CHADWICK FOREVER-A Tribute To Chadwick Boseman

The Once and Forever King. 

By TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Tears were shed. I'm not going to lie, I cried. I thought I was just scrolling past a beautiful black and white photo of the 'Black Panther'. Not a memorial from his family. I broke down. No shame in it. Even in the middle of a Kawasaki train station in Japan. I just couldn't help myself. I remember when me and my good friend Steven got off a train early on our way to the airport (remember those?) to fly to New York, just so we could catch the first showing of the late, great Chadwick Boseman (how are we even saying this?) playing the late, great, Godfather of Soul, James Brown in the great 'Get On Up' biopic. It felt like history in the making. We just had to...and it was so worth it in a maverick performance of equal powerhouse for the music maestro. Coming in late as choppers flew round Vietnam like we'd walked into a showing of 'Apocalypse Now' instead, we saw just how crazy a talent Brown was and Boseman too. "Good God!" His moving, spirited performance and pivotal moment in Spike Lee's best of this year 'Da 5 Bloods' as a fallen soldier in the Vietnam war is even more poignant now. Coming off changing the game in his very first mainstream movie playing the first African American Major League Baseball player, Jackie Robinson whose '42' is retired around the whole association, diamond to diamond. Chadwick hadn't even become the Black Panther yet...but he was about to. Like Indiana Pacers Basketball star Victor Oladipo taking off in the Slam Dunk Contest wearing a Black Panther mask and then saluting T'Challa himself, courtside. And he was already something. Off one swing big movie that made two Englishmen more excited about New York than Sting, get off a train early like we where legal aliens. One microphone dropping sophomore set that showed the man Marvel put between the 'Civil War' of big stars Chris Evans (who called this "original" a, "deeply committed and constantly curious artist") and Robert Downey Jnr for a photo-op had something that even those two super actors didn't. Sure they're Captain America and Iron Man. But this guy was Jackie Robinson AND James Brown. And he was just getting started. I remember writing a 'Focus Future' feature on him in 2015 which I never continued for anyone else because he felt like the one. It feels like yesterday, not five years ago today. It feels too heartbreaking now as I said, "The pride of the panther is strong. It'll never fade to black."

Which just makes this even more heartbreaking in the most horrible year of our lives. 2020. We were supposed to roar in return like a Gatsby, but that decadence turned into desperation. From 24 to 42. We lost Kobe and GiGi in January. So many of our loved ones, friends, family, jobs and even our livelihoods to this cruel coronavirus disease that is still at large whilst we need to mask up, stay safe and stay home. The only time we really all took to the streets this year was because Black Lives Matter and after the senseless deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor (arrest the damn cops...I'll keep saying it until you do it) murdered in her own home, enough was enough. How many more for a nation continuing to hold the people that love it back? Screaming about a man taking a knee during the national anthem of a football game (in polite taking a stance respect may we add), but having no problem with a racist cop sticking his knee in a man's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds until he can't breathe anymore. To lose Chadwick, the 'Black Panther'-a hero and symbol to many-now just seems as cruel as those people that made derogatory comments about his weight in a Jackie Robinson tribute video. Sure they didn't understand what was going on, but maybe they should have tried a little understanding before they passed jokes and judgement for meaningless swipes and likes. The man was, is and will always be a legend who influenced far more than that. Where's the love? I remember when 'Black Panther' came out. It was a movement. A televised revolution on the big screen. People of all walks of life came out to cinemas like they wouldn't today to see a superhero that looked like none other before, but instead like all the kids looking up to him, searching for a hero. White children wore Black Panther costumes too. He broke down barriers. Changed futures. In the same time as 'Wonder Woman' wowed the world and flipped the comics and capes on the superhero genre, this one took off even more. As strong as vibranium as we all chanted, "Wakanda Forever", pounding our chests in symbolism like we do now for Boseman. Even before that his claws cutting into Cap's shield looked like something. His once, twice, three times a kick to Steve Rogers frisbee invoking a signature, "damn" response from a great girl I was seeing at the time, watching the 'Civil War' movie. Chadwick fought for the accent too. Claw and nail. Like he did against a deadly disease. All amazingly whilst powerfully portraying a formidable figure and being a greater one in the greater good of real life. The Black Panther suit in Prince purple hue absorbs pain and turns it into a rebounding power that hits back after your best shot. How poignant is that notion now in inspiration? By the time he disappeared in 'Infinity War', after his rich nation and land was the terrain that staged the final battle and reappeared in 'Endgame' the first face to greet Cap on his left, Boseman was a blockbuster star. His self character parody on Saturday Night Live's 'Black Jeopardy' was beyond hilarious too and showed he had the comedy cops like Karen the potato salad with no seasoning. Which makes it even more heartbreaking that the man with the infectious laugh, from LeBron James' 'Shop' talk on HBO to RDJ's shared social media posts was talking about working on a remake of 'Uptown Saturday Night' with Kevin Hart (as we can see in an episode of the comedians Netflix series, 'Don't F... This Up'). Chris Evans may have been the Captain. But remember who got that man a shield? He was the King. And even before he became T'Challa a fictional hero who carried more superhero solidarity to his people in the very Black Panther name, he was a biopic king. Playing real life heroes of history before becoming one himself as an icon of our times.

