Black on Black Cinema - Black Movie Reviews (TNP Studios)

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns with special guest Elizabeth from the "Truth...Lies...Shenanigans" Podcast. This week we discuss the 1997 film "Miss Evers' Boys" starring Alfre Woodard and Laurence Fishburne. The film tells the story of the Tuskegee experiment, a U.S. Federal Government secret medical experiment on poor African American men in the years 1932–1972, designed to study the effects of untreated syphilis. The story is told from the perspective of the small town nurse Eunice Evers (Alfre Woodard) who is well aware of the lack of treatment but feels her role is to console the involved men, many of whom are her close friends.  

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next movie, Lakeview Terrace, about a racist cop who harasses an interracial couple who move into the house next to him. The random topic this week is just Jay and Micah chatting it up about their kids in another session of dad talk to keep things light as news surrounding Black folks this week is all pretty heavy and negative.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2001 romantic comedy film, "Two Can Play That Game" starring Vivica A. Fox, Morris Chestnut, and Anthony Anderson. The film follows a young marketing executive named Shanté (Vivica A. Fox) who is so adept at navigating the waters of romance that her best girlfriends depend on her for advice whenever man trouble clouds the horizon. But when her boyfriend Keith (Morris Chestnut) is caught red-handed stepping out with her rival Conny (Gabrielle Union), Shanté institutes her Ten Day Plan to get her man in line.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the hosts return to announce the next film review on the John Boyega sci-fi film, "Attack the Block." The film follows a  teen gang in South London who have to defend their block from an alien invasion. The random topic this week is all about Kanye West and his recent spiral into more outlandish anti-Black talk, anti-semitism, and just overall madness.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew is back to discuss the 2001 crime thriller, "Training Day." The film follows a rookie cop (Ethan Hawke) who spends his first day as a Los Angeles narcotics officer with a rogue detective (Denzel Washington) who isn't what he appears to be. Conversations of the film's quality, as well as, issues of policing, Black cops v. Black citizens, the role of police, and much more.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 2020 horror comedy, Vampires vs. The Bronx. The film follows the story of gentrification from an unlikely and deadly source creeps into the Bronx, a group of teenage friends rally to save the beloved local bodega and fight against a supernatural force intent on taking over their home at all costs.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to preview the next film, "I Think I Love My Wife" starring Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, and Gina Torres. The film follows a married man who daydreams about being with other women and finds his will and morals tested after he's visited by the ex-mistress of his old friend. The random topic this week is all about Malcolm D. Lee's finale to The Best Man franchise, "The Best Man: The Final Chapters." In "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", old rivalries and buried secrets resurface as the group of college friends reunite for a wedding.  With a star-studded cast that includes Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Sanaa Lathan, Melissa De Sousa, Terrence Howard, Nia Long, and Harold Perrineau.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 2019 legal biographical film, "Just Mercy" starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, and Brie Larson. It tells the true story of Walter McMillian, who, with the help of young defense attorney Bryan Stevenson, appeals his murder conviction. The film is based on the memoir of the same name, written by Stevenson.

This week the crew returns to announce the next film, the 1992 Bill Duke directed film, "Deep Cover" starring Laurence Fishburne as an undercover cop who is forced to cross the line when trying to take down a major drug dealer. The random topic this week is all about the rapper, DaBaby, and his homophobic rant during a live performance at Rolling Loud.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew arrives to discuss in detail their thoughts on the long-awaited sequel, "Coming 2 America." The film is set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi(Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "For Colored Girls..." which is the film version of the Ntozake Shange's 1975 original choreopoem "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." Written, directed, and produced by Tyler Perry, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Phylicia Rashad, Thandiwe Newton, Loretta Devine, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kimberly Elise, Kerry Washington, and Macy Gray. The film depicts the interconnected lives of ten women, exploring their lives and struggles as women of color. This week's random topic is all about the verdict in the Derek Chauvin murdering George Floyd case. We also deal with Senator Tim Scott stating that "America is not a racist country" in the same historical moment of a rare moment of white police accountability for murdering yet another Black person.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew is back to announce the next film, the 2001 film, "Training Day." The film stars Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The film follows a rookie cop spends his first day as a Los Angeles narcotics officer with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears to be. The random topics this week is a series of topics from flying someone out of state for a date, insanity from the "Manosphere," and the bizarre concept of divestment inside the Black community.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the film, The Photograph starring Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield. The film follows a series of intertwining love stories set in the past and in the present. 

