I saw "Django Unchained" this past weekend. It was a very entertaining movie. However, if you think the movie is directly about slavery, you would be a little off base. The movie is a love story between two former slaves, one of which was subsequently freed. The love story is couched within the 1850's Antebellum south (Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi). For any history aficionados, this is the time period just before the Civil War. Slavery was the law of the land. Before viewing the movie, it is important to understand who directed the movie. Quentin Tarantino has a very interesting imagination. That said, he has a flare for the dramatic and is not remotely interested with keeping with the status quo. He plays by his own rules. The characters in the movie are complex. Some are clearly more believable and more closely aligned with logic than others. Jamie Foxx plays Django, who is the lead character and former slave turned bounty hunter. His love interest, Broomhilda, is played by Kerry Washington. She is extremely talented and her popularity has blossomed as of late because of her role in the hit television show, Scandal. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a slave owner named Calvin Candie. Samuel L. Jackson plays the "head Negro" on Candie's plantation, Stephen. "Django" has elicited a great deal of controversy. Spike Lee has called the movie "disrespectful" but also stated that he has not viewed the movie. He has taken issue with Tarantino's use of the racial epithet "nigger" in the past. However, in a movie set in the 1850's Antebellum south, the racial epithet is probably a reasonable choice. Though, its use over 100 times in the movie may be a little excessive. Other people are quite naturally sensitive about a movie that indirectly deals with slavery. But, again, "Django" is a love story that happens to be set in the Antebellum south. That said, you have to view the movie through the proper lens. If you are expecting a historically accurate account of slavery and a likewise serious tone throughout the movie, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. If you view the movie as a love story and not as a historically accurate account of slavery, I think you will be able to look past possible historical inaccuracies and humor filled, inappropriate moments.
I would not be surprised at all if multiple actors from the movie win an Oscar, or at least be nominated for the award. Jamie Foxx did an excellent job playing Django "the slave." He did an even better job playing Django the slave handler/bounty hunter. He looked the part and spoke the part. I also like how he let his true feelings about slavery and slave owners surface at certain times. He used his status as a free man to make remarks to Candie that would have otherwise led to his death. Kerry Washington nailed her role as Broomhilda. She and Django were married before they were sold at a slave auction after attempting to flee. She wore the scar of an "r" on her face for "runaway" and the scars on her back from a vicious whipping she endured. The whipping scene was one of the most gut wrenching scenes in the movie. Her tears and screams during the scene are hard to capture in words. The look in her eyes during that scene captured the fear, pain, and despair that must have been shared by many slaves. The scene sent chills up my spine. Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Calvin Candie, the slave owner, was excellent. I hated what Calvin Candie represented. On the one hand, he had a slave mistress, but on the other hand, he ordered a runaway slave to be eaten alive by rabid dogs. What a character and I believe there were many just like him during slavery. To him, the slaves were nothing more than investments in his business of slave trade. His fascination with Mandingo fighting and his abuse of the racial epithet "nigger" only added to my disdain for his character. Samuel L. Jackson's portrayal of Stephen was by far the most disgusting of all the characters. I hated his character and everything he represented. He was lower than Candie. Stephen was the head Negro at the "Big House." He was a slave but because Candie gave him a certain degree of control over the other slaves, he thought he was better than them. He reminded me of a court jester. When Candie laughed, he laughed louder. When he first met Django, he hated him more than his master hated slaves. He represented the lowest of the low. But, unfortunately, his character was likely a true depiction of many head house negros. As much as I hated his character, he had some of the funniest lines in the movie. I almost felt bad for laughing because I hated him so much. Of all the roles in the movie, Stephen's may have been the most difficult to portray. I cannot imagine how Samuel Jackson was able to get into that character, but he nailed it because I hated him!!!! I recommend this movie. It is a different spin on a love story and its hero is a former slave who becomes a bounty hunter. Peace
After an alumni meeting on Sunday, I had an interesting discussion about the NBA with some of my Fraternity brothers. The topic of discussion was: Who is the best scorer in the NBA. Some might say the question can be answered by checking league statistics and seeing who is the NBA leader in points per game. I do not necessarily agree with that position because I think it assumes that the leading scorer is necessarily the best scorer. The two may not be the same person. That said, let's discuss the candidates' scoring ability. Most people believe the title of best scorer in the NBA belongs to Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, or Kevin Durant. The case can be made for the Black Mamba. After all, he is leading the NBA in scoring at 34 years old. He finished second in the league last year. Also, he recently became the 5th player to score over 30,000 points. The thing that is most impressive this year is his efficiency. In years past, he did not always shoot a respectable percentage from the field. He was a low percentage, volume shooter. I still think that is who he is, but this year, so far, he has been surprisingly efficient. He can score from the post, behind the three point line, mid-range and on drives to the rim. He is an excellent free throw shooter as well. He can and will get him numbers against any defensive opponent. Carmelo Anthony has always been a gifted scorer. This year, however, he has been on a mission. He has elevated his game to an MVP level. Melo has a truly unique package of skills. He is entirely too strong for most small forwards and too quick for power forwards. He has a very effective low post game. His midrange jump shot is also one of the best in the game. He has been shooting the three ball well this year. I still think he is a volume shooter at heart. But, it is hard to argue that he is not the best scorer in the NBA. Kevin Durant scores the ball so effortlessly. I'm not sure I have ever seen a guy score the ball the way he does. For starters, he is nearly seven feet tall, but he has the handle of a wing player. His jump shot is indefensible because he releases it so quickly and his release point is so high. He is just as good coming off a screen as he is pulling up for three on the break. The thing I like most about him is also the thing I like least about him. He is almost too unselfish and he does not shoot the ball as much as he should. Nevertheless, Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the NBA.
