Suite 411 » Movies

‘Killer Elite’s’ versatile actor

allison — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:00:12 +0000

Check out my article in the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper about actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who is starring in the action movie “Killer Elite,” alongside Jason Statham, Robert De Niro and Clive Owen, which opens Friday.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje is known for playing Simon Adebisi in the HBO series “Oz” and Mr. Eko in the ABC drama “Lost.” He has starred in movies such as “The Bourne Identity,” “The Mummy Returns” and “Congo.”

50 Cent to play pimp in Alaska serial killer movie

allison — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:45:40 +0000

Rapper 50 Cent will play a pimp in a movie about Alaska’s infamous serial killer, Robert Hansen.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, will spend two weeks in Anchorage filming his role in the movie, “Frozen Ground,” which begins filming in October, reports the Anchorage Daily News.

The movie is based on the true story of serial killer Robert Hansen, who preyed on prostitutes and strippers in the 1970s and early ’80s in Anchorage. Hansen confessed to killing 17 women; some he let loose in the Alaska wilderness and hunted.

The movie also stars Nicolas Cage as an Alaska State Trooper investigating the case. John Cusack plays Hansen while Vanessa Hudgens will portray an escaped victim.

50 Cent will appear in the drama “All Things Fall Apart” –- about a football player stricken with cancer — opening in January.

Win $500 from Madea, vote for favorite Chicago restaurant

allison — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:16:11 +0000

MacArthur’s Restaurant, Maxine’s Jamaican Cuisine, and Quench are some of Chicago’s best-known neighborhood restaurants. Now win $500 by voting for your favorite place to grub.

In promotion of the April 22 release of the new movie, “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family,” voters can choose their favorite local restaurants in 23 cities. Some of the eateries participating in the Restaurant Wars promotion in Chicago are: Pearl’s Place, MacArthur’s Restaurant, Maxine’s Jamaican Cuisine, Brother Tim’s Vegetarian, 5 Loaves Breakfast Café, Soul Xpress, Quench, and Captain Hard Times/Josephine’s Cooking.

Vote for your favorite family eatery through April 21 and qualify to win $500 at madeasrestaurantwars.com.

In the newest Madea film, the wisecracking grandmother helps her niece Shirley gather her three adult children to share distressing news about Shirley’s health. But her children have their own problems. Daughter Tammy can’t control her children or her broken marriage. Son Byron is under pressure to deal drugs again after spending two years in prison. Daughter Kimberly has anger issues that she takes out on her husband. As the family deals with its problems, a long-buried family secret is revealed.

‘Training Day’ director to begin Tupac biopic

allison — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:25:16 +0000

The life of rapper and actor Tupac Shakur will be on the big screen soon. Antoine Fuqua, director of films such as Training Day and Brooklyn’s Finest, said that he will begin shooting the biopic in September. Fuqua said that he will find an unknown actor to play the rapper that was killed in a Las Vegas drive-by shooting in 1996.

“That’s the goal, I want to discover someone new,” Fuqua told DigitalSpy.com. “I want to discover a lot of new people if I can. Obviously I’m going to have to put some people in it that you know, just because actors have different skills. I want to go to the streets and find him anywhere he might be in the world.”

Janet Jackson sports short haircut at London ‘Married’ premiere

allison — Sat, 22 May 2010 05:07:18 +0000

Janet Jackson showed off her new hairdo Friday night at the red carpet premiere of “Why Did I Get Married Too?” in London. Tyler Perry was also there to promote the film.

Winnie Mandela is no fan of biopic starring Jennifer Hudson

allison — Tue, 18 May 2010 01:54:55 +0000

Winnie Mandela, ex-wife of South African leader Nelson Mandela, is not pleased about how she is being portrayed in the upcoming biopic, “Winnie.” Mandela’s lawyers call the film a “character assassination.” Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson and Terrence Howard will star in the movie, which begins a more than two-month shoot starring May 31.

