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Black on Black Cinema tackles Trump's ongoing assault on American landmarks. The East Wing of the White House was abruptly demolished last October, sparking legal battles over the approval process. Now the Kennedy Center is facing demolition threats over his childish desire to have his name on the building. The historic East Potomac cherry blossom grove; a 1912 gift from Japan is at real risk as Trump terminates a 50-year lease to build a "championship" golf course, with debris from the demolished East Wing literally dumped on the same site. The Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool sits in disarray after a botched, unbid renovation.We ask the harder question: why does this president's legacy consistently manifest as destruction rather than creation? And as Black people, we sit with the real complexity here, many of these landmarks were built by enslaved people, monuments to a history that never fully included us. Is preservation even our fight? We land somewhere honest: this is still our country, our history, our capital, and watching it get torn down for spite and a golf handicap isn't something we're willing to be apathetic about, however complicated our relationship to these buildings really is.The next film to be review will be "I Love Boosters," written and directed by Boots Riley. The film follows a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven by stealing her clothes and reselling them at a lower price, what they call "fashion-forward philanthropy."Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to break its one rule, NO MORE TYLER PERRY MOVIES. This decision came only because of "Why Did I Get Married Again?" is the final movie(?) in this Tyler Perry trilogy, and the other two in the series were previously reviewed (and we actually enjoyed the first one). So this film follows the children of the main characters in the series and as two of the kids are getting married. The film aims to show the character development of the cast that we've been following for almost 20 years. Does the movie succeed?Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Thanks to Klon for introducing me to Maverick Entertainment. One of the most overlooked and consistent low-budget film companies of the 21st century, they've been full steam ahead in the streaming era while other indies have cratered. From the Maverick Entertainment Group website: Founded in 1997, Maverick continues to be a leading distributor and producer of niche independent and Black Cinema content. Having released more than 1,300 films over the past 26 years, Maverick currently distributes the world's largest library of feature-length Black Cinema. This week, I'll get into Dogface: A Trap House Horror, Templar Nation, Aleta Vampire Mistress and The Foreign Exchange Student.Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.Important links:Theme song: "Strip Search" by Neal GardnerIndividual License v20230221Stock Media provided by nealgardner / Pond5Visit B&S About Movies and email me at bandsaboutmovies@gmail.com. Donate to our ko-fi page.Listen to the new Nightmare U.S.A. podcast here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nightmare-usa-podcast--7095595
Ryan Coogler's 2018 superhero film Black Panther about a powerful African kingdom and its king was one of the highest grossing films of all time raking in 1.3 billion dollars internationally.瑞恩·库格勒2018年执导的超级英雄电影《黑豹》,讲述了一个强大的非洲王国及其国王的故事,是史上票房最高的电影之一,全球票房收入达13亿美元。The mega blockbuster with a predominantly black cast has prompted Hollywood to flood money on more black productions and TV series than ever before.这部以黑人演员为主的超级大片,促使好莱坞投入比以往更多的资金来制作更多黑人题材的影视剧。That woke everybody up and said, "Wow, there's money here".这把所有人都惊着了,说道:“哇,这里有钱可赚”。And suddenly, all of the black film makers who had ideas and passion and vision, suddenly now they had money, so they could actually make the movies that they wanted to make.突然之间,所有那些怀揣创意、激情与远见的黑人电影制作人有了资金,这样他们就能制作出自己想拍的电影了。Over the course of probably the last 10 years, we've seen a renaissance in black storytelling, like we haven't seen probably in the first, I don't know, 90 years of storytelling in our community.在过去的十年里,我们见证了黑人叙事的复兴,这可能是我们这个群体在最初90年的叙事历程中未曾有过的景象。Critically acclaimed black films such as Barry Jenkins's Oscar-winning drama Moonlight or Ava DuVernay's documentary 13th, have illuminated black life and offered cultural affirmation to black audiences, says Berardinelli.贝拉迪内利表示,巴里·詹金斯执导的奥斯卡获奖剧情片《月光男孩》或艾娃·杜威纳执导的纪录片《第十三修正案》等广受好评的黑人题材电影,展现了黑人的生活,并为黑人观众提供了文化认同。A group of people who for so long did not see themselves reflected on screen now suddenly see themselves reflected on screen.一群长期以来在银幕上看不到自己身影的人,如今突然在银幕上看到了自己。And you know, in the superhero movies, now you have your Black Panther of course, but you also now have the new Captain America is black Anthony Maxwell.在超级英雄电影里,当然现在有了《黑豹》,而且现在新的美国队长也是黑人安东尼·麦克斯韦。Berardinelli says as they enter the American mainstream, black films are attracting a wider demographic because the multiculturalism of the younger generation is much more varied than it is for the older generation.贝拉迪内利表示,随着黑人电影进入美国主流,它们正吸引着更广泛的观众群体,因为年轻一代的多元文化比老一代更加丰富多样。Black women directors are also gaining support. Gordon says this year 15 films are directed by black women alone.黑人女导演也正在获得支持。戈登表示,今年有15部电影是由黑人女性独立执导的。One of them is Beyonce, who wrote, directed and produced the visual album Black Is King.其中一位是碧昂丝,她自编自导并制作了视觉专辑《黑人为王》。The fusion of kind of like a Lion King theme mixed in with a Black Panther theme, I thought hits you squarely in the pride aspect.有点像《狮子王》主题和《黑豹》主题的融合,我觉得这在自豪感方面正中你的心坎。