Clockwise from top left: The Breakfast Club (Universal), Fast Times At Ridgemont High (Universal), Grease (Paramount), Superbad (Sony), Carrie (United Artists), Bring It On (Universal)Graphic: AVClub
Few things are more nostalgic than a high school movie to bring back all those frightful and fraught memories of cliques, crushes, mean teachers,...
Few things are more nostalgic than a high school movie to bring back all those frightful and fraught memories of cliques, crushes, mean teachers,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Stacie Hougland
- avclub.com
[This story contains mild spoilers to The Bear season two.]
For as long as Ayo Edebiri can remember, Robert Townsend has been a part of her life. “He literally was my dad for a period,” says The Bear star, referencing the pioneering actor and director’s role as Robert Peterson on the WB sitcom The Parent ‘Hood, which he created and starred in from 1995-1999.
In a collage that sits in front of Edebiri’s desk is a cutout of a poster of Hollywood Shuffle, Townsend’s 1987 semi-autobiographical comedy which he co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in. When she and co-host Olivia Craighead released the second episode in the director series of their Iconography podcast on July 29, 2020, Townsend was Edebiri’s chosen icon. And when Christopher Storer, The Bear’s creator and co-showrunner, asked the actress who portrays Sydney in the comedy-drama who she wanted to play her dad in season two, she told him, “My dream would be Robert Townsend.
For as long as Ayo Edebiri can remember, Robert Townsend has been a part of her life. “He literally was my dad for a period,” says The Bear star, referencing the pioneering actor and director’s role as Robert Peterson on the WB sitcom The Parent ‘Hood, which he created and starred in from 1995-1999.
In a collage that sits in front of Edebiri’s desk is a cutout of a poster of Hollywood Shuffle, Townsend’s 1987 semi-autobiographical comedy which he co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in. When she and co-host Olivia Craighead released the second episode in the director series of their Iconography podcast on July 29, 2020, Townsend was Edebiri’s chosen icon. And when Christopher Storer, The Bear’s creator and co-showrunner, asked the actress who portrays Sydney in the comedy-drama who she wanted to play her dad in season two, she told him, “My dream would be Robert Townsend.
- 7/6/2023
- by Brande Victorian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The legendary RZA joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)
Cut Throat City (2020)
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Cooley High (1975) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Car Wash (1976) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Grease (1978)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – Dennis Cozzalio’s best of 2020
The Devil You Know (2022)
The Last American Virgin (1982)
The Beastmaster (1982)
Porky’s (1981)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Carmen Jones (1954)
An American In Paris (1951)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) – John Badham’s trailer commentary
Is That Black Enough for You?!?...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)
Cut Throat City (2020)
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Cooley High (1975) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Car Wash (1976) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Grease (1978)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – Dennis Cozzalio’s best of 2020
The Devil You Know (2022)
The Last American Virgin (1982)
The Beastmaster (1982)
Porky’s (1981)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Carmen Jones (1954)
An American In Paris (1951)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) – John Badham’s trailer commentary
Is That Black Enough for You?!?...
- 2/14/2023
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Every generation has a Robert Townsend movie for them, whether it’s his acerbic examination of Black actors in the film industry with 1987’s “Hollywood Shuffle,” his attempt to crack the superhero genre with 1993’s “Meteor Man” or his spin on Disney Channel fare with the 2000s feature “Up, Up, and Away!” And don’t forget his 2001 adaptation of Bizet’s “Carmen” starring Beyoncé Knowles-Carter: “Carmen: A Hip Hopera.” The multihyphenate actor, director, comedian and writer has seen and done it all.
Nearly 50 years into his Hollywood career, Townshend is still working today. Most recently, he directed for the Netflix series “Kaleidoscope” and participated as a guest during TCM’s Black History Month celebration.
But it’s only in the last few years — aided by screenings of 1975’s “Cooley High,” 1984’s “A Soldier’s Story,” and “Hollywood Shuffle” on TCM — that Townsend’s legacy as a Black artist has begun getting the appreciation it deserves.
Nearly 50 years into his Hollywood career, Townshend is still working today. Most recently, he directed for the Netflix series “Kaleidoscope” and participated as a guest during TCM’s Black History Month celebration.
But it’s only in the last few years — aided by screenings of 1975’s “Cooley High,” 1984’s “A Soldier’s Story,” and “Hollywood Shuffle” on TCM — that Townsend’s legacy as a Black artist has begun getting the appreciation it deserves.
- 2/10/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
For someone who died in the pilot of Queen Sugar, which returns to OWN for its seventh season on September 6, Ernest Bordelon sure casts a long shadow. The patriarch, played by Glynn Turman, was so powerful that his presence continues to resonate among his grown children. And as the beloved series wraps, Turman is back on set. For someone who spent his formative years in Manhattan, he’s at ease on a farm, where the sugar cane rises as far as you can see. Grabbing some shade in one of the small houses on St. Joseph Plantation where Queen Sugar shoots, 75-year-old Turman relaxes. He flashes that famous grin, the one fans noticed in Peyton Place, Cooley High, and The Wire, and answers our “5 Questions.” Your first job was playing Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee’s son in the original A Raisin in the Sun on Broadway. How did that come about?...
- 9/20/2022
- TV Insider
Cinephiles take note, it’s that good cineaste time of the month: The Criterion Collection has unveiled its latest line-up, this time for December to wrap up 2022. The boutique DVD-Blu-Ray label is ending the year with quite a bang, including two trilogy box sets—one from Austrian fear-meister Michael Haneke and one from the lesser-known Mai Zetterling, a Swedish actor turned director who worked with Ingmar Bergman and then started making her own films in the 1960s.
Continue reading Criterion’s December 2022 Titles Include A Michael Haneke Trilogy Box Set, ‘Cooley High’ & More at The Playlist.
Continue reading Criterion’s December 2022 Titles Include A Michael Haneke Trilogy Box Set, ‘Cooley High’ & More at The Playlist.
- 9/15/2022
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
And like that, Criterion’s 2022 is in the bag. Their December titles, announced today, wind down a year perhaps best-defined by the company’s ventures into 4K—none of which is represented here, sadly, but there’s always the next twelve months.
And I won’t complain about a well-stocked disc for Todd Haynes’ bewilderingly beautiful The Velvet Underground (read my interview here), which I think marks the first time an Apple TV+ feature has entered the collection. I’m also glad to see two trilogy boxsets: one for the little-discussed Swedish figure Mai Zetterling, another for the very-much-discussed Michael Haneke—here represented by The Seventh Continent, Benny’s Video, and 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance. (Not a great laughs-to-runtime ratio here.) Bonus: while I’ve never seen Cooley High, the cover basically sells me.
