just go through a movie without giving the people exactly what they want. I’ve been trying to convince Chris to do it. Just say “yeah,” it’s alright …."



Maybe Tucker is thinking about what The Ordinary Girl wants. I'm not mad at that. And yes, I am fully aware that I am the only person in the entire world who hates this film. Cry me a river, build a bridge and get over it.

Precious

Dude and The Ordinary Girl watched a preview of the multi-award winning/nominated movie, Precious, yesterday. And Dude thought the film was great, well at least the parts he was awake to watch. T.O.G has decided she's going to wait to buy Push written by Sapphire, which is the book Precious is based on before she passes judgement on what is obviously a milestone for African American filmakers.

Precious stars Mo'Nique, Gabourey Sidibe, an exceptional Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and a surprisingly slightly-less-than-hot Lenny Kravitz. Watch the trailer here:


Then go and watch the movie when it comes out in South African cinemas this week and tell us if Mrs Thicke was Amazing or if she was Amazing. Lesbihonest (without giving too much of the plot away), she is no Hilary Swank in Freedom Writers, Paula is infinitely better. Well, everyone who has ever played a teacher on screen is better than what happened in Freedom Writers, but I digress.

Paula gets T.O.G's Breakthrough Actress nod for her role as a life-changing teacher. However, the Palm Springs International Film Festival honoured Mimi as the Breakthrough Actress of the year for her role in Precious. Mrs Cannon is a riot, watch:

We Love You Sheldon

When you let your work speak on your behalf: