12 August
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RESPECT Director: Liesl TommyStarring: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Marc Maron, Audra McDonald, Heather Headley, Titus Burgess, Mary J. Blige, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore It’s clear that Jennifer Hudson was born to play the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. She’s even said Franklin hand-picked her to star in the film version of her life. Like far too many biopics before it, Respect covers a lot of ground spanning decades of Aretha’s life going back to her troubled childhood. We learn that her father, played by Forest Whitaker, was a respected preacher with a large following. Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald stars as her motherRead More →

15 February
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BLACK PANTHER Director: Ryan Coogler Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Daniel Kaluuya, Forest Whitaker We were first introduced to Black Panther, played exceptionally well by Chadwick Boseman, in Captain America: Civil War. Marvel has now given the character his own standalone film to build on his backstory and legacy. As we saw in the previous movie, T’Challa/Black Panther’s father was killed at the United Nations explosion. T’Challa is now the rightful heir to the throne taking his place as the new king of the African nation, Wakanda. He’s inRead More →

10 November
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ARRIVAL Director: Denis Villeneuve Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma In the last few years we have seen an increase in intelligent films about space exploration and the possibility that something else may be out there. Arrival is one to add to that list with its insightful probe on how we communicate with extra-terrestrials. Don’t worry; this feels more Close Encounters of the Third Kind than say the dreadful Independence Day Resurgence. This is the first of two high-profile films for Amy Adams this year. She also stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in Nocturnal Animals. Here she plays Dr. Louise Banks,Read More →

07 April
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In Movie Trailers

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Director: Gareth Edwards Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen In nine months we will feast our eyes on the next Star Wars movie! Yes, it’s coming up quickly, and I have been patiently waiting the arrival of a teaser trailer. Lucas Film probably decided to wait until the dust cleared on The Force Awakens before giving us intel on the next film. Unfortunately, we’ll still have to wait another year before Episode VIII arrives. This year moviegoers will see the first in a new anthology series. Rogue One: A StarRead More →

04 November
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In Interviews

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER–The 2013 Full Uncensored Actors Roundtable       It’s award season which means another set of roundtable discussions from The Hollywood Reporter with the actors, actresses, directors, producers, and writers garnering praise for their films. As an actor myself, I love watching them discuss the ups and downs of their careers, what inspires them, what excites them in a project, and what scares them. Up first is The Actors segment featuring: Josh Brolin, Labor Day Jake Gyllenhall, Prisoners Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club Forest Whitaker, Lee Daniels’ The Butler Don’t forget toRead More →

16 August
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LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLERDirector: Lee DanielsStarring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Lenny Kravitz, Cuba Gooding, Jr. Terrence Howard Director Lee Daniels has lined up one hell of an ensemble for his latest movie. The movie is a who’s who of Oscar winners and heavy hitters. Do not let the trailer fool you; the story is more about the butler’s family than all the presidents the butler worked for. As a young boy, Cecil Gaines (Whitaker) grew up working as a field servant and a house servant on a cotton field. When he is old enough to leave that volatile environment, he gets taken inRead More →