"Cinema in Noir" (Episode 3)

This week on Cinema in Noir we discussed the NAACP Image Awards, Idris Elba being cast in the Alien pseudo-prequel, and the sudden death of comic book icon Dwayne McDuffie. Listen to the full show below:

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DVD Review: "Easy A"

"You're being pretty cavalier about this. Aren't you supposed to be eternally in love with him and s&*t?"
---"Yes... I believe so, if I was the Gossip Girl in Sweet Valley of the Traveling Pants."

There are some romantic comedies that you literally choke you with the cheese factor, and there are others that are just plain ole fun. While Easy A might not be remembered ten years from now like such films as Pretty in Pink, Pretty Woman, and Boomerang, but it's still a refreshing addition to today's genre.

Emma Stone (The House Bunny, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past) sweeps audiences off their feet with her delectably zingy one-liners as sarcastic outsider Olive, a highschooler whose little white lie about a weekend romp spreads throughout the school like wildfire. With even her self-proclaimed promiscuous best friend Rhiannon (Alyson Michalka) stunned by Olive's shameless details, her female peers shun her while the male peers are intrigued to say the least. They instantly swarm around Olive to get in line to become her next conquests. In one day Olive went from an outsider to a seductress to eventually a slut. With her reputation tarnished, Olive decides to use her new status for good and turn the tables on everyone, including her long-lost crush, Woodchuck Todd (Penn Badgley).

Clever banter, charm, and borrowing themes from classic teen comedies (The Breakfast Club, Say Anything, etc.) save this movie from becoming just another fleeting teen comedy. And it helps that Oscar nominees Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci are a delight as Olive's hilariously quirky parents, who pride themselves on being new-age hippies minus jewelry and add more random discussions of their sexcapades. It's definitely not for everyone (and you probably have to be in a certain mood to watch it), but Easy A is at the very least a lot of fun to watch.

Rating: B

Very Sneak Peak at "The Hangover 2"

Earlier today the teaser for the upcoming sequel for 2009's smash hit comedy The Hangover took cyberspace by storm. But it leaves much to be desired as it teases us without giving away so much as a premise (except that once again the fellas end up tangled and bewildered this time in Thailand), and shelving out a few laughs. Here's what else we know about the eagerly-awaited sequel (courtesy of Latino Review):

"After a hard night of partying Stu gets really drunk and ends up sleeping with a Thai tranny. The next day the guys have to try and rehash the night and figure out what happened."

It seems like we'll be off on another wild ride. Check out the brief clip below. The Hangover 2 hits theaters May 26.

First Look: "Jumping the Broom"

Hollywood is serving up yet another romantic comedy. This time it stars Paula Patton (Precious), Meagan Good (Eve's Bayou), Oscar nominee Angela Bassett, Tasha Smith (Why Did I Get Married?), Mike Epps and a slew of other stars in Jumping the Broom. Reminiscent of the 1998 TV movie The Wedding starring Halle Berry, Jumping the Broom two very different families meet on Martha's Vineyard for prenuptial celebration, agony, and steamy revelations. Check out the trailer below. Jumping the Broom hits theaters May 6.

"Cinema in Noir" (Episode 2)

Episode two of Cinema in Noir aired today at 6pm EST. In case you missed it, you can listen to today's discussions--ranging from Oscar picks, duds, and snubs to the latest in casting news (featuring Anthony Mackie, Idris Elba, and Kerry Washington). Check out the full show below:

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DVD Review: "I Spit on Your Grave"

They say revenge is best served cold. Or, at least in the case of I Spit on Your Grave, it's best served boiling hot and with lots of terrifying booby traps and contraptions.

In last year's remake of the 1978 horror movie I Spit on Your Grave, a young woman (Sarah Butler) retreats to a secluded cabin in the woods (you know nothing good comes from that in horror movies) to complete her newest work. She is subsequently stalked, tortured and gang-raped by four men in her own home. Narrowly escaping with her life, she later hunts each man down to return the favor and succeeds with flying colors.