See artwork below and further details on all titles here:
The post The...
And I won’t complain about a well-stocked disc for Todd Haynes’ bewilderingly beautiful The Velvet Underground (read my interview here), which I think marks the first time an Apple TV+ feature has entered the collection. I’m also glad to see two trilogy boxsets: one for the little-discussed Swedish figure Mai Zetterling, another for the very-much-discussed Michael Haneke—here represented by The Seventh Continent, Benny’s Video, and 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance. (Not a great laughs-to-runtime ratio here.) Bonus: while I’ve never seen Cooley High, the cover basically sells me.
See artwork below and further details on all titles here:
The post The...
- 9/15/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
The 40th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” at the upcoming TCM Film Festival will be a full-blown reunion.
The Turner Classic Movies Film Festival announced on Wednesday that actors Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas are confirmed to appear alongside Spielberg and producer Kathleen Kennedy at the screening, which will be held on the opening night of the festival on April 21.
In keeping with this year’s festival theme “All Together Now: Back to the Big Screen,” director Michael Schultz and stars Glynn Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Garrett Morris, and Steven Williams will introduce their seminal coming-of-age dramedy “Cooley High” (1975), about a group of teens in Chicago preparing for life after high school. In addition, stars Kevin Bacon, Paul Reiser, Steve Guttenberg and Tim Daly will celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Diner” (1982).
The festival runs from April 21 through April 24 in Hollywood, with TCM Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz...
The Turner Classic Movies Film Festival announced on Wednesday that actors Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas are confirmed to appear alongside Spielberg and producer Kathleen Kennedy at the screening, which will be held on the opening night of the festival on April 21.
In keeping with this year’s festival theme “All Together Now: Back to the Big Screen,” director Michael Schultz and stars Glynn Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Garrett Morris, and Steven Williams will introduce their seminal coming-of-age dramedy “Cooley High” (1975), about a group of teens in Chicago preparing for life after high school. In addition, stars Kevin Bacon, Paul Reiser, Steve Guttenberg and Tim Daly will celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Diner” (1982).
The festival runs from April 21 through April 24 in Hollywood, with TCM Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz...
- 3/23/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Writer/director Adam McKay kicks off Season 5 by discussing a few of his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Don’t Look Up (2021)
Parasite (2019) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
The Big Short (2015)
Vice (2018)
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s 4K Blu-ray review, Tfh’s 30th anniversary links
The Second Civil War (1997) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer commentary, Joe Dante revisits the movie
Network (1976) – Chris Wilkinson’s trailer commentary
Broadcast News (1987)
To Die For (1995) – Illeana Douglas’s trailer commentary
The Hospital (1971) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Ace In The Hole (1951) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Dr. Strangelove (1964) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Over The Edge (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
The Warriors (1979)
River’s Edge (1986)
Tex (1982)
Rumble Fish (1983) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Don’t Look Up (2021)
Parasite (2019) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
The Big Short (2015)
Vice (2018)
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s 4K Blu-ray review, Tfh’s 30th anniversary links
The Second Civil War (1997) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer commentary, Joe Dante revisits the movie
Network (1976) – Chris Wilkinson’s trailer commentary
Broadcast News (1987)
To Die For (1995) – Illeana Douglas’s trailer commentary
The Hospital (1971) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Ace In The Hole (1951) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Dr. Strangelove (1964) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Over The Edge (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
The Warriors (1979)
River’s Edge (1986)
Tex (1982)
Rumble Fish (1983) – Adam Rifkin’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray...
- 1/18/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
The National Film Registry — known as the preservation arm of the Library of Congress — has added 25 new films to its 825 titles of culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant movies. But that’s just a small portion of the Library’s whopping 1.7 million titles.
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, the movies must be at least 10 years old, and this year’s additions feature many film fan favorites. As reported by Variety, among them are “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” from 2001, “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” from 1983, Pixar’s “Wall-e” from 2008, 1997’s beloved musical biopic “Selena,” pioneering Black lesbian drama “The Watermelon Woman” from 1996, the cult classic original “A Nightmare on Elm Street” from 1984, and even a few canonical classics like “The Long Goodbye,” “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?,” and “Strangers on a Train.” See the full list below in chronological order.
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, the movies must be at least 10 years old, and this year’s additions feature many film fan favorites. As reported by Variety, among them are “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” from 2001, “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” from 1983, Pixar’s “Wall-e” from 2008, 1997’s beloved musical biopic “Selena,” pioneering Black lesbian drama “The Watermelon Woman” from 1996, the cult classic original “A Nightmare on Elm Street” from 1984, and even a few canonical classics like “The Long Goodbye,” “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?,” and “Strangers on a Train.” See the full list below in chronological order.
- 12/14/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Since 1989, the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress has been accomplishing the important task of preserving films that “represent important cultural, artistic and historic achievements in filmmaking.” From films way back in 1897 all the way up to 2010, they’ve now reached 825 films that celebrate our heritage and encapsulate our film history.
Today they’ve unveiled their 2021 list, which includes Jonathan Demme’s concert masterpiece Stop Making Sense, Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye, the horror classic Nightmare on Elm Street, the landmark queer film The Watermelon Woman, and even a few blockbusters.
The oldest film in this year’s registry class is a recently restored 3-minute actuality recording from 1902 showing a Ringling Brothers circus parade in Indianapolis. As the Library of Congress notes, “One reason why the film was selected for preservation is it also shows, by accident, a rare glimpse of a prosperous northern Black community at...
Today they’ve unveiled their 2021 list, which includes Jonathan Demme’s concert masterpiece Stop Making Sense, Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye, the horror classic Nightmare on Elm Street, the landmark queer film The Watermelon Woman, and even a few blockbusters.
The oldest film in this year’s registry class is a recently restored 3-minute actuality recording from 1902 showing a Ringling Brothers circus parade in Indianapolis. As the Library of Congress notes, “One reason why the film was selected for preservation is it also shows, by accident, a rare glimpse of a prosperous northern Black community at...
- 12/14/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Library of Congress has unveiled its annual list of 25 movies to make the cut for the National Film Registry. The selection, considered among America’s most influential motion pictures, features titles spanning from 1902-2008. Among them are Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 Strangers On A Train; 1962’s Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?, starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford; 1972 tearjerker Sounder, which brought Cicely Tyson a Best Actress Oscar nomination; John Waters’ Pink Flamingos (1972); and Michael Schultz’s 1975 Cooley High.
More recent classics such as 1983’s Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi, 1984’s A Nightmare On Elm Street, 2001’s The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring and 2008’s Wall-e are also honored (scroll down for the full list).