As for criticisms leveled against Beyonce, that she misappropriated elements of African culture into her African-American production.至于针对碧昂丝的批评,即她在非裔美国人作品中挪用了非洲文化元素。It's hard to criticize a black person who is paying homage to her ancestors who are African in nature.很难批评一个向自己非洲祖先致敬的黑人。So it wasn't even like she brought a bunch of Americans in to pretend to be from Mali, or to pretend to be from Ghana, or to pretend to be from South Africa.她甚至没有带一群美国人进来,假装他们来自马里,或者假装他们来自加纳,或者假装他们来自南非。She used South Africans, she used folks from Mali, she used folks from Ghana, she used folks from the continent.她启用了南非人,启用了来自马里的人,启用了来自加纳的人,启用了来自非洲大陆的人。Gordon hopes to see more black films and black lead characters across all genres for all audiences.戈登希望看到更多面向所有观众、涵盖所有类型的黑人电影和黑人主角。True equality is when you are able to tell all these different stories, and they are no longer looked at as niche films.真正的平等是当你能够讲述所有这些不同的故事,它们也不再被视为小众电影。They're just a part of the fabric of what makes America great.它们只是让美国变得伟大的组成部分。
Black on Black Cinema breaks down Raven-Symone's resurfaced comments questioning whether her own iconic character, Raven Baxter from That's So Raven, was actually Black. On her podcast Tea Time, Raven told Kalen Allen, "Take away the color, make them green, and hear the words. What color are they?," challenging the idea that the show's Blackness was inherent rather than just visual.The internet had immediate and strong reactions. Fans pointed to the show's entire episode about racial profiling, Tonya's locs, Victor's soul food references, Cory's Black history paper storyline, and Della Reese's jazz singer character as clear, undeniable markers of Black identity woven directly into the writing, not just the casting.We break down both sides of this: is Raven making a nuanced point about Blackness not being monolithic, or is she minimizing a show that meant something real to a generation of Black kids who rarely saw themselves centered on Disney Channel?The next film to be reviewed is Tyler Perry's upcoming third movie in the "Why Did I Get Married trilogy." We will be breaking our promise about no more Tyler Perry films to review "Why Did I Get Married Again?" which reunites most of the original cast for one last wild time.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Black on Black Cinema tackles Chameleon Street (1989), Wendell B. Harris Jr.'s astonishing writer-director-star debut based on the true story of Detroit con artist William Douglas Street Jr., who successfully impersonated reporters, lawyers, an Ivy League exchange student, and even a surgeon, performing over 30 real hysterectomies without any medical training. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1990, beating out Reservoir Dogs, and then inexplicably went without distribution for over a year, effectively burying Harris's career before it started.The concept is genuinely brilliant, a razor-sharp satire about race, class, and identity performance in America, anchored by a magnetic, one-of-a-kind lead performance from Harris himself. But the execution is a different story. The film is tonally unpredictable, structurally chaotic, and at times narratively difficult to follow, swinging wildly between avant-garde experimentation and straightforward biopic beats without clear rhythm. We break down what makes Chameleon Street a genuine one-of-a-kind vision worth seeking out, where the filmmaking gets in its own way, and why this would be ripe for a modern remake with better structure and focus.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Black on Black Cinema breaks down the National Association of Black Journalists giving Stephen A. Smith its "Thumbs Down" award, reserved for commentary the organization considers especially insensitive, stereotypical, or at odds with NABJ's mission around fair representation of the Black community. NABJ's statement specifically cited Smith's recurring pattern of disparaging commentary toward prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media, saying it reinforces harmful narratives and undermines fair, respectful representation.We agree with NABJ here, and we break down exactly why. Smith has spent years building a media empire on saying whatever gets a reaction, and his commentary toward Black women specifically has followed a consistent, well documented pattern that deserves scrutiny; not just from critics online, but from an organization built to hold Black media figures accountable to Black communities. Smith's response was predictably combative, essentially promising retaliation on his platform. He even ran to Fox News' Sean Hannity to make his thoughts known. A curious platform if he is trying to reach Black people...hmmm. We discuss why that reaction proves NABJ's point more than it disproves it, what accountability from within the profession actually looks like, and why Smith's expanding political platform makes this moment even more significant.We also announce the next film to be reviewed which is the 1989 film "Chameleon Street" which follows a social chameleon who impersonates reporters, doctors and lawyers in order to make money. (Film is available to watch on Tubi for free).Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the entire crew returns to discuss the 2026 film that was written and directed by Chris Stokes, "Stepfather." The film stars Taye Diggs as a desperate man who hunts for the perfect family, but when his new wife and daughters fear he may be deranged, escaping him will have deadly consequences.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Yes, Yes, YESSSSSS!!!... This is what I'm talking about right here. Black Excellence in Black Cinema. Beautiful. Enjoy, folks.
