Tag Archives: Mahershala Ali

Documentary, History

AMEND – THE FIGHT FOR AMERICA (2021): New Trailer For Documentary About The 14th Amendment, and Starring Will Smith, Diane Lane, Joshua Jackson…

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Amend - The Fight for America (2021), Will Smith, Netflix
Amend – The Fight for America (2021), Will Smith, Netflix

Hosted by Will Smith, Amend – The Fight for America is a new series that offers a look at the evolving, often lethal, fight for equal rights in America; through the lens of the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

Created by Robe Imbriano and Tom Yellin; additional key cast includes Diane Lane, Mahershala Ali, Laverne Cox, Joshua Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson and Aja Naomi King.

I couldn’t help but think of Ava DuVernay’s 13th (2016) as this played. For it’s a very informative and useful documentary about the history of racial inequality in the the United States prison system.

I’m not expecting this to be quite as eye-opening as 13th, but I am looking forward to learning a thing or two, and seeing the various ways all the famous people involved will be contributing. 

Randall Park, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bobby Cannavale, Rafael Casal, Whitney Cummings, Sterling K. Brown, and many more also star. 

Amend – The Fight for America Release Dates: February 17th, 2021, Netflix, (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

GREEN BOOK (2018): The Things I Liked…

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Green Book (2018), Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen
Green Book (2018), Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen

Directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen and Linda Cardellini, Green Book tells the story of the great friendship between a working-class Italian-American bouncer/driver and an African-American classical pianist. Since Farrelly’s story is set in 1960s America, racial tensions play a significant part in the movie. Nevertheless, the main focus is very much on the developing friendship between the two men.

There’s a number of heartbreaking scenes in Green Book but there are definitely far more that’ll make you smile and have you thinking about the great friends you have and/or want in your life. You may also be moved to be even kinder than I’m certain you already are.

What stands out most for me about Green Book, in addition to the great performances, is the realisation that Green Book is one of those movies with a rhythm so perfect that there wasn’t a single moment when I questioned any of the director/editor’s choices. Everything just flowed beautifully, as I let myself be led by the eyes without hesitation or resistance, until the very end.

Some of the music in Green Book definitely had me contemplating dressing up and showing up at the nearest jazz venue, not that the main music featured is jazz, mind you. I also thoroughly enjoyed Mortensen’s performance as one of the most convincing non-Italians to play an Italian-American that I’ve ever seen on screen. 

Watch Green Book because it’s good, and to see an example of an inspiring, growing friendship/respect between two men. One that alters them both.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama

GREEN BOOK (2018): New Trailer From Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini…

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Green Book (2018), Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali
Green Book (2018), Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Greenbook (2018).

Green Book is a 1960s set story of the friendship between a working-class Italian-American bouncer who becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist.

Directed by Peter Farrelly; key cast includes Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and Linda Cardellini.

The dynamic of this clearly great friendship reminds me so much of The Intouchables (2011). I’m in for this reason, the beautifully edited trailer and the brilliant cast.

Don Stark, P.J. Byrne, Iqbal Theba, Brian Stepanek and Sebastian Maniscalco also star.

Green Book Release Dates: November 16th, 2018 (US); February 8th, 2019 (UK)…

Read my spoiler free review of Green Book

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

MOONLIGHT (2016): The Things I Loved…

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Moonlight (2016), Trevante Rhodes
Moonlight (2016), Trevante Rhodes

There are a number of reasons to like 2017 Best Picture Oscar winner Moonlight. The beautiful cinematography, faultless performances and a timely telling of a very important story are just three of them.

Thanks to Barry Jenkins’s very personal movie, I now know of Mahershala Ali, a skilled actor whose Moonlight character, Juan, isn’t even in the film for most of it, but there’s no forgetting him; if only for all that Ali was able to expertly convey, especially through his eyes.

Moonlight is a coming of age story about the childhood, adolescence and burgeoning adulthood of a young, African-American gay man growing up in a rough neighbourhood in Miami. It’s a film that reminded me of the very important and often pivotal role that the kindness of a stranger/strangers can have in our lives.

Watch it because it’s a story beautifully told and you too may find yourself remembering the perfect strangers that may have helped you become all that you’re grateful to be.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Biography, Drama, History

HIDDEN FIGURES (2016): For The Sisterhood, Strength & Determination

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Hidden Figures (2016): Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali
Hidden Figures (2016): Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali

Hidden Figures, the movie about the three African American women whose mathematical contributions led to NASA’s first successful space missions, is a film that did two important things for me. First, it gave me and many others a long overdue history lesson. Second, it reminded me that even though there’s still a considerable way to go, humanity really has come quite a distance in terms of equality and civil rights.

Seeing the challenges faced by the film’s main characters, the ways they dealt with the obstacles they encountered is really a great and empowering thing for anyone to witness. I particularly adore the sisterhood, strength, determination and good humour between the women. I of course mean Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. I see these ladies as the kind of women with personal attributes that many would  probably want for the women and young girls in their life. And I’m certainly not talking about the mathematical genius, not that that wouldn’t be welcome.

Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae, there really is no faulting any of the performances in Hidden Figures. Director Theodore Melfi’s movie is a good example of what a well-put-together film can look like. 

I say watch it because it’s thoroughly deserving of all its success. It’s also a beautiful celebration of truly great women, and the people good and brave enough to do what was necessary to help them shine.

Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Glen Powell and Mahershala Ali also star.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch