The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
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Showing posts with label 1999. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1999. Show all posts

Friday, August 2, 2013

Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker (1999)










Starring:
  • Chris Rock
IMDB.com
Chris Rock brings his critically acclaimed brand of social commentary-themed humor to this 1999 standup comedy presentation from HBO. Also released as an album, Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker features Rock on-stage extolling his razor-sharp wit and wisdom on such topics as gun control, President Clinton, homophobia, racism, black leaders, and relationships.

Chris Rock really brings it in Bigger & Blacker. He has his moments in this HBO special. Some parts drag along a bit but then he gets going and it by far makes up for it. He covers many topics such as marriage, politics, gun control, and other social issues. However i wouldn't recommend this show to anyone that can't stand some cursing. Okay a lot of cursing. Only other thing you might have to worry about is busting a gut from laughing so hard. This show was hilarious. I found it much better than "Never Scared". I wish there were more stand-ups like this out there. Rock puts many comics to shame.


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Pimps Up, Ho's Down (1999)























Directed by:
  • Brent Owens
IMDB.com
This HBO documentary looks at the lifestyle of the modern day pimp, without any condemnation or real depth. These swaggering men (and one woman) discuss how they control their 'hos' as if they were regular businessmen. Although no regular businessman would dress in their flamboyant style which seems a parody of those 'Blaxploitation' characters in the 1970's movies. We see them preparing, with great seriousness of purpose, for 'The Pimp of the Year' competition, while guest star Ice-T tells of how proud he is of his pimp background, which he sees as little different to the record or film industry. Pointedly, violence towards the women is never addressed. All we see is a troupe of apparently adoring (and often skanky looking ) acolytes. As far as we learn from this, the prostitutes need a good pimp to look up to and 'take of them'. These fellows wax philosophical about their calling while seemingly lacking any moral view. Having said all that, the pic is lively and colorful, with a lot of amusing characters on display. Remember---never make eye contact with your pimp.

America Undercover: Thug Life In D.C. (1999)




















Directed by:
  • Marc Levin
movies.nytimes.com
While filmmaker Marc Levin was making his feature-film debut with Slam, he was also completing this documentary which tells a similar tale on far grimmer terms. Thug Life In D.C. tells the harrowing true story of Aundrey Burno, a 17-year-old felon facing up to 115 years in prison on charges of killing a police officer. On one hand Burno is a street-hardened young man who talks of the "thug life" creed that "you gotta do what you gotta do to survive," but at the same time it's hard not to see the fear and despair in his eyes as his case moves along, or in his pleas to his younger brother not to follow the path he's walked. Thug Life In D.C. was produced by Levin for HBO's America Undercover documentary series.