Rated:PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, and language

Genre:Comedy, Music

Release Date:22 May 2009

Runtime:83 min

Director:Damien Dante Wayans

Cast:Shoshana Bush, Damon Wayans Jr., Essence Atkins, Affion Crockett, Christina Murphy, David Alan Grier, Kim Wayans

The worlds of dancing and spoof step up and throw down in DANCE FLICK, the latest melange of movie parody from the Wayans clan. As the film opens, we meet Thomas Uncles (Damon Wayans Jr.), a hip-hop hopeful whose dance-competition loss puts him in debt to gargantuan gang leader Sugar Bear (David Alan Grier). But his luck begins to change when he meets the new girl at his performing-arts high school, Megan White (Shoshana Bush), an aspiring ballerina whose Juilliard dreams are shattered when her mother dies a heroically protracted death on her way to Megan’s audition.

Though they start as prickly competitors, it isn’t long before Thomas and Megan’s mutual love of dance enables them to overcome the social and racial barriers between them. But will their unlikely love story be enough to inspire all of the school’s students, rekindle Megan’s dreams, and save Thomas as he returns to the hip-hop battlefield of his earlier defeat? In true family style, star Wayans Jr. and director Damien Wayans were assisted by the talents of fellow Wayans Keenen Ivory, Shawn, Marlon, Craig, and Kim to bring the film to life. Poking fun at everything from FAME to HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL to TWILIGHT, DANCE FLICK is a raucous send-up that keeps its scatological beat grooving from start to finish.

Dance Flick scores a few laughs thanks to the Wayans brothers’ exuberance, but it’s ultimately a scattershot collection of gags without much direction. (RottenTomatoes)

carole Comedy, Music

Rated:R

Genre:Biography, Romance, Music

Release Date:5 December 2008

Runtime:109 min

Director:Darnell Martin

Cast:Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Cedric the Entertainer, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Eamonn Walker, Mos Def, Beyoncé Knowles

Cadilac Records chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists. In this tale of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in Chicago of the 1950s and 60s, the film follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s greatest musical legends.

The story of how the blues became popular and gave birth to rock and roll begins at a dingy bar on the rough South Side of Chicago in 1947, where an ambitious young Polish emigre, bar owner Leonard Chess (ADRIEN BRODY), hires a talented but undisciplined blues combo that includes quiet and thoughtful guitar prodigy Muddy Waters (JEFFREY WRIGHT) and impulsive and colorful harmonica player Little Walter (COLUMBUS SHORT). Fascinated by the sound of the music and eager to cash in on the record burgeoning record business - Chess arranges a recording session for Waters. Waters’ early recordings start moving up the R&B charts and receiving heavy play.

Chess treats his musicians like family. He buys them a Cadillac when they record their first hit record — although the line between business and personal sometimes causes conflict with his increasingly talented and successful stable of artists. After backing up Muddy on his early recordings, Little Walter becomes a star in his own right, but his quick temper and loud manner often run him afoul of friends and the law. He also finds that the only woman he can talk to is Muddy’s girl, Geneva (GABRIELLE UNION), who struggles to remain loyal despite Muddy’s poorly concealed affairs. Big Willie Dixon (CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER), a songwriter and bandleader, also is a key member of the Chess Records family, as is Howlin’ Wolf (EAMONN WALKER), an intense and proud blues singer who develops a musical rivalry with Muddy.

But it’s not until 1955 when a Chess artist finally “crosses over” into the realm of mainstream (”white”) America - a skinny guy from St. Louis named Chuck Berry (MOS DEF), whose dynamic “duck walk” and catchy, country-tinged tunes mark the birth of rock-and-roll. When Berry is arrested and jailed at the height of his career, Chess finds another talented performer to cross over singer Etta James (BEYONCE KNOWLES), an emotionally scarred young woman whose vulnerability tempts Chess’ loyalty and concern in unexpected ways.

As rock-and-roll grows more popular, the Chess artists find themselves revered by a new generation of musicians, but they have also each earned and lost a small fortune on booze, women and the high life, and their addictions begin to take their toll. Even as tragedy befalls, their music and their spirit remain strong: as the sixties wind down and Leonard Chess gets out of the record business, the blues live on. –© Sony Pictures

Truly a great film depicting the root of true music. A must see for music fans.

carole Biography, Music, Romance

Rated: PG

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Musical

Release Date: 13 February 1957

Runtime: 103 min

Director: Stanley Donen

Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Kay Thompson, Michel Auclair, Robert Flemyng

In Funny Face a fashion photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire), is in search for an intellectual backdrop for an air-headed model, the photography team discovers a quaint Greenwich Village bookstore. When the photo session is over the store is left in a shambles, much to salesgirl Jo Stockton’s (Audrey Hepburn) dismay. Avery stays behind to help her clean up. Later, he examines the photos taken there and sees Jo in the background of one shot. He is intrigued by her unique appearance, as is Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson, the editor of a leading fashion magazine. They offer Jo a modeling contract, which she reluctantly accepts only because it includes a trip to Paris. Eventually, her snobbish attitude toward the job softens, and Jo begins to enjoy the work and the company of her handsome photographer.

I cannot get over Audrey Hepburn.  She is absolutely stunning, graceful, has an amazing accent, and just fits whatever role she is tossed into. As for Fred Astaire he is a star through and through, always impressing with his dance skills and amazing singing. I cannot recall the number of times I have seen this film, and although not the best Hepburn out there I am still a fan of the songs and of the story. The only disappointment is that when you put together these two super stars of the 50s on screen together you would have expected a little bit more magic.

Hepburn never had formal training in acting, singing or dancing. Her lack in dance skills is pretty clear in this film. As she dances with her co-stars you can see the difference in level of dance expertise. However credit must be given to Hepburn, it could not have been easy to dance next to the great Astaire.

carole Comedy, Music, Romance

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Music

Release Date: September 19, 2003

Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins

Director: Jonathan Lynn

Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr.,

Beyonce Knowes, Melba Moore,

Mike Epps, Shirley Caesar,

Ann Nesby, Faith Evans

Synopsis: Academy award winning Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Darrin Hill, a small-minded New York Advertising Executive who gets fired when his boss finds out he was pretending to have an education from Yale. Even though Darrin made a great pitch for a current account, the firm could not allow him to continue working for them under false pretences. While leaving the premises with his boxes in hand a messenger approaches him with an unexpected surprise. He reads the letter and discovers that his Aunt Sally (Ann Nesby) who recently passed away had left him her inheritance.

Darrin heads to his home town of Monte Carlo, Georgia where the funeral is being held. At the reading of the will Darrin finds out that in order to receive the inheritance that Aunt Sally left him he must build a choir and take them to the annual gospel competition, something that Aunt Sally was very passionate about.

Darrin really wants the money so he pretends to be a music producer and claims he will have no difficulties forming a choir. Unfortunately the auditions end up being a disaster. The people who audition lack the talent in the singing department. Darrin gets concerned that it won’t work out after all. He ends up going to a night club in town, where he finds Lily (Beyonce Knowles) a single mother singing, and she has an incredible voice. She is uncertain about Darrin’s motives at first, but ends up joining the choir. A romance develops between Darrin and Lilly, which changes Darrin’s view on life.

The choir leaves the Gospel competition on a happy note. There are special appearances by Rev. Shirley Caesar, Ann Nesby, Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Also making appearances as Darrin’s late mother is Faith Evans.

The film also has a great soundtrack with R&B and Hip Hop artists such as Angie Stone, T-Bone, Montell Jordan, Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Faith Evans, Solange, P.Diddy and more.

Jenn Comedy, Music, Romance