Hudson revealed her new figure at the Cannes Film Festival while promoting the film. She recently became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers.

Source

Mary J. Blige to star in Nina Simone movie

allison — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:35:14 +0000

Mary J. Blige is set to play “The High Priestess of Soul.” The singer will portray jazz legend Nina Simone who is known for songs like “My Baby Just Cares for Me” and “I Put a Spell on You.”

The film, “Nina” will focus on Simone’s relationship later in life with her assistant Clifton Henderson, played by David Oyelowo (”The Last King of Scotland”), reports Variety. The $10 million movie will begin filming in France in September.

Will Smith to star in ‘Men in Black 3′

allison — Sat, 08 May 2010 05:53:18 +0000

Will Smith is back to policing aliens. This time in 3D. Smith has signed on to reprise his role in “Men in Black 3,” which is set to be released May 25, 2012. Columbia Pictures is still in negotiations with Tommy Lee Jones, who plays Smith’s partner. The first two “Men in Black” movies earned more than one billion combined worldwide.

Chris Rock and Tracy Morgan discuss ‘Death,’ bad credit and Jay-Z

allison — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:18:09 +0000

Chris Rock and Tracy Morgan talked with Suite 411 about their new movie, Death at a Funeral, which is in theaters Friday. The remake of the 2007 British film features an all-star cast that includes: Martin Lawrence, Loretta Devine, Danny Glover and Zoey Saldana. During the interview, Rock and Morgan discuss their views on mentoring comedians, bad credit and Jay-Z.

What makes this film different than the original?

Rock:      The British are very mannered. They’re very polite with their comedy. And this one, it’s not even a remake. It’s a remix. It’s a lot more blunt and a little bit more over the top in places, so it’s a funkier version. It’s like Aretha Franklin singing a Beatles song.

When you were making this movie, did you watch the original to prepare at all for your roles in this film? Did you use that as sort of like a guide at all?

Morgan:      Absolutely not. We wanted to add our flavor to it. I wanted to complement the role. When I saw the cast, I was like this is going to be the bomb, baby.

What do you want the audience to take away from this film?

Rock:       This movie is really about accepting your family for whom they are, not to judge people. This guy finds out his dad is gay and he’s all right with it. It’s all right. That’s my dad and I love him no matter what. So this is a big movie for the African American community. We need to get off this bashing gay people crap.

How would you describe your character in the movie, Norman?

Morgan:      He’s a family friend. Norman, he’s a bit paranoid. He has a trace of schizophrenia in there and he’s crazy, but he’s a good dude at heart. He’s just a lovable loser.

What’s on your mp3 player right now?

Rock:       The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z is the best album of the year. “Young Forever” is my favorite track now. I’m just loving that.

Chris Rock, you were discovered by Eddie Murphy and he became your mentor. Have you returned the favor for any other comedian?

Rock:          I try to be friends with lots of comics. I would see Tracy and I’d try to give him a little bit of advice about Saturday Night Live, the same way Eddie gave me advice about SNL. Wanda Sykes as well.

I don’t even look at that as a mentorship.   These people are so funny. They don’t really need me. I’m trying to be their friend. I’m trying to push up to them. I never know. They might have to hire me for a job one day.

Morgan:      He’s just a regular dude. He just lets you know that there are some landmines out there, not to step on them.

Are you planning on making other documentaries like Good Hair?

Rock:      I’m prepping one right now called Credit Is the Devil. It’s about credit and debt and just us as a people. It’s going to be funny.

Chris Rock prepares ‘Death at a Funeral’

allison — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:00:15 +0000

Chris Rock wants to deliver your eulogy. In anticipation of his April 16 film release, “Death at a Funeral,” you can prepare your eulogy for Rock to convey. Visit DieLaughingNow.com to join the fun.

The film follows a family as secrets are revealed and mayhem erupts at the funeral of the clan’s patriarch. Martin Lawrence, Loretta Devine and Danny Glover also star.