‘Arts’ Archives
“Chi Raq”: Fails! Should have succeeded
BY HOWARD MCQUITTER II On the one hand, Spike Lee puts a spotlight on the serious problem in Black America: staggering murders among African Americans, particularly the young, mainly with young black males being both perpetrator and victim the bulk of the time. On the other hand, “Chi Raq,” the title of his most recent film, too often swings wildly into farce. Lee”'s film is too schizophrenic to be a good movie which obscures what could have been good maybe if he had stuck to keeping “Chi Raq” a drama. Samuel L. Jackson”'s role as Dolmedes, the “comic” relief, is wasted in farce appearing periodically in the movie at times when the movie should have taken its seriousness in those areas that desperately requires it. Jackson, impeccably dressed in various colored three-piece suits, near the beginning of the movie, in rather sardonic tone, tells the audience: “Welcome to ”˜Chi Raq”', land of pain, misery, and [...]
Frank Reflections
By FRANK ERICKSON A retired U.S. official said, “The reality is, we may just have to live with ISIL; they look to be difficult to defeat.” Now, we know what Native Americans had to accept and that which they had to deal. Is this how “war” works, if you can”'t “win” you learn to co-exist with your enemy? Why not just avoid the “wars” and co-exist? “War” still decides the pecking order. What primates we are. Here is our society”'s cold and corrupt answer for the true Native souls of this land who have the police chase them up Lake Street, put up “No Trespassing” signs under the Lake Street-Hiawatha overpass and force then off Target”'s property on Lake Street. The City is not fooling anyone, we know at whom the “No Trespassing” signs at Lake Street and Hiawatha are directed. How dare the White Man be so cold and arrogant; who”'s land is it? The kind hearted Liberals who run [...]
Audience dry, Actor, Director Buster Keaton wet at local Cemetery Cinema
By Sue Hunter Weir It was touch and go all day on Saturday. Would it rain or not? In the end it turned out to be a beautiful evening. Sweater weather but no umbrellas needed! More than 250 people enjoyed “The Navigator,” a 1924 Buster Keaton silent film. The amazing Dreamland Faces played an hour-long live soundtrack that captured Keaton”'s slapstick perfectly. We hope to have them back again next year for what is shaping up to be a new tradition in pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery. In addition to the film, Taco Taxi was on hand with their great food and a number of visitors arrived early and went on a new version of the Smartphone History Hunt. If you haven”'t had a chance to try it, we”'ll set it up again for the fall showings, and we will be participating in Open Streets on August 2 from 11 to 4. Stop in and get a dose of history. (more…)
