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07-03-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
BRANDY TO REPLACE STAR JONES?: That and more ‘View’ residue, including Rosie’s comment ‘Star thinks she’s Beyonce.’
*All of a sudden, Brandy Norwood has entered the three-ring circus sparked last Tuesday by Star Jones Reynolds’ unscripted moment on “The View.”
The 27-year-old singer/actress, currently a host on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” will be auditioning for Star’s old gig when she appears as a guest host on Wednesday and Friday of this week, her rep told People magazine.
"These tryouts are for consideration for the permanent gig," another
source close to the matter confirms to the magazine. "They plan to have a
few people trying out, like what CBS did (before hiring) Craig Ferguson for
the ‘Late Late Show.’"
The former Moesha star is enjoying a career resurgence via “America’s
Got Talent,” a reality show created by “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell
that searches for the next big star across multiple genres.
"’America's Got Talent’ has really opened a lot of doors for me,"
Brandy tells People. "I want to do a lot more TV."
Meanwhile, “One Life to Live’s” Renée Goldsberry, the first to sit in
Star’s chair last week after her exit, will return as a guest host today,
while tomorrow’s show will be a rerun and Thursday’s episode will have “All
My Children’s” Susan Lucci sit in with the co-hosts Barbara Walters, Joy
Behar and Elizabeth Hasslebeck.
In other fallout since Reynolds announced she would not be returning
next season, her replacement Rosie O’Donnell has finally commented on the
situation by telling blog site Jossip (with an exaggerated wink): “I’m not at
liberty to discuss it.”
When asked about past comments about Star’s claim that her weight
loss was solely from diet and Pilates, O’Donnell said: “Well you know how
much I like her, [but] she thinks she's Beyoncé.”
DALLAS AUSTIN PLEADS GUILTY TO COCAINE CHARGES: Producer faces four years in prison during sentencing Tuesday.
*Atlanta-based producer Dallas Austin has pleaded guilty to cocaine
possession in the United Arab Emirates, but claims he was unaware that his
actions had violated laws of the country.
"I'm pleading guilty but by mistake," Austin was quoted as saying
during a short hearing in Dubai on Sunday. "I had no knowledge and no
intention of violating the laws of the U.A.E."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Grammy-winning
producer, who has worked with such artists as TLC, Madonna and Michael
Jackson, is facing up to four years in prison when he returns to court
tomorrow (July 4) for sentencing.
Austin was arrested May 19 at Dubai’s airport while on his way to
Naomi Campbell’s three-day birthday party. He was charged with cocaine
possession and has been in custody at a police station without bail ever
since.
The newspaper said four attorneys accompanied Austin to the hearing:
Mohammad al-Reda of the United Arab Emirates, Qays Hatem al-Zu'bi of
Bahrain, Joel A. Katz of Atlanta and another American lawyer who declined to
give his name.
JAMIE FOXX VS. KANYE WEST?: Beef started with Grammy performance and
reportedly continued at BET Awards last week.
*According to one published report, a feud between Jamie Foxx and
Kanye West that started at the Grammy Awards earlier this year continued on
at last week’s BET Awards, where Foxx literally fanned the flames of his
discontent.
MediaTakeOut.com is reporting that their behavior at the Shrine
Auditorium last week – with Foxx making faces and directing a hand-fan at
Kanye as he accepted awards for their hit “Gold Digger” – stems from
something Ye reportedly said to Foxx at the Grammy Awards earlier this year.
According to the Web site, “the two were rehearsing their Grammy
performance when West reportedly told the multi-platinum selling Foxx to
‘stand back and watch a real star perform.’ The usually calm Foxx flew into
a rage and stormed out of the rehearsal. Jamie was later overheard telling
his publicist, ‘does this n***a know who I am? Did he see the Academy
Awards?’”
The site also reports that West tried to calm the waters last week by
heaping praise upon Foxx at every turn. West began his introduction of
Foxx’s musical performance by stating, “I don’t even know why they gave me a
teleprompter. This next performer is a good friend of mine. Always knew he
had talent. …One of the most talented men on this planet.”
The two gave each other a pound before taking the stage to accept the
award for Best Duet/Collaboration. Foxx folded his arms tightly as West
grabbed the mic first and said, “I definitely wanna thank Jamie Foxx for
hopping on this joint with me, and helping to get the sample cleared,
because nobody ever cleared a Ray Charles sample before.” As West was
talking, Foxx inched behind Kanye and held up a fan to the back of his head.
Asked later by MediaTakeOut what that move was all about, Foxx said:
"Someone had to cool that n***a off."
VIBE MAGAZINE CLEANS HOUSE: Editor-in-Chief Valdez among several reportedly fired; plus, Jesse Jackson’s son takes over ‘Radar.’
*The Internet is white hot with buzz about last week’s staff shakeup
at Vibe Magazine, which reportedly shook loose Editor-in-Chief Mimi Valdes
along with executive editor Shani Saxon, music editor Eric Parker, deputy
editor Jamie Katz and Lakeba Hollar.