One of our generations greatest who was right with Jamie Foxx and where his 'Just Mercy' co-star Michael B. Jordan (who killed it as Killmonger in 'Black Panther') will be in about two movies time, behind the legendary likes of Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Samuel L. Jackson as not only one of the best black actors of all-time, but one of Hollywood's hallmark best, regardless of race in a world that should be colorblind, but still needs to know that all lives can't matter until all black ones do. Best like Oscar Isaac. Greatest like Brad Pitt. Legendary like Leo...once upon a time in Hollywood. But now sadly a tragic tale like Heath Ledger and his legendary Joker character. Already with so much done, but also with so much that should have come (he's about to co-star on August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' with Viola Davis on Netflix that will be emotional as it will be epic). True artists. Accomplished actors. Soulful performers now at peace. Like the Los Angeles Dodgers said in terrific tribute, "from playing legendary figures to becoming one". Chadwick Boseman passed away too soon at 43 years of age on the same day major league baseball celebrated the man he played for Jackie Robinson day. It seems as poignant as it does cruel. Just like the fact that this man who was privately married also fought his biggest battle behind the scenes as he had colon cancer and we didn't even know. Didn't know he was fighting this deadly disease, all whilst making movies like another amazing biopic of black brilliance in the supreme court of 'Marshall'...Thurgood Marshall, last years Russo Brothers backed '21 Bridges' 90's throwback and of course Spike Lee's 'Bloods' on Netflix. Not to mention all those Marvel movies (4 of them. Seven films total). Now that's heroic. All whilst fighting the cruelty of cancer and troll's body shaming comments online. "I want the player who's got the guts not to fight back", the legendary Harrison Ford told Chadwick's Jackie Robinson character in '42'. That's kind of the size of it here. But Boseman had the soul to fight cancer right to the end. All whilst fighting other fights like the one against racism. Like he did everytime he played a major man of history, like the first black judge elected to the Supreme Court, there was a 'Message From The King' like the chain of his Netflix movie. All the way to his campaign to claim Black Lives Mattered to Hollywood by demanding more diversity in the ignorant industry. If you want to know how bad its getting today just look to the scene in '42' when Jackie Robinson is being racially taunted and harassed by an opposing teams coach. Chadwick Boseman's acting after, screaming and breaking his bat to splinters in the players tunnel after maintaining his dignity and composure out in the field tells you everything you need to know about how disgusting that word and racism is and why still happening today, players from the NBA and WNBA boycotting game to baseball players leaving a 'Black Lives Matter' t-shirt on home plate after doing the same can't just, "shut up and dribble". Just like we will never stop shouting 'Wakanda Forever' for the one, true crown of the throne.

Rest Peacefully King.

Always and forever.

REVIEW: PROJECT POWER

3.5/5

Power Play. 

113 Mins. Starring: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback, Machine Gun Kelly, Rodrigo Santoro, Amy Landecker & Courtney B. Vance. Director: Ariel Schulman & Henry Joost. 

Red pill, blue pill. Yellow one? Rocking the Murphy 'Delirious' red leather jacket like he was still rolling with Edgar Wright's 'Baby Driver', Jamie Foxx is about to catch more than a bullet. The man who thinks he can play Mike Tyson like his old friend Will Smith thinks he can beat him is popping pills like a Chris Evans 'Push' with Scarlett Johansson 'Lucy', or Bradley Cooper, 'Limitless' possibilities as this regular Joe becomes a superhero. Cranking up the voltage like Jason Statham, Netflix are adapting their own superheroes for hire and your stream like 'The Old Guard' movie, or the second season of 'The Umbrella Academy', now they are cancelling more Marvel street level heroes and shows than The Punisher. Straight out the Foxxhole, Jamie is no stranger to Spawning superheroes. His Tyson biopic isn't the only thing he's got boxing clever in the ring right now, seconds out. And who could forget his epic, Electro villain in 'The Amazing Spider-Man' too? Looking like he was in the Dr. Manhattan blue man group, whilst shutting down Times Square like a Broadway show below those red steps as everyone watched man. The 'Just Mercy' and 'Soloist' dramatic actor who won a Best Actor Oscar for 'Ray', but can still switch keys to big blockbusters like 'Collateral' (and still get Best Supporting nominations for them in the same year like Scarlett Johansson. All whilst crossing over and winning a Grammy to go in his trophy cabinet too like Streisand), has played a President and a 'Django'. All whilst still sidekicking it like 'Robin Hood's' Little John, the Tubbs to Colin Farrell's 'Miami Vice' Crockett, or being in the greatest boxer of all-times corner as Bundini Brown for Will Smith's 'Ali'. Now he teams up with the ultimate Robin as he hits record with Joseph Gordon-Levitt (still love that Boy Wonder reveal), like the man who can host everything from the ESPY's to an inventive 'Beat Shazam' game show the way this comedian cracks wise was getting back in the booth. You hear that?

'Point Break' throwing his badge into Gotham's Hudson like tossing a cigarette, or his John Blake beat cop character at the end of 'The Dark Knight Rises', one of the best things about the conclusion to Nolan's trilogy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has almost been as disheartened with Hollywood over the past few years. But now the married man in charge of his own entertainment enterprise (hitRECord...trust me, do it like Ben Stiller in 'Starsky & Hutch') is back with a big three of movies in 2020. Apart from some 'Knives Out' and 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' vocal cameos, the 'Looper', 'Snowdon' and 'The Walk' actor has been out the game for a few. But now 'Don Jon' is up from a dream back like running and dancing on the 'Inception' ceiling like Lionel Richie, or his Fred Astaire tribute a decade after his most iconic moment in movies. As the '500 Days Of Summer' villain returns a mile-high, piloting the claustrophobic '7500' like a 'Buried' Ryan Reynolds meets a 'Non-Stop' Liam Neeson. And this...all before 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7' for Aaron Sorkin's epic ensemble of a Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Matten II, Mark Rylance, Jeremy Strong, Frank Langella, William Hurt and Michael Keaton courtroom. Robin teams up with Electro like Dane DeHaan's Harry Osborne, Green Goblin for this anti-hero take on the genre that's all a 'Chronicle' of enhanced individuals, no capes. And the always heroic and charismatic Foxx and heroic and considerate Levitt, levitate this one out of a bigger hole than a superhero landing...and boy do they stick it. Superman ain't got s### on this! Bulletproof like Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler. Or looking like you've been slapped by a bass fish. Flammable like The Human Torch, just like how that big guy under the 'Umbrella' cribs off The Thing. As cold as Emma Frost ice. Invisible like the H.G. Wells man Johnny Depp didn't turn into as 'The Handmaid's Tale's' Elizabeth Moss starred in this years reboot, blink and you miss it before corona closed down cinemas. Netflix is now streams ahead with this project. No one service should have all that power.