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the final two episodes of Steve McQueen's anthology series, "Small Axe." The first episode is "Alex Wheatle," which follows the title character on his journey from housing for kids abandoned by their parents to becoming a revolutionary writer in West London during the 1980s. The second film is entitled "Education," which follows a young kid named Kingsley Smith as he is put into the British ESN (Education Sub-Normal) system unfairly.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "A Thousand and One." The film follows unapologetic and fiercely loyal Inez who kidnaps her son Terry from the foster care system. The mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability, in a rapidly changing New York City. The film stars Teyana Taylor, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, and Aven Courtney. The random topic this week is on two lists produced by The Root on non-Black and Black celebrities that could be invited to the Black family cookout. We have fun going through the lists but also ask the question as to why this idea is never reversed.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the episode is dedicated to the 1975 film, 'The Black Gestapo', a film that still can generate some serious controversy and debate today. Directed by Lee Frost, the film tells the story of a charismatic leader who creates a black supremacist group to fight against the oppression of the black community. But is this film a powerful statement or a dangerous message? We will examine all sides of the film, its depiction of Black Power, the historical context and the criticism it has received over the years. So, sit back and enjoy our in-depth analysis of this bold film.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the film, Sylvie's Love starring Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha. The film follows a young woman named Sylvie who has a summer romance with a saxophonist, Robert, who takes a summer job at her father's record store in Harlem; when they reconnect years later, they discover that their feelings for each other have not faded with the years.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew (!!!!) returns to discuss the 2019 film, "Waves." The film traces the journey of a suburban family - led by a well-intentioned but domineering father - as they navigate love, forgiveness, and coming together in the aftermath of a loss.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to introduce the next film, "Malcolm & Marie" starring John David Washington and Zendaya. The film follows the couple as they have a night of exploring some deep-seeded cracks in their relationship. The random topic of the week is about Black History Month. The easily answerable question is posed about the month, but what does it really mean and why and how the month's meaning could go further.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 1991 film, "The People Under The Stairs," which is written and directed by Wes Craven. The film follows a young kid nicknamed "Fool," who gets pulled into working with two house burglars to rob the house of the landlords who own most of the crumbling homes in their neighborhood. Once inside the house, Fool discovers the landlords' bizarre secrets. The horror-comedy works to use its story as a way to deal with gentrification, race, capitalism, etc. Does it succeed in doing so? 

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the newly released film, "Monster." The film tells the story of Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) a seventeen-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder. The film follows his dramatic journey from a smart, likable film student from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison.  

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss Spike Lee's latest film, "Da Five Bloods." The film tells the story of four African American vets who battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.    

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the whole team is back to review the 2022 film, "The Stepmother." Synopsis: "After a recently widowed single father moves to a new town, a mysterious woman threatens his relationship with his son and their safety."

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to introduce the next film, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" newly released on Netflix. The random topic this week is about the idea of movies/plays like "Fences" being inappropriate for some and why the hosts believe these type of stories help explain the complexity of being Black in America, and largely prepares young people for how to build their armor for being Black. 

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next movie, "The Photograph" about a series of intertwining love stories set in the past and in the present. The film stars Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield. The random topic this week is about the fallout of comedian/podcaster Joe Rogan and his unearthed use of the N-word amongst other bigoted statements when it comes to Black people.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 1991 film, Strictly Business. The film follows, the uneven friendship between an ambitious Black businessman and his streetwise pal is thrown into further confusion when the professional falls in love with a mind-numbingly gorgeous waitress.