The roster further includes music and comedy performances: 1984’s Talking Heads pic Stop Making Sense from director Jonathan Demme and 1979’s Richard Pryor: Live In Concert, recorded at the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach,...
More recent classics such as 1983’s Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi, 1984’s A Nightmare On Elm Street, 2001’s The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring and 2008’s Wall-e are also honored (scroll down for the full list).
The roster further includes music and comedy performances: 1984’s Talking Heads pic Stop Making Sense from director Jonathan Demme and 1979’s Richard Pryor: Live In Concert, recorded at the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach,...
- 12/14/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Pixar’s “Wall-e,” “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” and “Selena” have been selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.
Each year, the Librarian of Congress names 25 motion pictures that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, the movies have to be at least 10 years old.
Other titles added to the National Film Registry in 2021 include “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Pink Flamingos,” “Who Killed Vincent Chin?,” “Richard Pryor: Live in Concert,” “Cooley High” and “Sounder.”
This year’s lineup brings the number of films in the registry to 825, a small portion of the 1.7 million movies in the Library’s collection. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, says the recent assemblage represents one of the most diverse classes of films to enter the registry, with movies dating back nearly 120 years and representing Hollywood studios,...
Each year, the Librarian of Congress names 25 motion pictures that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, the movies have to be at least 10 years old.
Other titles added to the National Film Registry in 2021 include “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Pink Flamingos,” “Who Killed Vincent Chin?,” “Richard Pryor: Live in Concert,” “Cooley High” and “Sounder.”
This year’s lineup brings the number of films in the registry to 825, a small portion of the 1.7 million movies in the Library’s collection. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, says the recent assemblage represents one of the most diverse classes of films to enter the registry, with movies dating back nearly 120 years and representing Hollywood studios,...
- 12/14/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
The writer/director returns to talk about his favorite Blaxploitation movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Man Bites Dog (1992)
Trick Baby (1972)
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Pelli’s trailer commentary
The Untouchables (1987)
Predator (1987)
Purple Rain (1984) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Loved One (1965) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Live And Let Die (1973)
Enter The Dragon (1973) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Green Hornet (1974)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Darren Bousman’s trailer commentary
The Last Dragon (1985) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Dead Presidents (1995)
Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Shaft (1971) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)
Coffy (1973) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary
Midnight Cowboy (1969) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary
Boxcar Bertha (1972) – Julie Corman...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Man Bites Dog (1992)
Trick Baby (1972)
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Pelli’s trailer commentary
The Untouchables (1987)
Predator (1987)
Purple Rain (1984) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Loved One (1965) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Live And Let Die (1973)
Enter The Dragon (1973) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Green Hornet (1974)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Darren Bousman’s trailer commentary
The Last Dragon (1985) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Dead Presidents (1995)
Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary
Shaft (1971) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)
Coffy (1973) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary
Midnight Cowboy (1969) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary
Boxcar Bertha (1972) – Julie Corman...
- 8/3/2021
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Showtime is kicking off LGBTQ Pride Month with good news for fans of The L Word: Generation Q.
The show’s second season will premiere on Sunday, Aug. 8 at 10/9c, with the first five episodes continuing to air on Sunday nights. New episodes will then move to Mondays, beginning Sept. 13, where the remainder of the season will air, leading up to the Oct. 11 finale.
More from TVLineCity on a Hill Renewed for Season 3The Chi Recap: Cooley High DisharmonyJoseph Gordon-Levitt to Play Ex-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick in Showtime's Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber
If merely reading that roll-out plan gave you a headache,...
The show’s second season will premiere on Sunday, Aug. 8 at 10/9c, with the first five episodes continuing to air on Sunday nights. New episodes will then move to Mondays, beginning Sept. 13, where the remainder of the season will air, leading up to the Oct. 11 finale.
More from TVLineCity on a Hill Renewed for Season 3The Chi Recap: Cooley High DisharmonyJoseph Gordon-Levitt to Play Ex-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick in Showtime's Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber
If merely reading that roll-out plan gave you a headache,...
- 6/1/2021
- by Andy Swift
- TVLine.com
On this week’s The Chi it’s ironic that, after so many happy endings lately, Jada is dealt a truly awful one.
Emmett’s mom spends most of the hour navigating her relationship with Suede, the masseuse-with-benefits who’s seeming more and more like her boyfriend. They discuss what they are to each other. They dress up in ’70s gear to attend her high school reunion. And he’s gotten so familiar with her and her body that it’s Suede who points out a troubling lump in her breast while they’re in bed one day.
More from...
Emmett’s mom spends most of the hour navigating her relationship with Suede, the masseuse-with-benefits who’s seeming more and more like her boyfriend. They discuss what they are to each other. They dress up in ’70s gear to attend her high school reunion. And he’s gotten so familiar with her and her body that it’s Suede who points out a troubling lump in her breast while they’re in bed one day.
More from...
- 5/31/2021
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
The New York Film Critics and the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. handed out their awards this past week. The two orgs traditionally provide a starting place for AMPAS members viewing movies over the holiday break, pointing them to under-the-radar films and performances.
Here are the movies that received the biggest boosts:
Biggest Winners Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” (Searchlight Pictures)
The auteur could be on her way to making history as the first woman of color to be nominated for best director. With Zhao winning both groups’ director prizes, and “Nomadland” being the runner-up in picture at Lafca, the road looks clear for the film to be embraced in a major way.
“Time” (Amazon Studios)
The documentary that tells the story of a mother of six fighting for the release of her husband from prison picked up prizes from both groups. The last time the two agreed on the nonfiction category was with 2014’s “Citizenfour,...
Here are the movies that received the biggest boosts:
Biggest Winners Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” (Searchlight Pictures)
The auteur could be on her way to making history as the first woman of color to be nominated for best director. With Zhao winning both groups’ director prizes, and “Nomadland” being the runner-up in picture at Lafca, the road looks clear for the film to be embraced in a major way.
“Time” (Amazon Studios)
The documentary that tells the story of a mother of six fighting for the release of her husband from prison picked up prizes from both groups. The last time the two agreed on the nonfiction category was with 2014’s “Citizenfour,...
- 12/24/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
One of the most anticipated films of this awards season, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” emerges as one of the premier Oscar vehicles for Netflix. At its soulful core, the farewell performance of the late Chadwick Boseman is as invigorating as anticipated. His work as Levee may very well be his best and most spiritual gift to cinema. Boseman has a real opportunity to join a short list that includes Peter Finch and Heath Ledger, two posthumous Oscar nominees who won their respective categories.
Based on the August Wilson play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” tells the story of the tension that builds between Ma Rainey, nicknamed the “Mother of Blues” (played by Viola Davis), her ambitious horn player Levee, and the white management determined to control her music in 1927 Chicago.
