This is a crowd-pleasing Hollywood movie (which I saw w/ my mom 2 wks ago), BUT about a subject we’ve NEVER heard about- three professional African-American (then referred to as “Negro”) women at NASA in the ’60s. ALL the ladies give strong performances here; they have strong chemistry that makes their long-time friendship seem real. At the center is Katherine Coleman (Taraji P. Henson of Empire)- a former child prodigy, widow, mom of 3 young daughters, and mathematician. Her mind works fast, BUT working w/ the team of engineers (under Al Harrison- Kevin Costner in a low-key performance) prepping for the first manned rocket launch IS a challenge. Katherine grows in her job, gaining confidence and respect (even from racist senior engineer Paul Stafford- Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory).
Katherine works out the math for a future rocket launch.
In some ways, the film is traditional, esp. how the problems are wrapped up quite nicely. We get the feeling that MAYBE Mary Jackson’s (Janelle Monae) hubby, Levi (Aldis Hodge- star of Underground), is NOT all in for his wife working such long hours and becoming an engineer. However, there are moments where you want to cheer, b/c these ladies are succeeding w/ SO much stacked against them (in a segregated South- Langley, VA). Even going to the bathroom is a hassle, since the “colored” restroom is located on the other side of the large campus!
Katherine surrounded by her coworkers (all white and male) engineers.
This story would NOT have been told w/o the 2014 book upon which it’s based by Margot Lee Shetterly. She is the daughter of a NASA engineer (her dad); she also grew up in the same town as these “human computers.” As a youngster, Shetterley knew these ladies as neighbors and fellow churchgoers. Yes, we are in the time before IBM was a household name, though eventually Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) learns FORTRAN to program the new computer.
Col. John Glenn (Glen Powell) meets Katherine Johnson.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a math/science/history nerd to LOVE this film. (I personally liked the historical elements, esp. the clothes and cars.) One of my fave elements was the slow burn romance between Katherine and a National Guardsman, Major Jim Johnson (Mahershala Ali- also in Moonlight). “It’s very rare to see a black man pursuing a black woman” (as was discussed on the JAN 25th Slate Culture Gabfest). Henson and Ali have great chemistry. The surprise proposal/family dinner scene had me in tears!
The “computers” gather around the TV to watch Col. Glenn’s historic launch.
Films like this are important, esp. today when certain world leaders are trying to close-up borders, restrict (legal) immigration, and creating unease (in anyone who isn’t straight/ white/Republican/ male). Why NOT take the example of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) in this film? According to historians (and his contemporaries), Glenn was considered “ahead of his time” when it came to race relations. Though one of the white women supervisors tried to rush him inside, Glenn (who later became an Ohio senator) walked over to where the black computers were standing in the welcome line; they shook hands and chatted briefly. Without the combined work on dozens of black women, he would never have gone into space!
What would you like young audiences, esp. young black men, to get from this story? -Sunny Hostin (CNN)
That your history did not begin with slavery.-Malachi Kirby, actor
You may be asking- WHY do we need a retelling of this story? MANY in the US (and worldwide) already read the book and watched the 1977 series. But once you start watching, you realize how important it is that Roots reaches a new generation of viewers.Faith (NOT necessarily religion), family (incl. marriage- “jumping the broom”), and traditions (from Africa) become even MORE important under slavery.
Mark Wolper, son of David Wolper (who developed the 1977 miniseries) decided on the remake after his kids couldn’t sit still to watch it. The main issue- it was TOO slow! NOT only does this show have more action, it’s much more colorful, richly detailed (thanks to technology and knowledge filmmakers didn’t have 40 yrs. ago), and very watchable (thanks to veteran and newcomer actors, as well as skilled directors). I was esp. happy to see that LeVar Burton (who played the original Kunta Kinte when he was only 19 y.o.) was an executive producer on the series; he also has a brief cameo in Part 1. The music is one of the BEST elements, thanks to Ahmir “Questlove” Johnson, a member of The Roots.
Part 1
Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) rides his horse through the woods in West Africa.
This is (undoubtedly) the strongest 2 hrs. of the 8 hr. series! Time is given for us to know re: the West African city of Jufuree (which was NOT a little village, BUT had a pop. of nearly 10,000). The sets are quite intricate and large-scale. There is the gorgeous turquoise dyed cloth that is worn by many people. Women use dark color on BOTH their lips and around their eyes. Tribal practices are blended w/ the religion of Islam (a fact which was jarring to SOME viewers, from reviews I read). Yes, people do use the term “Allah” and prostrate themselves to pray! About 30% of the African slaves brought to “the New World” were Muslims.
