25

January 2012

Entertainment & Culture

/ TV & Film

2012 Sundance Film Festival

2012 Sundance Film Festival

Playfully ironic, heightened, yet grounded, Spike Lee’s bold new movie, "Red Hook Summer" returns him to his roots, where lovable, larger-than-life characters form the tinderbox of a tight-knit community.

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

A story about the coexistence of altruism and corruption, "Red Hook Summer" toys with expectations, seducing us with the promise of moral and spiritual transcendence.

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

Spike schools the young stars of "Red Hook Summer."

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

From "She's Gotta Have It" to "Red Hook Summer," Spike Lee is still at it!

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

Enoch (Clarke Peters) feels the spirit!

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

Some things never change, Spike reppin' his home team!

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

All in the Family: Clarke Peters, Toni Lysaith, Spike Lee and Jules Taylor Brown, pose at the premiere of "Red Hook Summer" at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

Real Love: Spike Lee and wife Tonya Lewis pose at the premiere of "Red Hook Summer."

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

"2 Days in New York"

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

In "2 Days in New York," Marion (Julie Delpy) and Mingus (Chris Rock) live cozily with their cat and two young children from previous relationships.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

However, when Marion’s jolly father, her oversexed sister, and her sister’s outrageous boyfriend unceremoniously descend upon them for a visit, it initiates two unforgettable days.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

With their unwitting racism and sexual frankness, the French triumvirate hilariously has no boundaries or filters . . . and no person is left unscathed in its wake.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Oh how adorable!

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Just blow! Now that's real love.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Say what now?

Hey it's Lisa Gay Hamilton from "The Practice!"

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

"2 Days in New York" heightens cultural differences to comedic extremes but also manages to show that sometimes change is the best solution to a relationship that’s been pushed to its limit.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Hushpuppy, an intrepid six-year-old girl, lives with her father, Wink, in “the Bathtub,” a southern Delta community at the edge of the world.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Wink’s tough love prepares her for the unraveling of the universe; for a time when he’s no longer there to protect her.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

When Wink contracts a mysterious illness, nature flies out of whack— unleashing an army of prehistoric creatures called aurochs.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" exists entirely in its own universe: mythological, anthropological, folkloric, and apocalyptic.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

In "The Ambassador," an enigmatic and decadent white diplomat arrives in central Africa. He has recently bought an ambassadorship and claims to be a do-good rich businessman spearheading a diplomatic mission.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

Officially, he is there to start a factory that will employ locals to produce matches.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

Unofficially, he has really come to gain access to the area’s vast reserves of diamonds.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

It soon becomes apparent that, in this postcolonial economy, nearly everyone is out to rip off everyone else, and the dangers become all too real.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

"The Ambassador," is a genre-breaking tragicomedy that establishes Brügger as a singular voice in the documentary world.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

In "Celeste and Jesse Forever," Celeste and Jesse met in high school and got married young. They laugh at the same jokes and finish each other’s sentences. Then, they have decided to get divorced.

Photo courtesy of "Celeste and Jesse Forever"

The look of love... or is it?

Photo courtesy of "Celeste and Jesse Forever"

Jesse (Andy Samberg) and Celeste (Rashida Jones) try to figure this love thing out.

Photo courtesy of "Celeste and Jesse Forever"

Group Hug: Andy Samberg, Quincy Jones, Rashida Jones and Peggy Lipton, pose at the premiere of "Celeste and Jesse Forever" at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

Always Daddy's Little Girl: Quincy Jones gives daughter, Rashida Jones a kiss on the cheek.

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

"Slavery By Another Name"

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

In "Slavery By Another Name," Sam Pollard performs an act of historical reclamation, recounting the many ways in which slavery persisted as a practice after its supposed abolition.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

Facing economic catastrophe under Reconstruction, southern states found effective tactics to continue forced servitude in new modes.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

It is a story impressive in its sweep and alarming in the way that its larger theme—an American moral failure—has been obscured in history.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

Techniques such as peonage, leasing convicts to private business, or forcing convict labor in state-run enterprises subjected newly freed American citizens to a new form of slavery.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

"Middle of Nowhere"

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

In "Middle of Nowhere," the universal dilemma of how a woman maintains herself as she commits to loving and supporting someone through hardship.

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

What happens when love takes you places you never thought you would go?

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

When her husband, Derek (Omari Hardwick), is sentenced to 8 years in a California prison, Ruby (Emayatzy Corinealdi) drops out of medical school to maintain her marriage.

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

Ruby learns to sustain the shame, separation, guilt, and grief that a prison wife must bear.

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

Playfully ironic, heightened, yet grounded, Spike Lee’s bold new movie, "Red Hook Summer" returns him to his roots, where lovable, larger-than-life characters form the tinderbox of a tight-knit community.

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

A story about the coexistence of altruism and corruption, "Red Hook Summer" toys with expectations, seducing us with the promise of moral and spiritual transcendence.