The news first appeared on the Bitter Vibes blog, written by a
disgruntled former employee at the magazine. The author posted a note last
week that read: “This is poetic justice in the highest order! Maybe someone
from the blog will volunteer to help ya pack. Be gone by Wednesday heffas!
LMAO”
Reps for Vibe have come out in force to deny the rumors, stating
Valdez and the rest of the staff mentioned in the blog have not been laid
off. However, rumors of their departure continue to snowball, the latest
talk having former Vibe Editor in Chief Danyel Smith returning as Valdes’
replacement.
The blog announcement follows news last week that Vibe is being sold
to Keith Glen Media, the parent company of progressive fashion and culture
monthly BlackBook. Under the deal, the company is due to take over not only
the magazine, but its sister Vibe Vixen and Vibe’s Internet, television and
mobile offerings, reports Mediaweek Monitor.
An official announcement of the acquisition is expected to be made
Wednesday, ironically, the same day Bitter Vibes says Mimi and company are
due to clear out their belongings and leave the building. Even Mediaweek
reported in its June 30th article that “Vibe President Kenard Gibbs and
editor in chief Mimi Valdes will likely leave the company. Additionally,
layoffs, primarily on the editorial side, are also expected.”
During the second half of 2005, Vibe’s newsstand sales grew 8.1
percent, but circulation fell 2.8 percent to 836,611, according to the Audit
Bureau of Circulations.
*Meanwhile, Radar magazine has a new owner in Yusef Jackson, the son
of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson. Through his Integrity Multimedia Co.
LLC, the Chicago businessman made a “multi-million” investment in the
twice-folded publication that will be spread over a five-year period,
reports Target Market News.
Radar launched in 2003 under New York Daily News publisher Mortimer
Zuckerman, but folded after releasing only two issues. It relaunched in 2005
with a reported $25 million investment from Zuckerman, but quickly folded
again.
According to Target Market News, Jackson has hired Conde Nast
publishing veteran David Aimone as Radar's chief operating officer, and the
magazine's original editor, Maer Roshan, as editor-in-chief.
"I have been interested in the media business for a long time ... so
I went after a big one first," Jackson, 35, told the Chicago Tribune. In
2004, the lawyer and chief executive of Anheuser-Busch distributor River
North Sales & Service led an investment group that offered to buy the
Chicago Sun-Times for reportedly for $850 million. The paper, after courting
numerous potential buyers, decided not to sell.
"I'm still very interested in the Sun-Times property," he said. "The
Sun-Times is a great publication, a great paper. It's synonymous with
Chicago, and I would love to own it."
The revamped Radar, which according to a statement “cover news,
trends and celebrity culture with a bracing honesty and irreverence
increasingly absent from other magazines,” is expected to go on sale early
next year. A new Web site will be relaunched this summer.
BET AWARDS ATTRACT 4.1 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS: Show is the most watched cable telecast in history among African Americans.
*Throwing Beyonce’s hips at an audience right off the bat proved to
be genius for BET, who got word from Nielsen that its 2006 BET Awards
telecast on Tuesday drew 4.1 million households and the most African
American viewers of a broadcast in television history.
The show is also the most-watched program in BET's 26-year run, tied
with the 2005 BET Awards. The “106 & Park Live from the Red Carpet” pre-show
drew 1.4 million viewers, and the post-show offering, “BET News Black
Carpet,” took in 2.9 million viewers to become the network’s most watched
BET News program over the past year.
"Have Prince and Stevie Wonder ever performed together in public
before? No. Has Janet Jackson ever reunited with her Good Times cast before?
No. Has Eminem ever rapped an exclusive verse just for a television show?
No. These are just a few of the historical moments that happened on the BET
Awards," noted BET President of Entertainment Reginald Hudlin.
Elsewhere on cable last week, it was the Lifetime original film “A
Girl Like Me” that won overall among black households, according to Nielsen.
Based on the true story of a Latino teenaged boy who decides to live out his
life as a female, the movie drew 5.1 million total viewers, 1.8 million of
whom were black.
TNT’s “The Closer,” the sixth most-watched show in black households
last week, has been renewed for a third season, the network announced
Friday. The news comes just two weeks after the show's second-season
premiere broke ratings records for a basic cable original scripted series
with 8.3 million viewers.
DMX FREE AFTER NIGHT IN JAIL: Rapper posts bail following failure to appear
in court on traffic charges.
*DMX is now free to get himself into another auto-related arrest
after posting a $2,500 to get himself out of jail in White Plains, NY.
A judge issued a warrant for his arrest Wednesday after he failed to
show up for a hearing on charges related to a variety of traffic violations.
The rapper’s attorney told City Judge Barbara Leak that the artist was
unable to attend because he was sick. Leak, who had granted DMX two previous
postponements, was apparently sick of his excuses.
The 35-year-old Yonkers native, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was
taken into custody Thursday and spent one night at Westchester County jail.
According to The Journal News, the rapper became “mouthy and disrespectful”
to the guards when informed a bus would pick him up at 8 a.m. Friday morning
to appear in court.