New Orleans and a Mardi Gras of superpowers in Crescent City. NOLA with Tha Carter, Lil' Wayne rapping over the Louisiana soundtrack, the block is hot and the swamp is thick. And there's more pills in this drug run than a packet of Skittles...all the colours. With the double team of a cop and a former soldier pushing the power with their first meet with heat, almost halfway through this picture. As Foxx unloads with the 'Sleepless' blunderbuss and Gordon-Levitt riding shotgun, polices the city in time with his classic Casio and a Saints jersey like the cop he is with the badge hanging over. Dirt bike taking down criminals in Pelicans Anthony Davis jerseys like that trade. Bringing big blockbuster excitement to the Big Easy like Zion and all the trumpets as the horn blares like the end of the fourth quarter in this French one. Still for all the Superdome big names, it's 'The Hate U Give', 'The Deuce' and 'Show Me A Hero' star Dominique Fishback who really does in her coming of age movie as the teen hits the scene, rapping it up with her double threat talent like Foxx. Amongst all the other actors making their play, from 'Westworld' and 'Focus' star Rodrigo Santoro staring down the scope of villainy, to rapper Machine Gun Kelly (who also starred in Netflix's 'Bird Box', even of you blindfold missed it before your eyes) literally getting as hot as his bars. But it's 'The People vs O.J. Simpson's' Johnnie Cochran and 'The Mummy' star Courtney B. Vance who with actual courtesy, professionalism and respect, helps this B movie advance to a blockbuster. No 'Bad Lieutenant' here in the Cage. Although there's more than meets the eye with 'Project Almanac' star Amy Landecker for this project X. Just like the deluxe directors working their own double act. 'Paranormal Activity's' spirited Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost (yep the 'Catfish' guys and that's no trick). Hollywood South really is making movies right now in more ways than one for the city that care forgot. As this movie that is all about Clint Eastwood's (nice 'Bridges Of Madison County' reference for a writer who has just read it) and seismographs punk, puts on for the N.O. city in more ways than one. All the way to an epic end, set-piece soaked in Mississippi rain as Foxx descends the stairs like Django off the chain. Making sure we don't forget about Hurricane Katrina in the city that Bush did. The Easy that survived all the hard times. From the flood to the drought. Once again real power is the toast of this town like Bourbon Street. And you don't need no pill to project that. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Push', 'Limitless', 'The Old Guard'. 

#SceneStealing THE LAST SAMURAI (2003)

The Outsider. 

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

(Our #SceneStealing feature returns and takes it back to 2003 with Tom Cruise and 'The Last Samurai'. WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD.)

"I will miss our conversations."

Once more unto the breach my friend. Even if the sight of Maverick 'Top Gun' actor Tom Cruise in Samurai armour like a floppy haired and unshaven Keanu Reeves in the mystical '47 Ronin' had comedy legend Paul Mooney making cultural appropriation jokes ahead of its Twitter time on the classic 'Chappelle's Show'. "Hollywood is crazy. First they had 'The Mexican' with Brad Pitt. And now they've got 'The Last Samurai' with Tom Cruise. We'll I've written a movie, maybe they'll produce my film. 'The Last (word I can't and would never say) On Earth', starring Tom Hanks. How about that?" But in this legendary movie from the art of war 'Glory' of 'Legends Of The Fall', 'Courage Under Fire' and 'Blood Diamond' director Edward Zwick (who would later reunite with Cruise on the 'Jack Reacher' sequel, 'Never Go Back'), Cruise's ex Captain American character in his last stand is in the halfway house between Kevin Costner's 90's epic, 'Dances With Wolves' and Jared Leto's criminally underrated and cultural appropriation claimed (he plays an American people...you had me not watching it for years) Netflix Yakuza movie, 'The Outsider', set in cinematography compelling 1950's Osaka in Japan. Just like he is between the 7th Cavalry and the Japanese Imperial Soldiers he's tasked to train to kill the very Samurai he's now, horse drawn standing beside. Hungover after resorting to giving punch drunk gun demonstrations, as he spins his blunderbuss like Channing Tatum's 'Golden Circle', 'Kingsman' sequel character, trying to shoot through his trauma, Tom responds to the call of duty. But for how long in this 'Mission Impossible'?

