Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
People of African descent have been very successful in getting roles in Hollywood movies in 2022.
And, thanks to the pioneering efforts of people like Morgan Freeman, they have proven that they can be anyone, even a U.S. President or God.
This year, some roles are more activist oriented than others, but it is pretty much accepted that Africans can be worked into any script, as a member of the general population.
Practically every film has an African in the script, unless we are talking about the upcoming Black Panther, Black Adam, Till, or Armageddon Time, where the actors are nearly all African.
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HALLOWEEN ENDS
HALLOWEEN ENDS
Trailer: Halloween Ends (2022) First Official Trailer | Fear – Bing video
Wiki: Halloween Ends – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
In Halloween Ends, Keraun Harris plays Willy the Kid, a local radio DJ, who has an unfortunate encounter with Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) and Michael Myers (Nick Castle). He perceives Corey as a vulnerable target, humiliating and using words that hurt, which he later comes to regret.
Omar Dorsey also plays Sheriff Barker, Haddonfield’s current sheriff.
A DJ and a Sheriff are easily fit into the script of this popular film that showcases Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, a survivor of Michael Myers’ 1978 killing spree.
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AMSTERDAM
AMSTERDAM
Trailer: AMSTERDAM Trailer 2 (2022) – Bing video
Wiki: Amsterdam (2022 film) – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Chris Rock is Milton King, Burt and Harold’s Army buddy. His character was minor, but he was the most memorable for me. He clearly sees their situation, while others seem to be in a state of delusion.
John David Washington plays Harold Woodsman, a lawyer and war veteran, who is the lover of the nurse/socialite (Margot Robbie) Valerie Voze.
For me, this film bordered on a propaganda film, where all big business is perceived to be on the far right, profit-first and part of an evil dictatorship.
In Amsterdam, we have an Army buddy and a lawyer/war veteran to represent Africans in film.
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THE INVITATION
THE INVITATION
Trailer: THE INVITATION Trailer (2022) – Bing video
Wiki: The Invitation (2022 film) – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Nathalie Emmanuel as Evelyn “Evie” Jackson / Evelyn “Evie” Alexander, and (Courtney Taylor) Grace, Evie’s best friend, represent Africans in “The Invitation.”
This is a vampire film with surprisingly honest and fresh dialogue, which I really enjoyed.
Here, African women are emphathetic, sexual and powerful. They are perceived as being well able to take care of themselves.
Evie just lost her mother, so she is in a vulnerable place, but she is still brave, smart and verbally adept.
In a tight situation, she quickly reads the souls of others for her own survival.
(Nathalie Emmanuel is Bi-racial.)
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SEE HOW THEY RUN
SEE HOW THEY RUN
Trailer: See How They Run – Official Trailer (2022) Sam Rockwell, Adrien Brody – Bing video
Wiki: See How They Run (2022 film) – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
David Oyelowo plays Mervyn Cocker-Norris, a playwright.
And, Pippa Bennett-Warner is Ann Saville, who is the producer’s mistress/assistant.
In “See How They Run”, we have a playwright and a Mistress/assistant representing Africans.
Everyone appears to have a motive to kill the director, who turns up dead.
Here again, African females appear to have the reputation of being hot and sexual.
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DON’T WORRY DARLING
DON’T WORRY DARLING
Trailer: Don’t Worry, Darling Trailer #2 (2022) – Bing video
Wiki: Don’t Worry Darling – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
KiKi Layne plays Margaret Watkins, Alice’s friend, who replaced Dakota Johnson in that role.
Margaret reaches out to Alice for help, but is not taken seriously.
Alice later comes to take her friend’s warning as a signal of her own plight, while she is being gaslighted by her own husband and the cult’s leader.
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THE WOMAN KING
THE WOMAN KING
Trailer: THE WOMAN KING – Official Trailer (HD) – Bing video
Wiki: The Woman King – Wikipedia
The Woman King vs. the True Story of Dahomey’s Female Warriors (historyvshollywood.com)
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Viola Davis plays General Nanisca, who’s story is based on historical fact.
Africans were being exploited by whites during the slave trade years.
Apparently, white Europeans and Americans could not harvest their own crops; they needed slaves to do the work for them.
Where there was a shortage of men in the African tribes, women were able to advance themselves by developing their fighting skills.
The following Africans had roles in “The Woman King:”
Thuso Mbedu as Nawi.
Lashana Lynch as Izogie.
Sheila Atim as Amenza.
John Boyega as King Ghezo.
Adrienne Warren as Ode.
Angélique Kidjo as the Meunon.
Jimmy Odukoya as General Oba Ade.
Many of these actresses and actors in “The Woman King” are from South Africa.
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NOPE
NOPE
Trailer: NOPE | Final Trailer – Bing video
Wiki: Nope (film) – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Daniel Kaluuya plays Otis “OJ” Haywood Jr., Otis’ son.
Keke Palmer is Emerald “Em” Haywood, Otis’ daughter.
And, Keith David is Otis Haywood Sr., the owner of Haywood’s Hollywood Horses Ranch.
Otis’s son, OJ, appears to have a big chip on his shoulder.
I found this film’s symbology to be very intimidating and unsubtle.
White women are the target of brutal gaslighting aggression.
The positive energy did not balance out the negative energy.
I found this film very passive aggressive and scary.
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WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
Trailer: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING Trailer 2 (NEW 2022) Daisy Edgar-Jones, Harris Dickinson – Bing video
Wiki: Where the Crawdads Sing (film) – Wikipedia
Where the Crawdads Sing – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Charlene “Michael” Hyatt plays Mabel Madison, the shopkeeper’s wife.
Sterling Macer Jr. is James “Jumpin’” Madison, is the shopkeeper.
This African couple are empathetic with the young swamp girl, Kya (Leslie France), and enable her to survive by doing a trade business with her.
They are portrayed as having religious values and big hearts.
In a way, they help raise and protect the girl, who has been abandoned by her family and bullied by the local town people.
They also show up to give her support at her murder trial.
Aspects of Kya’s life and the novel’s narrative choices, including its attitude towards its black characters, are said to be reminiscent of author, Delia Owens’ time in Zambia, where she, her then husband, and his son are still wanted for questioning in the killing of a poacher captured on film in a 1996 report by ABC News. Owens is not a suspect, but is considered a potential witness.
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BULLET TRAIN
BULLET TRAIN
Trailer: BULLET TRAIN – Official Trailer (HD) – Bing video
Wiki: Bullet Train (film) – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Brian Tyree Henry is Lemon, an experienced British assassin and Tangerine’s twin brother with an obsession for Thomas the Tank Engine.
Zazie Beetz is The Hornet, an American assassin who specializes in poisons and is disguised as a mascot. (She is Bi-racial)
No matter how old Brad Pitt gets, he still retains a likable boyish charm, that makes this very violent film seem like a schoolyard romp. Pitt plays the peacemaker, who keeps asking throughout, “would you like to just talk ahout it?” When they say “No”, he continues the struggle by throwing his water bottle that them.
10/18/2022 # Africans in Film – Part I