Monday Movie Meme - And the Award Goes To... #UWFF Edition

The 17^th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, presented by BET Networks, recently announced its 2013 Award Winners. Among them are Best Narrative Short winner “CRESCENDO,” directed by Alonso Alvarez. The period piece set in 18^th century Holy Roman Empire, about one woman’s life-changing experience, took home a $5,000 prize, presented by HBO.

The narrative feature "FULL CIRCLE," directed by Solvan "Slick" Naim, won an Audience Award. Having just returned from this festival after celebrating new independent films with veteran and budding talent, it’s only fitting that the theme for this week’s Monday Movie Meme honors all of the narrative, screenplay and documentary works that were in competition at Urbanworld: And the Award goes to….

Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies featuring scenes that involve some type of award ceremony.

The ritual does not have to be fancy but it does have to involve a group of people who gathered to give recognition to at least one or more individuals.

It doesn’t matter if anyone actually receives said awards, so long as the intent to give them is present in the scene.

This is unlike our previous Sisterhood of the Award Recipients meme, in that it focuses more on events in movie scenes, rather than specific awards given to a character in a scene. Here are my selections for this week’s And the Award goes to… theme.

Troop 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions

Badges of honor are distributed to a group of boy scouts in this Family film about a boy named Triston who struggles with following the “no-snitching” policy of the streets and living up to the code set by his new circle of friends, after witnessing a homicide. Directed by Praheme, “Troop 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions” opens on October 4^th at Criterion Cinemas at the Movieland; 331 North Boulevard, in Virginia.

Beverly Hills Cop 3

A police detective creates an embarrassing scene during an awards dinner by the local law enforcement, honoring community service work, in this action comedy starring Eddie Murphy.

The Bodyguard

Tension flares during an Oscars broadcast in this romantic drama starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. The main character – a famous singer is nominated for Best Actress for her performance in “Queen of the Night” but that doesn’t stop her security agent/lover from remaining on the job during one of the craziest events ever experienced by the characters involved in this movie's awards show scene.

Think like a Man

Lauren (described as “The Woman Who is her own Man”) gets a rude awakening from her new boy toy during a company event where she is honored for her strides at work, in this romantic comedy starring Taraji P. Henson and Michael Ealy.

Also, Some Honorable Mentions from my Family:

Here are movies that I either didn’t watch or did see but don’t have much interest in trying to remember what type of awards ceremonies took place during these films, but they make the list nonetheless...

Dreamgirls - a musical drama, set in the 60s about female soul singers who cross over into the pop genre, topping the charts, starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson.

Blankman – an action comedy about a low-budget superhero, starring Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier and Robin Givens.

The Five Heartbeats – another musical drama about the trials and tribulations of a black all-male singing group…also set in the 60s, starring Robert Townsend, Michael Wright and Leon.

What movies have YOU watched that feature award ceremonies of one type or another?

*Solvan Naim photo by Terrence Jennings

A ‘Fruitvale Station’ Lesson - Live now, not tomorrow!

Having only heard about Ryan Coogler’s directorial debut “Fruitvale Station” a few short weeks ago and being quite unfamiliar with the film, I brushed it off -- until seeing the trailer on TV while taking a break from editing my own movie (albeit, a short one).

Now that it’s in theaters today, I’m excited that this two-time 2013 Sundance Film Festival winner (Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature and the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic Film) is available for the public to see. Based on a true story, “Fruitvale Station” is about 22-year old Bay Area resident Oscar Grant, who wakes up on the morning of New Year’s Eve with an unexplainable feeling. Taking it as a sign to get started early on his resolutions, Oscar sets out to be a better son to his mother -- whose birthday happens to fall on that day, treating his girlfriend better and being a better father to their four year-old daughter.