Billy Connelly has already told Hollywood's most famous actor to, "shove it up his a##"-with all due respect mind-to Cruise's request for the great Scot comedian to fall back and retreat. Timothy Spall has already introduced Tom to Yokohama, a place this writer also named Tim now calls home. Although he doesn't recognize the traditional one here like the new Tokyo in the 'Pacific Rim' sequel 'Uprising' starring John Boyega, Scott Eastwood and Rinko Kikuchi. In this Tom Cruise movie, Zwick has already introduced us to Japanese legends Ken Watanabe and Hiroyuki Sanada like he did Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman in Matthew Broderick's 'Glory' road. Before Watanabe, after his conversations with Cruise played a trick on us in 'Batman Begins', had his dreams invaded by Christopher Nolan in 'Inception' too and starred in the Hollywood 'Godzilla' movies just to utter that name aswell as Japanese classics like 'Memoirs From A Geisha', Clint Eastwood's other side to his 'Flags Of Our Fathers' story, 'Letters From Iwo Jima' and last year's, 'Fukushima 50'. Or 'The King and I' on Broadway. Before Sanada after handing Cruise his a## for most of the movie (finally in grunting approval being impressed with this America's fight in a scene as rain soaked iconic as Tokyo neon reflecting in a Shibuya crossing puddle), sword sliced his way through two Marvel movies, going up against Hugh Jackman's 'Wolverine' and Jeremy Renner's Ronin in 'Avengers: Endgame' in Tokyo. Or 'The Twilight Samurai' star starring in everything from, 'Rush Hour 3' to 'Mr. Holmes', 'Minions' to 'Life' and '47 Ronin' to the forthcoming 'Mortal Kombat' movie. Finish him! All in this perfect period piece and one of the last great westerns before the neo age like Watanabe's 'Unforgiven' with Eastwood and Freeman, and Cruise has seemingly grasped the Japanese language in a Disney montage of scenes like this writer can't even manage after a year in the Far East (apparently I've been saying, "thank you, it's time to eat" for years, thank you very much) and fallen in love with model actress Koyuki (well anyone would after mere minutes) like this writer can't begin to find out here on Bumble. In this beautiful and brutal movie, timeless and traditional, we even get to see this Samurai practice his martial arts that leaves him as comic relief, endearingly embarrassed as this writer singing karaoke (without the endearing). But now in this last dance like Michael Jordan busting your a## for 60 these men face a fallout that looks ready to self destruct like this message in five seconds.

Canons chop down this brave battalion as they advance for the last time. Sanada's Samurai soldier, camouflaged in braveheart blood already spilling his last. Although Cruise gets revenge for his fallen new friend. Javelin throwing his blade at 'Ghost' and 'Nixon' actor Tony Goldwyn doing his best Ed Harris impression, right between the heart like he was auditioning for a personal best in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics next year. But in this track and field cavalry charge, the Imperial fleet are about to bring out the big guns like Schwarzenegger, terminating everything in sight as the sound of roaring defiance is drowned out by artillery. Whoever said, "all is fair in love and war" has never faced heartbreak or a Gatling gun as this one tears everyone apart, falling from their horses as round after round of ammuntion is pushed through its chamber like vegetables through a blender and the weapon that could kill hundreds in seconds is worked with the ease of turning a Grandfather clock. Just another example of old men sending young men to their deaths with a stroke of their pen. Like Masato Harada playing another Japanese villain obsessed with the West and demanding that fallen soldiers be shown no mercy as they die three years later again in Jet Li's iconic 'Fearless' final martial arts stand. Just like in this one in the killing fields were the bravest men (much more than his character) who overcome all the odds are mowed down by cowards from a distance before they advance get the chance to look them in their eyes. They may as well have stabbed them in the back...because they practically did. It's enough to drive anyone to shame. Like the captain who embarrassed in lump in his throat, choked up emotion, delivering one of the most moving moments of the movie were I'm all faucets orders a ceasefire despite Harada's characters crazy craving for blood and bodies. Despite the cruelty of carnage (this Trump before his time has obviously never read or heard of the Geneva Convention...do you know what I'm saying Donald?). This captain then in respect leads a charge in the other side taking a knee out of respect (you hear THAT?!) and bowing before these suicidal Samurai. Putting their lives on the line for so much more as Tom's character helps Ken's perform Seppuku as beautiful cherry blossom blooms and falls around them like the changing of the seasons. "Perfect" Watanabe with teary, wide eyes says in his dying moments on life's vine. "They are all perfect". As later Cruise presents the same sword to a young Emperor, played perfectly by Nakamura Shichinosuke II. Offering to fall on it with the respect of their tradition, the Emperor refuses this leading man's request like he does the one from American's for a traditional Japan to be modernised by the modern West before its time. "Tell me how he died" he orders with compassion, kneeling down to a bowing Cruise. Tom simply replies in a movie that does the same in history for the storied samurai, "I will tell you how he lived."