Heinously graphic yet viciously realistic, I Spit on Your Grave isn't for the weak at heart (or for those with weak stomachs). The multiple torture scenes are superbly simulated yet they are the only things that keep the film at all interesting. There is no real story, no character background, and no point to be found. The dialogue is weak and the film heavily relies on the cliches found in most B (or D) horror movies--a perpetually braless heroine, a dim-witted sheriff, and dangerously secluded surroundings. Add a serious subject (rape) that gets no strong support with a story, and an almost an impossibly choreographed four-way revenge stunt by a young woman weighing about a buck-ten, who is able to round up several torture devices and ultimately drag four semi-brawny men in a matter of a few short hours to their demise, and it turns whatever promise this movie might have had to dust.

Although it would be interesting to see a stunt like this get pulled off in real life, I Spit on Your Grave needs major plot fixes and a redo. In its present state in rides almost wholly on shock value and gore.

Rating: D

Throwback Cinema: "Mahogany" (1975)

"Success is nothing without someone to share it with."

After conquering the music world with her supergroup The Supremes, the ultimate diva Diana Ross managed to dust up a pretty solid movie career thereafter. Following her stirring Oscar-nominated performance in the heartbreaking Lady Sings the Blues, the Lady starred in the classic rags-to-riches love story Mahogany. Co-starring Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Perkins, Mahogany was the story of a young Chicago woman with a dream to take the fashion world by storm as an international designer. She later learns the journey to stardom is unsteady as it was bumpy.

Tracy was a budding designer looking for a new life for herself when she meets and falls for the devastatingly handsome Brian (Williams), a street-wise politician looking to change the world one neighborhood at a time. When they meet their both on the verge of the perspective big breaks professionally. Then suddenly Tracy's dream takes flight and she's whisked away to Paris, Rome, and other fashionable cities when Sean (Perkins) notices her exuiqiste beauty and turns her into a renown model. Seeing this as a step into the fashion world, Tracy goes along for the ride, but latter learns all that glitters isn't gold.

Sacrificing her true dream, her man, and nearly all she had worked for, Tracy gets a real glimpse of life as a superstar trapped in a lonely world with Sean, who was growing shadier and shadier by the day. Sean too had demons he was dealing with and latched onto Tracy with all his might to keep them from coming out the closet, nearly dragging Tracy down with him. It was only then when Tracy realized that she had long since moved away from her home, her heart, and her love.

As lovely and engaging as it is fashion forward (with glimpses of one fierce ensemble after another), Mahogany still holds up as one of the sweetest and sharpest love stories in cinema. The chemistry between Ross and Williams, much like that of Ross and Perkins (who gives a really tortured and terrific performance) is undeniable. Some of the best scenes (other than those with Ross and Williams) are between Ross and Perkins--who share a highly complicated relationship reading between friends, business associates, and something in between. Perkins had as much jealousy, rage and desire as Ross had determination, drive, and resilience. With fashion and a passionate love story as a backdrop to a wonderfully acted narrative, Mahogany is simply fabulous.

The Debut of "Cinema in Noir"

Interested in hearing the latest news and thought-provoking discussions on the complex world of cinema--from diversity in film to casting news? Now every Sunday at 6pm EST you can listen to the new radio podcast Cinema in Noir, film talk from an African-American female perspective with hosts Kimberly, Rebecca, Rocky and myself live on Blog Talk Radio.

In case you missed it, check out yesterday's episode here:

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You can check out future episodes here.

Happy listening!

Guilty Pleasure Rom-Coms

We all have them. You know, the movies we're often afraid to admit we secretly watch and love with a bucket of popcorn in the middle of the night. They're our guilty pleasures. And we should no longer have to feel so guilty about them. This week, in honor of Valentine's Day, let's take a look at some of the cheesiest, corniest, predictable romantic comedies out there (that we can't get enough of):



FOOLS RUSH IN (1997, Matthew Perry, Salma Hayek, Siobhan Fallon, John Bennett Perry, Jill Clayburgh and Jon Tenney). As the title suggests, fools rushed in and we fell hook, line, and sinker for the predictable yet delightful movie about a New York businessman who falls for his polar opposite--a feisty yet charming Latina.

MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING (1997, starring Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Rupert Everett, and Cameron Diaz). Arguably one of the only movies where we can actually tolerate the impossibly giddy Cameron Diaz, but the chemistry between Roberts and the impeccably underrated Mulroney make it all worthwhile. Oh, and the hilarious Rupert Everett makes the movie even harder to pass by (even after
multiple viewings).

BLIND DATE (1987, starring Kim Basinger, Bruce Willis and John Larroquette). You remember how your mother always told you never have a heavy drink of a first date? Well, Kim Basinger clearly missed the message as she drunkenly stumbles through a nightmarish date with Bruce Willis yielding an uproarious comedy of errors.



SOMETHING NEW (2006, starring Sanaa Lathan, Simon Baker and Golden Brooks). You know Sanaa and Simon and going to hook up in this movie eventually, but it's fascinating to watch how it all goes down in this watered-down version of Jungle Fever.

CAN'T HARDLY WAIT (1998, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Melissa Joan Hart, Freddy Rodríguez, and Seth Green). Virtually a who's who of 90s teen stars, Can't Hardly Wait helped usher in a slew of other teen flicks. But how can you turn down Seth Green in braids, Facinelli's jerky handsomeness, and Clarissa from Clarissa Explains It All?



JERSEY GIRL (1992, starring Jami Gertz, Dylan McDermott, Aida Turturro, Molly Price, Star Jasper, and Sheryl Lee). Like Pretty in Pink, Something New and Fools Rush In, Jersey Girl is yet another love story about two people from the opposite side of the road. Except one was still on that side of the road(Gertz), and the other one was pretending he wasn't from there to begin with (McDermott). Together they and their instigating sidekicks are hilariously re-watchable.

PRETTY IN PINK (1986, starring Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Annie Potts, James Spader, Andrew McCarthy and Harry Dean Stanton). By far one of the best teen rom-coms ever, Pretty in Pink had it all: Molly Ringwald, a randomly fantastic lip-sync moment brought to you by Jon Cryer, and a lusciously cheesy young romance between Ringwald and McCarthy.

What are some of your guilty pleasure rom-coms?

First Look: "X-Men: First Class"

The eagerly-awaited trailer to the hyped-up superhero prequel X-Men: First Class has finally landed. And it's bringing along the new school celebritarts--Jennifer Lawrence, January Jones, James McAvoy, Zoë Kravitz. Oh, and Kevin Bacon is in here too as the movie circles back to how the superhero misfits rose to fame and infamy. Check out the new trailer below. X-Men: First Class invades theaters June 3.

First Look: "I Will Follow"

This spring director Ava DuVernay introduces audiences to the heartbreaking story of a grieving woman (Salli Richardson-Whitfield), who must find a way to move on after the death of her aunt. Along her journey to rebuild her life, she is comforted by several people who help make the journey much less harrowing. I Will Follow, which co-stars Omari Hardwick (For Colored Girls, KickAss) and Tracie Thoms (The Devil Wears Prada, Grindhouse) is scheduled to hit theaters March 11. Check out the trailer below.

First Look: "Madea's Big Happy Family"

Don't ask.

DVD Review: "Conviction"

Hilary Swank has made an impressive career out of playing against the traditional female type--portraying physically and emotionally strong characters by which only death could stop them from continuing to fight the good fight. And Conviction is no exception.

Swank plays Betty Anne Waters, the real-life mother of two who sacrifices the better part of life to free her brother Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell) from his wrongful imprisonment. Without even a high school degree under her belt, Betty Anne went from high school drop out to full-fledged attorney. But not after losing her husband, putting a strain on the relationship she had with her kids, and almost losing all hope in the process. And it only took eighteen years to gather and recover all the evidence to prove Kenny an innocent man. But she wasn't going to give up on her brother and, though rowdy and uncontrollable at times, her best friend.

As flashbacks of Kenny and Betty Anne's childhood are streamed throughout the movie, audiences get to see their misfit-like life that was basked in their love for one another, even after being shuffled around from one foster home to the next. As Betty Anne faces one more roadblock in the neverending case, we're reminded on what this particular good fight is all about.