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

Spike schools the young stars of "Red Hook Summer."

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

From "She's Gotta Have It" to "Red Hook Summer," Spike Lee is still at it!

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

Enoch (Clarke Peters) feels the spirit!

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

Some things never change, Spike reppin' his home team!

Photo courtesy of "Red Hook Summer"

All in the Family: Clarke Peters, Toni Lysaith, Spike Lee and Jules Taylor Brown, pose at the premiere of "Red Hook Summer" at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

Real Love: Spike Lee and wife Tonya Lewis pose at the premiere of "Red Hook Summer."

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

"2 Days in New York"

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

In "2 Days in New York," Marion (Julie Delpy) and Mingus (Chris Rock) live cozily with their cat and two young children from previous relationships.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

However, when Marion’s jolly father, her oversexed sister, and her sister’s outrageous boyfriend unceremoniously descend upon them for a visit, it initiates two unforgettable days.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

With their unwitting racism and sexual frankness, the French triumvirate hilariously has no boundaries or filters . . . and no person is left unscathed in its wake.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Oh how adorable!

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Just blow! Now that's real love.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Say what now?

Hey it's Lisa Gay Hamilton from "The Practice!"

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

"2 Days in New York" heightens cultural differences to comedic extremes but also manages to show that sometimes change is the best solution to a relationship that’s been pushed to its limit.

Photo courtesy of "2 Days in New York"

Hushpuppy, an intrepid six-year-old girl, lives with her father, Wink, in “the Bathtub,” a southern Delta community at the edge of the world.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Wink’s tough love prepares her for the unraveling of the universe; for a time when he’s no longer there to protect her.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

When Wink contracts a mysterious illness, nature flies out of whack— unleashing an army of prehistoric creatures called aurochs.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" exists entirely in its own universe: mythological, anthropological, folkloric, and apocalyptic.

Photo courtesy of "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

In "The Ambassador," an enigmatic and decadent white diplomat arrives in central Africa. He has recently bought an ambassadorship and claims to be a do-good rich businessman spearheading a diplomatic mission.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

Officially, he is there to start a factory that will employ locals to produce matches.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

Unofficially, he has really come to gain access to the area’s vast reserves of diamonds.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

It soon becomes apparent that, in this postcolonial economy, nearly everyone is out to rip off everyone else, and the dangers become all too real.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

"The Ambassador," is a genre-breaking tragicomedy that establishes Brügger as a singular voice in the documentary world.

Photo courtesy of "The Ambassador"

In "Celeste and Jesse Forever," Celeste and Jesse met in high school and got married young. They laugh at the same jokes and finish each other’s sentences. Then, they have decided to get divorced.

Photo courtesy of "Celeste and Jesse Forever"

The look of love... or is it?

Photo courtesy of "Celeste and Jesse Forever"

Jesse (Andy Samberg) and Celeste (Rashida Jones) try to figure this love thing out.

Photo courtesy of "Celeste and Jesse Forever"

Group Hug: Andy Samberg, Quincy Jones, Rashida Jones and Peggy Lipton, pose at the premiere of "Celeste and Jesse Forever" at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

Always Daddy's Little Girl: Quincy Jones gives daughter, Rashida Jones a kiss on the cheek.

Photo: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok

"Slavery By Another Name"

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

In "Slavery By Another Name," Sam Pollard performs an act of historical reclamation, recounting the many ways in which slavery persisted as a practice after its supposed abolition.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

Facing economic catastrophe under Reconstruction, southern states found effective tactics to continue forced servitude in new modes.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

It is a story impressive in its sweep and alarming in the way that its larger theme—an American moral failure—has been obscured in history.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

Techniques such as peonage, leasing convicts to private business, or forcing convict labor in state-run enterprises subjected newly freed American citizens to a new form of slavery.

Photo courtesy of "Slavery By Another Name"

"Middle of Nowhere"

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

In "Middle of Nowhere," the universal dilemma of how a woman maintains herself as she commits to loving and supporting someone through hardship.

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

What happens when love takes you places you never thought you would go?

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

When her husband, Derek (Omari Hardwick), is sentenced to 8 years in a California prison, Ruby (Emayatzy Corinealdi) drops out of medical school to maintain her marriage.

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

Ruby learns to sustain the shame, separation, guilt, and grief that a prison wife must bear.

Photo courtesy of "Middle of Nowhere"

More Ebony

The Movies! Celeste & Jesse Forever

Movie Review: Celeste and Jesse Forever

Reel Sister: Ava DuVernay Makes History

Reel Sister: Ava DuVernay Takes Over

A Look at the Year in Black Cinema

A Look Back at the Year in Black Cinema

[INTERVIEW] Spike Lee Talks 'Red Hook'

[INTERVIEW] Spike Lee Talks 'Red Hook Summer'

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