#ReelToReel SPIKE LEE vs QUENTIN TARANTINO

(Schwarzenegger or Stallone? 'Star Trek' or 'Star Wars'? In our brand new feature #ReelToReel we put the best of Hollywood's best up against each other. Starting with dynamic directors, Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino. Lights. Camera. Action).

By TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Bold. Controversial. American. Did you know that two of Hollywood's most inspirational and incisive, dynamite directors are linked by more than 'Jackie Brown' and 'Jungle Fever' star Samuel L. Jackson? Q.T. actually guest directed like he did on Robert Rodriguez's 'Sin City' on Spike Lee's 'Girl 6' movie (that had everything, even a complete 'Batman' like album soundtrack from the artist, Prince). "I'll never work with that son of a b#### again" (must have been a good shoot), Quentin reportedly told press in Sao Paulo whilst promoting 'The Hateful Eight'. The longstanding feud between the filmmakers is said to have started with Lee's infuriation of what he sees as Tarantino's "infatuation" with the N word. He refused to watch the holocaust of his people in 'Django Unchained'. He probably would have liked it as much as he liked, 'Green Book'. Yet Quentin has been rewriting history like the fall of Hitler in movies for years like 'Inglorious Basterds'. Both directors these years are using their mediums for social commentary. But who is the better director? Time for our own commentary.

Lights... 

'Pulp Fiction'. 'Do The Right Thing'. These aren't just the name of movies. These are the names of cultural cornerstones in cinema. 'Fiction' was that millennial movie college kids had to see like a rite of passage. It was just that great as it twist flipped the script on how stories are told in reverse. Plus it made guys like Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis stars and turned the 'Grease' lightning of John Travolta back into one like 'Saturday Night Live', aswell as a hands out meme. It also gave Harvey Kietel a Direct Line to a commercial contract for his Winston Wolf that was just an offer he couldn't refuse. Still when it comes to these iconic directors most magnum movies there's just something about 'Do The Right Thing' like that very notion. Perhaps it's because right now this 80's movie couldn't be more timely with what has happened this year and too many times before by the hands (knees) and Billy clubs of Police officers who are supposed to protect and serve us all. What happened to George Floyd this year is too awfully familiar to what happened to Eric Garner in 2014. Which looks exactly what happened to Bill Nunn's Radio Raheem character all those years ago as he tried to fight the power like LOVE and HATE. America has been making public enemies out of black lives for years. Spike Lee has been holding up his fist for all that matters for just as long.

Camera... 

Auteurs of their art. Unboxing Q.T.'s bag of tricks could take all year. Dialogue literally for days. Stories about as linear as the tangential as the ones I tell my friends. A foot fetish that even had this writer ask Quentin in a script signing of 'Death Proof' in Liverpool what Salma Hayek's toes tasted like (we've all seen 'From Dusk' Till Dawn'). "Pretty good. Pretty good", he replied to a question that drew a smirk after lines of, "what's in the briefcase mate"? "If you ever get the chance I recommend it". You hear that Salma? Still I digress. As from Denzel Washington in 'Inside Man' (which is set for a sequel like Quentin's 'Kill Bill' revenge volumes) to his son John David, nothing outruns Spike's signature and iconic Dolly shot that hits like Parton, 9 to 5. When it comes to their classics. Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs' changed the filmmaking game. Spike's black and white, 'She's Gotta Have It' changed the love one and spawned two seasons of a T.V show reboot on Netflix that was as underrated as it was too timely today in the Me Too movement of calling Times Up! We wish we could have a third season as much as we would Phoebe Waller-Bridge's 'Fleabag'. Tarantino's best T.V. (apart from those episodes of 'ER' and 'CSI') came when he supported 'Hateful' classic cameo, scene stealing star Channing Tatum on his 'Celebrity Lip Sync Battle'. Seeing Q.T. and LL hang out makes me want a movie with Cool James as much as Q's rumoured 'Star Trek' sequel, that could be as good as Spike Lee's South Korean 'Oldboy' remake was underrated.