This week the guys return with a special guest, T'ara, to discuss the newly released Netflix film, "Malcolm & Marie." The film stars John David Washington and Zendaya (who both also produced) as the title characters, a director and his girlfriend, whose relationship is tested on the night of his latest film's premiere. The project was the first Hollywood feature to be entirely written, financed, and produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with filming taking place in secret in June and July 2020.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns with a few announcements about the show going forward. The next film is also announced, "Judas and the Black Messiah," which deals with the life of Fred Hampton during his rise as chairman of the Black Panther Party in Chicago, and the FBI's involvement with his murder. The random topic this week is about what happens when Black films progress to the mainstream and start dealing with nuanced topics of Blackness. How we react to the art, give space for the artists involved, and why some of us might not truly support that type of film progression of Black voices.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 1997 sex comedy, Booty Call starring Jamie Foxx, Tommy Davidson, Vivica A. Fox, and Tamala Jones.  Booty Call is about a tender-hearted, upwardly-mobile man named Rushon who has been dating his girlfriend Nikki for seven weeks. They really like each other, but their relationship has not yet been consummated; Nikki is not so sure if their relationship is ready for the next stage.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2021 film, Swan Song. The film stars Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, and Awkwafina in the near future that presents some interesting moral implications. "When a loving husband and father Cameron Turner is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is presented with the option of sparing his family grief by having him replaced with a clone. Turner is torn about whether to discuss the option with his wife."

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, Confirmation, the 2016 HBO film stars Kerry Washington and Wendell Pierce as Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas during his nomination hearings for Supreme Court justice. The random topic this week is all about the newly leaked SCOTUS opinion on overturning Roe v. Wade and pushing abortion rights back to the states. We discuss the direct and indirect implications of this move by the conservative court.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, "Queen and Slim." The film follows a couple on their first day that goes awry after they are pulled over by the police. The random topic of the week is all about the political pastime of pandering to Black people. How do we tell if its actual listening or just empty rhetoric?

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, "Fatal Affair." Yes, that movie! Everyone is talking about the new Netflix Black thriller film starring Nia Long and Omar Epps, so look forward to our full review next week. The random topic this week is all about Jay's crazy story about something very near and dear to him. Sit down and prepare for a bit of a wild ride adventure into craziness!

This week on the Black on Black Cinema podcast, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "No Good Deed." Starring Taraji P. Henson and Idris Elba, the film follows an unstable escaped convict who terrorizes a woman and her two children. The random topic this week is all about comedian Chris Rock's latest stand-up special, Selective Outrage. We discuss our thoughts on the special as a whole and dig into Rock's response about being slapped by Will Smith at the Academy Awards one year ago for saying a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to do an in depth review of Jordan Peele's 2022 film, "Nope" starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun. The film follows the residents of a lonely gulch in inland California who bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss director, Adamma Ebo's new feature-length film, "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul." The film stars Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown as the first lady and the pastor of a megachurch, who attempt to reopen and rebuild their congregation, following a major scandal.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Master," starring Regina Hall and Zoe Renee. The film follows two African American women who begin to share disturbing experiences at a predominantly white college in New England. The random topic of the week is about Jay's recent experience on jury duty for a serious crime that had a suspect who was a young Black man.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, the 2019 biographical film, "Just Mercy" starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. The film follows the story of a young lawyer working to save an innocent man from a false murder charge. The random topic this week is all about the Black checking of Kamala Harris after she was named as the running mate to Joe Biden this year. We discuss the implications of this, and where there might be some much deeper rooted issues is trying to alienate her and others who ascend to this particular level of American success/power.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the film, Lakeview Terrace. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, and Kerry Washington. The movie follows married couple Chris and Lisa Mattson looking forward to a blissful new life together. That is until they meet their new neighbor Abel Turner. Getting off to a bad start, things only get worse as the new homeowners come to realize that Turner is angered by their interracial relationship.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "The Intruder" starring Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, and Dennis Quaid. The film follows a young married couple who buys a beautiful house on several acres of land, only to find out that the man they bought it from refuses to let go of the property. The random topic this week is all about a Black woman at the University of Southern California who started a Black majorette team, a staple of HBCU (historically Black Colleges and Universities) culture. The response has been somewhat divided between Black people being upset that she would create a normally HBCU style team at a PWI (predominately white institution) and others seeing no issues with a Black woman carving out a Black space for her and her friends at this PWI.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to introduce the next film, "One Night in Miami," that tells the story of four Black icons (Malcolm X, Muhammed Ali, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown) hanging out one night to discuss their roles in the Black cultural upheaval of the 1960s. The random topic this week is just that, a grab bag of suggested topics from our audience in which we cover our lives after one year of COVID, Derrick Jaxn, Lil Nas X, and more.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film to be reviewed, "Green Book." The story of a racist body club bouncer hired to be the personal driver to a famous concert pianist named Dr. Don Shirley. The film is loosely based on true events. The random topic of the week is on the untimely death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna during a helicopter crash alongside 7 other people.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film and the first review of 2022...JUICE! The 1992 film follows four teens who's paths start to diverge as some in the group have aspirations of criminality while others want to make a legit way forward for themselves. The random topic this week is about how white privilege is on full display with the uneven handling of the conservative white people who stormed the Capitol one year ago. We discuss the historical precedents that got us here.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, we return for the first show of 2023. The hosts announce the next full film to be reviewed, "The Woman King" starring Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega. The film is historically inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next movie, the 2020 film "John Henry" starring Terry Crews and Ludacris. The film follows a quiet man with a violent past who has everything changed when an immigrant girl who is on the run from gang violence in South Los Angeles stumbles into his life. The random topic of discuss this week is just that, completely random. The hosts do a COVID-19 check-in on the status of their sanity and riff on some of the topics happening online today (avoiding the more heartbreaking heavy ones for sake of their own emotional stability).    