"He felt that he did not have to appear in court and became very
agitated, mouthy and disrespectful," Deputy Correction Commissioner Joseph
Miranda said. "We sent the Emergency Service Unit to his cell, and they
talked to him and convinced him that he needed to go. I guess he wanted to
sleep late or something."
After finally making it to court, acting state Supreme Court Justice
Richard Molea granted an application that allowed him to be released on a
$2,500 bond rather than the $25,000 cash bail set Thursday by Leak. He was
then returned to the jail to pick up his jewelry and be processed before
being released about 2 p.m.
DMX was arrested in White Plains on June 2 for speeding, making
unsafe lane changes, not wearing a seat belt and driving without a license,
police said. Earlier this month, police in Scottsdale, Ariz. cited him for
carrying a concealed handgun after saying they spotted him pull a gun from a
holster and put it under the front seat of his convertible. He was due back
in City Court on July 24.
POLICE QUESTION WILL.I.AM ABOUT BRAWL: Pea frontman involved in fist-a-cuffs at Berlin nightclub.
*Police in Berlin, Germany held Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am
for questioning Friday as part of an investigation into a nightclub brawl
that broke out during an after-show party.
The artist, whose real name is William Adams, was allegedly part of
a melee at Berlin's downtown 40seconds club that erupted at about 1:30 a.m.
Thursday between the group’s bodyguard and the venue’s doorman, said police
spokesman Ronny Frank.
"A champagne bottle was used, but as far as what the singer did,
there are various reports that contradict one another, and it's not yet
clear what happened," Frank said.
Will.i.am, the bodyguard and the doorman were all taken into custody
for statements and contact details and then released. As of press time,
police were investigating all three on possible charges of causing serious
bodily injury.
The Black Eyed Peas were in Europe to play in Montreux, Switzerland,
on Saturday. Munich newspaper TZ reported that the band and their entourage
were crammed into the VIP area, but their bodyguard kept waving in more
people. Club manager Torsten Schermall said the fight broke out after his
security guard told the bodyguard not to let any more people through.
"He didn't pay any attention," Schermall was quoted as saying.
Photos published by the newspaper included one photo of the doorman —
blood covering his face — grappling with the bodyguard.
"It was a witches' cauldron," 26-year-old actress Romina di Lella,
who was in the VIP area, said. "I haven't ever seen anything so brutal. They
were at each other for five minutes."
'BLADE: THE SERIES' KILLS COMPETITION: Premiere sets ratings record; Sticky and writer discuss move from big to small screen.
*Executives at Spike TV are still grinning hard after last week's
record-setting debut of "Blade: The Series," starring former Onyx rapper
Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones in the title role.
Wednesday's two-hour premiere at 10 p.m. brought in 2.5 million
total viewers, which makes it the highest-rated original series premiere in
Spike TV history. It was clearly the No. 1 show on cable for the night,
scoring triple-digit ratings increases over the same timeslot last year in
Spike's target demo, men 18-34 (680,000 viewers) and men 18-49 (1.2 million
viewers).
Co-written by the movie trilogy's screenwriter David S. Goyer, the
series picks up where the third film, "Blade: Trinity," left off. The
Marvel Entertainment superhero - half vampire, half human - is on the hunt
for the "doctor" (a vampire) who feasted upon and killed his mother as he
was being born.
In taking over the monosyllabic character perfected in all three
films by Wesley Snipes, Jones says it was important that he put his own
personal twist on the character.
"I feel that Blade has to be communicative. He has to be able to
communicate with other characters," Sticky told us. "He's kind of closed,
but he's half human as well, so he's kind of open. And from 'Blade 1,' '2'
and '3,' what Wesley did is he kind of graduated it, and I guess we're
picking up where that left off."
In the pilot episode, Blade teams with returning war veteran Krista
Starr (Jill Wagner), who believes vampires are behind the death of her
brother, Zach. But during her attempt to trap the vamps, she is bitten and
turned into one herself. Blade secretly contacts Krista and asks her to
remain in their inner circle as a spy, reporting their activities to him on
a regular basis. At the close of the episode, it is unclear as to which side
of the fence Krista sinks her teeth.
"What the series is, in a weird way, is kind of like a wise guy
[mafia story] with vampires," explains Goyer. "Jill's character is kind of a
double agent working for Blade within the vampire community and treating the
vampires sort of like the ultimate crime family. And Blade realizes at the
beginning of the pilot that he's not making much headway just sort of
hacking and slashing; he needs to know more about their inner workings and
the hierarchy. And that's kind of what the TV show is."
Goyer also says the hour-long series allows viewers to learn more
details about Blade's past.
"Clearly the point of going into the TV show is that we can explore
more of his background, more of his history from the time he was first on
the streets, even before he met the Whistler character," says Goyer.
As for the tone of the series, Goyer says he was free to make it as
violent and out-of-pocket as one can get on cable television.
"We did a lot more than I thought we'd be able to do on the pilot,"
he admits. "There's quite a bit of mayhem in the pilot. There's sort of a
mayhem quota I think we're going to have to meet. There'll be one or two
things per episode that you wouldn't normally see on television, but there's
also a lot of suspense and things like that. I liken it unto my favorite
shows, like 'The Wire' or 'Sopranos,' where there will be a slow burn for a
couple of episodes and then something extreme will happen."