Action...

'BlackKklansman', 'Chi-raq', 'Da 5 Bloods'. 'Inglorious Basterds', 'Django Unchained', 'Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood'. The 'Malcolm X' and 'True Romance' directors now make movies much more important than their most influential ones. Whether fiction, or doing the right thing, these two produce films that reflect the sign of the times, but in their own take and style. Trying to say more than all the explicit, incendiary work that works the nerve of the divided states of America that watches it. These directors trying to make a point that could lead us in the right direction. Spike's gotta have it. His Netflix deal is huge. And 'Da 5 Bloods' may be the biggest blockbuster of the year-if not the only one-now that in locked down quarantine our laptops have become our cinemas. The Oscars could come rolling in for Lee's biggest and maybe best picture yet. Yet when it comes to major movies last years best and Summer blockbuster 'Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood' takes the sign in this land. A classic love script to cinema that is more than the collaboration of cinemas best actors and Hollywood heartthrobs in Leonardo DiCaprio and 'Best Supporting Actor' Brad Pitt, like 'Bloods' is more than the flesh and bone of the Vietnam war. Social commentary that's not afraid to tell white America to go f### themselves and a man who rewrites history for peace violently. Tarantino makes the better movies, but arguably right now Lee makes the more important ones. But Quentin's fictional history rewrites have just as much to say about our future as Spike's true storytelling light shedding. There's not much between them. We need them both now more than ever. And even with two movies left in Tarantino's vault making way for all that Lee will lead to, it looks like we can't have one without the other. Meaning these two will be as linked to each other for as long and as much as they don't want to be. If only they could come together one more time for something that would be as groundbreaking as it would be gratifying. Stranger than fiction? Do the right thing legends.

T.V. REVIEW: SNOWPIERCER Season 1

3.5/5

Let It Snow. 

10 Episodes. Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner, Alison Wright, Iddo Goldberg, Susan Park, Kate McGuinness, Sam Otto, Sheila Vand, Mike O'Malley, Annalise Basso, Shaun Toub & Lena Hall. 

Captain America eats babies! Maybe that's why it took so long for the 2013 'Snowpiercer' film from Bong Joon-ho to make it's way over to the stars and stripes from the other side of the tracks. Here the Academy Award winning director of the 2020 Oscar's Best Picture 'Parasite' serves as executive producer, along with horror maestro Scott Derrickson, now departing the 'Multiverse Of Madness' that is Marvel's 'Doctor Strange' sequel. On board the Netflix streaming service series that also carries his outstanding 'Okja', meat is murder metaphor movie. Still Evans' epic performance and the superior 'Snowpiercer' film remains a cult classic. One that made for a nice virtual first trip watch with a friend like we were in quarantine last year...I recommend these type of friendship joining viewings now we really are locked down. Adapted itself from the French graphic novel 'Le Transperceneige' by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette, starring 'Parasite' and Joon-ho's 'The Host' South Korean superstar, Kang Ho-Song, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and the late, great John Hurt now also streaming worldwide for the mainstream. You know what they say, you wait all day for a train and then it appear on everyone's laptop and smartphone ten years later...or is that a bus?! But yeah, in a movie that showed a bearded Chris Evans was more than the spangled Steve Rogers-like his 'Infinity War', quarantine beard freedom fighter-and part of a crew that had to contend with infant cannibalism. Burning like a human torch like he does now in movies like 'Knives Out', 'The Iceman', 'Gifted' and Netflix's own 'The Red Sea Diving Resort', I bet you're wondering why we need a remake and what so soon. We'll it is T.V., Netflix and the modern day. Besides we're stuck at home, playing safe, what else do we have to do? But you could do a lot worse. So like swiping left in this age of moviemaking Tinder for a Bumble hive of blockbusters, don't be so picky. This is a nice steady watch across the rails in our new anti-binge, chugging slowly style. Like 'Wayward Pines' is a poor man's 'Twin Peaks', but still nostalgic for that time episodic series' had a cliffhanger more epic than Sylvester Stallone's grip each week. Just wait until you see daylight.