After it was reported that Boseman would be submitted in lead actor by Netflix, one of the questions bubbling has been,...
Based on the August Wilson play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” tells the story of the tension that builds between Ma Rainey, nicknamed the “Mother of Blues” (played by Viola Davis), her ambitious horn player Levee, and the white management determined to control her music in 1927 Chicago.
After it was reported that Boseman would be submitted in lead actor by Netflix, one of the questions bubbling has been,...
- 11/15/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Cooley High director Michael Schultz will be honored October 24 by the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center as part of its 26th annual African American Film Marketplace and the S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase, which runs from October 23-November 29.
“Michael represents the best of the best in Hollywood, a true genius at what he does,” said Bherc president Sandra Evers-Manly. “Cooley High is a classic that launched the careers of several phenomenal actors and inspired a generation of filmmakers. A renaissance professional, Michael has placed an indelible imprint on the stage, film and television industries.”
Cooley High was “so important during its time because of the cultural content as well as its box office performance,” she said. “It’s a comedy turned drama coming-of-age story of high school friends that reached beyond communities and lines of color and gave voice and validation to lives never explored on the big screen.
“Michael represents the best of the best in Hollywood, a true genius at what he does,” said Bherc president Sandra Evers-Manly. “Cooley High is a classic that launched the careers of several phenomenal actors and inspired a generation of filmmakers. A renaissance professional, Michael has placed an indelible imprint on the stage, film and television industries.”
Cooley High was “so important during its time because of the cultural content as well as its box office performance,” she said. “It’s a comedy turned drama coming-of-age story of high school friends that reached beyond communities and lines of color and gave voice and validation to lives never explored on the big screen.
- 10/16/2020
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Ava DuVernay’s Array is presenting its fourth filmmaker tweet-a-thon, Array Film Fellowship. The annual daylong social media event is set to kick off on April 30 at 9 am Pt and will run for a staggering 10 hours and feature the voices of over 50 directors.
From Academy Award winners to veterans to legends to new voices the Twitter takeover will feature Guillermo Del Toro, Patty Jenkins, Jon M. Chu, Julie Dash, Jill Soloway, Patricia Cardoso, Mira Nair, George Tillman, Victoria Mahoney, Diane Paragas, Nisha Ganatra, Prentice Penny, Numa Perrier and many more.
More from DeadlineRusso Brothers To Celebrate One-Year Anniversary Of 'Avengers: Endgame' With Live Tweet RewatchSnap Surges 37%, Facebook Follows As Social Media Stocks Rally In Upbeat MarketTwitter Founder-ceo Jack Dorsey Made $1.40 In 2019, Even With Year Before
The filmmakers will wax poetic on the social media platform and share details about their craft, latest projects, take questions from film lovers...
From Academy Award winners to veterans to legends to new voices the Twitter takeover will feature Guillermo Del Toro, Patty Jenkins, Jon M. Chu, Julie Dash, Jill Soloway, Patricia Cardoso, Mira Nair, George Tillman, Victoria Mahoney, Diane Paragas, Nisha Ganatra, Prentice Penny, Numa Perrier and many more.
More from DeadlineRusso Brothers To Celebrate One-Year Anniversary Of 'Avengers: Endgame' With Live Tweet RewatchSnap Surges 37%, Facebook Follows As Social Media Stocks Rally In Upbeat MarketTwitter Founder-ceo Jack Dorsey Made $1.40 In 2019, Even With Year Before
The filmmakers will wax poetic on the social media platform and share details about their craft, latest projects, take questions from film lovers...
- 4/27/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The great Larry Wilmore joins us to share some very personal double features.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
1917 (2019)
Animal Crackers (1930)
Duck Soup (1933)
My Little Chickadee (1940)
A Night At The Opera (1935)
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
The Parallax View (1974)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Jaws (1975)
The Stepford Wives (1975)
The Party (1968)
The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
Richard Pryor: Live In Concert (1979)
Richard Pryor: Live And Smokin’ (1971)
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Lenny (1974)
The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009)
Lolita (1962)
Caligula (1979)
The Night of the Iguana (1964)
The Elephant Man (1980)
What Would Jack Do? (2020)
Blue Velvet (1986)
The Apartment (1960)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Sting (1973)
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
1917 (2019)
Animal Crackers (1930)
Duck Soup (1933)
My Little Chickadee (1940)
A Night At The Opera (1935)
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
The Parallax View (1974)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Jaws (1975)
The Stepford Wives (1975)
The Party (1968)
The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
Richard Pryor: Live In Concert (1979)
Richard Pryor: Live And Smokin’ (1971)
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Lenny (1974)
The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009)
Lolita (1962)
Caligula (1979)
The Night of the Iguana (1964)
The Elephant Man (1980)
What Would Jack Do? (2020)
Blue Velvet (1986)
The Apartment (1960)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Sting (1973)
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid...
- 3/10/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Exclusive: Multi-hyphenate Eva Longoria has landed the directing job for Flamin’ Hot, the Fox Searchlight biopic about Richard Montanez, who created the spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snack. DeVon Franklin will produce the pic under his Franklin Entertainment label, which is currently under a production deal at Fox.
Longoria reportedly beat out multiple directors for the job after impressing Franklin and Fox with her authentic approach to portraying the inspiring story of Richard and Judy Montanez. Richard rose from humble beginnings to achieve the American Dream: The son of a Mexican immigrant, Richard was a janitor at Frito-Lay when he came up with the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. His creation, inspired by the flavors of his community, revitalized the company and disrupted the food industry, creating a pop culture phenomenon that continues today.
Charlie St. Cloud and October Sky scribe Lewis Colick penned the script. Zahra Phillips is overseeing the project for Franklin Entertainment,...
Longoria reportedly beat out multiple directors for the job after impressing Franklin and Fox with her authentic approach to portraying the inspiring story of Richard and Judy Montanez. Richard rose from humble beginnings to achieve the American Dream: The son of a Mexican immigrant, Richard was a janitor at Frito-Lay when he came up with the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. His creation, inspired by the flavors of his community, revitalized the company and disrupted the food industry, creating a pop culture phenomenon that continues today.
Charlie St. Cloud and October Sky scribe Lewis Colick penned the script. Zahra Phillips is overseeing the project for Franklin Entertainment,...
- 8/27/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
When Hollywood discusses diversity and inclusion, the focus naturally tends to be on the future — diversifying writers’ rooms and executive suites; tackling pay inequality; erasing the many long-held myths about box office performance and films with people of color. But there’s an all-too-important counterpart to that discussion: How to address Hollywood’s past, and reevaluate the film canon, in a way that takes into account perspectives from outside of the white establishment that has typically served as gatekeeper for which films are considered classics.