This week on Black on Black Cinema we break down the collapse of Graham Platner's Maine Senate campaign and why none of us were surprised. For months, white leftists rallied behind Platner despite a tattoo associated with WW2 fascism, resurfaced posts disparaging veterans and sexual assault survivors on Reddit, and troubling accounts from past relationships. None of it mattered until an ex-girlfriend came forward with a serious sexual assault allegation, and only then did the Democratic Party's left wing scramble to distance themselves and Platner suspended his campaign.We ask the real question: why did it take THIS allegation to move people who already had every reason to walk away months ago? We break down how "winning at all costs" politics let a deeply flawed candidate skate through a primary while the warning signs sat in plain sight, and what this says about who gets the benefit of the doubt and for how long.Then we announce our next film: Stepfather (2026), Chris Stokes' Tubi thriller starring Taye Diggs as a man obsessed with building the "perfect family." We preview what to expect from Diggs' performance and Stokes' latest entry into his growing catalog of Tubi originals.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Black on Black Cinema we take a deep dive into Above the Rim (1994), the final entry in Barry Michael Cooper's Harlem Trilogy following New Jack City and Sugar Hill. Directed by Jeff Pollack in his feature debut, the film stars Duane Martin as Kyle Watson, a high school basketball star torn between two men; Shep (Leon), a security guard with a complicated past seeking redemption, and Birdie (Tupac Shakur), a dangerous local drug dealer who wants to use Kyle's talent for his own ends. Marlon Wayans, Bernie Mac, Wood Harris, and Tonya Pinkins round out the cast.We break down what works, what doesn't, the Harlem Trilogy peaks and valleys, Tupac's performance legacy, and why Above the Rim remains a film of moments rather than a complete film.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Deep like the mind of Farrakhan, a motherfuckin' podcast phenomenon. In dieser überlangen Folge gehen wir gemeinsam mit Lee auf eine Zeitreise zurück in unsere Jugend in den 90ern, verlieren uns in Daves Rap Deep Dive, der On-Air-Planung weiterer Projekte und beschäftigen uns tatsächlich auch noch mit dem New Black Cinema der Jahre 1980 bis 1999 – eine Bewegung, die das amerikanische Kino nachhaltig verändert hat. Von den kraftvollen Werken eines Spike Lee und eines Charles Burnett über neue Perspektiven auf Identität, Rassismus sowie Gemeinschaft bis hin zu Filmen, die Hollywood herausforderten und eine neue Generation von Filmschaffenden inspirierten. Wir sprechen über Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Zorniger Schlaf (1990), New Jack City (1991), Jenseits der weißen Linie (1992), Menace II Society (1993) und Crooklyn (1994).
In the Peacock Original, STRUNG, a talented violinist takes a prestigious job as a music tutor for the gifted daughter of an influential and enigmatic family. As she becomes entangled in their opulent world, unsettling secrets begin to surface, forcing her to question her safety, her dreams, and even her sanity.The film stars Chloe Bailey, Lynn Whitfield, Lucien Laviscount, Anna Diop, and Coco Jones.Malcolm D. Lee is an acclaimed filmmaker, writer, and producer whose body of work includes THE BEST MAN franchise, GIRLS TRIP, NIGHT SCHOOL, and SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY, among others. Known for creating culturally resonant, commercially successful films, Lee has built a career defined by both critical acclaim and a devoted global audience. His work has earned numerous honors, including the NAACP Image Award, the AAFCA Award, and recognition from the Critics Choice Association's Celebration of Black Cinema. In 2025, Lee expanded his storytelling into the literary world with the release of his debut novel, THE BEST MAN: UNFINISHED BUSINESS, the first installment in a planned trilogy that continues the journey of the beloved characters from his iconic film seriesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.
In the Peacock Original, STRUNG, a talented violinist takes a prestigious job as a music tutor for the gifted daughter of an influential and enigmatic family. As she becomes entangled in their opulent world, unsettling secrets begin to surface, forcing her to question her safety, her dreams, and even her sanity.The film stars Chloe Bailey, Lynn Whitfield, Lucien Laviscount, Anna Diop, and Coco Jones.Malcolm D. Lee is an acclaimed filmmaker, writer, and producer whose body of work includes THE BEST MAN franchise, GIRLS TRIP, NIGHT SCHOOL, and SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY, among others. Known for creating culturally resonant, commercially successful films, Lee has built a career defined by both critical acclaim and a devoted global audience. His work has earned numerous honors, including the NAACP Image Award, the AAFCA Award, and recognition from the Critics Choice Association's Celebration of Black Cinema. In 2025, Lee expanded his storytelling into the literary world with the release of his debut novel, THE BEST MAN: UNFINISHED BUSINESS, the first installment in a planned trilogy that continues the journey of the beloved characters from his iconic film seriesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.