Piercing through the snow like a knife through butter. Catch this one if you can as Jennifer Connelly and her crew in this railroad labyrinth look in uniform unison like they work for Pan Am...minus the blue bag. The 'Labyrinth', 'Requiem For A Dream' and 'Blood Diamond' actress who is about to take to the air with Tom Cruise's 'Top Gun: Maverick', most recently played the JARVIS (fittingly as the 'Hulk' Betty Ross before Liv Tyler's husband is the original Q suit like Vision itself, Paul Bettany) to 'Spider-Man's' Marvel 'Homecoming' suit, hilariously called Karen. As another ice queen like Melissa Leo's on-screen, sci-fi 'Oblivion' character with Cruise, the 'A Beautiful Mind' star is on the form of her life with something on hers. Whilst 'Frances Ha' star Mickey Sumner, 'The Americans' Alison Wright, 'Peaky Blinders' Iddo Goldberg, 'Always Be My Maybe' star Susan Park, 'The Boy With The Top Knot', Sam Otto and 'Glee's (rest peacefully Naya Rivera), Mike O'Malley, fill out the rest of this crews train of thought and their provoking plot points perfectly. Meanwhile the tail end of this train are looking like extras from Noah Wyle's 'Falling Skies' crew. Yet our leader (Daveed Diggs...more on him later) to this science fiction story like a 'Book Of Eli' wants to break free from this prison like everyone else in economy, just like Wentworth Miller's, Michael Scofield. But without the plans to this runaway train blueprint tattooed to his back like the opening credits, he'll have to settle for the ripped shirtail of a grubby, penned map through the cars. As they all descend down the real depths of these carts like a 'Train To Busan' from 'Seoul Station', facing a horde of zombified suits in this claustrophobic carriage, world war apocalypse now. There will be blood like Paul Thomas Anderson directing Daniel Day-Lewis or the red lipstick stained shirt of 'The Steps' of the Haim sisters. As this thing is more violent than the lawsuit Wilford industries is about to receive off summons from Wikipedia.

Raising a hand for the fingerless gloves in economy, fighting for freedom. The revolution of Clipping frontman and leader Daveed Diggs is here. The 'Hamilton', 'Black-ish', 'Wonder' and Netflix, 'Velvet Buzzsaw' star really comes into his own as this train that doesn't stop here anymore like an Elton John song is his new star vehicle. One emotional uncoupling moment will engage you in all his compelling character. Whilst the 'Roots' of 'Hollywood' star Kate McGuinness is posed for a breakout like shes been here for years. With 'Argo' actress Sheila Vand, Broadway and rock star Lena Hall and new model talent Annalise Basso adding even more to the manifest and the destiny of this series that takes another railroad route for this train as unstoppable as Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. And how can the kindly Shaun Toub who helped 'Iron Man' get out his cave be so intimidating here? There's a moment in this moving vehicle were two lesbian lovers stowed away in secret talk about how they can't tell anyone about their love. But it's got nothing to do with their orientation and everything to do with their class. Making for a movingly subtle moment and statement from the show and streaming service that doesn't make a big deal or tick boxing pitch about same sex relationships. Presenting it for exactly what it is in this world and the class context of this story...absolutely and perfectly normal. Still, have or have not, the literal, physical and metaphorical social class divides that exist here, carriage to carriage still shoot through your heart (especially this year) like a Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto in bullet time. Or a sledgehammer cut to the arm of what looks like something Edward Scissorhands would sculpt for Winona Ryder (but just wait until that gets more personal). Top to tail. From decadence to despondency. Gatsby deco to pound of flesh debauchery. First to worst. No matter who you think the real parasites are as we break the ice on something that was always also the vehicle of a critical cautionary tale concerning climate change, real and right now. Whichever way you look at it. This is first class in the golden age of Netflix TV, from 'Ozark' and 'Dead To Me', or the international 'Money Heist' to 'Crash Landing On You'. Let's just hope there's no cancellations on this line. Now punching and upgrading its ticket for a second season on the way to station. All aboard the thawed. 1001 cars long. 10 miles and running. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Snowpiercer (2013)', 'Train To Busan', 'Prison Break'.