I love hip hop music and to a lesser extent, I love r&b as well. I am not sure of the person who first thought of fusing the two genres into one song. I think Diddy's Bad Boy camp may be the first to do it on a mainstream level though. Although a lot of people do not like Diddy, it is hard to deny his impact on the music business.
"I Love You" remix by Smif n Wessun and Mary J Blige. This song is underappreciated because mainstream music listeners have probably never even heard of Smif N Wesson. This song is great.
"Break You Off" by The Roots and Musiq. The title of this song says it all.
"All That I Got Is You" by Ghostface and Mary J. Blige. Ms. Blige has one of the most powerful, unique voices in the history of music. She does her part on this song, but Ghostface really shined because of heartwrenching story he tells about his poverty stricken childhood.
"You Got Me" by the Roots and Erykah Badu. There is also a version out there with Jill Scott, who happens to have one of the most soulful voices.
"Somebody told me that this planet was small, we used to live in same building on the same floor and never met before, until im overseas on tour and met this Ethiopian queen from Philly taking classes abroad . . . "
"Only You" Bad Boy Remix by Biggie, 112, and Mase. This is song is great. Biggie shined, per usual on this song. Definitey a great hip hop and r&b collaboration.
The Los Angeles Lakers, to date, have underachieved at an alarming pace. On paper, this team is suppossed to be able to challenge the Miami Heat for the NBA title. They boast a starting lineup with at least 2 hall of famers and quite possibly, 4. They are suppossed to be the rare example of putting a group of talented players together in a pot and voila, a contender is born. That sounds good in theory, but in realtity, it is not a reasonable assertion.
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics were carefully assembled teams. The newly constructed Los Angele Lakers are a clumsy collection of pieces that do not fit. Kobe is a scorer, not a facilitator. Steve Nash is a great passer, but he is also nearly 40 years old. Dwight Howard is a good player, but he is also returning from offseason back surgery. And, this guy simply cannot make a freethrow. Mike D'antoni is an overrated coach in my opinion. Phil Jackson would have been a much better fit for this team.
Mike D'antoni seems focused on implementing the system he used, with a great deal of success, in Phoenix. That decision is not sound becuase his personnel does not fit that system. He does not have a team full of outside shooters. Outside of Kobe, Nash and Jodie Meeks, the team is short on outside shooting. Also, his system has relegated Pau Gasol to the perimiter. This makes him very ineffective. He is positioned far away from the basket and is unable to rebound effectively. He also does not have the chance to score on the block where he is very difficult to stop.
The Lakers are also one of the oldest and slowest teams in the league. If Kobe Bryant, who is 34 years old is maybe your quickest player, you have team speed problems. Metta cannot defend quick perimeter players as he once could. Nash has never been able to keep up with his own shadow. Dwight Howard is not completely healthy and Pau is too busy pouting to play defense. The team is in a state of disarray. I could go on and on about their problems, but I will not. I hope they can figure it out because I hate the thought of Kobe's last years being wasted on a losing team.