Black on Black Cinema announces our next full review: Above the Rim (1994), the final entry in Barry Michael Cooper's Harlem Trilogy. Directed by Jeff Pollack and starring Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur, Leon, Marlon Wayans, Bernie Mac, and Wood Harris. Above the Rim follows high school basketball star Kyle Watson torn between Shep, a fallen athlete trying to redeem himself, and Birdie, a dangerous drug dealer who happens to be Shep's brother. Tupac Shakur's final theatrical film before his 1996 death is reason enough to revisit it.Then we get into the real conversation: Donald Trump has become everything racists feared a Black president would be. Barack Obama had to be practically perfect to even be considered; Harvard Law, Constitutional law professor, decorated Senator, devoted husband and father, scandal-free, measured, dignified. Every box checked. Meanwhile Trump arrived with business failures, fraud convictions, hush money payments, multiple affairs, and a career built on corruption. Ta-Nehisi Coates called Trump "the first white president;" not merely because he's white, but because his entire political existence hinges on the fact of a Black president. His campaign started with birtherism. Coates wrote: "It is as if the white tribe united to say — if a Black man can be president, then any white man, no matter how fallen, can be president." We unpack what that means in 2026.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Screenwriter and coach Aleia Kristene survived grueling hustle, but she walked away questioning whether the narrative of the suffering artist is actually a badge of honor or just unexamined trauma. In our conversation, she reveals how she transformed twenty years of family tragedy into a limited series. She also shares the exact pacing mistakes that instantly tank amateur scripts. If you feel stuck behind a wall of perfectionism or lost in a quiet season of your own creative journey, this episode delivers: an insider guide to reclaim your voice, how to master the production realities of Hollywood, and how to get your biggest ideas onto the page. Chapters 00:00 - Redefining the Artist's Struggle 01:23 - Reclaiming Creativity with iCode 02:08 - Writing a Male Cinderella at Nine Years Old 04:17 - Realism over Cartoons: The Influence of Black Cinema 06:35 - Turning Family Tragedy into a Sellable Script 11:15 - Demystifying the Hollywood Table Read 12:47 - Brutal Production Realities from Major Film Sets 17:43 - The Biggest Mistakes Amateurs Make in Action Lines 20:06 - Balancing Mentorship with Personal Creative Output 23:15 - Overcoming the Perfectionism Trap of First Drafts 27:55 - Aleia's Ultimate Dream Project Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform! Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQSpotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBsYouTube: https://youtu.be/4ekuzVLC8_M Connect with Aleia: Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleiakristene/ Website: https://aleiakristene.com/ Support the show Website: Martine SeverinFollow on Instagram: Martine | This Is How We CreateSubscribe to the Newsletter: Martine's Substack This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite. show Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives
This week Black on Black Cinema finally gives Sugar Hill (1994) the deep analysis it deserves. Directed by Leon Ichaso and written by Barry Michael Cooper — the architect behind New Jack City and Above the Rim — Sugar Hill is the second and most emotionally dramatic entry in Cooper's Harlem Trilogy. Wesley Snipes as Roemello Skuggs, a high-level Harlem drug dealer who wants out. He's got money, power, a woman he loves in Melissa (Theresa Randle), and a future waiting for him if his volatile brother Raynathan (Michael Wright) and the game itself will let him leave.We break down what makes Sugar Hill flawed but still underrated. Cooper's layered screenplay that tries to give Roemello genuine intellectual depth (Georgetown scholarship-eligible, chess player, art collector), Michael Wright's explosive performance as the brother who can't escape the past, and Leon Ichaso's atmospheric direction that turns Harlem into a character of its own. Terence Blanchard's jazz-inflected gives the film a serious connection to Spike Lee's own work. Clarence Williams III steals scenes effortlessly, and Ernie Hudson has a good time as a villain this time around.We discuss why it got overshadowed by New Jack City, how it works to keep the idea of Wesley Snipes being one of the coolest dudes in this era. Sugar Hill has its flaws from scenes that in hindsight are oddly placed (potentially post edit bay issues), some characters who aren't as explored as actual human beings, but there is still something here worth talking about and the effort of making a gentlemen gangster film with the same actor who was notorious for playing one of the most brutal gangsters in the 90s era is something to admire here.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Black on Black Cinema announces our next film review: Sugar Hill (1994), directed by Leon Ichaso and written by Barry Michael Cooper; the second film in his legendary Harlem Trilogy alongside New Jack City and Above the Rim. Wesley Snipes stars as Roemello Skuggs, a high-level Harlem drug dealer who decides to walk away from the life to start fresh with his girlfriend Melissa (Theresa Randle), only to discover that leaving isn't something the game allows. Co-starring Michael Wright, Clarence Williams III, Ernie Hudson, and Abe Vigoda.Then we get into it: Reparations for Black Americans. We agree it should happen, the historical, economic, and moral case is ironclad. But what does repayment actually look like in practice? Direct cash payments? Targeted investment? Tax free benefits? Educational and business funds? And who qualifies for it? Is it just direct descendants of enslaved people only, or a broader class of Black Americans impacted by systemic racism? We break down the competing frameworks, the political obstacles, and what an honest reparations conversation looks like beyond the talking point.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Black on Black Cinema dives deep into Is God Is (2026), Aleshea Harris' feature directorial debut adapted from her Obie Award-winning stage play. Starring Kara Young as "The Rough One" and Mallori Johnson as "The Quiet One," the film follows twin sisters bearing the disfiguring burn scars of a childhood tragedy, ordered by their bedridden mother to kill the abusive father who destroyed their family. With Janelle Monáe, Sterling K. Brown, Vivica A. Fox, Erika Alexander, and Mykelti Williamson rounding out the cast, and Tessa Thompson and Janicza Bravo producing.We analyze Harris' genre-blending, part western grind house, part noir, part dark comedy; and how she translates her stage play to cinema. We break down how the film confronts generational trauma, absent and intimate partner violence, and the totality of Black womanhood with brutal honesty. Sterling K. Brown cast against type as a villain is inspired. Black women's rage played straight, not for laughs or shame, is the film's greatest achievement.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Is God Is." The film follows two sisters who embark on an epic quest for revenge; confronting a charged family history that will push them to extraordinary lengths. The movie is written and directed by Aleshea Harris who is also the playwright for the original play the film is based on.This week's random topic tackles the viral leaked text messages exposing alleged coaching between white women on how to "lock down" Black athletes. The screenshots show detailed "rules" including positioning the athlete as "the prize," completely integrating into his life, dealing with competition from Black women, and even strategies to provoke Black women to reinforce stereotypes. We break down the racialized manipulation at play, and the history of predatory targeting of Black athletes.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Black on Black Cinema reviews Michael (2026), Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop. While Jaafar delivers a great impression of his uncle Michael, the film itself is a shallow, sanitized music biopic that refuses to engage with Jackson's complexity and controversies. Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer) crafts a visually stunning but emotionally hollow portrait that hits every musical biopic cliché—rise to fame, family dysfunction, creative genius, tragic decline, and rise again without taking risks or offering fresh insight into one of music's most complicated icons.We break down why the film fails despite strong performances, analyzing how it sidesteps difficult questions about Jackson's life, allegations, and legacy in favor of a safe, reverential approach. The Thriller recreation is impressive, the musical sequences are well-executed, and Jaafar's physical transformation is remarkable—but beneath the spectacle lies a film afraid to be honest about its subject. We discuss what a truly great Michael Jackson film would require, compare it to other music biopics, examine the Jackson estate's involvement and creative control, and explore why Hollywood keeps making shallow biopics instead of complex character studies. Essential viewing for understanding how NOT to make a music biopic.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next full film review on the 2026 music biopic "Michael." The film follows the life of famed musician Michael Jackson from early childhood to the middle of his career as one of the biggest names in music history. The random topic this week is all about the Supreme Court further damaging the Voting Rights Act, and how online Black spaces have had just about enough of celebrities and political influencers who helped put us in the current situation and now are asking for Black people to come together to fight back.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Black on Black Cinema breaks down Love, Brooklyn (2025), Rachael Abigail Holder's directorial debut that premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Starring André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, and Roy Wood Jr., this indie romantic drama follows writer Roger as he navigates complicated relationships with his ex Casey (an art gallery owner) and current lover Nicole (a newly-single mother) against Brooklyn's rapidly changing landscape.Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, Love, Brooklyn delivers intelligent Black characters working through love, loss, career, and friendship without falling into stereotypes—no one raps, dies, or gets incarcerated. Director Holder created a story with "no villains," just good people navigating modern relationships.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "Love, Brooklyn." The film follows three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city. The movie stars Andre Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, and Roy Wood Jr. The random topic this week is an overarching conversation of rape and violence culture in regards to the CNN investigative report on a secret network on men drugging their wives and sexually abusing them and the former Lt. Governor of Virginia who murdered his wife and committed suicide.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Black on Black Cinema examines Black Belt Jones (1974), the groundbreaking Blaxploitation martial arts film that solidified Jim Kelly as an action star following his breakout role in Enter the Dragon. Directed by Oscar Williams and produced by Warner Bros during the height of the Blaxploitation era, the film stars Kelly as a martial arts instructor who battles the mob to protect his community's karate school from a crooked land deal. Co-starring Gloria Hendry as Sydney, Scatman Crothers as Pop Byrd, and featuring incredible fight choreography that showcased Kelly's karate championship skills, Black Belt Jones became a cult classic that merged kung fu cinema with Black urban action. We break down the film's cultural significance as one of the first major films to center a Black martial arts hero, analyze its approach to representing Black power and community resistance, discuss the chemistry between Kelly and Hendry, examine the fight sequences, and explore how the film fits into both Blaxploitation and martial arts cinema history. Plus: the film's influence on Black action cinema, Jim Kelly's career trajectory, and why Black Belt Jones remains essential viewing for understanding 1970s Black representation in Hollywood genre filmmaking.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Black Belt Jones." The 1974 blaxploitation classic starring Jim Kelly, which follows the Mafia buy out of Papa Byrd's karate school downtown that ends in his death. Byrd's daughter, Sydney, refuses to sell, and wants revenge. Byrd's students call the Black Belt Jones for help. Jones reluctantly teams with Sydney in many battles. The random topic this week is about the discovery that the wife of the Mayor of New York City, Rama Duwaji, said the N-word in a tweet back when she was 15. We have a conversation on the severity of this discovery and the weirdness of certain rules and lines on the use of the word by people outside of the community.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on B.F.F.: Black Fat Femme Podcast, Joho and Jon are joined by Tre'vell Anderson & Ray Love Jr. from the Seated Podcast for a deep dive into the Black moviegoing experience. Coming off the chaos of award season, the trio gets real about how Black and queer audiences find joy, connection, and meaning in cinema — even as Hollywood’s marketing still caters to whiteness and heteronormativity. From theater call-and-response moments to the rise of streaming culture, they explore what it would look like if Black, queer, and trans perspectives were treated as the default rather than the exception. We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your thoughts/comments about the show: BlackFatFemmePod@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to watch and subscribe on YouTube! Buy DoctorJonPaul's book here! Follow Seated Podcast! Follow the show on social: Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Tik-Tok | Facebook Follow DoctorJonPaul: BlueSky | Instagram | Website | Tik-Tok Follow Jordan: Instagram | Website | Tik-Tok Follow Tre'vell: Threads | Tik-Tok | Instagram Follow Ray: Threads | Tik-Tok | InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995): Denzel Washington's most underrated performance. Directed by Carl Franklin, based on Walter Mosley's novel. Easy Rawlins, a Black WWII veteran in 1948 Los Angeles, takes a job finding a missing white woman. Simple task becomes a labyrinth of violence, corruption, and impossible choices. This week on Black on Black Cinema, we look back on one of Denzel's lesser known classics.This should have launched a franchise. Walter Mosley wrote 14 Easy Rawlins books. Denzel was perfect in the role. Don Cheadle's Mouse was a scene stealer. Carl Franklin's direction was a excellent visual take on the times and brought the book to life.Why it matters: Denzel plays Easy as morally complex—not hero, not villain, just a Black man trying to survive. Don Cheadle's breakout as Mouse (chaotic, violent, loyal). Carl Franklin directs through the Black gaze. 1948 LA shown as a minefield for Black veterans. Themes: survival in immoral systems, respectability politics, racial passing.This is a forgotten masterpiece. We break down why Devil in a Blue Dress deserves reconsideration.New episodes every other week.Subscribe: Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube#DevilInABlueDress #DenzelWashingtonBlack on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
This week on Café Mocha, producer Je'Caryous Johnson joins us to talk about bringing iconic Black films to the stage. Last year it was Jason's Lyric and this year Set It Off is on tour. Plus, a reminder for families: the window to apply for HBCU Week scholarships is open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Along with thoughts on Big Jim and The White Boy, we get into David's upcoming book on Black Cinema, his thoughts on Sinners, in time for the Oscars, and more
Next week on Black on Black Cinema, we're reviewing Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), starring Denzel Washington in one of his most underrated performances. This Carl Franklin neo-noir follows Easy Rawlins navigating 1940s Los Angeles—a Black veteran trying to survive in a world designed to destroy him.But first, we need to talk about something: watching the Iran war unfold from inside the United States feels surreal. We're living through what might be the moral collapse of American foreign policy in real time, and the cognitive dissonance is overwhelming. How do you review films about justice and survival when your country is manufacturing catastrophe overseas?