Fans will learn more about Blade's paternal history as part of an
overall arc to play out during the series' 13-episode run this season. And
Goyer says those who've seen nary a "Blade" movie will be able to catch on
quickly by watching the two-hour pilot, which reruns tomorrow night at 10 p.m.
and Sunday at 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, Sticky says he started out training six hours a day to
prepare for his juicy role each week, a regiment that included the gym,
martial arts and sword work.
"The training is extensive, but it's easy for me because I'm an
athlete," he says. "I love it. The first time I got in a wire, I'm like
four stories up. They're like, 'Are you okay?' I'm like, 'Are you kidding
me? I live this thing. Let's do it again.' It's fun and it's a challenge as
well. But I'm strong, I'm tough and I'm ready for it."
When asked if he had any previous fighting experience, he replied:
"Yeah, I grew up in Brooklyn."
MIJAC TESTIFIES VIA VIDEO TAPE: Singer claims he already paid Schaffel.
Also, boy in child molestation case allegedly tormented by his mother.
*A Los Angeles courtroom got a chance to see Michael Jackson
Thursday via videotaped testimony that was played in a lawsuit filed against
him by F. Marc Schaffel, a former business associate who claims the singer
stiffed him out of $3.8 million.
In Jackson’s deposition, taped on Sept. 23, 2005, he responds to
charges that Schaffel loaned him hundreds of thousands of dollars several
years ago and has yet to be repaid. Schaffel also says he’s still waiting
for promised royalties and a salary owed for helping Jackson produce two TV
specials and a charity record.
During his opening remarks, Schaffel's attorney, Howard King, made
sure the jury knew how he felt about Jackson’s decision not to show up in
person.
"I've wanted Mr. Jackson to be here to tell his story," King said.
"He won't be here except by deposition. I had to go to London to take it. He
will make a fine presentation. He's finely made up, costumed. You'd think
he'd been in front of cameras his whole life."
Dressed in a plain dark shirt, Jackson said in the tape that he was
"sure [Schaffel] got money." King asked Jackson how he could be so sure.
"Because he always seemed to be happy," Jackson replied. And King responded:
"Money doesn’t buy happiness."
In an effort to show that Jackson wasn’t really on top of his
financial dealings with Schaffel, King told the Santa Monica court that he
will call a number of the singer’s former associates who will confirm his
questionable business practices, including a Florida businessman named Alvin
Malnik who allegedly offered his services to Jackson for free.
"Jackson will deny ever borrowing from Malnik, but Malnik will
testify that he loaned Jackson $7 million in 2003," King said. "So we have a
witness in Mr. Jackson who does not remember getting $7 million three years
ago."
King told the court that Schaffel was promised 20 percent of the
grosses from two Fox specials Jackson made to clean up his image following
an ABC documentary, the videos of which Fox eventually sold for $10 million.
Schaffel also originally received a salary of $50,000 a month for his work,
King said, but it later dropped to $25,000 for a few months and then stopped
coming altogether as Jackson's cash reserve allegedly emptied out. King
asked Jackson during the deposition whether he felt that Schaffel was
expected to be paid for helping him out.
"I know he wanted something from me, of course," Jackson said on
tape. "I do remember these long letters. He wanted me to pay him."
Jackson's attorney, Thomas C. Mundell, told the court Wednesday that
the King of Pop severed ties with Schaffel after finding out he used to
produce gay porn. On Thursday, King fired back: "Mr. Schaffel has a
successful business background and one of these was in the legal adult
entertainment business. In 2000 he was done with that and he began to work
with Mr. Jackson."
Mundell also argued that it is actually Schaffel who owes Jackson
hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that the businessman had fraudulently
pocketed Jackson’ money and billed the superstar for expenses after he had
ceased to work for him. Mundell also told the court that much of the money
Schaffel had so-called "loaned" to Jackson was actually wire transfers from
other people, and not Schaffel's own cash.
"The evidence will show Mr. Schaffel should have left well enough
alone," he continued. "He could have gotten away with a chunk of money from
Michael Jackson...but he sued for several million dollars."
*Elsewhere in MiJac’s universe, the boy who accused him of child
molestation is reportedly on the outs with his mother Janet Arviso Jackson,
who currently stands accused in Los Angeles of defrauding the government of
$8,000 in welfare money.
According to the newspaper, the woman blames her 16-year-old son for
last year’s courtroom loss, for the alleged abuse by Michael Jackson and for
the welfare fraud charges filed against her.
"His mother barely speaks to him. She won't cook for him. She treats
him like dirt, and she won't let him go to counseling to deal with the
trauma. She blames him for the whole mess and says she wants to move on,"
said a source familiar with the boy's plight. "Mentally, he's really messed
up right now. He never knows what verbal abuse will be thrown at him when he
goes home. She screams at him, 'You allowed him to touch you! You allowed
him to do it!' And she blames him for not getting the jury to believe him.”
