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‘The United States Vs. Billie Holiday’ Review

by Betti Halsell

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In The United States Vs. Billie Holiday the audience is thrown into a war zone. Viewers stare at the social terrain with world-renowned Jazz legend Billie Holiday, as she climbs through trenches of trauma, addiction, love, betrayal, and corruption, ultimately leaving some of her best men behind.

Holiday, played by Andra Day, encapsulated the current state of events happening to Black Americans with a simple string of verses over a solemn melody. Her song Strange Fruit paints a vivid picture of events that took place during her time – lynchings in the 1930’s that were happening with no reprimand. The melancholic melody still hits home today, as if America is still singing the same song, with a different tune.

Holiday bellowed with her smoldering voice,

“Southern trees bear a strange fruit

Blood on the leaves and blood at the root

Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.”

The recording and performance of Strange Fruit stood out like a thorn protruding from the rosey lens the rest of America looked through, causing a problem for those in “high places”. So they created a suffocating smoke around the singer’s life, following her to her final resting place.

The movie focuses on the unsolicited surveillance from federal and local law enforcement because of the pressure that came with the iconic song. It touches on a reoccurring theme happening in newly released biographic films, uncovering people within the Black community supplying incriminating intel to the federal government.

Andra Day as Billie Holiday|The United States vs Billie Holiday, HULU

This confirms the involvement of federal sources, but also the lack of trust happening within the collective community. The film was as explicit as the song itself, telling an unbiased truth of an Artist caught in a war that went far beyond her talent.

Directed by Lee Daniels and written by Pulitzer prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks and Johann Harri, the movie depicts Holiday as an undeniable force – she was feminine and sensual, yet she held a sense of masculine ownership over her life. Although the 1900s were set in gender roles and confined social placement, Holiday was outspoken and knew she had a level of power. The salute to her self-awareness may have beckoned from her childhood. The film exposed Holiday’s early surroundings, which included the power in sexuality and a sense of liberty for women when she was young.

However, there are two sides to every coin. The trauma in her childhood may have given her the soul that is found in her voice and a sense of empowerment, but it also left her damaged. The movie captured her dependency on strong stimulants, to mange her mental state. The singer’s upbringing left her without a true vision of her reflection. The feature focused on nostalgic transitions and captured an unfiltered story of Holiday’s flaws as a friend and lover.

Andra Day as Billie Holiday and Trevante Rhodes as Jimmy Fletcher |The United States vs Billie Holiday, HULU

In The United States vs Billie Holiday, Day is joined by Trevante Rhodes (Birdbox) who played Jimmy Fletcher, the first Black FBN agent and Garrett Hedlund (Four Brothers) as Harry Aslinger, Chief of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.

Rendering the critiques from Rotten Tomatoes, the story was labeled “sloppy” and “over-characterized.” However, most of those inferential opinions came from predominantly White men. This leaves the opportunity that they may have been missed; the concept of struggle in being a Black woman, while fighting multiple layers of internal and external battles and combating different perspectives of self-worth.

America is still singing about the strange fruit that holds a rotten core, the Anti-lynching Bill was passed last year. A back-breaking victory, countless marches, too many lives lost, all for roughly 100 years of “consideration.”

The strange fruit from those times left seeds, a new harvest of injustice is ripening. Thanks to Holiday’s strong will to keep performing the truth, others have joined the choir for change. The nation is still singing about the obscurities found in racism. It’s all the same song, just a different tune. Stream The United States Vs. Billie Holiday on Hulu starting February 26.

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Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera Join Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s ‘High and Low’

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High and Low

In a highly anticipated collaboration, acclaimed actor Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera have joined the cast of Spike Lee’s upcoming film, ‘High and Low.’ The film, described as a reimagining of the classic Akira Kurosawa thriller, also stars Denzel Washington.

Known for his roles in films like ‘Basquiat,’ ‘The Hunger Games’ series, and ‘Westworld,’ Jeffrey Wright was most recently nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in American Fiction. His ability to embody complex characters and deliver powerful performances makes him a perfect fit for this new Spike Lee joint.

The upcoming film will mark a reunion for Hadera and Washington, who co-starred in ‘The Equalizer 2.’ The Godfather of Harlem star also previously collaborated with Lee on his acclaimed Netflix series ‘She’s Gotta Have It,’ based on his classic 1986 film and his movies ‘Chi-Raq’ and ‘Oldboy’.