That was part of the motivation for the African-American Film Critics Assn.’s partnership with Turner Classic Movies, “The Black Experience on Film,” which launched this week. For the next month, an Aafca-curated program of 32 films, stretching from the 1920s to the early 1990s, will screen on the network, presented and contextualized by a pair of Aafca members each night. Organized by theme, the offerings...
That was part of the motivation for the African-American Film Critics Assn.’s partnership with Turner Classic Movies, “The Black Experience on Film,” which launched this week. For the next month, an Aafca-curated program of 32 films, stretching from the 1920s to the early 1990s, will screen on the network, presented and contextualized by a pair of Aafca members each night. Organized by theme, the offerings...
- 9/7/2018
- by Andrew Barker
- Variety Film + TV
J.D.’s Revenge will be available on Blu-ray November 14th from Arrow Video
It wasn’t long before the Blaxploitation boom moved into the horror market, bringing the world Blacula, Blackenstein, Abby (Blaxploitation’s The Exorcist) and cult favorite J.D.’s Revenge.
Law student Ike is enjoying a night on the town with his friends when his life changes dramatically. Taking part in a nightclub hypnosis act, he becomes possessed with the spirit of a violent gangster murdered in the 1940s. Believing himself to be the reincarnation of murderous J.D., Ike launches a revenge campaign against those who had done ‘him’ wrong all those years ago…
Directed by Arthur Marks (Bucktown, Friday Foster) and starring Glynn Turman (Cooley High) and Academy Award-winner Louis Gossett Jr (An Officer and a Gentleman), J.D.’s Revenge is a alternately tough and terrifying – a Blaxploitation gem waiting to be rediscovered!
It wasn’t long before the Blaxploitation boom moved into the horror market, bringing the world Blacula, Blackenstein, Abby (Blaxploitation’s The Exorcist) and cult favorite J.D.’s Revenge.
Law student Ike is enjoying a night on the town with his friends when his life changes dramatically. Taking part in a nightclub hypnosis act, he becomes possessed with the spirit of a violent gangster murdered in the 1940s. Believing himself to be the reincarnation of murderous J.D., Ike launches a revenge campaign against those who had done ‘him’ wrong all those years ago…
Directed by Arthur Marks (Bucktown, Friday Foster) and starring Glynn Turman (Cooley High) and Academy Award-winner Louis Gossett Jr (An Officer and a Gentleman), J.D.’s Revenge is a alternately tough and terrifying – a Blaxploitation gem waiting to be rediscovered!
- 11/7/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
This November, Arrow Video is giving horror fans a lot to be thankful for with several Blu-ray releases that are highly anticipated, including the George A. Romero Between Night and Dawn collection and the Hellraiser 30th anniversary SteelBook, and we have full release details on both holiday wish list items:
Press Release: Winter chills just mean that it's November, and Arrow Video are set to heat things up with a George Romero box set, a blaxploitation chiller, classic horror in steelbook form, a modern-day Russian black comedy, and a cult thriller directed by Steve Buscemi! With plenty of lavish packaging and limited edition items, Christmas has come early for film collectors!
Legendary horror cinema innovator, George A Romero, is responsible for arguably the most influential zombie films of all time. But he doesn't just make undead epics, and the three films collected here in the box set George Romero...
Press Release: Winter chills just mean that it's November, and Arrow Video are set to heat things up with a George Romero box set, a blaxploitation chiller, classic horror in steelbook form, a modern-day Russian black comedy, and a cult thriller directed by Steve Buscemi! With plenty of lavish packaging and limited edition items, Christmas has come early for film collectors!
Legendary horror cinema innovator, George A Romero, is responsible for arguably the most influential zombie films of all time. But he doesn't just make undead epics, and the three films collected here in the box set George Romero...
- 11/2/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Watch This offers movie recommendations inspired by new releases or premieres. Since it’s Chicago Week here at The A.V. Club, we’re looking back on some essential Chicago movies, set (and often filmed) in the Windy City.
Cooley High (1975)
If a movie is shot in Chicago, there’s always a decent chance that it will include footage of the L. The city’s elevated train system snakes through some of its most photographed (and photogenic) areas, to the extent that it’s possible to capture a glimpse of it purely by accident, as it glides by in the background of a shot. Furthermore, it’s as distinctive as any building—instant proof that a film is both set and made in the Windy City. The L makes several cameos in Cooley High, including a prominent appearance during the opening credits. But this isn’t a film that ...
Cooley High (1975)
If a movie is shot in Chicago, there’s always a decent chance that it will include footage of the L. The city’s elevated train system snakes through some of its most photographed (and photogenic) areas, to the extent that it’s possible to capture a glimpse of it purely by accident, as it glides by in the background of a shot. Furthermore, it’s as distinctive as any building—instant proof that a film is both set and made in the Windy City. The L makes several cameos in Cooley High, including a prominent appearance during the opening credits. But this isn’t a film that ...
- 3/31/2017
- by A.A. Dowd
- avclub.com
Brown Sugar, a streaming service featuring classic blaxploitation movies, launched on Thursday. The service is now available for mobile phones and tablets in the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store and for computers at BrownSugar.com. There is a free initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99 per month thereafter. Brown Sugar features an extensive library of iconic black movies, all un-edited and commercial-free. Classics available now include: “Foxy Brown,” “Shaft,” “Super Fly,” “Dolemite,” “Cotton Comes to Harlem,” “Uptown Saturday Night,” “Cooley High,” “Black Caesar,” “Cleopatra Jones,” “Mandingo,” “Car Wash” and many more. Also Read: Could 'Fences' and 'Hidden Figures'.
- 11/17/2016
- by Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
Two weeks ago we reported that there are plans for a remake of Michael Schultz’s 1973 film “Cooley High”. Needless to say, the idea of doing a remake of a beloved near classic, went over like a ton of bricks with… Continue Reading →...
- 7/27/2016
- by Sergio Mims
- ShadowAndAct
Made for $750,000 and featuring a cast of mostly little known actors, many were surprised when Michael Schultz’s “Cooley High” made a whopping $13 million in 1975. The movie has became a cult favorite ever since, and marked something unique in the midst of the blaxploitation era — a coming of age movie that many called […]
The post MGM To Remake ‘70s Cult Favorite ‘Cooley High’ appeared first on The Playlist.
The post MGM To Remake ‘70s Cult Favorite ‘Cooley High’ appeared first on The Playlist.
- 7/21/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Your favorite movie is going to be remade or re-imagined. Just take a breath and accept that. Speaking of: Deadline announced yesterday that the 1975 coming-of-age tale Cooley High will be getting the reboot treatment. Devon Franklin, Tony Krantz (son to Steve Krantz, who produced the original) and Chicago’s own Common will be teaming up to bring a new version of the Chicago-shot classic to to theaters.
