Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee To Receive TIFF Tribute Awards

TIFF announced that legendary directors Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee will receive 2023 TIFF Tribute Awards on September 10. Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF, is delighted to announce the first honourees of this year’s Tribute Awards: Academy Award–winning directors and legends Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee. One of the world’s foremost filmmakers and provocative storytellers, Almodóvar will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant, and Lee, a cultural icon who has influenced…

"Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee To Receive TIFF Tribute Awards"

Sidney: A Revealing Documentary of Sidney Poitier

The late Sidney Poitier gets a revealing documentary in a two-hour film directed by Reginald Hudlin and produced by Oprah Winfrey. Unfortunately I missed getting the opportunity to see Sidney during its Toronto premiere screenings. I had one screening on my schedule but one must listen to their body when it needs sleep. In any event, I finally had the chance to sit down and watch ahead of its release on Apple TV+. Leave it…

"Sidney: A Revealing Documentary of Sidney Poitier"

Toronto 2020: David Byrne’s American Utopia

David Byrne’s American Utopia is an absolute joy to watch no matter how familiar you are with Byrne or the Talking Heads. Before I go any further with my review, please make sure to watch the concert film to the very end. Thanks to the joys of technology, it took three attempts to watch this concert film.  After crashing twice on Thursday morning, I decided to make another attempt in the evening.  Rather than continue…

"Toronto 2020: David Byrne’s American Utopia"

Spike Lee On Not CGI De-Aging in Da 5 Bloods

During a virtual roundtable with Critics Choice members, Spike Lee spoke about not using younger actors or de-aging during flashbacks in Da 5 Bloods. The roundtable session lasted slightly over an hour.  WDAF-TV film critic Shawn Edwards, a Critics Choice board member, moderated.  Spike Lee, Delroy Lindo, and Jonathan Majors joined from Da 5 Bloods.  When thinks were set to wrap up after almost 45 minutes, Spike Lee decided to answer one more question. There…

"Spike Lee On Not CGI De-Aging in Da 5 Bloods"

Da 5 Bloods Takes Us Back To Vietnam

Four African-American Vets search for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader and treasure in the new Spike Lee film, Da 5 Bloods, launching on Netflix. Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) are back in Vietnam.  Paul’s son, David (Jonathan Majors), joins them as well.  Their main purpose is to find Stormin’ Norman’s (Chadwick Boseman) buried remains so that he can get a proper American burial.  The…

"Da 5 Bloods Takes Us Back To Vietnam"

Do the Right Thing Is Still Relevant in 2020

It’s been almost 31 years since the release of Do the Right Thing in July 1989 but the Spike Lee film is still relevant in the summer of 2020. Watching the film for the first time amid a civil unrest really displays how relevant the film still is.  It’s truly an injustice that the same thing happening in a 1989 film is still happening today.  How can we as a culture allow this to happen? …

"Do the Right Thing Is Still Relevant in 2020"

BlacKkKlansman Offers Sharp Commentary

While the film is set in the early 1970s, BlacKkKlansman isn’t shy when it comes to its sharp satirical commentary. All Ron Stallworth wanted to do since he was a child was to become a police officer.  Typically, this would not appear to be a problem for someone wishing to join the force.  There’s just one minor problem: he’s a person of color.  The question asked of him by Chief Bridges (Robert John Burke) and…

"BlacKkKlansman Offers Sharp Commentary"

Tribeca 2018: Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1

Michael Jordan is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.  What Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 does is explore the true story behind the classic Air Jordan shoes. It can be said Jordan was the best thing to have ever happened for Nike.  Nike was being killed in the marketing by Adidas in the early 1980s.  Not only that but future Hall of Famers like Larry Bird and others were under contract to Converse. …

"Tribeca 2018: Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1"