‘High and Low’ also marks the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington, who previously worked together on ‘Mo’ Better Blues,’ ‘He Got Game,’ ‘Inside Man,’ and ‘Malcolm X.’ Washington’s performance in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ was also released by A24.

The film is being developed and produced by A24, a production company known for its slate of thought-provoking and award-worthy films. It is described as a thriller and an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller, which told the story of a shoe executive who was in the middle of a complex corporate takeover when his plans were derailed by the accidental kidnapping and ransom of his chauffeur’s son instead of his son.

The film will begin production this month, with a theatrical release before its global launch on Apple TV+.

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Regina King and Guests Attend The Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Shirley’

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Oscar-winner Regina King recently attended the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film, ‘Shirley.’ The highly anticipated biopic chronicles the life and political career of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and the first Black woman to run for President.

The premiere, held on March 21, 2024, drew a star-studded crowd, with King taking center stage as both the lead actress and one of the film producers. She was joined by her sister, Reina King, who also served as a producer on the project.

The film, directed by John Ridley and written by Rebecca Hall, explores the life and career of Shirley Chisholm, who was a trailblazer in American politics. The story follows her journey from her early days as a teacher and community activist to her historic run for the presidency in 1972.

Regina King and Reina King speak onstage during Netflix’s ‘Shirley’ Los Angeles Premiere at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on March 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

At the premiere, Regina King spoke about the importance of telling Chisholm’s story and the impact she had on American politics. “Shirley was a true maverick, and, you know, we use this term all the time, but she was a true first,” King said. “She was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress and the first Black woman to run for President. Her story is one that needs to be told and I’m honored to be a part of bringing it to the screen.”

The film also stars Lance Reddick as Chisholm’s husband, Conrad Chisholm, and features a powerful supporting cast that includes actors like Jeffrey Wright, André Holland, and Michael K. Williams.

The premiere celebrated Shirley Chisholm’s legacy. Attendees were treated to a special screening of the film, followed by a Q&A session with the cast and crew.

Regina King’s performance in the film has already garnered critical acclaim, with many praising her portrayal of Chisholm as both powerful and nuanced. In an interview with Variety, King spoke about the challenges of playing such a significant historical figure. “It was important to me to show the humanity in her and to show that she was a real person who had real struggles and real triumphs,” she said.

The film is set to be released on Netflix on March 22, 2024. Watch the trailer below.

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Colman Domingo Stars in the First Trailer for ‘Sing Sing’

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Oscar nominee Colman Domingo is making headlines once again with his latest project. The first trailer for ‘Sing Sing,’ a highly anticipated film set to be released in July, has just been unveiled, and Domingo takes center stage in this captivating drama.

Directed by Greg Kwedar and written by Kwedar and Clint Bentley, ‘Sing Sing’ is a heartfelt story set in the infamous Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York. The film follows a group of inmates serving their sentences and striving for emotional and mental healing through the art of performance.

Colman Domingo stars as Divine G, a man who has been wrongfully convicted of a crime and is fighting for his freedom. The film is a powerful exploration of the human spirit and the transformative power of art, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

Colman Domingo 'Sing Sing' first look

Colman Domingo as Divine G in ‘Sing Sing’

Joining Domingo in the cast are Paul Raci, who recently earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in ‘Sound of Metal,’ and a group of formerly incarcerated actors, including Clarence Maclin, who plays himself in the film.

The drama has already garnered praise and acclaim, with the film receiving glowing reviews out of its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (Domingo received the TIFF Tribute Performer Award ) and on Rotten Tomatoes.

Produced by Bentley, Kwedar, and Monique Walton, ‘Sing Sing’ is set to be released in July.

Colman Domingo’s career has been marked by a string of impressive performances and accolades. In addition to his work in ‘Sing Sing,’ the actor has also received critical acclaim for his role in ‘Rustin,’ for which he was nominated for Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards and won an NAACP Image Award. Domingo has also appeared in popular television shows such as ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ and ‘Euphoria,’ and has several upcoming projects in the works, including playing the role of Joe Jackson in ‘Michael’ and directing and starring in a biopic about iconic singer Nat King Cole.

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