Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns

Meet the Brownsis Tyler Perry’s fifth movie to date.  This movie focuses on the struggles of single mothers.  Angela Basset is her usual outstanding self, and clearly carries this movie. The cast is primaily made up of newcomers; it’s not as strong as some of his other ensembles. 

The relationship between Brenda (Angela’s character) and her son is supportive and loving. Some scenes brought me to tears.  Most of Tyler’s movies are filled with big laughs; the laughs in Meet the Browns are far and in between and borders on slap stick.

Overall the Meet the Browns is good, but it falls short from Perry’s previous works.

This movie gets 31/2 kisses out of 5!

     

Salt & Pepa

Okay, I have fallen in love with Salt & Pepa! Their Reality TV show on VH1 is reality TV done right.  There is a vulnerability between the two long time friends that makes the show authentic.

This show gets 4 out of 5 kisses!

The Bank Job

I love movies based on a true story.  The Bank Job was pretty interesting. It marks the turnaround of the once crime infested Scotland Yard. 

Cutie pie Jason Statham takes the lead in this true story of the 1971 Baker Street bank robbery which was prevented from being told for over thirty years because of a Government gagging order. The real story of how one of the biggest robberies in British history took place with no arrests ever made nor money ever recovered. 

This film reveals what was hidden for the first time. The story involves murder, corruption and a sex scandal with links to the Royal Family (Princess Margret) – a story in which the thieves were the most innocent unusual suspects of all time.

This move gets 3 out of 5 Kisses 

Oprah’s Big Give

For whom much is given, much is required.  Oprah has embraced this proverb more than anyone.  Oprah has dedicated her life to share, give, encourage and blessed as many people as possible for the sole purpose of giving others the ability to do the same.  If only we all could be so unselfish.

Oprah’s Big Give epedimizes the true essence of Oprah.  Her new reality TV Show on WCPO Sunday evenings at 9:00 pm, gives ten individuals the opportunity to “give big” to total strangers through a series of challenges.

Tonight is second show, and I’ve found myself crying once again throughout the entire show.  I’m inspired to play it forward and I hope everyone reading this is as well.

This show gets 5 out 5 kisses!

Making the Band

This season of Making the Band happens to be my favorite. We are starting to see more vulnerable momemts with the group members not related to their musical talent.  My favorite episode was when they went to church.  I believed the emotion that was displayed.  I think some reality TV is scripted, but this season of Making the Band seems authentic.  Diddy also shows us a softer and comedic side this time around. 

There is a budding relationship between Dawn and Q that is so tender.  It’s also intriguing to watch the creative process in the studio.  It’s still to soon to say, but I think that Donnie may have the best CD.  I’m digging the first two songs.

This show get 4 out of 5 kisses! 

  

Vantage Point

This movie is about eight strangers with eight different points of view trying to unlock the one truth behind an assassination attempt on the president of the United States.  I waited four months to see this movie, and for me it didn’t disappoint.  However, I’m not necessarily recommending that you run out to go see this movie.  It does have its frustrations, like rewinding back to the actual assassination eight times to to show each character’s eye witness account.  Absence this one annoyance, the movie does draw you in and keeps you on the edge of the seat.

This movie gets 31/2 kisses out of 5!

Janet Jackson – Discipline

Janet’s new CD Discipline hit the stores last Tuesday.  Her first single “Feedback” is gaining increased airplay.  It’s classic Janet with a futuristic twist.  The entire CD has the same futuristic vibe.  While on most songs you can’t understand the lyrics she’s singing, each uptempo song has a crazy beat.   Most notably, her collabo with Missy Elliott – The 1.  Missy’s unique style is sure to make this cut a hit. 

Janet said goodbye to producers Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam on this CD.  Whether or not this departure will prove to be fruitful remains to be seen.  Rodney Jerkins produced most of the CD, along with her Bo Jermaine Dupri who also partnered with her as executive producer.

This is clearly not the comeback CD for Janet.  But if you are a diehard fan as am I, you will enjoy the meat and discard the fat. 

This CD gets 3 out of 5 kisses!

The Pirate’s Daughter

This book is the real deal!

 After a long career on the silver screen, Errol Flynn spent much of the last years of his life on a small island off of Jamaica, throwing parties and sleeping with increasingly younger teenaged girls. Based on those years, The Pirate’s Daughter is the story of Ida, a local girl who has an affair with Flynn that produces a daughter, May, who meets her father but once.

Spanning two generations of women whose destinies become inextricably linked with the matinee idol’s, this lively novel tells the provocative history of a vanished era, of uncommon kinships, betrayal and atonement in a tropical setting.  As adept with Jamaican vernacular as she is at revealing the internal machinations of a fading and bloated matinee idol, Margaret Cezair-Thompson weaves a saga of a mother and daughter finding their way in a nation struggling to rise to the challenge of independence. 

You will never need to read another book after you feast on this scrumptious tale.

This book gets 5 out of 5 kisses!!!!

Gone Baby Gone

Whew! This movie takes you for a ride.  I missed it at the movie theater and couldn’t wait for it to come out on video.  It started out a bit slow and typical, but about half way through it starts to take turns that are as eqaully shocking as they are shameful. Just when I thought I had it figured out it would take yet another turn.

The backdrop of the movie was scarily authentic.  The home of the characters were as nasty and dirty as a crack house.

This movie was directed by Ben Afleck and starred his younger brother Casey. With Ben’s most recent acting roles one would be hesitant to trust his ability to bring true grit and drama.  Fear not – this movis is excellent!

This movie gets 4 out of 5 kisses! 

Grammy Awards

This year the Grammys turned 50! I expected a fabulous party to celebrate, but got something just short of boring. The Grammy Show has joined the list of awards shows that have taken a departure from focusing on the award winners to a performance showcase.  This new direction would be great if the performances were hot!?!?! 

There were some shinning moments throughout the evening.  The wonderful Alicia Keys always delivers.  Her performance with John Mayer sizzled.  The Cirque du Soleil – The Beatles LOVE was daring and heart felt.  Tina Turner has found the fountain of youth.  Her duet with Beyonce was good -not great.  I would be remiss if I did not mention Amy Winehouse.  Amy did her thing! As only she can. 

The Grammys get 3 out of 5 kisses!