The boy currently lives under an assumed name in Orange County,
Calif.
J.LO’S EX AGREES TO KEEP QUIET: Plus, second wedding video thief pleads
guilty.
*Last Thursday was golden for singer/actress Jennifer Lopez on the
legal front. The day started with a guilty plea from the second thief
accused of stealing her wedding video, and later brought news that her
ex-husband has agreed to keep his mouth shut about details of their one-year
marriage while they settle a lawsuit over his planned tell-all book.
In New Jersey, 49-year-old Steven Wortman pleaded guilty to a
misdemeanor count of attempted grand larceny for his role in plotting to
sell the stolen video of J.Lo and Marc Anthony's June 2004 nuptials back to
the couple for $1 million.
Wortman, who was also facing charges for conspiracy and possessing
stolen property, received three years' probation in exchange for his plea.
Wortman’s partner-in-crime, 31-year-old Tito Moses, pleaded guilty to
attempted grand larceny on June 14 in exchange for a guarantee of 18 months
to three years in prison.
The pair came across the laptop containing the wedding pictures
after it was stolen from Anthony’s Cadillac Escalade, along with the car
itself, while it was parked on a New Jersey street in October 2005.
Moses called Anthony’s production company to try and extort $1
million for the return of the computer. An undercover detective got Moses to
lower the price to $250,000 and arranged to make the big tradeoff at a
diner, where they were arrested on the spot.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Lopez’ ex-husband Ojani Noa agreed to
stop sharing intimate details or criticism of the actress to the press while
they attempt to settle a lawsuit over his planned tell-all book.
A preliminary injunction between the two parties was signed by a Los
Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday and made public a day later,
resulting in the cancellation of a hearing in the case. It will remain in
effect until either the two settle their dispute or a non-jury trial is held
to decide whether the latest court order will remain permanent.
In April, Lopez sued Noa to stop him from publishing a book she
claimed would breach a nondisclosure, "non-disparagement" pact between them.
She then obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent him from moving
forward with the proposed book.
Under the injunction, the Cuban-born Noa is barred from "criticizing,
denigrating, casting in a negative light or otherwise disparaging" Lopez. He
also may not disclose for financial gain "any private or intimate details"
about Lopez or their relationship, the court order stated. Moreover, Noa may
not sell or circulate a manuscript of the book and must retrieve any book
materials from anyone who may have possession of them and inform those
parties that they, too, are barred from disseminating them.
In the meantime, both sides were directed to try to "resolve their
dispute without engaging in further litigation," the court order states.
TOOKIE’S ASHES SCATTERED IN SOUTH AFRICA: Final wish fulfilled following Dec. 13 execution in San Quentin.
*The last wish of executed felon Stanley Tookie Williams was carried
out Sunday in South Africa, according to his close friend and supporter
Barbara Becnel.
In accordance with his will, the ashes of the Crips co-founder was
spread out in a lake in South Africa, per his final request. A statement
released Friday from Becnel announced that she and Tookie’s longtime friend
Shirley Neal sprinkled his ashes into a lake at Thokoza Park in Soweto.
"On his last day of life Stan asked me to spread his ashes in South
Africa," Becnel said. "He wanted to return to the motherland."
Williams, convicted of murdering four people during two 1979 holdups,
was executed in California’s San Quentin prison on Dec. 13.
Before his death, Williams had gained worldwide support in his effort
to reverse his death sentence, claiming he had redeemed himself by writing
children’s books and encouraging kids to stay away from gangs.
EUR FILM REVIEW: Heading South (Vers le Sud)
White Women Descend on Haiti for Jungle Fever Cure in Steamy Romance Drama
by Kam Williams
*55-year old Ellen (Charlotte Rampling) teaches French Literature at Wellesley
College in Massachusetts, while Sue (Louise Portal) is a successful
businesswoman who manages a warehouse in Canada. And 48 year-old Brenda (Karen Young), a recently-divorced housewife from Savannah, Georgia, is just trying to forget an ex-husband who had never been able to satisfy her.
The only reason these formerly-frustrated females’ paths cross is because they
happen to be staying at the same hotel in Haiti, a spinster’s sexual utopia
where post-menopausal white women vacation in order to indulge their every
carnal fantasy with young black men less than a third their age. In fact,
Brenda, who now describes herself as a “bitch in heat,” openly admits to having
her first orgasm ever on the beach there with a 15 year-old boy-toy.
Never pausing to question the ethics of exploiting black skin in this fashion,
these hedonists approach the country’s impoverished inhabitants as if a
commodity available on a quid pro quo basis. Invariably, the relationships
sprouting up all around the spa are between wealthy white women offering money,
maternalism and a temporary upper-class status, and handsome, eager-to-please
natives who, in return, deferentially answer every booty call during their
period of purchased companionship.
This is the premise underpinning Heading South, a most thought-provoking film
directed by Laurent Cantet (Time Out), a historical drama set in the late
Seventies against the backdrop of the instability of the regime of Baby Doc
Duvalier. Based on the novel “La chair du maître” by Danny LaFerriere, the film
is far more sophisticated than your typical Jungle Fever flick.