Cooley High was more sentimental than most of its blaxploitation counterparts, with more in common with American Graffiti and The Wanderers than Dolemite and Black Caesar. The story focused on the characters of Preach (Glynn Turman) and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) as they make their way through teenage life on the south side of Chicago circa 1964. The film was lauded for mixing comedy and drama upon its release, dealing with themes of education and sexuality during teens’ formative years as well as ...
Cooley High was more sentimental than most of its blaxploitation counterparts, with more in common with American Graffiti and The Wanderers than Dolemite and Black Caesar. The story focused on the characters of Preach (Glynn Turman) and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) as they make their way through teenage life on the south side of Chicago circa 1964. The film was lauded for mixing comedy and drama upon its release, dealing with themes of education and sexuality during teens’ formative years as well as ...
- 7/20/2016
- by Mike Vanderbilt
- avclub.com
Director Michael Schultz’s 1975 American International film “Cooley High” is one of those films that seems to be on every “most beloved” black films list. The period dramedy set in 1964 Chicago, chronicles the lives of two high school best… Continue Reading →...
- 7/19/2016
- by Sergio Mims
- ShadowAndAct
Exclusive: Cooley High has been set for a remake at MGM with DeVon Franklin, Common and Tony Krantz partnering on the seminal 1975 coming-of-age drama. Seth Rosenfeld will write the script. Set in 1960s Chicago and focused on a group of high school pals with big dreams of getting out of the South Side, Cooley High fell in with a series of terrific coming-of-age films that included American Graffiti, The Lords Of Flatbush and The Wanderers. Beyond that, the original became…...
- 7/19/2016
- Deadline
In Rob Zombie’s latest horror film “31,” a group of carnival workers are traveling through the country in an Rv on Halloween night in 1976. On their trip, they’re stopped and attacked with only six of them taken alive. Soon, they’re taken to a strange building where three strangers in aristocratic garb force them to play a survival game: For the next 12 hours, they must wander through a maze of rooms evading murder and torture the entire time. If they survive for the full 12 hours, they’ll be set free, but if not, they’ll join their carnival friends in the grave. “31” stars Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange”), Sheri Moon Zombie (“The Lords of Salem”), Richard Brake (“Game of Thrones”), E.G. Daily (“Rugrats”), Meg Foster (“They Live”), Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (“Cooley High”), and more. Watch the trailer for “31” above.
Read More: Kevin Smith and Rob Zombie Lead 2016 Sundance Film Festival Midnight Section
Rob Zombie rose to fame as the founding member of the ’80s heavy metal band White Zombie. They released four albums between 1987 and 1995; their debut record “Soul-Crusher” was particularly acclaimed, especially by musicians like Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. He briefly focused on his solo work before shifting his attention to directing horror films. Some of his previous credits include “House of 1000 Corpses” and its sequel “The Devil’s Rejects,” the remake of “Halloween” and its sequel “Halloween II,” and “The Lords of Salem.”
“31” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. It will be released on VOD platforms on September 16th and in a limited theatrical release on October 21st.
Read More: Rob Zombie on Going for Broke With ‘Lords of Salem’ and Why Making a Third ‘Halloween’ Would Be ‘Masochistic’
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Related stories10 Horror Filmmakers Overdue to Make New FeaturesThe 20 Best Horror Films of the Last 20 YearsRobert Englund Says He Wants a Part in a New 'Nightmare on Elm Street'...
Read More: Kevin Smith and Rob Zombie Lead 2016 Sundance Film Festival Midnight Section
Rob Zombie rose to fame as the founding member of the ’80s heavy metal band White Zombie. They released four albums between 1987 and 1995; their debut record “Soul-Crusher” was particularly acclaimed, especially by musicians like Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. He briefly focused on his solo work before shifting his attention to directing horror films. Some of his previous credits include “House of 1000 Corpses” and its sequel “The Devil’s Rejects,” the remake of “Halloween” and its sequel “Halloween II,” and “The Lords of Salem.”
“31” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. It will be released on VOD platforms on September 16th and in a limited theatrical release on October 21st.
Read More: Rob Zombie on Going for Broke With ‘Lords of Salem’ and Why Making a Third ‘Halloween’ Would Be ‘Masochistic’
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related stories10 Horror Filmmakers Overdue to Make New FeaturesThe 20 Best Horror Films of the Last 20 YearsRobert Englund Says He Wants a Part in a New 'Nightmare on Elm Street'...
- 6/14/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Before Spike Lee made his mark, Michael Schultz was the most prolific African American filmmaker since Oscar Micheaux, directing around 12 feature films between 1970 and 1990 (and much more if I included TV movies and serials). For the current generation of young filmmakers, his name may not at all be familiar, despite his work being an inspiration to popular directors who came after him, and who are working today, like John Singleton, who has said that Schultz's "Cooley High" (1975) was a major influence on him. From that now-classic 1975 teen comedy and "Car Wash" (1976), to 1991's comedy/farce "Livin' Large!" (a film that was one of the last features he...
- 9/18/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
While I'd argue I have a fairly deep knowledge of '80s films, having survived the era the first time through, it seems I somehow missed "The Last Dragon," directed by Michael Schultz. Schultz works non-stop in television these days, and I'd wager that most of the people watching his episodes of "Arrow" or "Hart of Dixie" or "Black-ish" or "Chuck" or "The Mysteries Of Laura" have no idea this is the same guy who made movies like "Car Wash," "Cooley High," "Greased Lightning," "Bustin' Loose," or "Scavenger Hunt." He was one of the few directors to work with Richard Pryor repeatedly, which automatically makes him somewhat of a superhero. It's always strange when you watch a movie for the first time removed completely from the context in which it premiered, especially one that provokes such an enthusiastic cult response from so many people when you mention it. A mere...
- 9/4/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
The Peachtree Village International Film Festival (Pviff) celebrates its 10th year in Atlanta September 14-20 at the W Hotel Downtown and surrounding venues. Pviff features screenings, educational forums, networking events, and visiting celebrities. Entrenched in the old saying, “It takes a village,” festival founder and CEO Len Gibson has created what he calls, “a village atmosphere of opportunity for filmmakers, business owners, and film enthusiasts.” Notable highlights of this year’s festival include a screening of the classic film, “Cooley High,” and a celebration of its 40th anniversary, featuring a conversation with stars Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Glynn Turman. Pviff will also premiere legendary actress Alfre Woodard’s new film, “Knucklehead,” starring Gbenga Akinnagbe (who co-starred on HBO’s acclaimed series “The Wire” with Turman). The cast will be on hand for a Q&A following the screening. Asked what makes Pviff unique, Gibson says, “It’s more personable. You leave...
