Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Guest Editorial - Idlewild

I don't really watch movies according to previews, editorials, or
star-ratings. Usually, when I go to a movie, especially a black movie,
I go to put my $$ in and try my hardest to make it number one. I've
Googled Idlewild, trying to find pics of the premier and there wasn't a
lot out there. It didn't do very well at the box office, which
surprised me as well. Was it because America has no interest in a movie
that does not feed into stereotypes? Or are black people that don't
kill, shoot, maim, or holler out bitch, ho, and nigga just plain boring
to mainstream America? Idlewild was da shizznitt. It was half gangster
( not gangsta ') movie, half musical. It was Moulin Rouge and Chicago
Negro style. It was a syntax of rap, hip-hop, and 30's swing. Not to
mention it had an all-star cast.

I guess if a black movie has a positive message, it's out of America's
comfort zone. I think we have to get smart and market our movies like
the ingenious marketing of the movie ATL. From trailers and previews,
one would think ATL was the typical nigga kill nigga movie. But the
movie was surprisingly positive, a break from the norm, and very
different from its previews and commercials. Rappers at the skating
rink? Who'd a thunk it? I think the creators of ATL knew America
wasn't ready for blacks to move forward, so they tricked us. Kudos!

Anyway, back to Idlewild. For once, I sat in a movie theater and saw
something new that we made it. I'm very proud. I'm only disappointed
in everyone else's lack of interest. Andre 3000 is changing our
culture, slowly but surely, and I think it is a change for the better.
If we continue to make movies such as these, it will totally change the
semantics of the words "hip-hop", "rap," and maybe even "black." The
movie was art, and it was good.

Me


-Disclaimer
The opinions and views expressed in this editorial are not the necessarily the
views of Slimm Soliloquy, Seabrook Slimm, President Bush, the internet, and
Blogger.com.

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