“Wake Up Dammit!” When a movie weaves it’s way into your own psyche and you begin to ‘think’ and ‘feel’ because of it, it’s a good damn movie and “Talk to Me” starring Don Cheadle, Directed by Kasi Lemmons is just that kinda movie.
I had been reading some buzz about it, so Caun and I got up early to hit the matinee to see it. Of course the place was hopping with Transformers and Harry Potter fans, but I wanted to see something that didn’t get my adreneline going.
You talking about good! As you know it is the life story (probably enhanced but you get the point) of Ralph Waldo Petey Green, an ex-con who talks himself onto the radio and into the consciousness of DC. Mannn, I tell yah and let me say this right now: The NAACP ‘buried’ the word igga a few days ago and lo and behold on the third day that so and so rised - because igga is back in full force! You have seen ‘urban’ movies (I hate that word) where all of the cussing etc. is just gratituous, it has no link to the story or any weight and brevity - well Petey is now my new cussing hero! (taking the place of Samuel L. Jackson). That muthafucka can take a cuss word and hang tinsel on it! I also love period pieces and always mourn the fact that I wasn’t around when shit was poppin off. The clothes in this movie were FIERCE! The language, the scenery, the way the story was told, everything just fit.
Anchoring Don was just good acting by good actors. Chiwetel Elijofor, Mike Epps (yea), Cedric the Entertainer and Martin Sheen - showed out in this movie, but I want to give special props to Taraji Henson as Peteys Bottom Bitch Vernell.
You know sometimes women make wonderful accessories and she played this part to the hilt. She didn’t overpower him, but she added all the seasoning to the movie. She was flinging much Lawry up in that piece. I love her acting and she’s, in my opinion, the otherside of Regina King. You know Regina plays wonderful supporting women roles and Taraji does as well.
Watching the movie, I just started to ‘relate’ and it became relevant to my own life. Basically it’s about a person who isn’t trying to conquer the world, just get a piece of it and he meets someone (Dewey played by Elijofor) who can do what he is afraid to do and in return he says what that person is afraid to say. That’s me and Caun. I also totally understand as the story moves forward, how you yourself can become someone’s ‘dream’ when in reality - you have already been living yours. Everyone can’t take over the whole world, sometimes people are happy just being in it.
All I got to say is if you are tired of blowing your eardrums out from all the noise, or nursing a headache from all the explosions or you just want to see what we always moaning about, “a good ass black film” THEN SUPPORT THIS MOVIE! It is my understanding that they are setting it up for Oscar. They are releasing it a bit early for the Oscar ballots, but I’m sure they are going to pull it and then re-release it so that the Academy can have it fresh in their minds. I see Don finally winning and Taraji getting nominated SHIT they finally giving us the damn statue let’s do like we always do and just start running thangs!!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA+
