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 New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts

Thursday, December 19, 2013

J.T. (1969)


















Starring:

 Storyline
J. T. Gamble, a shy, withdrawn Harlem youngster, shows compassion and responsibility when he takes on the care of an old, one-eyed, badly injured alley cat days before Christmas and secretly nurses it back to health.

"J.T" is a simple, hour-long story of a young boy living in a New York ghetto, but it tackles some weighty issues. Kevin Hooks is an amazing, natural actor; he feigns indifference to everything in his life, but in his eyes you see his true feelings when he mentions the sick and abandoned cat he has found. Ja'Net Dubois is also great as his worried, exhausted mother, who is firmly mired in poverty, despite working many hours at a store day after day. She sees her son sliding hopelessly downhill into a life of crime, when he comes home with a radio he's stolen. This stolen radio provides the catalyst for the heartache that follows. Theresa Merritt plays Mama Meley, who arrives from down south to visit her daughter and grandson for Christmas, and she's so warm and down-to-earth that her voice can sooth any ill. Merritt was a wonderful actress, and a very under-appreciated one; she gives this show a very real and loving center.

J.T. builds a paradise for the cat, when his mother won't let him bring the animal home; he creates an oasis of comfort for his pet in an abandoned tenement, showing that he still has a huge capacity for love despite his harsh surroundings. This is also a story of a mother's struggle to be independent and support herself and her son, and how such a life can blind her to the suffering her own child is enduring. There is a small subplot with a kind local grocer and his wife; he provides the wonderful surprise at the end of the story, and his actions show that ghetto life has not broken his optimism. He still has hope, and through his gift he gives hope to J.T. and his mother. She sees at last just how hard she's been on the boy and is ashamed.

Everyone who watches this will have tears in their eyes at some point, but that's okay because "J.T." is, in the end, an upbeat film that will make you feel good. It isn't shown on TV much; the last time was 1987 on CBS when they were still committed to showing programs that meant something to young people. If you can find it, don't pass it up; it's marvelous at Christmastime.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Return of Superfly (1990)















Starring:

 
Storyline
     The Return of Superfly continues the adventure of the hottest classic Black action film in history! And once again (following the tradition of his 12 times platinum original) Curtis Mayfield contributes his unique talent to the movie soundtrack, featuring "Superfly 1990."
     Priest (Nathan Purdee) leaves his new life in Paris to return to Harlem and becomes trapped in a war between the DEA and New York's drug czars. The law just set him up and the drug lords won't stop until they're taken their own kind of revenge.
     The action explodes when Priest strikes back against the gangs, the drugs and the cops in Harlem. Priest's back and he's not taking prisoners.  

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Othello, The Black Commando (1982)












































Starring:
Moorish general Othello is manipulated into thinking that his new wife Desdemona has been carrying on an affair with his lieutenant Michael Cassio when in reality it is all the scheme of a bitter ensign named Iago.