Oscar’s day starts out well but as it progresses, he realizes that his resolve to change will not come easily. In a tragic turn on New Year’s Day, BART officers shoot him at the Fruitvale subway stop – shaking the Bay Area and entire nation to its core. Of all the reasons to watch this movie (it’s an independent film produced by Forest Whitaker, it’s one of those slice-of-life stories, it’s a Best First Film according to the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, it teaches audiences that actions toward the next man/woman affects other people such as family and friends – not just that one individual), here are three that have caused me to take notice.

Michael B. Jordan is in it

While the actor is not a familiar name (yet), I can spot his face almost anywhere, after watching him play football on one of my favorite primetime shows -- “Friday Night Lights.” He then snagged a regular role on NBC’s “Parenthood” – another show I couldn’t get enough of when browsing the tube.

Jordan, however, shows audiences that he is not a one-trick TV pony and his leading role in “Fruitvale Station” (given all of the buzz surrounding this film) says this growing talent might be someone to watch. Well Jordan, if you’re reading, I see you – go ahead and keep doing your thing, dude!

There is but a grim, yet hopeful, lesson in Oscar’s acting on his resolutions early and then being murdered on New Year’s Day.

I believe “Fruitvale Station” has the ability to remind us that we need not wait until the future to put forth effort in making positive improvements in our lives -- whether that is in the form of mending relationships or growing them, inner/outer personal development or merely staying out of troublesome (dangerous, negative, etc.) situations. Knowing that there is a 50/50 chance (or more, or less, depending who you are) of us living to see another year – or another day, for that matter – every man and woman on this earth is best served doing the very things to lift them up now, rather than putting the action-plan off until January 1^st each year.

We’re the Resolutions Completed?

That’s the challenge, as a viewer, when you already know the main character won’t make it to the end of a movie. Finding out how he lived up to that point is what sparks my curiosity and makes for a good reason to go see it. Was he able to succeed in meeting all – or at least some – of his resolutions before that cold-blooded encounter with BART police? Did this young man’s last moments on earth involve behaviors that evoke a sense of pride or do they include actions that bring about disappointment in the wake of his death? What kind of legacy does he leave behind, what kind of example will it have on his daughter and how does it affect the morale of family and friends?

“Fruitvale Station” is now playing in the following cities:

• New York City, NY

• Los Angeles, CA

• San Francisco, CA

Have YOU watched the “Fruitvale Station” movie trailer?

How are YOUR 2013 resolutions coming along so far?

*I apologize for skipping the Monday Movie Meme this week. A new one will be posted on this upcoming Monday, July 15^th if all goes well.

Movies and Moscato – 'Dead Man Down' Mix it Up #ISawWhatYouDid #nowplaying

Oscar nominated actor Terrence Howard plays a crime lord in the revenge thriller “Dead Man Down,” now in theaters. One look at the movie trailer – especially if you turn the sound off, however, and it’s easy to notice how he doesn’t have the typical appearance of a gangsta. Instead, Howard could fool almost anyone into believing that he is either some type of upscale nightclub owner or danger-seeking millionaire playboy with too much time on his hands. That pegs the question…what does a gangster look like? Does murder and tailored clothing mix in crime films? How about strange lovers and revenge?

Actor Colin Farrell teams up with “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” star Noomi Rapace in this movie, to bring down the man who brought them harm. Meanwhile, Terrence Howard’s character is sitting pretty, confident that he will survive his right-hand man’s plot to destroy him.

I like Colin Farrell and the “Dead Man Down” trailer looked entertaining but I must say, Dominic Cooper is among the main reasons why I would watch this movie. It is Khalil Kain, however, who has me thinking that the flick is best viewed in a movie theater that offers an *ahem* extended beverage menu.

On Thursday, actor Khalil Kain attended a sneak peak screening hosted by Terrence Howard – where some atypical concessions were served up, grown-folk style. He skipped the fountain drinks to have Myx Fusions Moscato with his popcorn. Now, that’s gangsta!

What movie theater near YOU has the best concession stand?

Photo by Stephen Knight