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 2020 thriller, "Antebellum" starring Janelle Monáe, Eric Lange, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons, and Gabourey Sidibe. The film follows a modern-day African American woman who must escape from a 19th-century Southern slave plantation.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the newly released film, "Concrete Cowboy." Based on the novel "Ghetto Cowboy" and directed by Ricky Staub, the film tells the story of a wayward young boy named Cole who is brought from Detroit to Philadelphia by his mother after an ongoing series of disciplinary issues to live with his father. When Cole arrives he finds that his father is a part of a tight-knit group of urban cowboys.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Strictly Business" starring Tommy Davidson, Joseph C. Philips, and Halle Berry. The film follows an uneven friendship between an ambitious Black businessman and his streetwise pal that is thrown into further confusion when the professional falls in love with a mind-numbingly gorgeous waitress. The random topic this week is our thoughts in the wake of the mass shooting in Buffalo, NY that targeted Black people at the hands of a white supremacist fixated on Replacement Theory.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, the 1997 sex comedy "How to Be A Player" starring Bill Bellamy. The random topic this week is all about the untimely death of famed actor Chadwick Boseman who famously played Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, James Brown, and of course T'Challa aka Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Boseman passed away from colon cancer at the age of 43. We discuss our thoughts on his death and his legacy.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Single Black Female" which is about Monica who is looking for a fresh start as she tries to land a gig as the host of an afternoon talk show. She soon become close friends with her new assistant, Simone, a deranged woman who plans to take over Monica's life for good. The random topic this week is all about Ketanji Brown Jackson being confirmed as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court and what that means for America and us as a people.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2020 Regina King debut film, "One Night in Miami..." The film follows the night of Feb. 25, 1964, in Miami, where Cassius Clay joins Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X, to discuss the responsibility of being successful black men during the civil rights movement.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 1997 romantic comedy, Booty Call (available on Netflix). The story of a guy trying to take his relationship with his girlfriend to the next level (read: sex), all the while having his buddy tagalong to deal with his girlfriend's friend. The random topic of the week involves the reactions to Gayle King's interview with Lisa Leslie about Kobe Bryant. King ask several pointed questions about the rape allegations involving Kobe, and by doing so sparked off some extreme responses from Kobe fans, as well as, some celebrities.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to review the 2014 film, "No Good Deed." The film follows former district attorney Terri (Taraji P. Henson) who finds herself trapped in her home by a stranger named Colin (Idris Elba) who seeks refuge from a storm. However, as the night goes on, she begins to suspect that Colin is not who he claims to be and that her life is in danger. This psychological Black thriller explores the dangers of isolation and loneliness, and how they can lead to vulnerability and poor decision-making. With good performances by Henson and Elba.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 1967 film, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." The film follows Joanna Drayton (Katharine Houghton), a free-thinking white woman, and black doctor John Prentice (Sidney Poitier) becoming engaged, afterwards, they travel to San Francisco to meet her parents. Matt Drayton (Spencer Tracy) and his wife Christina (Katharine Hepburn) are wealthy liberals who must confront the latent racism the coming marriage arouses. Also attending the Draytons' dinner are Prentice's parents (Roy E. Glenn Sr., Beah Richards), who vehemently disapprove of the relationship.  