The Kinte Family in Jufuree
Kunta Kinte (British newcomer Malachi Kirby in a standout role), the son of Binte Kinte and Omoro Kinte, is a bright, observant teenager who is training to be a warrior (w/ his male peers). He also has a crush on a local girl, and she seems to like him, too. But his parents say that they’ll arrange a marriage for him (when the time comes). Kunta has great respect for his parents, tradition, religion, yet he ALSO possesses a strong will (which will BOTH help and hurt him later in life). We will see things more from his eyes in MANY cases (thanks to camera-work). If great acting is in the eyes, then Kirby is definitely one to watch in the future.
The next segment of the story which impressed me was The Middle Passage; a huge ship was built to accommodate actors, cameras, and crew! If you saw 12 Years a Slave, then you can handle this part (maybe a BIT better than more sensitive viewers). We get a glimpse of JUST how cramped, crowded, and downright horrific conditions were for the men (and some boys)!
A slave is not bought; a slave has to be created! -The overseer explains to Kunta
When we get to America, it’s Revolutionary War era, and Kunta is purchased by a surly/middle-aged planter from Virginia, John Waller (British actor James Purefoy). He has a British wife, Elizabeth, who has settled easily into the life under slavery, though their marriage doesn’t look happy. His more sensitive and younger brother, Dr. William Waller (British actor Matthew Goode), lives in a neighboring plantation and is also the local physician. But the worst of this lot is the red-headed (and bearded) Irish overseer who REALLY enjoys his work!
Fiddler (Forrest Whitaker) and Kunta/Toby (Malachi Kirby) on the Waller plantation
Kunta (who is named Toby by Elizabeth) DOES find an (at first hesitant) ally in Fiddler (American veteran actor Forrest Whitaker), who has special role in the Waller household (thanks to his musical talent) and is a favorite slave of the mistress. Whitaker does a GREAT job in his role (as you’d expect); he also gets some of the BEST lines in the entire series! In one esp. poignant scene, Fiddler stops in his tracks, recognizing a lullaby that Kunta sings. He swears that HIS grandmother sang that song, too.
Belle is a female slave who feels sympathy for Kunta. She convinces Dr. Waller to get Kunta to care for his horses and drive him around to patients. Belle looks after him when he’s near death, and they grow to love each other (over the span of 10 yrs.) Belle (though still youthful) has a painful past, BUT decides to marry Kunta and start a new life. They have a daughter, who Kunta names “Kizzie.” Now he is firmly rooted in America, yet still VERY much an African in his heart and mind.
Part 2
Never let them take your mind. -Kunta tells his daughter
Kizzie becomes a companion to the Waller’s daughter, who insists on teaching her to read. BUT (of course) this is the SAME reason that she is sold “down the river” when she reaches adolescence. Kizzie ends ups at a small farm in South Carolina owned by an alcoholic, violent gambler- Tom Lea (British actor Jonathan Rhys Myers). The first time, Kizzie fights w/ ALL her strength to stop her new master, BUT to no avail.In time, she has a son, who Tom names “George” (after his father). Kizzie, who gathers up the strength of Kunta, Belle, and her ancestors, decides that she’ll endure for her son to have a better life.
Part 3
Kunta’s daughter, Kizzie (Anika Noni Rose), worries for the future of her son on Tom Lea’s farm.
In some odd way, Tom seeks to be closer to his (unclaimed) young son, which causes Kizzie (American theater/TV actress Anika Noni Rose) great pain. Tom announces that the older slave, Mingo (who handles the cocks and goes to fights w/ him), will teach George. It turns out that Chicken George (as he is called) has a natural gift w/ these animals!
Chicken George (Rege-Jean Page)
Chicken George (British newcomer Rege-Jean Page) grows up and falls in love w/ Matilda, a slave from a neighboring plantation. Her father is a no-nonsense minister (on his day off), while Kizzie doesn’t believe in the Christian god. Chicken George keeps making money for Tom, gets respect for his talent/hard work from the local cockfighters (of all colors), and eventually marries Matilda.