- 7/30/2015
- backstage.com
When Jeb Bush revealed the slogan for his 2016 presidential campaign, most thinking people had pretty much the same reaction: Hey, that looks like the title of a sit-com! Clearly, the use of the exclamation mark was meant to distinguish George W.’s younger brother from the baker’s dozen of Republicans seeking the nomination, perhaps by making him seem a bit more more lively and vibrant. Maybe the former Florida Governor was trying to seem current by utilizing a punctuation that these days litters every one of our texts and emails. (If you say you’re excited to see me, but don't use at least one exclamation, how can I really believe you?) Generally, but not always, television shows that have dared to wield the exclamation point in their titles have done so with a precise purpose in mind, whether to demonstrate urgency, irony, or just plain enthusiasm. Occasionally, the...
- 6/30/2015
- by Oliver Jones
- Hitfix
"Cooley High" ought to be remembered as a cinema milestone, and its writer and director remembered as pioneers.
Released 40 years ago this week (on June 25, 1975), it ought to be celebrated for its vast influence on movies, TV, and music. As a young-men-coming-of-age movie, it deserves to be mentioned alongside Fellini's "I Vitelloni," George Lucas's "American Graffiti," Barry Levinson's "Diner," and John Singleton's "Boyz N the Hood." And yet, the film and its creators have been largely forgotten, lost to history.
The story behind "Cooley High" is even more dramatic than the comedy-drama that unspooled on the screen. It's the story of Kenneth Williams, who, like protagonist Preach, left Chicago's Cabrini-Green projects with dreams of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter. Having dropped out of high school, he hitchhiked from the Windy City to Hollywood with $5 in his pocket and no connections, and for a while he supported himself selling drugs.
Released 40 years ago this week (on June 25, 1975), it ought to be celebrated for its vast influence on movies, TV, and music. As a young-men-coming-of-age movie, it deserves to be mentioned alongside Fellini's "I Vitelloni," George Lucas's "American Graffiti," Barry Levinson's "Diner," and John Singleton's "Boyz N the Hood." And yet, the film and its creators have been largely forgotten, lost to history.
The story behind "Cooley High" is even more dramatic than the comedy-drama that unspooled on the screen. It's the story of Kenneth Williams, who, like protagonist Preach, left Chicago's Cabrini-Green projects with dreams of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter. Having dropped out of high school, he hitchhiked from the Windy City to Hollywood with $5 in his pocket and no connections, and for a while he supported himself selling drugs.
- 6/25/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
If there are any millennials out there who want to experience what the 1980’s were like, you can do one of two things: build a time machine, or watch “The Last Dragon”. Produced by Motown chief Berry Gordy, and directed by Michael Schultz ("Cooley High," "Car Wash," "Greased Lightning," "Which Way is Up?"), the 1985 film could be a perfect example of all that went wrong during the decade - the big hair, the synthesized music, the trashy clothes, etc, and yet the film has endured. In fact, there is a legitimate real cult following for the film, and there are even websites and fan made tribute trailers. Part of it is nostalgia, but ...
- 6/12/2015
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Forty years after its theatrical release, Michael Schultz’s poignant early title Cooley High (1975) comes to Blu-ray. A prominent figure in film in the 70s and 80s thanks to iconic titles like the progressive Car Wash (1976), martial arts film The Last Dragon (1986), and the excellent 1977 Richard Pryor film Which Way is Up? (a remake of Wertmuller’s The Seduction of Mimi), Schultz tends to get left out of deserving discussions as concerns black filmmakers.
References to this 60s period piece concerning a group of friends growing up in the Chicago housing projects is often referred to as the black American Graffiti, a thankless distinction, to be sure. Operating outside of the Blaxploitation paradigm, Schultz and screenwriter Eric Monte (apparently portions of this are autobiographical) simply recreate a certain period wherein two friends learn hard lessons as they grow to realize the cruelty of the world around them. Less dramatic than...
References to this 60s period piece concerning a group of friends growing up in the Chicago housing projects is often referred to as the black American Graffiti, a thankless distinction, to be sure. Operating outside of the Blaxploitation paradigm, Schultz and screenwriter Eric Monte (apparently portions of this are autobiographical) simply recreate a certain period wherein two friends learn hard lessons as they grow to realize the cruelty of the world around them. Less dramatic than...
- 4/21/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Forty years ago, a film crew with exploitation financing and art-house ambitions arrived in Chicago to create Cooley High, a funny and poignant slice of life that would eventually become a classic. The movie — which tells the story of black teenagers growing up in the Cabrini-Green housing project as they fall in and out of love, get into trouble, and try to figure out their futures — served as a launching pad for actors Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Glynn Turman, and Garrett Morris, and provided inspiration for a later generation of filmmakers that included John Singleton and the Hughes Brothers. It […]...
- 4/21/2015
- by Jim Hemphill
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Forty years ago, a film crew with exploitation financing and art-house ambitions arrived in Chicago to create Cooley High, a funny and poignant slice of life that would eventually become a classic. The movie — which tells the story of black teenagers growing up in the Cabrini-Green housing project as they fall in and out of love, get into trouble, and try to figure out their futures — served as a launching pad for actors Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Glynn Turman, and Garrett Morris, and provided inspiration for a later generation of filmmakers that included John Singleton and the Hughes Brothers. It […]...
- 4/21/2015
- by Jim Hemphill
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
In honor of Black History Month and the film's 40th anniversary, the WGA Committee of Black Writers hosted an intimate screening of "Cooley High" last night in Los Angeles. The classic story about a group of Chicago teens in the 1960s remained a fan favorite over the years for its heartfelt nostalgia and as Sergio pointed out, the movie recently came to Blu Ray. Screening attendees got a rare chance to hear about the making of the film from "Cooley High" screenwriter Eric Monte and cast members Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, who played Preach and Cochise, in a post-screening conversation moderated fittingly by "Hollywood Shuffle"...
- 2/27/2015
- by Shadow And Act
- ShadowAndAct
Director Michael Schultz’s 1975 American International film Cooley High is one of those films, like Love and Basketball, that seems to be on every “most beloved” black films list. The period dramedy set, in 1964 Chicago, chronicles the lives of two best high school buddies, Preach (played by Glynn Truman), a serious minded guy with aspirations of becoming a famous writer and his best friend Cochise (played Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), the school basketball hero who’s headed for college and what looks like a promising career. Together we follow them as the goof off, fall in love, cut class, crash parties, and other shenanigans that most teenagers get involved in, as...