I won't even begin to take credit for today's discussion topic. I actually got the idea from a good friend of mine. He posed the question on Facebook. In many circles, there is no question both athletes were the best in their respective fields. But, being an influential athlete entails more than what is done on the court or in the ring. Michael Jordan dominated the game of basketball for many years. His dominance began while playing at UNC-Chapel Hill in the 1980's. His career culminated with a national championship in 1982. The following year, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. The rest, as they say, "is history." He dominated on the offensive and defensive end of the court. He was undefeated in championship play (6 NBA Titles). He won five regular season MVP awards, and deserved more. He accomplished everything imaginable on the basketball court. Muhammad Ali might be the only athlete with the same level of name recognition as Michael Jordan. In fact, because of his faith, and his influence in the Middle East, he may have an even more recognizable name. Ali dominated with superior speed, impeccable technique and unquestioned psychological dominance. He won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympic games. He was the first man to knock down the following boxers: Sonny Liston, George Foreman and Chuck Wepner. He participated in one of the most famous bouts in the history of boxing-"The Rumble in The Jungle." He won the fight and reclaimed the heavyweight championship against George Foreman. Without a doubt, Ali dominated the sport of boxing. Michael Jordan never received a lot of criticism about his play on the court. He received some criticism about his gambling in the 1990's, but that never overshadowed his play on the court. However, the elephant in the room has always been his lack of community involvement. What did Jordan do for his community? People believe Jordan was "too safe." He never spoke out about any of the major issues plaguing his community. Many people expected Jordan to use his influence to help influence important social issues. Look at how Magic Johnson has been a spokesperson for the HIV virus. Can you think of any social cause Michael Jordan endorsed? Ali on the other hand has continuously endorsed and fought social battles. During the Vietnam war, he was drafted and made a decision not to fight in the war because of his conscientious objector status. Let's be clear, that was not a popular move. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984, he has been involved in raising awareness and funds for finding a cure to the debilitating neurological disease. He has also been an avid supporter of the Special Olympics and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In 2005, he was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His biggest impact may have been made outside of the ring. That is quite an accomplishment considering his stellar career as a boxer. That is influence. Ali is the most influential athlete in the history of sports. Instagram
The New York Knicks have been irrelevant for quite some time. That said, I am extremely skeptical of their early season success. Let's face it, many teams begin a season on the proverbial "good foot." Then, they nose dive later in the year. I think that is still a very good possibility. Their dismantling of the Miami Heat two times this year is not enough evidence for me to believe in them. I do not think the Knicks will challenge for the Eastern Conference Championship for a number of reasons. The first issue they will have is chemistry. They are playing extremely well at the moment, but their "max" salary player, Amare Stoudemire, will be back in the mix soon. Now, he has publicly stated that he would be willing to play any role Coach Woodson wants him to play. That even includes playing the 6th man role. Amare still believes he is a star in the NBA. That said, star players do not come off the bench. Also, he is a terrible defensive player and the Knicks have actually been playing really great defense without him in the lineup. That will change when he returns. The Knicks are an old team. In fact, they are an extremely old team. Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas were playing in the NBA when some of the current rookies were not born. Anytime you have a team as old as the Knicks, injuries are a serious consideration. And although they have not had a lot of injuries thus far, it will happen sooner or later. Now, that will not matter much if a non rotation player is injured. But, what if Jason Kidd, or Tyson Chandler, or any other rotation player sustains a serious injury? The ship will sink quickly. Lastly, this year's Knicks team is depending on Carmelo Anthony to lead the way. Melo is obviously a talented player, but I don't know if he has the necessary leadership ability to help him team advance deep into the playoffs. More importantly, this team relies on J.R. Smith. He is talented, but he is also very erratic and undisciplined. I predict that the Knicks will finish the season with the third best record in the Eastern Conference. They will lose in the conference semifinals. Instagram
D. Wade has been the face of the Miami Heat franchise since entering the NBA in 2003. He won the 2006 NBA Finals MVP Award when the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks. He won a gold medal in 2008 as a part of the United States Olympic team or the Redeem Team. Last year, he played an integral role in helping the Miami Heat win the second NBA championship in franchise history. In short, D. Wade has had a dominant career, to date. This year,however, D. Wade has been a shell of himself. He has earned the nickname "crash" because of his reckless style of play. Maybe it is finally catching up with him. He is only 30 years old, so I do not believe that his age is keeping him from performing at a high level. I believe he is injured. He underwent offseason knee surgery and he struggled with his knees during last season's playoffs. This year, he has not been explosive. He has seemed a step slow and that is never good for an undersized shooting guard who is not a good shooter. I think it is time for Wade to seriously consider changing his game as he prepares for the twilight years of his career. He will have to develop a consistent jumpshot if he plans on playing at a high level well into his 30's like Kobe Bryant. For some diehard Miami Heat fans, it may seem unfathomable to consider parting ways with Wade. However, the NBA is a business and the franchise will always think about the future. The problem with trading Wade is that he is still an all star talent and the Heat would not be able to receive equal value for his services. Also, he and Lebron and good friends and I think he would veto any trade talks. One option would be to relegate him to the third option behind Bron and Bosh. That might allow him to coast through enough games to help the team and then play more minutes in the playoffs. That is a plausible option. Otherwise, I do not see how the Heat can keep him much longer than a year or two because his trade value will continue declining each year.
