Connect with us

News

Movie Review: ‘Miss Bala’

Published

on

Do not come after Gloria Fuentes or her friends!

Directed by Twilight’s Catherine Hardwicke from a script by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, Miss Bala does a good job bringing forth a strong female Latina lead, who can do it all – from applying a perfect contour to handling an AK-47.

Gloria Fuentes is a makeup artist from Los Angeles, who finds herself trapped in a cross-border drug enterprise.

Miss Bala is a remake of the Mexican crime drama action film by the same name, which premiered back in 2011 at the Cannes Film Festival.

Gloria Fuentes (played by Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez) travels to Tijuana to support her childhood friend Suzu (Cristina Rodlo) as she enters the Miss Baja California beauty contest. After a shootout at a Tijuana nightclub, Suzu is nowhere to be seen. Gloria, desperate to find her best friend, is forced to work for the head of a drug cartel, Lino (Ismael Cruz Córdova), who offers his help. As if she wasn’t in enough danger, D.E.A agent Brian (Matt Lauria) threatens to arrest Fuentes if she refuses to go undercover and reveal Lino’s plans to him.

The intense hour-and-forty-four-minute story focuses on Gloria’s personal story – a Mexican-born, California-raised young woman, who is an outcast in her native land. Along with that, the viewer is presented with a low key of love story – Lino develops an emotional connection with Gloria, as he also grew up in California, just like her. The question of him possibly becoming a better man for her finds its resolution at the very end.

A few things can be said about Gina Rodriguez’s character. What is worth mentioning is that doesn’t see complicity as the primary path to survival. Gloria never gives up on the chance to find her friend, she constantly weighs her options and makes crucial decisions.

Overall, if you like women-led action movies, Miss Bala is worth watching. The movie is packed with many plot twists and numerous shooting scenes.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Film

‘A Snowy Day in Oakland:’ Nicole Ari Parker Stars in New Dramedy From ‘Sister, Sister’ Creator Kim Bass

Published

on

A Snowy Day in Oakland

A Snowy Day in Oakland is heading into theaters this week. The magical-realism comedy starring Nicole Ari Parker is gearing up to be introduced to the world on Friday, March 17. Hollywood Melanin sat down with the leading star to explore some of the critical issues addressed in the film.

At the center of the story is LaTrice (Parker), the successful psychologist from San Francisco who longs for a more purposeful life. Leaving her unfaithful, high-profile psychiatrist boyfriend and business partner behind, she establishes her practice in a vacant office space on a small commercial block across the bay in Oakland. Surrounded by minority-owned businesses, LaTrice is determined to provide support and gently guide the residents of this predominantly Black neighborhood to embrace the importance of communicating one’s feelings through therapy.

Nicole Ari Parker as LaTrice/ ‘A Snowy Day In Oakland’

“I think there is an issue of trust in the Black community where we just keep our problems close to our chest,” Parker expressed while discussing mental healthcare in minority groups. “It’s also an expense. It’s an investment. So, when you are trying to make ends meet and prioritize your income, it feels like a luxury. But I think that that’s an expense worth taking.”

Helmed by Sister, Sister creator Kim Bass, the film was initially shot six years ago. Parker says she attributes her involvement in this project not just to the powerful and relevant script but also to “Kim’s vision, his magical realism, his playing with time, and his saturation of color,” she added, “We don’t really get to have that kind of whimsy in most independent Black films.”

'A Snowy Day in Oakland' cast
‘A Snowy Day in Oakland’ cast

Produced by Planet 9 Productions and distributed by People of Culture Studios, this dramatic comedy also explores other meaningful themes like navigating complex relationships and struggles of entrepreneurship. Those conversations are explored through the town’s biggest personalities, Davis (Deon Cole), Jeanette (Loretta Devine), Theona (Kimberly Elise), and Rodney (Evan Ross). The star-studded cast also includes Keith David, Marla Gibbs, Michael Jai White, Tony Plana, Arden Myrin, and others.

A Snowy Day In Oakland
Kimberly Elise as Theona, Deon Cole as Davis, Loretta Devine as Jeanette / ‘A Snowy Day In Oakland’

Watch A Snowy Day in Oakland in selected theaters on Friday, March 17. Watch the trailer below.

Continue Reading

Film

“It’s Official!” Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Confirm ‘Bad Boys 4’

Published

on

The Bad Boys are back like they never left! Will Smith and Martin Lawrence took it to Instagram earlier today to share – there will indeed be a fourth film.

“It’s official, y’all!” The longtime friends announced,  “It’s about that time! [….] This is Bad Boys 4. It’s official!”

The franchise kicked off in 1995 with the original Bad Boys movie and has released two sequels since then – Bad Boys II (2003) and Bad Boys For Life (2020).

Continue Reading

News

New Music Alert: Sholuv Presents ‘Zero’ – a Prelude to New Understanding

by Betti Halsell, senior staff writer

Published

on

Multidimensional artist Adeshola Adeoye, better known as Sholuv, increased the decibels of hope in his latest project, “Zero,” produced through OPXS BOIS, the three-track album was released on Tuesday, Dec.20.  As a compound expression of art through various mediums, Sholuv revealed the golden thread holding the body of work together and musically elevates one’s mind.

“It’s a prelude project, and preludes start at zero,” Sholuv declared as he signed part of his Gi, the top half of a karate uniform. The notable artist reflected on the night as his exclusive showing of the album came to a close.

Sholuv expanded his thoughts by referencing the process of creating anime, the complexities of building a world out of the realm of imagination, and then releasing it. Sholuv described this album as a lore or a collection of nuances that are significant to understand the rest of the collection of art.

Sholuv shared three songs and one bonus track with invite-only attendees. The vibrations of each track felt like they traveled around the world. The transformative lyrics and storytelling were vivid; it’s a new level of painting a mental picture without a brush. Sholuv has expanded his art across his fashion with his lifestyle brand, Optimixts, and continues to grow as a producer and videographer.

Songs like “25,” interlock cinematic touches on the beat with raw power in the verses. While introducing the track, Sholuv stated, “This was me, describing myself as a 25-year-old and who I am as a man, and really looking optimistic—when it comes to everything I’m involved with.”

Sholuv has five previous projects that include “For Tha Honey’s,” “Sounds from Tha Den,” and “.”

OPXS BOIS’ artist manager, Scoop, considered the growth he witnessed from Sholuv; he reflected on the composition of the newly released project and stated, “This project for Sholuv is a real testimony to the growth of his production style and rhyme scheme,” he continued, “his subject matter has always been there, but this project is eye-opening to his style of verbiage.”

“Zero” is out now on all major platforms. Follow Sholuv on Instagram and turn up the volume of hope through his aromatic sounds.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2021 Hollywood Melanin