10. Which Way Is Up? 1977 Although this film has slow moments, Richard Pryor is a genius as three different characters and Margaret Avery (Shug Avery) as his young wife is a GAG! Myra from Martin shows up. It's hilarious.
9. Eve's Bayou 1997 I love this film because it shows a lot of the cultural craziness of Black folks and there is an absolutely beautiful sequence where Debbi Morgan tells a story using a mirror. It's chilling.
8. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood 1996 All I can say is Helen Martin. When that old heifer pulls up in a low rider and says, "Tell your granddaddy to page me." I pee on myself. The breakdancing senquence in church... PRICELESS!
7. House Party 1990 This is our proof that the box haircut existed. Not our only proof but it marks an idyllic period in our existence. This may very well be the last time Black men danced together and it was okay. Remember Skidz? "Sharayne, bring me some of that Dick Gregory!" Robin Harris at his very best.
6. The Color Purple 1985 Like a lot of other folks I can watch this film and recite lines verbatim. Of course my favorite moment is where Celie lets Mister have it at the dinner table. It's also Oprah's shining moment. "Sat in that jail... sat in that jail till I damn near rot to death. I wanna thank you Miss Celie..." It's also one of the most beautiful movies, visually. The final scene with the African delegation, robes blowing in the wind is absolutely breathtaking. Gotta give to Spielberg, even though the Academy didn't.
5. Cotton Comes To Harlem 1970 In the midst of all the Blaxploitation of the 70s we have this gem, directed by the late Ossie Davis. It was a social statement that poked fun at Black folks and let us laugh at our craziness. It spoke to corruption in government, in church, in law enforcement. The shit that we continue to struggle with. And Helen Martin is in it... lol
4. Cabin in the Sky 1943 I love musicals. Especially the lush technicolor Hollywood musicals of the 1930s through 50s. Cabin in the Sky was actually the first all-Black Broadway musical, long before The Wiz... long before Dreamgirls. Ethel Waters plays Petunia, married to Joe, a gambler. She constantly prays for his deliverance from his gambling demons. The film opens with them getting ready for church. In the next scene you see the congregation, actually the Hall Johnson Choir, singing "little black sheep, come back home..." You feel good at the end.
3. Car Wash 1976 The soundtrack alone makes this film worth seeing. The songs Car Wash and I Wanna Get Next To You are classics, but there is nothing funnier than George Carlin walking through the hood asking, "Did anyone see a big, blonde black girl?" Richard Pryor also shows up as a slick preacher who is escorted by all four Pointer Sisters singing, "You've got to believe something... why not believe in me?"
2. Kingdom Come 2001 Lots of people will argue but I think this is one of the best ensemble pieces ever. No one performance stands out as stellar (Jada Pinkett is just a little over the top), but they all play so well off each other. The funniest moment for me is when Whoopi comes to the end of the letter from her sister-in-law and her husband drops dead. She looks down at the floor and calls him like he's playing.
1. To Sleep With Anger 1990 I can't even describe this masterpiece. You just have to see it for yourself and tell me how you liked it.
9 comments:
Kindom Come and Don't be Menance sucked, but the rest are pretty good choices. I am still go to say you don't have the best taste in movies. I'm gonna have to take you out one day. LOL
i have to agree with the post above Dont be a Menance an Kingdom Come wouldnt make my list by far...
insert Love Jones and Whats Love Got to Do With It
I'mma sucker for one-liners... but a movie filled with them is priceless.
I have never seen the whole of Color Purple but the lines... awesome.
Hated House Party and Kingdom Come.
I don't know any other Rose Royce song but Wanna Get Next to You... loe it but it's a sad song.
Sidenote: next time I text you...you would want to text me back! :)
oh, What's Love Got to do with it? I need to update my list of favorite movies. You all know that Angela should have won an academy award for that bad boy. Holly Berry, or however the hell you spell her name, can't act! You all know it.
I like your list. I might have made Color Purple #1, and I probably would have added Lady Sings The Blues and Ray while taking out House Party (even though I do like the movie) and Menance to Society.
Hey, sorry for blowing up your blog on this matter, brother but I just saw Akeelah and the Bee and it is a damn good movie. If you have not seen it, check it out. I think it will move up on your list of top ten. Now I will leave you alone. LOL
Can Someone say Blockbuster night? Umm maybe walmart! I will need to expand my video collection. I own none of those movies!
@One Man's Opinion: Don't Be a Menace was marvelous satirical humor. Someone had to poke fun at all those hood movies. I'm glad it was the Wayans. Kingdom Come is a film of subtle moments that ring so true. As I said, Jada's character is a bit high strung, but even she was authentic. I am related to everyone of those characters.
@CW02: What can I say? I love comedies. I should have said my 10 favorite comedies because all those movies make me laugh, except Eve's Bayou. I even love Color Purple for the giggles. The dark moments... not so much. If I do a list of 10 favorite dramas, Love Jones and What's Love would definitely make it.
@Bloopty: One liners are the absolute best. I admit it took me a few times to get to the end of Purple, but it's worth it. House Party gave us Robin Harris who gave us BeBe's Kids... "We don't die. We multiply!" You know other Rose Royce songs. You just don't know it's them. Somebody just covered Ooh Boy and Madonna did Love Don't Live Here Anymore. And you got my note. Actually going to be another number change very soon.
@forge: You ain't never lied about Holly Berries. The girl couldn't act if you told her to be herself, but I have a problem giving Oscars to actors who imitate other people. To me they are impersonators. Bassett did a good impersonation. Go 'head and blow up the blog... that's why it's here. ANd you're right about Akeelah. I absolutely loved it. It's going on my list of dramas along with Finding Forrester and Antwone Fisher.
@whozhe: Um Ray... not so much. See the Angela Bassett comment above. Now Lady Sings is a bit different. Ross really didn't impersonate Billie Holliday. Since Lady Day was dead, she was able to interpret. Y'all gon' leave House Party alone. Sad to say I've never seen Menace. I know. I know. I must.
@fuzzy: We'll do movie night at the crib. I own most of them.
nah, man...the classic wayans comedy was "i'm gonna git you sucka":
"your door is ajar; please close your door; I SAID CLOSE DA DOE, SHITHEAD!"
"how much for one rib?"
and i'd have to put jungle fever on the list for the acting. ossie and ruby were excellent, as was lonnette: "white honky, honky white, white nigga, nigga white, octoroon, quadroon, halfbreed, mongrel!"
Post a Comment