Swank is engaging as the central character in the movie. Rockwell, who really serves as Swank's pawn performance (he's more of a reactor than an actor in this role), is a solid choice for Kenny though not thoroughly engaging in the movie. He's definitely had better performances, as had Swank. Juliette Lewis, who plays one of the witnesses on trial, reminded audiences why we love her in one of two brief, yet memorable, scenes that ran the gamut of fearful, angry, and regretful all in a matter of a minutes-long monologue. When will she finally get her due as an actress?

Truth of the matter is Conviction, similar to The Blind Side, really could have been a pretty adequate TV movie. For the big screen, it didn't hold up as strong but did manage to hash out a good story led by strog performances regardless.

Rating: B+

DVD Review: "Let Me In"

"Do you think there's such a thing as evil?"

Many films with a child villain are often depicted as maniacal, evil, and uncontrollable. But in Let Me In, she also is also a sorrowful one who you can't help but to feel sympathy for, even after she's brutally attacked her prey and devoured their blood.

Chloe Moretz (KickAss) stars as Abby, a 12-year-old trapped in the body of a vampire who must hunt the blood of innocent victims to live. With no friends to call her own and a life ruled by vicious midnight conquests and narrowly dodging both sunlight and normalcy, Abby has been weakened by loneliness. One moonlit night she meets the first person who ever looked at her without fear in his eyes--her neighbor Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Owen, himself an outcast relentlessly bullied by a group of troublemakers in school instantly bonds with Abby who, unlike many other people in his life, does not frighten him, but comforts him when he needs it the most.

Trouble at home and at school pushes the meek Owen to escape the unbearable environment he's become accustomed to, and seek solace in the peculiar Abby. He knows she's special somehow, but never could he have imagined the truth. Or perhaps he didn't want to. In any case, once he finally finds out about Abby's pendant for midnight mayhem and uncontrollable thirst, Owen must decide how to react in a life that's somehow been unfair to him before he met Abby. When matters pique at school, Owen's fears are finally put to rest when Abby's curse becomes less of a terrifying fear, and more of a lurking savior.

Exploring the world of good and evil is a common theme in cinema, but few have been able to create such a fine line between the two as cleverly done in Let Me In. Like a new school Buffy, vampires and regular people walk among us and both are equally capable of both fear and evil, without blinking an eye. Moretz impressively humanizes Abby's vulnerabilities in a way few young actresses can do. Smit-McPhee plays such a sad, lost soul that even when he smiles it's heartbreaking because there's so much pain behind it. Surprisingly well-acted and oddly engaging, Let Me In is one of the few quasi-horror flicks you won't be rolling your eyes about.

Rating: B+

Five Fellas to Watch in 2011

After singling out this year's breakthrough actresses last week, it was only right to spotlight some of the actors who will be vying for our attention on screen this year:



DON CHEADLE: With a resume crowded enough to gag a goat, Don Cheadle has been impressing audiences for more than two decades on both film and TV. From his sly, electric performance as "Mouse" in Devil in a Blue Dress, to his hilarious turns in both Rush Hour 2 and the Oceans movies, and his critical turns in Crash, Talk To Me and Hotel Rwanda, Cheadle has proven himself to be a fierce, dynamic actor deserving of all his accolades. Stay tuned this year when Cheadle plays an FBI Agent in the drama The Guard.



ANTHONY MACKIE: For those of you who were sleeping on Anthony Mackie before his star-making turn in the Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker last year really oughta go back and check out his underrated performances earlier in his career in films lke Half Nelson, American Violet and Million Dollar Baby. After capping off an impressive year as a leading man in 2010's critically-acclaimed indie drama Night Catches Us, Mackie kicks off 2011 in not one but four movies including The Adjustment Bureau, co-starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.



CHIWETEL EJIOFOR: You can always count on dashing U.K. actor Chiwetel Ejiofor to round out an already impressive cast of actors in impressive films like Talk to Me, American Gangster, Children of Men, and Love, Actually. But it was 2005 when the actor first gained mainstream critical attention in the teeny film Kinky Boots, for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination. He later went on to score two subsequent nominations for the TV movies Tsunami: The Aftermath and Endgame. This year the actor begins filming the upcoming historical drama Savannah.