This week on Black on Black Cinema, due to technical issues, we had to scrap out episode on Miss Juneteenth. However, we are recording a new preview episode to announce the next film, "Poetic Justice." The 1993 John Singleton film follows a grieving hairdresser Justice (Janet Jackson) goes on a road trip from South Central L.A. to Oakland on a mail truck alongside her friend (Regina King) and an obnoxious postal worker (Tupac Shakur). The random topic this week is all about actor Isaiah Washington posting a bizarre social media post praising his friends who were supposedly members of the KKK. 

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul" directed by Adamma Ebo, and stars Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown. The film follows the aftermath of a huge scandal, in which Trinitie Childs, the first lady of a prominent Southern Baptist Mega Church, attempts to help her pastor-husband, Lee-Curtis Childs, rebuild their congregation. The random topic this week is all Jay-Z saying that being called a capitalist is equivalent to being called the N-word in his eyes.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, the 2020 film "The Forty Year Old Version." The film follows a struggling playwright who decides to start a rap career at age 40. The random topic this week is all about the new report of the NFL's controversial "racial norming" policy toward Black players specifically.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 2019 biographical film, Harriet, starring Cynthia Erivo and directed by Kasi Lemmons. The film portrays Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad.   

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss 2018 Best Picture winner, "Green Book" starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. The film tells the story of a racist working-class Italian-American bouncer who becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns announce the next film, "Menace II Society." The film follows a young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life. The random topic of the week is about the loss of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Black police officers.

So we were planning to do John Henry (Netflix) but the movie feels far too silly and frankly, poorly done to discuss in light of the events going on in America after the death of George Floyd. Jay, Micah, and Terrence decided to call an audible and talk about what's happening and our thoughts on how it affects us, and Black people in general. Sorry to the people who subjected themselves to the aforementioned movie. In times of crisis, sacrifices have to be made and in this case, it was their 1.5 hours that they can never get back.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the film, Single Black Female.  The movie follows Monica who is looking for a fresh start as she tries to land a gig as the host of an afternoon talk show. She soon become close friends with her new assistant, Simone, a deranged woman who plans to take over Monica's life for good.

This week the guys return to announce the next film to be reviewed, "Dolemite is My Name." This is, of course, the newly released film starring Eddie Murphy about the creation of the cult classic, "Dolemite" back in 1975 (on Netflix). The random topic of the week is about the backlash on some dudes for attacking Ari Lennox, Blue Ivy, and Teyanna Taylor for their looks at the start of 2020. The guys discuss the nature of actions online, and why such hard responses come back even when things might not be as dire as they are portrayed, and why somethings are far more harmful than folks realize.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, "Bucktown." This is the 1975 blaxploitation action crime film starring Fred Williamson and Pam Grier (available on Brown Sugar streaming app, or for rent online (Amazon). The random topic of the week is all about actor Terry Crews and his one-man crusade to misunderstand the current Black Lives Matter movement and fight for racial equality. We breakdown why he might be thinking the way he is, why we think he is misguided, and what he needs to do to get better on the issues at hand.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, we announce the next film, Uncorked (available on Netflix). The film follows a young man who has dreams of being a sommelier but his parents want him to work in their family restaurant instead. The random topic this week is about COVID-19 infections and deaths and how/why they are heavily hitting the Black population inside the United States.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew is back to announce the next film, Jordan Peele's 2022 "Nope," which stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. The film follows the residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery. The random topic this week is about whether Black people are just getting sick of the Democratic Party and becoming politically disillusioned.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, the 1974 film, "Claudine." The film follows a garbage collector who begins to court a single mom of six children. However, their relationship is put under undue stress because of the welfare system in the United States. The random topic this week is all about the creator of the cartoon Dilbert, Scott Adams after he went on a racist rant about how over 50% of Black people hate White people. Adams goes on to say he is tired of helping Black people and advocates for moving away from Black Americans as a white person. 

