by Bob Martin | Feb 22, 2012 | Actors, Art, Film
ASA Butterfield
Must admit, Oscar nominated film,”Hugo” was a delightful surprise and it should not have been!
On first learning that Martin Scorsese had succumbed to the 3D craze I wrongfully expected a film totally dependent on visual gimmicks.
Scorsese has always been a masterful story teller and “Hugo” is no exception and it is the story that makes this film so wonderful. The visuals are exceptional, the casting choices thoughtful and yes, I really enjoyed this movie.
Avoid reviews with deep analysis and just see the movie with an open mind. I left the theater knowing more then I knew before about the history of film and curious to learn more.
by Bob Martin | Feb 20, 2012 | Art, Artist, Film, music
I didn’t watch much of the coverage on the death of Whitney Houston, nor did I see the services at The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark this Saturday. I grew tired of the random speculations by experts etc, on the possible causes of her death.
Young people who become stars like Whitney, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Natalie Cole and even Bobby Brown are painted into a corner by their fame and rumors, that they find difficult to escape from. We, the fans, don’t ever want them to grow up, grow old or to just be. We don’t realize that we wear them out with our expectations. The personal life of Whitney Houston was never any of my business and now that she has passed away I have no right to insist on an explanation of why she died. Artists are in part what they produce (their art). Ms. Houston is a unforgettable talent and her art is the gift that she left us. We should not expect more.
by Sandy | Jan 17, 2012 | Art, Blogroll, Exhibits, Film, Movies, Museums
Hopefully, everyone gets a chance to see the new film “Red Tails”, which tells the true story of African American World War II pilots – the Tuskegee Airmen. It opens on Friday January 20, 2012. But, just in case you don’t do movies, but are still fascinated by black “flight”, the Smithsonian has both an online and a traveling exhibit called “Black Wings”. 
“The historic flight of the Wright brothers in 1903 sparked a universal enthusiasm for flying. But as in most areas of life, formidable obstacles and discrimination faced black Americans who had dreams of flying… Black Wings tells the story of how one group of Americans overcame enormous obstacles to break into aviation.”
(Images: Aviatrix, Bessie Coleman in 1923, poster for “Red Tails”)
by Bob Martin | Jan 12, 2012 | Directors, Film, Movies, Poem
Just see this movie, make up your own mind and then see it again and come to a different conclusion and repeat. Give up on getting it right or choosing sides – it’s great or it’s horrible – take your side.
by Bob Martin | Dec 14, 2011 | Actors, Art, Film
Yolande Moreau
There are actors who are able to lend their body and face to the character they are portraying. Yolande Moreau does just that for me in Séraphine a little gem of a movie about “Séraphine de Senlis” (Séraphine Louis).
Moreau is so compelling that I found myself understanding her many challenges as if they were my own, struggling to fit, what is called the normal world, into the abstraction of her mind.
For most people being fully understood and understanding others is difficult, for an artist it may be many times more difficult.
Once more, Séraphine is a beautiful small film.
by Bob Martin | Nov 21, 2011 | Actors, Art, Live Performance, Poem
This Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Black Poet Ventures present “Cool Like That” : A Tribute To the Genius of Miles Davis”