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to review Soul Men (2008) which was released just two months after Bernie Mac's death, making it a bittersweet farewell to one of comedy's greatest talents. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee and starring Samuel L. Jackson alongside Mac, this road trip musical comedy follows two estranged backup singers reuniting for a tribute concert after their lead singer dies.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Welcome to It's A Wonderful Podcast!Our favourite time of the month is back as we get into all YOUR answers to our podcast questions from our 90s Rom-Coms and Black Cinema series' from February!Let's see what you thought!Our YouTube Channel for all our video content: (17748) It's A Wonderful Podcast - YouTubeThe It's A Wonderful Podcast Theme by David B. Music.Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ItsAWonderful1Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ItsAWonderful1IT'S A WONDERFUL PODCAST STORE: https://www.teepublic.com/user/g9designSub to the feed and download now on all major podcast platforms and be sure to rate, review and SHARE AROUND!!Keep up with us on (X) Twitter:Podcast: https://twitter.com/ItsAWonderful1Morgan: https://twitter.com/Th3PurpleDonJeannine: https://twitter.com/JeannineDaBean_Keep being wonderful!!
Welcome to It's A Wonderful Podcast!We're celebrating Black stories, and Black voices on screen this February on the main show for US Black History Month!Closing out the series with a fun slice of Blaxploitation excess as Isaac Hayes' bounty hunter comes under fire from the gang of pimps he is trying to take down as Morgan and Jeannine talk TRUCK TURNER (1974) co-starring Nichelle Nichols & Yaphet Kotto!Our YouTube Channel for all our video content: (17748) It's A Wonderful Podcast - YouTubeThe It's A Wonderful Podcast Theme by David B. Music.Donate:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ItsAWonderful1Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ItsAWonderful1IT'S A WONDERFUL PODCAST STORE:https://www.teepublic.com/user/g9designSub to the feed and download now on all major podcast platforms and be sure to rate, review and SHARE AROUND!!Keep up with us on (X) Twitter:Podcast:https://twitter.com/ItsAWonderful1Morgan:https://twitter.com/Th3PurpleDonJeannine:https://twitter.com/JeannineDaBean_Keep being wonderful!!
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to introduce the next film to the reviewed, "Soul Men." The 2008 film follows two estranged soul-singing legends who agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader. The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson and the late great Bernie Mac. Available to stream for free on Tubi.The random topic this week we tackle the complex and difficult incident that unfolded at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards when John Davidson, a Tourette's syndrome activist and subject of the nominated film "I Swear," involuntarily shouted racial slurs—including the N-word—while Black actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award.This isn't a simple story. It's a collision of disability rights, anti-Black racism, media responsibility, and institutional failure.What happened: Davidson, who has spent decades advocating for Tourette's awareness, experienced involuntary vocal tics throughout the ceremony. His condition causes coprolalia—the uncontrollable utterance of socially inappropriate words. When Jordan and Lindo took the stage, Davidson's tic produced the N-word, audible throughout the venue.The BBC's failure: Despite broadcasting on a two-hour delay (giving them time to edit), the BBC left the slur in the broadcast AND on iPlayer for 15+ hours. Yet they DID edit out other content, including a "Free Palestine" statement and political jokes. The selective editing reveals a catastrophic failure/purposeful behavior in judgment and priorities.The complications: This incident sits at the painful intersection of two marginalized communities. Davidson has no control over his tics—they represent the opposite of his actual beliefs. Yet Black attendees, including production designer Hannah Beachler, experienced real racial trauma. Lindo told Vanity Fair he wished BAFTA had spoken to them afterward. Host Alan Cumming's apology said "sorry if you were offended" was woefully inadequate.Why this matters for cinema: The film "I Swear" was nominated for multiple BAFTAs and won three awards, including Best Actor for Robert Aramayo's portrayal of Davidson. The movie exists to educate about Tourette's. Yet BAFTA and the BBC failed both the disability community AND the Black community in how they handled this moment.We discuss:- The impossible position both communities were put in due to the BBC's actions or lack thereof- Why institutional preparation and response failed catastrophically- The difference between individual accountability and systemic responsibility- How ableism and anti-Black racism played out in the aftermath (including the idea of "he meant that shit" comments)- What should have happened vs. what did happen- The broader conversation about representation, disability, and whose comfort gets prioritizedThis is a conversation about nuance, compassion, and holding institutions accountable when they fail vulnerable communities.Full Black on Black Cinema episodes coming soon. Subscribe so you don't miss our deep dives into Black cinema, representation, and the stories Hollywood tells—and doesn't tellBlack on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Welcome to It's A Wonderful Podcast!We're celebrating Black stories, and Black voices on screen this February on the main show for US Black History Month!A vital, stylish, and thoroughly gripping political