What makes this movie fascinating is how it manages to use physical desire as a
metaphor, placing intimate relationships under an emotional magnifying glass to
somehow examine the prevailing political and social problems then plaguing
Haiti. In addition, the picture represents a rare exploration of pleasure purely
from an older woman’s point-of-view.
When, for instance, our spoiled, horny heroines’ snobbish sense of entitlement
has them competing with each other for the affections of Legba (Menothy Cesar),
the most prized of the gigolos, it is easy to observe that their possessiveness
has nothing to do with love, but rather reflects their own racism and a contempt
for the lover they profess to adore.
Meanwhile, as they remain oblivious of the civil unrest simmering just on the
other side of their gated resort, it is only a matter of time before the fallout
of colonialism finally comes to contaminate even their erotically-charged oasis.
An island paradise morphs into a frightening nightmare, but not before Ellen,
Brenda and Sue get their grooves back.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
In French and English with subtitles.
Running time: 105 minutes
Studi Shadow Distribution
FILM/TV BITS: Denzel taps Peter Jackson; Snoop’s ‘Horror’ picked up; Depp
may join Smith’s ‘Legend.’
*Denzel Washington is hoping “Lord of the Rings” helmer Peter
Jackson will provide special effects for a film he’s planning to direct for
2008. New Zealand’s Dominion-Post newspaper reported Friday that the actor
met with Jackson to discuss the project during a four-day visit to
Willington, New Zealand last week. Washington refused to reveal any further
details about the film. Jackson – who won an Oscar for "The Lord of the
Rings: The Return of the King" and is working on a movie adaptation of Alice
Sebold's best-selling novel "The Lovely Bones" – founded the companies Weta
Workshop and Weta Digital, which provides special effects services for major
movies.
*The U.S. theatrical rights to Snoop Dogg’s film “Hood of Horror” was
picked up by Spanish-language distributor Xenon Pictures Thursday during the
Los Angeles Film Festival, reports Variety. The film features three
Snoop-narrated tales about residents of an inner-city neighborhood whose
actions determine where they will go in the afterlife. The ensemble cast
includes Ernie Hudson, Danny Trejo, Method Man, Jason Alexander, Anson
Mount, Daniella Alonso and Brande Roderick. BloodWorks and Social Capital
Films teamed with the Long Beach rapper in producing the movie, directed by
Oscar-nominated helmer Stacy Title ("The Last Supper") from a screenplay by
Jonathan McHugh, Tim Sullivan, Chris Kobin and Jacob Hair.
*Everyone’s favorite Pirate of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp, is
currently in talks to join Will Smith in “I am Legend,” which stars the
rapper/actor as the lone survivor of a biological terrorist attack on Los
Angeles. According to Blackfilm.com, Francis Lawrence will direct the film,
which begins production this Sept. in New York City.
MUSIC BITS: Kelly sex tape cleared for court; Pharrell’s Vuitton deal in
jeopardy?; Carey’s latest diet; Nelly’s star-studded bash; Sony given the
Flip-off.
*Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan said Friday he would not overturn
his June 8 ruling allowing the public in the courtroom to view the videotape
of singer R. Kelly allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl. "The public
are not some herd," Gaughan said according to the Chicago Defender. "These
are the people who will stand up and say, 'This isn't fair.'" Kelly’s
attorney R. Eugene Pincham had argued that the Illinois Juvenile Court Act
bars the tape from being shown in open court, and even though the alleged
victim on the tape is now 22, it would still apply. Assistant State
Attorney Shauna Boliker said "even though the prosecution does not plan to
call the girl as a witness, it believes she would be negatively affected by
the court viewing the tape.'
*Pharrell Williams may have jeopardized his new Louis Vuitton
campaign when he accidentally tried to kick Elton John’s husband David
Furnish and Burberry designer Christopher Bailey from his VIP suite at a GQ
magazine party in Milan. The producer reportedly told his bodyguards that
there was "too much sausage" in the room, and to make way for more ladies to
crowd in. A source tells the New York Daily News that the Vuitton people are
calling around "taking the temperature" of the bad press he generated, and
are mulling whether to pull the campaign. The newspaper cites “multiple
sources” who claim Williams’ friend Naomi Campbell called him upon reading
the reports and told him: "Two words: Donna Summer." It was a reference to
the diva’s career taking a hit after she allegedly made homophobic remarks.
*British tabloids are reporting that Mariah Carey has gone on a new
diet where she eats only purple food three days a week. According to The
Sun, “Mimi” planned the diet with her nutritionist, who says purple foods
such as red grapes and plums have anti-aging benefits that keep wrinkles at
bay. "It sounds off-the-wall but it's a huge injection of healthy food in
one go,” a source tells the paper. “Purple products are nature's best
weapons in the battle against aging. Purple food can prevent breakdown of
collagen and slow the wasting of muscles. There's a saying that 'a plum a
day keeps a facelift away.’”
*Rap star Nelly hosted a black-tie event in his home town of St.