- 2/19/2015
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
June 2014. So what does the month of June usually remind one of during this time of year? Well, besides Father’s Day and possible scheduled weddings this sixth month in the calendar year marks the celebrated occasion for the ending of the school semester. Whether students are simply looking forward to their summer vacation or managed to complete a milestone in graduating from said grammar school, middle school, high school or college the month of June is closely identified with the school season coming to a close (unless one can escape the doldrums of a summer school session).
So to mark this auspicious occasion we should take a look at some random films with an educational theme. Hence, “Too Cool for School: Top 10 Random Films Making the Grade” will briefly examine a selection of higher education ditties that taught us something (or perhaps nothing) during our heyday of cramming for tests.
So to mark this auspicious occasion we should take a look at some random films with an educational theme. Hence, “Too Cool for School: Top 10 Random Films Making the Grade” will briefly examine a selection of higher education ditties that taught us something (or perhaps nothing) during our heyday of cramming for tests.
- 6/6/2014
- by Frank Ochieng
- SoundOnSight
The Second Annual St. Louis Black Film Festival will be September 15-18 2013 at Wehrenberg Ronnies 20 Cine 5320 Lindbergh Blvd. Saint Louis, Missouri. The first St. Louis Black Film Festival was in February of 2012 and was a classic series, designed to present some black film history during Black History Month, and featured such gems as Raisin In The Sun, Superfly, and Cooley High. This year, all the films screened will be new movies and not only will feature length films be screened, but music videos, short films, and short documentaries as well.
The St. Louis Black Film Festival provides the American Midwest with a forum for African American independent film and video, and also serves as an advocate for African American film and video production in the state of Missouri. The Festival seeks to introduce the best films and videos from the surrounding area to its culturally diverse, film-loving audiences Stlbff was...
The St. Louis Black Film Festival provides the American Midwest with a forum for African American independent film and video, and also serves as an advocate for African American film and video production in the state of Missouri. The Festival seeks to introduce the best films and videos from the surrounding area to its culturally diverse, film-loving audiences Stlbff was...
- 9/12/2013
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
My fellow Nyu alumnus Spike Lee, now a grad school professor, has posted on Kickstarter the list of films that he considers to be essential viewing for any aspiring filmmaker. He gives it out to his students on the first day of class. It's a fabulous list! He's right. Any proper cinephile should have seen all these films. Have you? (Remember, I'm the one who called my college boyfriend a "movie moron" for not having seen "2001: A Space Odyssey"--which isn't on Lee's list.) Your Netflix queue awaits. True confession: I am ordering up "Cooley High," "Dead End," "Kung Fu Hustle," "I Am Cuba," "Miracle in Milan" and "Paisan." Lee's list includes three films each by masters Akira Kurosawa (the filmmaker at the top of my personal pantheon of directors), Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, John Huston, and Federico Fellini. He also includes Arthur Penn's "Bonnie and Clyde,...
- 7/29/2013
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Wow, what a hell of a way to start off my 2013. Not only was I able to catch a viewing of John Dies At The End before its limited theatrical release January 25th thanks to an early wide-release Video On Demand campaign, but then I was gifted the opportunity to sit down with director Don Coscarelli and producer/actor Paul Giamatti for an exclusive interview.
I mean, these two guys are legendary in my book. Coscarelli is responsible for every Phantasm film, as well as a few other gems including the cult worshiped “Bruce Campbell playing Elvis” film, Bubba Ho-Tep. Giamatti is a Oscar-nominated actor who has played everyone from John Adams to Santa Claus, earning himself instant recognition around Hollywood.
As for the interview, I had an absolute blast. The two personalities made a fantastic team and were so easy to talk to, exemplified by Don sitting next to...
I mean, these two guys are legendary in my book. Coscarelli is responsible for every Phantasm film, as well as a few other gems including the cult worshiped “Bruce Campbell playing Elvis” film, Bubba Ho-Tep. Giamatti is a Oscar-nominated actor who has played everyone from John Adams to Santa Claus, earning himself instant recognition around Hollywood.
As for the interview, I had an absolute blast. The two personalities made a fantastic team and were so easy to talk to, exemplified by Don sitting next to...
- 1/11/2013
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Jeffrey Wright is the kind of weighty actor that directors fiend for, able to handle both indie and big budget movies, down-in-the-dirt roles and parts that require square-jawed strength.
So it’s no surprise Wright took on the intense role of police commissioner Carl Fairbanks in the upcoming political thriller Broken City, directed by Menace II Society filmmaker Allen Hughes and out in theaters Jan. 18. Co-starring Mark Wahlberg as an ex-cop who is hired by a corrupt mayor (Russell Crowe) to photograph his cheating glam wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), the noir-ish movie explodes into a full-out scandal laced with murder.
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So it’s no surprise Wright took on the intense role of police commissioner Carl Fairbanks in the upcoming political thriller Broken City, directed by Menace II Society filmmaker Allen Hughes and out in theaters Jan. 18. Co-starring Mark Wahlberg as an ex-cop who is hired by a corrupt mayor (Russell Crowe) to photograph his cheating glam wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), the noir-ish movie explodes into a full-out scandal laced with murder.
Check...
- 1/10/2013
- by Solvej Schou
- EW - Inside Movies
By Beck/Smith
HollywoodNews.com: Don Cheadle’s “House of Lies” has already been picked up for its second season, and costar Glynn Turman is quick to applaud Showtime for its support of the series that has Cheadle as a slick, smart, ruthless and debauched management consultant for greedy Wall Street giants.
“They’re so behind it, pumping and putting it out there,” he notes. This being Black History Month, Turman looks at “House of Lies” through the lens of race. In his opinion, “It’s not being treated like a ‘black show.’ If there is a show with a black lead, it’s not usually given the push that other shows are given. But with this show, the wheels that make things a success are really spinning.”
Turman has a permanent place in black cinema history, thanks to his role in the classic 1975 “Cooley High.” He’s observed changes...
HollywoodNews.com: Don Cheadle’s “House of Lies” has already been picked up for its second season, and costar Glynn Turman is quick to applaud Showtime for its support of the series that has Cheadle as a slick, smart, ruthless and debauched management consultant for greedy Wall Street giants.
“They’re so behind it, pumping and putting it out there,” he notes. This being Black History Month, Turman looks at “House of Lies” through the lens of race. In his opinion, “It’s not being treated like a ‘black show.’ If there is a show with a black lead, it’s not usually given the push that other shows are given. But with this show, the wheels that make things a success are really spinning.”
Turman has a permanent place in black cinema history, thanks to his role in the classic 1975 “Cooley High.” He’s observed changes...
- 2/20/2012
- by Beck / Smith
- Hollywoodnews.com
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