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Waves." The film traces the journey of a suburban family - led by a well intentioned but domineering father - as they navigate love, forgiveness, and coming together in the aftermath of a loss. The random topics of discussion this week are all about Monique's latest blowup, performative nonsense from white people about slavery, and the commercialization of Juneteenth.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the film "The Forty Year Old Version." The film tells the somewhat true story of Radha Blank's (the writer, director, and star of the film) life as she is about to hit 40 years old and as a fledgling playwright in New York, decides to take up a career as a rap artist instead.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Miss Evers' Boys" (HBO Max or Youtube) starring Alfre Woodard and Laurence Fishburne. The film follows the events of the Tuskeegee Experiments through the eyes of a nurse. This week's random topic is the upcoming COVID-19 mandates coming to the major cities in the country. Does this feel needed at this time? Does this present a slippery slope for more governmental overreach?

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 1974 film, Claudine, starring Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones. "Claudine" is a powerful film that explores the devastating impact of American welfare policies on Black families. The story follows Claudine, a single mother of six living in Harlem, as she navigates the challenges of poverty and racism. Despite facing numerous obstacles, Claudine remains determined to provide for her family and find love. This film highlights the struggles of Black families in the face of systemic oppression and sheds light on the importance of community and perseverance.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to introduce the next film, "King Richard." The film follows Richard Williams, armed with his 78 page plan, who is determined to write his two daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on tennis courts in Compton, Calif., Richard shapes the girls' unyielding commitment and keen intuition. Together, the Williams family defies seemingly insurmountable odds and the prevailing expectations laid before them. The random topic this week is all about Black Thanksgiving. Traditions, things we like/don't like, and of course shenanigans.    

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, "Harriet." This is the 2019 biographical story of the rise of the famous slave abolitionist and war hero, Harriet Tubman starring Cynthia Erivo. The random topic this week is all about white Americans selfishness in the wake of COVID-19. Protests popping up around the country advocating for returning to normalcy by conservative white people puts others in harm's way like almost no other time in this country. Why is this happening?

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 1999 comedy, "Life" starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. The film follows two men during Prohibition, loudmouth Harlem grifter Ray (Eddie Murphy) and the no-nonsense Claude (Martin Lawrence) who team up on a bootlegging mission to Mississippi. However they run into trouble when a crooked lawman hits them with a phony murder charge. Ray and Claude are given life sentences and shipped off to jail, where they must think of a way to prove their innocence and avoid the brutal guards while battling their biggest enemies -- their opposing personalities.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film of sorts. The guys will be tackling the first episode of the Steve McQueen anthology, Small Axe. The first episode is entitled "Mangrove." The episode (2 hours long) is about the Mangrove restaurant in west London and the 1971 trial of the Mangrove Nine. It stars Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda Sandall, Alex Jennings, and Jack Lowden. The random topic of the week is about the riots from Trump supporters in Washington D.C. and the level of hypocrisy we see with the treatment of white domestic terrorists vs people of color fighting for civil rights.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 1995 Mario Van Peebles film, "Panther" based on the novel of the same name by his father, Melvin Van Peebles. The film follows the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in a condensed timeline. The film stars Kadeem Hardison, Marcus Chong, Courtney B. Vance, and Bokeem Woodbine.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew is back just before Christmas to talk about the 2013 sequel, "The Best Man Holiday." The film picks up nearly 15 years after they were last together as a group, college friends Lance (Morris Chestnut), Harper (Taye Diggs), Candace (Regina Hall), Quentin (Terrence Howard), Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Jordan (Nia Long), Murch (Harold Perrineau), and Mia (Monica Calhoun) finally reunite over the Christmas holidays. Though much has changed in their lives, the friends discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and passionate romances to be reignited.      