Louis Sunday with a guest list that included Janet Jackson, Usher, Evander
Holyfield, Jermaine Dupri and Chingy. Meanwhile, local NBA star Larry Hughes
hosted a party on Friday that featured fellow pro stars Allen Iverson and
LeBron James. Both events took place despite most black celebrities
travelling to Houston for the three-day Essence Music Festival. "Nelly was
invited to Essence. He's skipping that and bringing the party here instead,"
said Amit Dhawan, with Synergy Productions, the company promoting the
corporate-sponsored event.
*Houston rapper Lil' Flip has said good riddance to his label Sony
Music Group, which put out his previous album “U Gotta Feel Me” in 2004. His
new disc, "I Need Mine," was scheduled for release last week but will now
stay on the shelf until he finds a new label. Flip’s manager Sandy Lal
explained to Billboard: "A label like Sony is not the place for an artist
like Flip." Contrary to a published report, Lil' Flip has not signed with
Asylum/Warner Bros. Lal said the artist is "very close" to signing a new
deal but that "it could be done in an hour or it might take a month."
THEATER BITS: We remember Lloyd Richards; ‘Purple,’ ‘Tunnel’ alter schedules
to accommodate July 4th.
*Famed theater director and educator Lloyd Richards, who served as a
mentor for Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights August Wilson and Lorraine
Hansberry, has died of heart failure.
Richards directed six of Wilson’s plays on Broadway: starting with
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” in 1984 and continuing through “Fences” (1987),
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” (1988), “The Piano Lesson” (1990), “Two Trains
Running” (1992) and “Seven Guitars” (1996). Richards won a Tony Award for
his direction of “Fences.”
He made his Broadway directorial debut in 1959 with Hansberry’s “A
Raisin in the Sun.” Its success propelled Richards into a career teaching
drama, first at Hunter College and then New York University.
Richards died on Thursday, his birthday, at New York’s Mount Sinai
Hospital. Always secretive about his age, he was believed to be in his
mid-80s.
*Several Broadway shows have changed their schedules to accommodate
the holiday tomorrow.
Sarah Jones’ one-woman Tony-winner “Bridge and Tunnel” has cancelled
its performance on July 4, but a show will be added Wednesday, July 5, at 2
p.m. “The Color Purple” has also nixed its July 4th staging. “The Lion
King” has cancelled July 4th’s 8 p.m. show as well as its July 9th 3 p.m.
performance. But, the production has added shows for 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
July 9th. No changes were announced for the Maurice-Hines-choreographed “Hot
Feet,” which features the music of Earth Wind & Fire.
SPORTS BITS: Perry represents at Wimbledon; Griffin’s porn-related crash;
LeBron, Anthony offered $80 mil; Tiger to play Dunlop Phoenix.
*The top-seeded Americans were bounced one-by-one out of Wimbledon
over the weekend, led by No. 8 seed James Blake on Friday, and followed by
the retiring Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and defending ladies champion Venus
Williams on Saturday. However, 62nd-ranked Shenay Perry, the sole remaining
U.S. player, makes her first-ever appearance in the fourth round of a Grand
Slam tournament with a win over Austria’s Sybille Bammer 7-5, 6-3. The
Washington D.C. native’s historic Wimbledon journey continues today against
Elena Dementieva. Meanwhile, Blake was done in Friday by Belarussian Max
Mirnyi 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0. During his post game interview, Blake said
of his last two sets: “I wasn't making my first serves. Just went off for a
little while. That hasn't happened to me in a long time. But it happened
today against the worst guy.” Williams, a 6th seed, was escorted out by
26th-seeded Jelena Jandovic of Serbia 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-4. “Will it be hard to
put it behind me? I hate losing, obviously. I'm used to winning, especially
here,” Venus told reporters. “But as long as, God willing, I'm healthy, I'll
be around next year, and I'll be around for the next tournament.”
*Minnesota Timberwolves player Eddie Griffin has apologized for a
March auto accident where he was literally caught with his pants down.
According to a lawsuit filed against him on Thursday, the NBA athlete was
driving his SUV in Minneapolis while drunk and masturbating to a porn DVD
when he crashed into a parked Chevy Suburban. Griffin said he deeply regrets
the incident and apologized to his family, teammates, and the community for
any embarrassment his actions may have caused. Meanwhile, police are
investigating whether two officers should have issued Griffin a DUI ticket
and whether they violated policy by driving him home to St. Paul after the
accident. The owner of the vehicle that Griffin allegedly damaged and the
owner's brother are suing Griffin and the city, claiming he tried to bribe
them and that their civil rights were violated by the police handling of the
case. A video tape of the incident taken by the victim and given to several
local media outlets shows Griffin admitting that he is drunk and does not
have a driver’s license. He is also seen pleading with witnesses to not call
the police, saying, “I can’t go to jail.” Video also showed Griffin offering
to buy a car for the man whose SUV he crashed into.
