Tag: David Oyelowo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Delia Owens – 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

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

Ruth Williams Khama (Rosamund Pike) and Sir Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) view village with daughter.

A UNITED KINGDOM

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

After World War II, racism and apartheid were a real part of the world view at that time. Sir Seretse Khama was raised as the son of an African chief in Serowe, in what was then the Bechuanaland Protectorate of Great Britain. This is something that is hard for Americans to wrap their heads around, but this is a true story.

The film, “A United Kingdom,” only scratches the surface of an amazing story. It only deals with the racism issue, but does not show us what happens next.

Sir Seretse Khama goes on to create a democracy and to gain independence for his homeland. In September 1966, Botswana gained its independence, with Khama acting as its first democratic President. He then transforms one of Africa’s poorest countries into one of the richest in Africa.

In 1944, Khama (David Oyelowo) was studying in Great Britain to become a barrister, when he is called home to Africa to rule, but not before he falls in love with an English woman named Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike).

In “A United Kingdom” Khama demonstrates his philosophy and will. He is used to getting his way as a chief’s son, and will not consider giving up his new wife, just because her skin is a different color.

Winston Churchill is called out for going against his word after the war. Apparently, Great Britain did not want to give up the cheap materials, while recovering from the war. It was necessary to trick an African chief into exile.

What is not portrayed well enough in the film is the fact that Khama had to abdicate his kingdom in order to return home. And, the film does not show Khama trying to raise cattle unsuccessfully after he returns home.

Khama wants something better for his people than a kingdom. He wants independence from Britain. He wants a Democratic government. The real story is about how he makes all this happen.

The film only suggests that diamonds were discovered in Botswana. With Khama’s governing, Botswana develops trade worthy items like cattle, copper and diamonds.

Khama kept the taxes low, the trade high and used the profits to invest in infrastructure, hospitals and the education of his people.

The racial aspect of this film was only the beginning for me. Twenty years after Khama became their first President, his son became the fourth President of Botswana. This was the story I wanted to be told.

Biography of Seretse Khama:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seretse_Khama

The real Sir Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams Khama with their daughter and son.

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3/18/2017 # A United Kingdom