JEFFREY WRIGHT: One thing audiences tend to agree is even if Jeffrey Wright is in a bad film, he never turns out a bad performance. Whether he was stealing scenes from Al Pacino in Angels in America, playing a maniacal criminal in Shaft, going toe to toe with George Clooney in Syriana, or even sharing the screen with (gasp!) Beyonce in Cadillac Records, Wright never disappointed. You can check him out later this year in the sci-fi thriller Source Code with Jake Gyllenhaal.



IDRIS ELBA: After stealing the box office twice last year with the summer blockbuster Takers, Idris Elba went from being simply a critically-acclaimed actor to an international superstar. It was no doubt that his earlier impressive performances in the Rwandan genocide drama Sometimes in April, Daddy's Little Girls, and the acclaimed TV drama The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency has led him to taking center stage in his Golden globe-nominated performance in the crime drama Luther, and in the upcoming blockbuster Thor out this year. With his new credits, we should be able to finally forgive him for Obsessed.

First Look: "Yelling to the Sky"

Newly-inducted onto the SXSW Film Festival schedule this year comes the indie drama Yelling to the Sky starring Zoe Kravitz as 17-year-old Sweetness O'Hara, a mix-raced young woman who falls into a life of crime after being plagued by the throes of family drama and a desperate search for identity. Expect Yelling to the Sky, which also stars Gabourey Sidibe, Tim Blake Nelson and Shareeka Epps, to hit theaters later this year. Check out the SXSW promo below:

Seven Actresses to Watch in 2011

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, below are just seven of the actresses we're keeping our eyes on as the year unfolds:



SHAREEKA EPPS: Ever since 21-year-old Epps burst onto the big screen in 2006 with her first full-feature film Half Nelson (co-starring Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling), she has impressed audiences with her impeccable delivery and undeniable talent. after garnering several accolades, including the Independent Spirit Award for her performance in the drama, Epps went on to play a myriad of TV and film roles in Law & Order: SVU, My Soul to Take, and her heartbreaking turn in Mother and Child. This year the starlet headlines the upcoming indie drama Yelling to the Sky.



ZOE KRAVITZ: With parents like rock star Lenny Kravitz and former child star-turned-movie-star Lisa Bonet, all eyes are on their daughter to perform. Luckily Kravitz proves she's got the chops to back it up. From her quirky role as Nia in the dramedy It's Kind of a Funny Story to Pearl in the Showtime series Californication, Kravitz is sharpening her skills as actress by taking on diverse roles. Next up? The eagerly-anticipated blockbuster X-Men: First Class.



RASHIDA JONES: Few Black actresses have achieved the crossover success Jones has. Snappy comedic timing blended with heartfelt dramatic performances has catapulted Jones from simply the daughter of music icon Quincy Jonees (and, ahem, a Harvard graduate) to a bonafide movie star. If her performance in last year's The Social Network proved anything, it was that Jones is here to stay. Next up for Jones? The Sundance darling My Idiot Brother, co-starring Paul Rudd and Zooey Deschanel.



SANAA LATHAN: With a career peppered with numerous romantic comedies, Lathan has always managed to charm audiences with her "against-type" dramatic roles as in Out of Time with Denzel Washington and the 2008 TV remake of the classic A Raisin in the Sun. This fall the Independent Spirit Award nominee (for 2001's Love & Basketball) will join the ranks of Matt Dillon and Kate Winslet in the sci-fi thriller Contagion.




VIOLA DAVIS: Even though we all probably wanted to hand her a tissue to blow her nose in that heart-wrenching scene in 2008's Doubt, few can deny the Oscar nominee was mesmerizing in the role. Davis, who's been "popping up" in movies since the late 90s taking roles in Out of Sight and Traffic, and later in State of Play among others), will headline the film adaptation of the bestselling book The Help out this summer.



MAYA RUDOLPH: While we all mourned Saturday Night Live star Maya Rudolph's departure on the hit show, we feared the hilarious comedienne would fall through the cracks of Hollywood thereafter. But she proved her longevity in roles in Shrek the Third and the underrated drama Away We Go. Next up Rudolph teams up with fellow SNL star Kristin Wiig in the female romp Bridesmaids out in early summer.



