kemp powers – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE – Review by Susan Granger

June 11, 2023September 4, 2023 Susan Granger issa rae, Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, kemp powers, Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

Although the mixed-media Pop Art animatronics are dazzling and the superhero saga compelling, watching Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse becomes an exhausting endurance ordeal. At 2 hours, 20 minutes (140 minutes), it’s the longest American animated film. Back in 2018, the Oscar-winning, comic-book adaptation Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse explored the idea of alternate universes, as Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), a troubled Black-Latino Brooklyn teenager, discovered countless other web-slingers, variations on a theme. This sequel takes the ground-breaking concept even further.

Reviews

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

June 5, 2023September 4, 2023 Valerie Kalfrin issa rae, Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, kemp powers, Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is an energetic, multifaceted adventure, and not just because its heroes hopscotch through other dimensions. As visually inventive as its 2018 predecessor, Across the Spider-Verse again delivers eye-catching action along with characters of depth and nuance both behind and outside of the mask. It’s a thrilling achievement, even as it leaves viewers dangling by a thread for the final installment.

Reviews

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Diane Carson

January 8, 2021January 10, 2021 Diane Carson Aldis Hodge, amazon studios, cassius clay, Eli Goree, jim brown, kemp powers, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Leslie Odom Jr., malcolm x, Movie of the Week, one night in miami, regina king, sam cooke

One Night in Miami dramatizes four Black men’s extraordinary interaction

Imagine February 25, 1964, and four extraordinary Black men coming together for an evening of camaraderie. Then imagine these amazing men are Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, Cassius Clay, and Malcolm X. This is exactly what director Regina King’s One Night in Miami spectacularly presents as this remarkable foursome talks, laughs, argues, and probes the most significant issues of Black America.

Reviews

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Susan Granger

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 Susan Granger Aldis Hodge, amazon studios, cassius clay, Eli Goree, jim brown, kemp powers, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Leslie Odom Jr., malcolm x, Movie of the Week, one night in miami, regina king, sam cooke

Oscar-and-Emmy-winning actress-turned-director Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk, Watchmen) is determined to tell powerful stories that haven’t been heard – like this fictionalized meeting of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, NFL star James Brown and singer Sam Cooke in 1964.

Reviews

SOUL – Review by Pamela Powell

December 26, 2020January 16, 2021 Pamela Powell Angela Bassett, jamie foxx, kemp powers, pete doctor, phylicia rashad, pixar, soul

Disney Pixar has done it again with “Soul” thanks to the inspirational co-writing and co-directing of the renowned artist Pete Docter who gave us Up, Inside Out and Toy Story. It’s a remarkable story, perhaps geared more toward adults than children, that sends a perfect message of living our best lives each and every day.

Reviews

SOUL – Review by Martha K Baker

December 23, 2020December 26, 2020 Martha K. Baker Angela Bassett, jamie foxx, kemp powers, pete doctor, phylicia rashad, pixar, soul

One will have to deal with whether Pixar’s animated Soul, is at all appropriate for — or even appealing to — children. But children delight in only what they want in animation, leaving the rest for adults. Soul has a lesson, one children can afford to learn, about our purpose in life, about our spark, about our music. While the film’s concentration on Black artists, on female brass players, and on avoiding Black stereotypes is commendable, its falling into the Great Beyond is questionable.

Movie of the Week Reviews

MOVIE OF THE WEEK December 25, 2020: ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

December 20, 2020December 24, 2020 Jennifer Merin Aldis Hodge, amazon studios, betsy bozdech, cassius clay, Cate Marquis, Eli Goree, jennifer merin, jim brown, kemp powers, Kingsley Ben-Adir, leslie combemale, Leslie Odom Jr., liz whittemore, loren king'susan sloszczyna, malcolm x, marina antunes, maryann johanson, nell minow, nikki baughan, one night in miami, Pam Grady, regina king, sam cooke, sandie angulo chen

Anyone who thinks female directors should stick to telling women’s stories is a) sexist and b) in for a surprise when they watch Regina King’s powerful directorial feature film debut One Night in Miami. Based on Kemp Powers’ same-named 2013 play, it imagines the fascinating conversation that might have happened between activist Malcolm X, boxer Cassius Clay, singer Sam Cooke, and NFL star Jim Brown had they all found themselves in the same place on the night of February 25, 1964.

Reviews

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Loren King

December 18, 2020January 8, 2021 Loren King Aldis Hodge, amazon studios, cassius clay, Eli Goree, jim brown, kemp powers, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Leslie Odom Jr., malcolm x, one night in miami, regina king, sam cooke

Regina King is such a brilliant actor that it’s not surprising she works wonders with the stellar male ensemble in her directing debut, One Night in Miami. Adapted by Kemp Powers from his 2013 speculative stage play, the action is set in just a single night —Feb. 25, 1964, the night that Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) won the world heavyweight championship at age 22 by defeating Sonny Liston in a title bout at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It unfolds largely in single hotel room where Clay celebrates with friends Malcolm X (Kinglsey Ben-Adir); football legend Jim Brown Aldis Hodge; and singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.).

Reviews

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Leslie Combemale

December 18, 2020January 8, 2021 Leslie Combemale Aldis Hodge, amazon studios, cassius clay, Eli Goree, jim brown, kemp powers, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Leslie Odom Jr., malcolm x, one night in miami, regina king, sam cooke

It has been clear for a while that Regina King was headed for feature film direction, and she found a great and compelling subject in the historic night in 1964 when Cassius Clay (soon to be Mohammad Ali), Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown spent the evening together after Clay defeated Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall. Screenwriter and playwright Kemp Powers adapted his award-winning play and King populated her film with a powerhouse cast that shines both individually and as an ensemble.

Reviews

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Susan Wloszczyna

December 18, 2020January 8, 2021 Susan Wloszczyna Aldis Hodge, amazon studios, cassius clay, Eli Goree, jim brown, kemp powers, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Leslie Odom Jr., malcolm x, one night in miami, regina king, sam cooke

Regina King seems to have the Midas touch whenever awards season comes around. She has amassed quite a load of gold in the form of an Oscar, four Emmys, a Golden Globe and a SAG ensemble honor in her career. But this year, she might just win gold with her debut behind the camera, One Night in Miami. King has been in training to be a director for a while by helming TV episodes of This Is Us, Insecure and Scandal.