You have no honor, Tom Lea! -Chicken George shouts to his master/father
In time, the gentlemen planters even warm to the Leas, though they are from low birth and Tom is of Irish heritage. Kizzie fears that things can go wrong at ANY moment, b/c of Tom’s volatile temper. There is an explosive scene between Chicken George and Tom, where we realize how low a master can go (even when the matter at hand is his OWN blood). BOTH Page and Rhys Meyers shine in this scene; however, these men are eclipsed by Rose, who is a standout in this series.
Part 4
There’s no wrong way to be a slave.-Chicken George explains to his son, Tom
This is the weakest of the episodes, BUT does have some good moments. We see Chicken George join up w/ one of the “African” regiments of the Union army. One of his son’s, Tom, becomes a skilled blacksmith. Like his father, he earns money for his master, and raises a family w/ his part-Cherokee wife.
The free descendants of Kunta Kinte leave the Murray plantation in South Carolina to start their new lives.
Tom straddles that conflicting (yet exhilarating) time between slavery and Emancipation, working hard to keep his anger and resentment in check. The descendants of Kunta Kinte grow in number and take their place as free black Americans. There is a LOT more (which I haven’t discussed above)- check this show out for yourself!
NOTE: This review contains MILD SPOILERS for the series.
Pops (Frankie Faison) talks with Luke Cage (Mike Colter)
Intro
Do YOU need a hero? You may have seen Luke Cage (Mike Colter, in a breakout role) as the V strong FWB of the title character in Marvel’s Jessica Jones last year. The events of this series occur about a year afterwards. Luke has been working in Pop’s Barbershop in West Harlem and generally keeping a low profile. When a pretty single mom/law student takes an interest in him, Luke thinks he’s NOT good enough. Pop (Frankie Faison) says that Luke is “hiding” from relationships and has so much potential. He could be “out there helping people.”
Show creator Cheo Hodari Coker with Colter
Characters
It turns out that Luke is NO ordinary man, striving to make rent. He has bulletproof skin (thanks to an experiment which we learn about later in the series). Luke is a man of FEW words, BUT we get to know some verbose (and well-developed) villains is this show. There is owner of The Paradise club, Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes (Mahershala Ali from House of Cards), a man who speaks well, dresses impeccably, yet is prone to violent outbursts. He is a noted gangster who has stayed clear of the law. His older cousin, Mariah Dillard (veteran actress Alfre Woodard), is a calculating councilwoman who is trying to stay clear of her grandmother’s criminal legacy. However, she is NOT against using the manpower/money which Cottonmouth can provide.
Detective Misty Knight (Simone Missick)
Aside from Mariah, there are several other capable, single, professional black women in the story. (HOW rare/refreshing is that!?) Det. Misty Knight (Simone Missick) flirts w/ Luke at The Paradise when we first meet her, BUT she’s not looking only for fun. She has been staking out the club to get some concrete evidence against Cottonmouth. Later in the series, I was esp. glad to see nurse Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson- also guest star in Daredevil). Inspector Priscilla Ridley (Karen Pittman) plays a smaller (yet pivotal role).
Luke walking with Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson)
There are several characters w/ different jobs and backgrounds (white, latino, black) who operate in shades of gray. They are trying to make money easily, protect themselves, etc. Go see the show (don’t want to reveal TOO much here)!
Diversity in MANY forms is built-in on this show. Luke’s landlady (Connie) and her hubby are Chinese immigrants operating a restaurant. Claire’s (Latina) mother is played by Sonia Braga, an internationally-renown veteran actress originally from Brazil. (HOW cool is that!?) Braga co-starred in Kiss of the Spider Woman (w/ William Hurt and Raul Julia) in the ’80s; younger viewers may know her as Samantha’s gf in SATC.
Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali) is one of the fascinating villains on the show
Setting
Yes, this show is set in West Harlem, which serves as a character in itself. We also get to learn about some of its history (MOST of which I didn’t know about). This info is passed on via the characters in the story, so (in MOST cases) it seems organic.
Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) wearing her famous coronation jewels , sash, and gown.
The Crown focuses on Queen Elizabeth II as a 25-year-old newlywed faced with the daunting prospect of leading the world’s most famous monarchy while forging a relationship with legendary Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. The British Empire is in decline, the political world is in disarray, and a young woman takes the throne….a new era is dawning. Peter Morgan’s masterfully researched scripts reveal the Queen’s private journey behind the public facade with daring frankness. Prepare to be welcomed into the coveted world of power and privilege and behind locked doors in Westminster and Buckingham Palace….the leaders of an empire await. -Netflix Summary
Matt Smith, Claire Foy, and John Lithgow
Lead Actors: Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth II), Matt Smith (Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh), & John Lithgow (Sir Winston Churchill)
Supporting Actors: Jeremy Northam, Eileen Atkins, Victoria Hamilton, Harriet Walter, Ben Miles & Alex Jennings
Director: Stephen Daldry
Writer/Producer: Peter Morgan
Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and the real queen in wedding clothes.