TARAJI P. HENSON: With performances in Hustle & Flow, Brothers and Baby Boy, we feared Henson would become typecast as the crass, rowdy character. But when mainstream Hollywood caught wind of her Oscar- nominated turn in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, her roles have gotten significantly more diverse. Say what you want about the remake of The Karate Kid last year, but it was one of the highest grossing films of the year proving Henson as a bankable star. Next up Henson will star alongside Julia Roberts in Larry Crowne, directed and co-written by Tom Hanks.

First Look: "Bridesmaids"

Saturday Night Live's female MVP Kristen Wiig headlines (and co-wrote) the upcoming comedy Bridesmaids. Co-starring the former SNL Queen B Maya Rudolph, Wiig plays Annie, the only single bridesmaid in a crew of spoken-for ladies preparing for their friend's (Rudolph) pending nuptials. While the group takes jabs at Annie's singledom (they're just jealous), Annie must try to keep the neverending plans in tact as everything begins to fall apart at the seams. The tagline boasts the movie as the female version of The Hangover. You can be the judge on May 13 when Bridesmaids charges into theaters. Check out the new trailer below.

12 Essential Black Movies

As we kick off Black History Month, we look back at some of the most memorable movies celebrating the greatest in Black Hollywood:

SCHOOL DAZE (1988, starring Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Jasmine Guy, Tisha Campbell-Martin, and Spike Lee): Director Spike Lee's riveting look at college life; finding yourself in a crowd of other people who may or may not be looking for the same thing. School Daze follows one young man's fight to rally his fellow students against the throes of apartheid and ignorance. All the while, the rest of the student body is preoccupied with their own mini wars: he light skinned versus the dark-skinned, the fraternities versus anyone else on campus. It's also a look at the dynamic of young relationships, both sexual and platonic, and features some of the flyest step sequences in cinema.

THE COLOR PURPLE (1985, starring Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey): Performed by terrible actors with a callous screenplay, The Color Purple might have failed to bring to life the power of Alice Walker's moving story. Much more than simply the trials and tribulations of Black women from the south, The Color Purple is a story of faith, friendship, and redemption. Notable facts: Goldberg, Avery, and Winfrey were all nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for their heartwrenching performances. The film was also nominated for best picture, best original song ("Miss Celie's Blues" by Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, and Rod Temperton) and best original score from both awards.

IMITATION OF LIFE (1934, starring Louise Beavers, Claudette Colbert, Warren William and Rochelle Hudson): If you can make it to the end of this movie without so much as dabbing a stubborn tear with a kleenex, you have no heart. Imitation of Life is the classic story of a Black woman's struggle to make a life for her and her daughter that later creates a riff in their relationship after her daughter decides to pass as white. Beavers's agonizing portrayal of the mother desperately trying to reclaim her daughter as her own heart aches for her is nearly unbearable to watch. A bold story for its time, Imitation of Life was so well performed from the entire cast. Notable fact: The film was nominated for an Oscar for best picture.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1961, starring Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil and Ruby Dee): Lorraine Hansberry's Broadway play about a Black family from Chicago battling competing dreams and a their first fistful of money gets a gripping film treatment led by a stellar cast. Notable facts: Hansberry was the first black writer to present a play on Broadway. Both Poitier and McNeil were nominated for numerous awards for their performances, including the BAFTA and Golden Globe.

CLAUDINE (1974, starring Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs): It's hard enough being broke on you're own. But add six children to the mix in a small Harlem apartment, your affinity to want to crawl into a fetal position heightens twicefold. But not Claudine, the tough mom was determined to keep her family together during tough times and proved a positive figure to both her children and to timeless black female performances. Notable fact: Carroll was nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe, among other awards. Co-star Jones was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as her hopeful love interest. R&B great Curtis Mayfield was nominated for a Golden Globe for his soulful tune "On and On."

UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT (1974, starring Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby and Harry Belafonte): A hilarious bromance before "bromance" was cool, comedic legend Bill Cosby teams with the distinguished gentleman Sidney Poitier for a comedy of errors. The two star as friends escaping for a night on the town to only end up getting mixed with some criminals in search of their missing lottery ticket. Notable fact: Cosby and Poitier went on to star in two other similar films (Let's Do It Again and A Piece of the Action. Although the actors play different characters, the three films are considered a trilogy.