Noir as our Black Cinema series continues in very fine form this week with Morgan and Jeannine talking the tale of betrayal within the ranks of Black militants following MLK's assassination in Jules Dassin's UPTIGHT (1968) starring Julian Mayfield, Ruby Dee & Raymond St. Jacques!Our YouTube Channel for all our video content: (17748) It's A Wonderful Podcast - YouTubeThe It's A Wonderful Podcast Theme by David B. Music.Donate:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ItsAWonderful1Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ItsAWonderful1IT'S A WONDERFUL PODCAST STORE:https://www.teepublic.com/user/g9designSub to the feed and download now on all major podcast platforms and be sure to rate, review and SHARE AROUND!!Keep up with us on (X) Twitter:Podcast:https://twitter.com/ItsAWonderful1Morgan:https://twitter.com/Th3PurpleDonJeannine:https://twitter.com/JeannineDaBean_Keep being wonderful!!
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2025 psychological thriller, "The Dutchman." Based on Amiri Baraka's groundbreaking 1964 Obie Award-winning one-act play, the film follows Clay (André Holland), a successful but troubled Black businessman navigating a crumbling marriage with his wife Kaya (Zazie Beetz). After a therapy session with the enigmatic Dr. Amiri (Stephen McKinley Henderson), Clay encounters Lula (Kate Mara), a seductive and sinister white woman on a New York subway, who draws him into a dangerous psychological game of cat and mouse that forces him to confront his identity, his marriage, and the concept of double consciousness. Directed by Andre Gaines and co-written with Qasim Basir, the film also stars Aldis Hodge and Lauren E. Banks. The crew digs into the film's exploration of race, assimilation, Black male identity, and whether this modern adaptation does justice to Baraka's original text — or if the meta-theatrical approach gets in its own way.Black on Black Cinema is a long-running podcast featuring in-depth Black movie reviews and frank conversations that matter to the Black community. We review Black films across every genre — from Black horror and Black sci-fi to indie dramas, comedies, and blockbuster action. Covering filmmakers like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and more. Hosted by Jay, Micah, Terrence, and T'ara. Featured on RogerEbert.com. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Look Forward (progressive politics), and Dense Pixels (video game news).
Today we've got real talk from the red carpet with a nationally acclaimed guest whose career took him from Kansas City to Hollywood…and back. His name is Shawn Edwards, the longest-serving Black film critic of all time and one of cinema's most respected voices. For more than a quarter of a century he's had a front-row seat to movie history in the making. And now, he's bringing legacy to life with the Black Movie Hall of Fame, premiering soon in KC's historic 18th & Vine District. It's a celebration of cinematic trailblazers on and off the screen. And one part of a bigger mission to keep their impact in the spotlight, long after the camera stops rolling.Website: https://blackmoviehalloffame.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedwardskc/?hl=en Twitter: https://x.com/sedwardskc?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sedwardskc/Check out the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/waKFph1rwug
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, 2025's "The Dutchman." The film follows a successful black businessman, haunted by his crumbling marriage and identity crisis, who is drawn into a sexualized game of cat and mouse with a mysterious white woman on a subway that leads to a violent conclusion. Starring Andre Holland, Kate Mara, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Zazie Beats. The random topic this week is on our thoughts of the battle for the Super Bowl halftime shows: Bad Bunny vs cadre of washed up white conservative musicians in their Turning Point USA safe space. A conversation on what and more importantly who has and continues to define American culture.
Welcome to It's A Wonderful Podcast!We're celebrating Black stories, and Black voices on screen this February on the main show for US Black History Month!Our YouTube Channel for all our video content: (17748) It's A Wonderful Podcast - YouTubeThe It's A Wonderful Podcast Theme by David B. Music.Donate:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ItsAWonderful1Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ItsAWonderful1IT'S A WONDERFUL PODCAST STORE:https://www.teepublic.com/user/g9designSub to the feed and download now on all major podcast platforms and be sure to rate, review and SHARE AROUND!!Keep up with us on (X) Twitter:Podcast:https://twitter.com/ItsAWonderful1Morgan:https://twitter.com/Th3PurpleDonJeannine:https://twitter.com/JeannineDaBean_Keep being wonderful!!
Check out our upcoming tour dates in February at https://www.drunkblackhistory.com/upcoming-shows! We'll be hosting shows in LA, Boston, Austin, Brooklyn, and more! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram at officialdrunkblackhistory!Host Brandon (@frodo_blackins) is joined by "The Secret Life of TK Dutes" podcast host Keisha aka TK to discuss the groundbreaking career of Diahann Carroll. They discuss other life details like her affair with Sidney Poitier and how she got her career start. DBH Links:- https://www.instagram.com/officialdrunkblackhistory- https://www.drunkblackhistory.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/@drunkblackhistory- https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/16706941-dbh-logoGuest:Keisha "TK" DutesTastyKeish.comHosts:Brandon CollinsSponsors:Bunny podcast"Drunk Black History" is a production of Casa de Collins LLC.