This highly-anticipated series will be available on November 4th. Two seasons with a total of 20 episodes are planned (so far), as noted in Variety. Daldry was the director of Billy Elliott and The Hours. In 2006, Peter Morgan wrote The Queen (starring Helen Mirren).
Rather than finding this woman and this predicament less and less interesting it becomes more and more interesting. The Queen’s story is a good way to examine the modern history of England because she is so intertwined with the British constitution and the British soul. -Peter Morgan
I’m excited to see Foy in a starring role; she was great in the miniseries Little Dorritt. Matt Smith (best known for Dr. Who) can handle both comedy and drama. Maybe he will get a chance to do both? And it’s so cool to see the film/stage veteran, Lithgow, in good shape and working regularly! The official trailer (below) gives us some hint, BUT not too much, re: the crux of the series- how a young woman manages different roles (daughter, queen, wife, and mother).
Salman Rushdie continues to be a controversial figure, but in today’s world, I feel that voices like his (British, Indian, and atheist) need to be heard MORE than ever! Depending on your age, you may know Rushdie from the fatwa (which was placed on him by Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran), his cameo on Bridget Jones’ Diary, or his short-lived marriage to Padma Lakhshmi (of Top Chef fame). Or maybe you have a FEW of his books (BUT are intimidated to read)? A few years ago, a book club I organized both read Haroun and the Sea of Stories, which is Rushdie’s YA book.
*NOTE: Special thanks to my friend Lana for above photo and taking notes.
The Beginning of Rushdie’s Life as a Writer:
He realized that he would never write a good book until he knew who he was (not English, but Indian).
He was part of first generation of free Indian Children.
His father told bedtime stories (oral tradition strong in his family)- animal stories; tales of heroes. His mother told local tales: gossip, scandal, secrets (when he included in stories, she said he “got in trouble”). One of his academic grandfathers took him to university library, where he discovered Agatha Christie. His other grandfather was a very religious man (prayed 5X/day, fasted, etc.) He was also open to any/all ideas; Rushdie admitted that he didn’t believe in God (age 10).
Read comics from early age. He was lucky to have a lending library/bookstore nearby where he got into Perry Mason mysteries, Alice in Wonderland.
The Wizard of Oz (film) inspired him to write his first story at age 10.
His family had a tradition of kissing books and bread to apologize to it and place someplace where wouldn’t happen again (food for mind; food for the body).
Left Bombay 1961 for English boarding school at age 13 (his idea, not his parents’). Maybe he had an”unnoticed love of adventure” b/c was quiet as a child?
Got into Cambridge, but didn’t want to go b/ c of racism faced at boarding school earlier. He went and enjoyed it a lot; studied history; wrote for student newspaper. He also got into Borges and Joyce at this time, and learned about incident of satanic verses (in his last semester).
His parents moved to Karachi, Pakistan; this was not an appealing place for him. His father initially disapproved, but then supported his return to England after he graduated from Cambridge.
Wrote TV commercials and scripts in London for an ad agency (where he worked part-time). In the early 1970s, he wrote and published, but these works were not successful because he hadn’t known himself enough. He decided to understand what he was doing wrong and traveled to India, which entered state of emergency (1977).
Midnight’s Children: Started in 3rd person, but then told from Salim’s voice and it was better (voice not my own, but gave me voice). Kept working in advertising again to pay bills. This book took 5 years to write it because was learning how to write. He also needed to blend news with fiction.
Quotes:
Geography is key [to a person’s writing]. Writers (like Faulkner): Have roots/history and can mine the earth for a lifetime of stories.
Work we do about the past, changes the future.
As we discover, we remember, as we remember, we discover.
Stories are not true- but can make you know truths that truths cannot tell.
Can’t write until you hear people speak, because can’t tell their story if you don’t hear their voice.
I think the greatest gift my family gave me was freethinking.
[On his trip to India when writing Midnight’s Children]: From childhood, dig out memories from attics of mind. Healing of rift within myself that separated me from my past… drank deeply from well of India.
Write what you know, but only if what you know is interesting.
Knightleyemma 