MALCOLM X (1992, starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett and Delroy Lindo): Arguably Washington's best performance and director Spike Lee's best movie, Malcolm X brilliantly captured the complexities of an era and a human rights activist. Its intriguing, inspiring, and unbelievably profound all wrapped into one, and still captivates audiences today. Notable fact: Though the film, Washington, and Lee were nominated and/or won for numerous Oscar precursors, it did not garner a single Academy Award.

JUNGLE FEVER (1991, starring Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciorra, John Turturro, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis and Samuel L. Jackson): An honest look at interracial dating, Jungle Fever explores the impact it takes on family, friends, and those involved, for the good and the bad. Especially within the black community, there are strong emotions about it either way and this film takes a candid look at the psychology and dynamic of both. Oh, and it has a real catchy theme song by Stevie Wonder too.

LOVE JONES (1997, starring Larenz Tate, Nia Long and Isaiah Washington): A tale of two star-crossed lovers whose love played out perfectly in tune with an unforgettable soundtrack still remains one of the most memorable black love films. It's not cliched. It's not obscene. It's not even predictable. One of the best things about Love Jones is the way the story unfolds. Rhythmically in tune to the underground poetry atmosphere it bathes in, the story align es itself with the unpredictable next verse in a freestyle poetry, while offering the inevitable complications and "what ifs." It made us all want to run to a slam joint and find our love Jones.

SHAFT (1971, Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn and Charles Cioffi). A black detective takes on the streets of Harlem and the Italian mob with swagger, class, and a fierce determination for justice, in the 70s. You really can't beat that. It was one of the best cop films, which was followed by a slew of other related films. Just a few years after In the Heat of the Night showed a black male cop take on the injustice of the streets and tackle race relations, Shaft's smooth portrayal was less vulnerable, but equally as intimidating. And you can't beat that rhythmic tune by the late great Isaac Hayes, which later went to win a Best Song Oscar. Notable fact: In 2000 (the same year the remake was released starring Samuel L. Jackson), Shaft was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

COFFY (1973, starring Pam Grier, Booker Bradshaw and Robert DoQui): Real-life femme fatale Pam Grier played the original female badass who was a nurse by day and a street-fighting vigilante by night. She kept men weak at the knees and a slave to all her advances. After her sister gets caught out on a drug trip, Coffy makes it her mission to seeks justice by killing drug dealers, pimps, mobsters, and anyone else who crosses her path.

STORMY WEATHER (1943, starring Lena Horne, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Cab Calloway): During a time when black actors and performers were rarely if ever seen in lead roles, Stormy Weather brought the charisma, effervescence and undeniable talent that is still a staple for the movie-musical today. A real who's who in Black entertainment at the time, the film is loosely based on the life of dancer Bojangles (who plays the character on whom he's based), worldwide entertainer Lena Horne, with cameos by Cab Calloway and Fats Waller, the Nicholas Brothers, singer Ada Brown, and Katherine Dunham. Notable fact: Although the running time is a mere 77 minutes, there are a total of 20 fabulous musical numbers throughout.

Hey, why stop at twelve? Here are a few other equally notable films in the vault:

Lean On Me (1989, starring Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd and Robert Guillaume)

In the Heat of the Night (1967, starring Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger and Warren Oates)

Do the Right Thing (1989, starring Danny Aiello, Joie Lee, John Turturro, Ossie Davis, Giancarlo Esposito, Spike Lee, Rosie Perez, and Ruby Dee)

Eve's Bayou (1997, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jurnee Smollett and Meagan Good)

What's Love Got to Do With It (1993, starring Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne and Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly)

Ray (2004, starring Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, and Sharon Warren)

Ali (2001, starring Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jeffrey Wright, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nona Gaye, and Jon Voight)

Cornbread, Earl, and Me (1975, starring Laurence Fishburne, Moses Gunn, Rosalind Cash and Bernie Casey)

Lady Sings the Blues (1972, starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor)

Coming to America (1988, starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Vanessa Bell Calloway, John Amos and James Earl Jones)