The Black "B" Movie Blues - COVER
Today I'm introducing a new regular posting topic, the Black B" Movie Blues. On a semi-regular basis I will focus upon a black film that didn't make it to local movie theater. In some cases, calling these films "B" movies will be extremely generous, but I intend to be very broad-minded in terms of critiquing these films. I look forward to your comments about these films and your suggestions for other films for this regular column.
My first selection is the film, Cover staring Aunjanue Ellis, Leon, and Paula Jai Parker. This film has a few things going for it right from the start. It has recognizable and talented actors, was directed by long-standing actor and director Bill Duke, and seems to have more than a three-dollar budget. The film has an interesting and ambitious story line, approaching the difficult subject of the "down low brother" with surprisingly well-rounded depiction of this convoluted issue, even if the film often falls into very heavy-handed, hand-wringing, and ham-fisted moralizing.
I really view this film as an ambitious failure, watchable, thought-provoking, leaving this viewer wondering what a few more rewrites of the script and a larger budget would have added to the final results of this film. I think this film shows that there are enormous possibilities for making original films about issues related directly to the black community, but that we have significant issues with making films that are not neat and tidy in terms of answering problems that plague us.
Also, black folks need to make better casting choices, the lead actor is really weak, not terrible, but not good either. Patti Labelle is miscast and her every appearance screams, "Miss Patti is here!" I don't know what in the hell happened to Roger G. Smith, but he just doesn't look good anymore and his acting has slipped. I can't believe I'm saying it, but Louis Gosset Jr. and Clifton Davis, both show why at one time they were big stars.
Paula Jai Parker is quite good, but she's got the crazy black bitch role on lock, I wish she would get the chance to play something else. I really like Aunjanue Ellis and she really gives her all in this film. I hate that she has never gotten a movie role really worth her enormous talent. Leon is beautiful as usual and stuck in his repetitive role as the villain.
And I will most definitely run from anyone saying I have something in my eye and would I like them to blow it out for me. You have to see the movie to get my last statement, this repeated phrasing had me cringing, but it made it's point each time.