This week on Black On Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2007 film, "I Think I Love My Wife," directed by and starring Chris Rock. The movie is a comedic drama that explores the themes of temptation and monogamy in a black middle-class marriage. The film follows the life of Richard Cooper, a successful investment banker, and his struggle to resist the advances of an old friend while staying true to his wife and family. Through Richard's journey, the film touches on issues of marriage, infidelity, and the challenges of modern-day relationships.

Menace II Society is a powerful film that takes a deep dive into the theme of cycles of violence. The movie, directed by the Hughes brothers, explores the various social and cultural factors that contribute to violence, particularly within inner-city communities. The film serves as an examination of the complex interplay between individual actions, community dynamics, and larger systemic issues, and raises important questions about the role of each in perpetuating or breaking cycles of violence. With its raw and realistic depiction of life in the inner city, Menace II Society remains a seminal work of "Black Cinema" and continues to be a relevant and thought-provoking examination of violence and its roots.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to talk about the 1992 film, "Juice." The film stars Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Jermaine Hopkins and Khalil Kain. "Juice" tells the story of four Harlem, NY teens who regularly skip school to hang out at a local arcade and do petty crimes. However, when they have the idea to rob a convenience store things go awry as one member of the group begins to head down a dangerous and ever increasingly violent path.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Fatherhood." The film follows a father (Kevin Hart) who is raising his baby girl as a single dad after the unexpected death of his wife who died a day after their daughter's birth. The random topic of the week is all about the national holiday status for Juneteenth that was recently signed into law. What are the implications of the official end of slavery being recognized by the American government and its citizenry? 

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next movie...sort of. We give you a ton of clues to the next film we are doing (in an unorthodox way, for the record). The random topic of the week is all about why Black people are far more pragmatic when it comes to voting. This is especially relevant in the wake of the Democratic Party primary with Joe Biden winning the Black vote overwhelmingly against Bernie Sanders.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2020 film, Fatale, starring Michael Ealy and Hillary Swank. The film follows the events of a bachelor party one-night stand, where a successful sports agent watches his perfect life slowly disappear when he discovers the sexy and mysterious woman he risked everything for is a determined police detective who entangles him in her latest investigation. As he desperately tries to put the pieces together, he falls deeper into her trap, risking his family, his career, and even his life.  

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 1975 action blaxploitation film, Bucktown. Synopsis: After his brother's death, Duke Johnson (Fred Williamson) travels to a small Southern town to organize his brother's funeral. During his stay, he decides to revive his brother's nightclub business. However, this venture quickly uncovers the thinly veiled racism and corruption that run rampant in the town. Duke and his friend Aretha (Pam Grier) face demands for bribes and violence from the police. With the arrival of Duke's pal Roy (Thalmus Rasulala), the situation only escalates.    

This is a special episode this week (you will also get your normal episode as well) on just what's happening in Kenosha, Wisconsin with the shooting Jacob Blake, and the subsequent murders at the hands of a right-wing terrorist, Kyle Rittenhouse. For the first time, Black on Black Cinema will crossover with Look Forward (our political show) to have the hosts of each show discuss their perspectives. We normally work to have insular conversations on issues of race, however, this particular topic lends to expanding that circle to hear from some other voices inside the TNP Studios network to give a full perspective of what we are seeing. 

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next movie, "The Preacher's Wife" starring Courtney B. Vance, Whitney Houston, and Denzel Washington. The random topic this week is all about our recent holiday family/friends experiences and the age ole Twitter controversy is back: "Do you make your man's plate before your kids?!"

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss and review the first episode of the Small Axe anthology directed and co-written by Steve McQueen. This episode is entitled "Mangrove." The film is about the Mangrove restaurant in west London and the 1971 trial of the Mangrove Nine. It stars Shaun Parkes, Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby, Rochenda Sandall, Alex Jennings, and Jack Lowden.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, "Vampires vs. The Bronx." A film that weaves horror-comedy elements with the notion of the gentrification of a New York neighborhood, and the kids set to defend it. The random topic this week is an AMA. The listeners in our fan group gather up and submit their random questions to the hosts and get them answered!