*Cleveland Cavaliers star and recent BET Award winner LeBron James
has been offered a five year, $80 million contract extension. While James
has always said he would return to the Cavs, he had yet to make his decision
as of press time. "I'm not talking about it today," a smiling James said at
a news conference. Meanwhile, Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony was
offered approximately the same deal as King James – a five-year, $80 million
contract extension, which the 22-year-old accepted just 12 hours after the
league's free agency period began. It was the maximum contract amount he
could have signed under the terms of the NBA's collective bargaining
agreement. Due to league rules, neither James nor Anthony can officially
sign new contracts until July 12.
*Tiger Woods has announced that he will participate in Japan’s $1.7
million Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament, to be held Nov.16-19 at the Phoenix
Country Club in Miyazaki, Japan. The athlete will attempt to win Japan's
richest golf event for the third consecutive year, tying Japan's Jumbo
Ozaki. At last year's tournament, Woods won the fourth hole of a playoff
with Japan's Kaname Yokoo to claim the title.
L.A. SECURITY OFFICERS PROTEST POVERTY CONDITIONS: Hundreds join NAACP, SCLC, local leaders, clergy at rally.
*Hundreds of mostly black security officers, NAACP, SCLC, elected
leaders, community groups from South L.A. marched downtown Friday to the
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) headquarters, protesting
poverty conditions in the private security industry.
"Every day that the wealthy corporate landlords delay our civil
rights, they are robbing us of up to half a million dollars in economic
opportunities for South Los Angeles," said Rev. Eric P. Lee of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
The Stand for Security Coalition says in a statement that “nearly 70
percent of security officers in L.A. County are black and live well below
the poverty line for a family of four. Most full-time security officers must
work two full-time jobs due to poverty conditions in the city's security
industry.”
"I can't support my family working security alone so I had to get a
second, full-time job to try to make ends meet," security officer William
Edwards said in a statement. "Our only hope is to organize."
The Stand for Security Coalition also say that “L.A.'s wealthiest
corporate landlords are denying mostly black security officers their civil
right and freedom to form a union, but in San Francisco, Chicago, New York
City and other U.S. cities where officers have formed a union with Service
Employees International Union (SEIU) they've won better training, wages,
benefits, working conditions and improved public safety.”
.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in April, called on the city's real
estate community to improve public safety in their buildings and improve
working conditions for security officers, saying, "Security officers in San
Francisco, New York, Chicago and other cities enjoy the right to belong to
the union they want to belong to, earn decent wages and have access to
affordable health benefits for themselves and their families. We will not
stand by and let security officer who dedicate themselves to the safety and
security of our city be left behind."
Friday’s march capped Five Days for Freedom, a massive mobilization
to unite security officers across L.A. County to fight poverty conditions in
the security industry. Los Angeles' African American community groups and
clergy participating in Five Days for Freedom include ACORN, African
American Collaborative, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Bus Riders Union,
Clergy and Laity United For Economic Justice, Community Coalition, Community
Call to Action and Accountability, Gangsters for Christ, NAACP, New Frontier
Democratic Club, Pathways for Our Future, Ron Brown Democratic Club,
Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The Organization US, and more.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
How are you today? The other morning I woke up with some pressing issues on my mind and then... I read some of your e-mails. So many were full of love and gratitude. My heart was stirred and tears of joy and sadness flowed.
Some of you are really going through some tough times and some of you are sharing your praise reports of taking action, walking by faith and persevering in spite of your obstacles and disappointments.
As I read your inspiring stories of strength, endurance and inspiration, I am reminded that I won't complain and that I am too blessed to be stressed.
It is a choice to rejoice and it's a choice to hold my head up high or hold it down.
I believe the enemy does not want our home, car, money, degree, status or diamonds. The destroyer of life really desires our faith, joy, peace, praise and worship, gratitude, perseverance and our destiny.
Every moment...every day...you and I can choose what we will allow to steal our peace of mind. Every day "stuff" is happening all around us in our homes, job, community, church and in the world news. The bitter and sweet, the good and bad are happening all at the same time. It's just that some days the bad stuff makes more noise.
We are challenged on every side to stay in the light. We are challenged to stay in peace instead of falling to pieces. We are challenged to get up and be proactive instead of being procrastinators, worriers and hopeless victims. We are reminded to count our blessings and not our burdens. We are reminded to be compassionate of others. We should know that if we worry...don't even pray. If we pray and take action...don't worry. One cancels out the other.
Whatever you are going and growing through...don't give up. Something great is about to happen. What a mighty God we serve! Read more motivational messages at...
http://www.donotgiveup.net/motivationalmessageslist.htm
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
July 3: Singer Fontella Bass is 66; Talk show host Montel Williams is 50; Singer Tonia Tash of Divine is 27.
July 4: Singer Bill Withers is 68; Percussionist Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind and Fire is 55.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Here's a resource of black and African-American lists, including black radio, newspapers, magazines, colleges, and financial resources. Find out more: www.blackfinancialsavvy.com
Submit your favorite website to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
July 03, 1775: Prince Hall founded Africa Lodge No. 1. It was the first Black Lodge of Free Masons in the United States.
July 04, 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted. A section denouncing the slave trade was deleted. (source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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