Tag Archives: Common

Important and Amazing “The Hate U Give”

Directed by George Tillman, Jr. from the New York Times bestseller by Angie Thomas comes a poignant and contemporary story about the social scales tipping over as police officers unjustly kill a childhood friend.

The poster is so much better than the first. The star on the poster tells us it is a young girl’s story.

The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, played by Amandla Stenberg, who constantly switches between two cultures. Two very diverse cultures from the poor, mostly black, neighborhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends.

The strained balance between these cultures is toppled over when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil, played by Algee Smith,  at the hands of a police officer.

Now, facing the community’s social pressures, Starr learns she must find her voice and stand up for what’s right.

Tillman helmed several movies and produced quite a few TV series and films. He is best known for Soul Food, his first movie as a director, which he made for $7 million. The movie grossed $43 million.

Audrey Wells adapted the screenplay. She has scripted and directed Under the Tuscan Sun and Guinevere while writing screenplays for diverse films such as George of the Jungle and Shall We Dance.

The Hate U Give also stars Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Issa Rae, KJ Apa, Sabrina Carpenter, Common and Anthony Mackie.

You can watch the movie on Blu-ray, DVD, or stream it.

The movie clip explains the theme of the movie: It is a trap; the only way out is to help each other and allow people to be who they are – humanity.

The movie trailer looks like something out of the headlines. The movie’s message is strong if the trailer’s pace is any indication.

Growth and Challenge “Love Beats Rhymes” Poster & Trailer

Directed by RZA, Love Beats Rhymes follows a struggling rapper Coco, played by Azealia Banks. She enrolls in a poetry class and thinks her rhymes will impress her teacher, Professor Dixon, played by Jill Scott.

With a twist, Dixon challenges Coco to seek real meaning in her lyrics, setting her on a journey of discovery that takes her through rap clubs and poetry slams and leads her to find her authentic voice. She even finds true love. Lionsgate is calling this an uplifting movie with costars, Lucien Laviscount and Common.

The movie looks grainy and unkempt, an exciting look that might draw rap enthusiasts.

“Megan Leavey” Trailer

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Megan Leavey is a tearjerker and low-budget movie based on a true story that I am happy it is being told. It’s hard to believe the dedication of these service dogs and their owners.

The trailer pretty much tells the story based on the true life story of a young marine corporal, played by Kate Mara, whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq.

When she is assigned to clean up the K9 unit after a disciplinary hearing, Leavey identifies with a particularly aggressive dog, Rex, and is given the chance to train him. Over the course of their service, Megan and Rex completed more than 100 missions until an IED explosion injures them, putting their fate in jeopardy.