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns for it's final episode of 2022 on the 1996 film, "The Preacher's Wife." Starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance. The film follows a local pastor who asks God for help with his failing church, marriage on the rocks, and his inability to make a difference in people's lives. God sends an angel named Dudley to help and thing get VERY WEIRD!!!!

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Miss Juneteenth." The 2020 film starring Nicole Beharie tells the story of a former beauty queen and single mom who prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant. The random topic this week is all about this constantly pushed divide inside the Black community that is separating Black people on every level and the internet is making it that much worse. We discuss the aspects of division that is likely hurting us the most.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns after a hiatus to announce the next film, "The Blackening." The film sees "seven Black friends go away for the weekend and end up trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies help them stay alive? Probably not." The random topic of the week is about the Supreme Court's ending of Affirmative Action for race based considerations in colleges.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return with a special guest, T'ara, to discuss the newly released film "Bad Hair." The film is set in 1989 and follows an ambitious young woman who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career may come at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 2011 period drama (comedy???), "The Help." The film takes place in 1960s Mississippi, where Southern society girl Skeeter (Emma Stone) returns from college with dreams of being a writer. She turns her small town on its ear by choosing to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent white families. Only Aibileen (Viola Davis), the housekeeper of Skeeter's best friend, will talk at first. But as the pair continue the collaboration, more women decide to come forward, and as it turns out, they have quite a lot to say.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2019 thriller, The Intruder, starring Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, and Dennis Quaid. The film follows a young married couple who decide to buy a beautiful house on several acres of land, only to find out that the man they bought it from refuses to let go of the property.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Candyman." This is the 2021 spiritual successor of the original 1992 film starring Yahya Abdul Mateen II and Teyonah Parris. The film tells the story of the housing projects of Chicago's Cabrini-Green that are terrorized by a ghost story about a supernatural, hook-handed killer for decades. In the present day, an artist begins to explore the macabre history of Candyman, not knowing it would unravel his sanity and unleash a terrifying wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny. The random topic this week is all about the tragic death of Gabby Petito and the hard but much-needed conversation about why there is an outsized difference in the coverage of tragedies like Gabby's vs people of color under the same circumstances.     

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to announce the next film, the 1999 comedy "Life" starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. The film follows two guys who get setup on a murder charge by a crooked cop during the prohibition era. The two men are sent to jail for life and work to prove their innocence while driving each other crazy. The random topic of the week is just that, completely random. With not much to chat about this week, Jay and Micah just talk about getting older, parenting, and more.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the guys return to discuss the 1996 film, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, which was directed, co-written, and starring Martin Lawrence. The film follows Lawrence as he plays a known womanizer who gets caught up with an older woman (Lynn Whitfield) who ends up being a bit more than he can handle after their relationship sours.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film, "Swan Song" starring Mahershala Ali, Naomi Harris, and Glenn Close. The film takes place in the near future, where a terminally ill man explores a heart wrenching, emotionally complex solution to save his wife and son from grief by duplicating himself without them knowing. The random topic of the week is all about HBCUs making a real push to get young Black students a start in the legal marijuana business as the industry continues to skyrocket due to state by state law changes.

This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to announce the next film to be reviewed, "Till" which tells the story of the aftermath of the murder of Emmett Till at the hand of white racists and his mother's fight to bring her son's killers to justice. The random topic this week is all about the brawl that happened on the dock in Montgomery Alabama this past weekend. The crew discuss the racial implication, the community that still lives in the heart of Black Americans no matter the situation, and more.

Dray (Bill Bellamy) has a problem: He has a girlfriend, Lisa (Lark Voorhies), but can't seem to say no to any beautiful woman who walks his way. When he's not with Lisa or hanging out with his buddies, David (Pierre), Kilo (Jermaine "Big Hug" Hopkins), and Spootie (A.J. Johnson), he's out with one of his many lady friends. Dray's sister (Natalie Desselle) is both disgusted and fascinated by his behavior, so she hatches a plan to teach him a lesson.