Currently Browsing: Stephanie A. Taylor
Today — Wednesday April 27th — Netflix is releasing its highly-publicized new documentary, The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Lost Tapes, directed by Emma Cooper.
The film – focused on the final years of Marilyn’s life – consists of previously unheard tapes of people who knew Marilyn Monroe. These tapes were recorded by journalist Anthony (Tony) Summers over four decades.… read more.
Maya Angelou’s directorial debut, Down in the Delta (1998), tells a story of the Sinclair family’s history (in the tumultuous past) and solidarity (in the treacherous present). Under her insightful direction, every member of the large shines. (SAT: 4.5/5)
Maya Angelou’s directorial debut, Down in the Delta (1998) opens in a poor Chicago neighborhood where Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice) does her best to care for her drug-addicted daughter Loretta (Alfre Woodard).… read more.
Ashley O’Shay’s first feature film, Unapologetic, is a documentary that speaks volumes about the many dimensions of Black women and their vast contributions as activists to the Black Lives Matter movement. O’Shay ‘s narrative arc follows two Chicago activists: Bella Bahhs, and Janaé Bonsu.… read more.
Dorothy Arzner’s Merrily We go to Hell (1932) is a film for the ages. It’s about an alcoholic writer, Jerry Corbett (Fredric March), who falls in love and marries an heiress Joan Prentice (Sylvia Sidney). Jerry then starts an affair with his ex Claire Hempstead, and actress (Adrianne Allen).
Jerry meets Joan at a party and is smitten with her despite his drunkenness.… read more.
The Black Harvest Film Festival, hosted by the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, should be starting in August. But, due to COVID-19, the festival will be virtual from November 6 through November 30. The festival, annual since 1994, recognizes independent films of international Black cultures. Director of Programming and cofounder of BHFF Barbara Scharres believes the number of entries has been fewer than previous years, mainly due to COVID-19.… read more.