Kobe Bryant is not one of the more beloved athletes in the world. I think he could care less. He cares about the game of basketball. Playing basketball happens to be one of the things that he does better than almost anyone in the history of the world. On December 5, 2012, he became the fifth player in NBA history to score at least 30,000 points. That list includes Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul Jabal, and Kobe Bryant. He is also the youngest player to ever accomplish the feat.
Kobe's quest to score 30,000 points did not start like many of the league's top scorers. Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats, but ultimately began his career with a playoff team--The Los Angeles Lakers. That team already had Eddie Jones as its starting shooting guard. He eventually won the starting position but he had to share the ball with Shaquille O'Neal. I can only imagine how many points he would have right now if he never teamed with Shaq. But, he would also probably have at least three fewer titles. In fact, he might not have any. He is probably happy with the way things worked out. I have watched Kobe have some incredible scoring games over the course of his career. When he wore number eight, he did it will explosiveness, speed and agility. Since he began wearing number 24, he has become more of a cerebral guy who scores with his superior foot work and knowledge of the game. The transformation has really been incredible to watch because I remember him when he came in the league. Also, his longevity is remarkable. Of all the superstars that were drafted in 1996, he is the only one that is still playing at a super star level. That draft included Allen Iverson (out of the league), Stephon Marbury (playing in China), Steve Nash (old and hurt), Ray Allen (role player for Miami Heat) and Jermaine O'neal (not sure but I know he is NOT making an impact). Check out footage from his 81 point outburst against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
It's funny how a change of scenery can impact everything. Look at the Brooklyn Nets for a prime example. Just last year, The New Jersey Nets were languishing in New Jersey and looked like a college team. Now, that the team has moved to Brooklyn, they look like an Eastern Conference contender. Honestly, I believe the fans, or at least, some of the fans, no longer believed in the team last year. Also, I think many of the players stopped believing in the team. The move to Brooklyn alone was not enough to turn the pretender into a contender. The move coupled with some shrewd off season maneuvering placed the team in a good position. They added Joe Johnson to the back court with Deron Williams. They also signed Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez returned from injury. Kris Humphries and Marshon Brooks are still around as well. Avery Johnson is the coach and although I cannot say that he is a great coach, I can say that he cares about winning. I think he will help to instill a strong work ethic into the players. The team also has an owner who is determined to make his team a champion in the near future. He also has thrown a few shots at the other team across the river-The New York Knicks. Two teams cannot truly have a rivalry unless both teams are relevant. For so many years, neither the Nets nor the Knicks were relevant. But, this year, both teams are off to great starts. The Knicks look like the second best team in the Eastern conference and Brooklyn looks like the third best team in the conference. Now, when the two teams play each other, New York City will be electric. Both teams have super star talent. Brooklyn has Deron Williams and New York has Carmelo Anthony. I am hopeful that the two teams square off against each other during the 2012-13 playoffs. I am looking forward to the rivalry between the two New York Teams. The last decade or so just has not felt right. How can the Mecca of the basketball world not produce a winning team? I think those days are gone; they have been replaced with not one, but two relevant contenders. This should be a great year for basketball in New York. Instagram Peace
2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond series. Of those 50 years, I think my dad has probably seen every movie in the series. As an aside, my co-worker gave me a great idea for a Christmas gift for him. Apparently, you can purchase every movie in the James Bond series from its beginning for less than $100. I think that will be my dad's gift. I am so glad to know what I will get him because I usually wait until the last minute. Although I have not seen every movie in the series like my dad, I know the series has certain staples over the years. Those include: beautiful women, action, fashion and oh yeah, beautiful women. Not a bad list if you ask me. Skyfall certainly delivered all three. This movie was better than I thought. It seems that movie directors are doing a great job providing character development. In Dark Knight Rises, the producer focused on the villain's past, so that movie goers could more easily understand his diabolical nature. The director of Skyfall did the same for James Bond's character.
I do not have a favorite scene from the movie, but that is because there are so many great scenes. This movie was shot in various exotic locations. The action scenes were really good. The fashion displayed by the characters in the movie was on par with the characters in the Ocean Eleven series. I picked up a few ideas for shirt/tie combinations and other more nuanced fashion pointers. The Bond girls did not let me down in this movie.
The villain in this movie was particularly sinister. I won't spoil it for you if you have not seen it, but the villain was an ex-British intelligence agent. He possessed a great deal of aggression and anger because of what he believed to be betrayal by James Bond's boss. Either way, he played a very dangerous, exciting game with James Bond in this movie. This is a must see movie. Check it out. Peace