Welcome to It's A Wonderful Podcast!We're celebrating Black stories, and Black voices on screen this February on the main show for US Black History Month!Morgan and Jeannine are starting the series off however, in Britain, with the first depiction of an interracial relationship between a Black man and a White woman in a major British movie as they talk the down-to-earth docklands heist Noir; POOL OF LONDON (1951) directed by Basil Dearden and starring Bonar Colleano, Susan Shaw & Earl Cameron!Our YouTube Channel for all our video content: (17748) It's A Wonderful Podcast - YouTubeThe It's A Wonderful Podcast Theme by David B. Music.Donate:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ItsAWonderful1Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ItsAWonderful1IT'S A WONDERFUL PODCAST STORE:https://www.teepublic.com/user/g9designSub to the feed and download now on all major podcast platforms and be sure to rate, review and SHARE AROUND!!Keep up with us on (X) Twitter:Podcast:https://twitter.com/ItsAWonderful1Morgan:https://twitter.com/Th3PurpleDonJeannine:https://twitter.com/JeannineDaBean_Keep being wonderful!!
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to review Spike Lee's 1986 directorial debut "She's Gotta Have It." The film follows Nola Darling, a woman who openly dates three men who are aware of one another and possess three wildy different personalities.
This week on Black on Black Cinema, we preview our upcoming review of Spike Lee's groundbreaking 1986 film "She's Gotta Have It;" a bold, black-and-white exploration of love, agency, and identity. Our full review drops next week.We also dive into this week's random topic: Kanye West's public apology to fans following his past embrace of white supremacist ideology, and Nicki Minaj's sudden alignment with the Donald Trump MAGA movement. We break down why these moves feel like a betrayal to their Black and LGBTQ fan bases—and what it says about celebrity, power, and politics today.
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew is back to discuss the 2025 action thriller film, "Shadow Force." The film stars Omar Sy, Kerry Washington, Mark Strong, Method Man, Jahleel Kamara, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. The movie follows an estranged couple with a bounty on their heads who must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them.
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to preview the next film, "Shadow Force." The film follows an estranged couple (Kerry Washington and Omar Sy) with a bounty on their heads who must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them. The random topic is about the unjust murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis at the hand of an ICE agent. The crew discuss what the larger implications of her death will be on the entirety of what's happening in the US at the hands of a seemingly rogue military-like response from the Trump/Vance administration's ICE agency.
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2024 dark comedy drama, "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl." The film follows Shula, who on an empty road in the middle of the night, stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family.
Sponsors: Prize Picks Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/DIYS and use code DIYS and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Kikoff Help your credit survive the holidays & get your first month FREE at https://getkikoff.com/DIYS today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! Miracle Made Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://trymiracle.com/DIYS and use the code DIYS to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. BlueChew Visit bluechew.com and use promo code DIYs for 10% off your first month. Dam Internet, You Scary! hosts Patrick Cloud and Tahir Moore break down the disturbing but interesting stories on the internet! Instagram got people lying, exaggerating, and performing for likes — and we finally had to talk about it. In this episode, we break down how social media warped real life, share wild childhood stories, and react to some of the craziest real-world news you've ever heard — from a fake flight attendant flying free for years to a man stealing a city bus and continuing the route like nothing happened. If you've ever felt like the internet made people delusional… this episode is for you. 00:00 – Cold Open: Immediate Chaos 09:14 – Official Introductions 18:30 – Price Picks Ad Read 20:31 – Weird Smells People Secretly Love 26:19 – Things You Ate as a Kid That Were… Questionable 31:04 – Growing Up in Dangerous Cities 37:32 – Childhood Survival Stories 41:20 – Fake Flight Attendant Flew Free 120 Times 49:16 – Man Steals Bus and Continues the Route 56:04 – Chess Player Poisons Opponent's Pieces 01:03:06 – Black Cinema & Movie Debates 01:06:05 – Getting Robbed in Real Life 01:09:00 – Detroit Stories Sound Fake (But Aren't) 01:10:28 – Where to Find the Guests 01:14:35 – Final Plugs & Wrap-Up
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl." The film starts on an empty road in the middle of the night, where Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family. The random topic of the week is all about Juelz Santana's comments on kids not needing to know how to read in the modern era and that it is somehow more important to know how to start a business instead. The host discuss the levels of anti-intellectualism that is within these ideas and why we as a community need to push back on them hard.
On this week's episode, co-hosts Sequoia Holmes and Ryann Graham discuss the classic film, Soul Food. They get into dysfunctional family dynamics, the complexity of media representation, and justice for Teri! All this & more! Check out The Daily DirtyBuy Mocha Grande Merch HIGHLIGHTSFamily DynamicsToxic MasculinityBeing the oldest daughter Black relationship dynamics Everybody cheatin' Cousin Faith Follow Sequoiahttps://www.instagram.com/sequoiabholmeshttps://www.tiktok.com/@sequoiabholmeshttps://twitter.com/sequoiabholmes Follow Ryannhttps://www.instagram.com/gudguyryry/?hl=enhttps://x.com/ryanngraham Follow BPLP Podhttps://www.instagram.com/bplppodhttps://twitter.com/bplppodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@bplppod