Features

The Ru Report #161

Big Mackie
New-school thespian Anthony Mackie is in a league of his own.

Not too many of the current crop of actors-on-the-rise can boast the credits that the 27-year-old New Orleans native has. Since leaving movie audiences with an indelible impression in the critically acclaimed "8 Mile" two-and-a-half years ago, Mr. Mackie has worked on Broadway alongside Whoopi Goldberg ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom") and even dabbled in the complexities of Chekov ("Drowning Crow").

On the silver screen, he literally bared his all in Spike Lee's controversial "She Hate Me," and has logged time with Denzel Washington ("The Manchurian Candidate"), Harrison Ford ("Hollywood Homicide"), Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood ("Million Dollar Baby").

Talk about keeping good company.

Or is it just good "agenting"?

"Hard work!," is what the talented Mr. Mackie attributes the break-out success to. "I mean, this is a very fickle business, and I put myself in a position where people couldn't pigeon-hole me."

"People can't look at my resume and say, 'Well he can only do this,'" he continued. "When they look at my resume they can say, 'Okay, he's good at Shakespeare, he's good at Chekhov, he's good at theater, he's good at film. He's done work with Spike Lee, worked with Clint Eastwood.' I can't think of another actor, black or white, under 35 with a resume like mine."

Alrightee then.

Don't mistake his confidence for arrogance. Mr. Mackie knows he got a good thing--in his acting craft. And he continues to be on the grind to master it. "I still gotta hustle like a fat cat to get a job," he quipped. "You know, it's like people know who I am, they recognize me, but getting them to hire you is a different story. You know, I mean, Hollywood has a tendency of hiring like the same six people. You know what I'm sayin'? And I'm not one of their six yet."

Okay. This brother sure knows how to put things into perspective.

Currently residing in Harlem USA, the Julliard alum ("I studied acting at Juilliard in a four year intensive conservatory program.") is currently knocking theater audiences dead as Darius McReele, a sharp-witted and intelligent former death row inmate turned politician in Stephen Belber's thought-provoking play, "McReele." Directed by Tony nominated Doug Hughes ("Frozen"), the play is presented by the Roundabout Theater Company and is playing at the Laura Pels Theater in the Times Square section of New York City through May 1.

"Theater," he said, is his preferred medium to work in. "I mean, theater, you know, is very redeeming. You know, you can be bad one night, and come back the next night and have the performance of your life. In film, if you're bad once, you're bad for the rest of your life."

"In film, you know, it's one of those things that's really interesting," he continued. "You know, you can give an amazing performance and the editor can go in and mess it up. You know what I'm sayin'? But once you're on the stage, once you touch the board, you know, can't nobody mess up your performance but you. You know what I'm sayin'?"

Mr. Mackie won an Obie Award for 2002's "Talk," which played at The Public Theater.

He counts "The Cosby Show" as one of his favorite TV shows, while also giving props to Don Cheadle and Meryl Streep for their acting prowess. He says he's single--but has been known to make a few potential suitors swoon in the Big Apple.

On celluloid, he has a barrage of flicks ready for release including: "The Man" starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy coming in September; "Haven" with Orlando Bloom and Zoe Saldana on deck; and "Heaven's Fall" with Timothy Hutton and Leelee Sobieski based on the monumental Scottsboro Boys trial of the 1930s.

His star-turn in the independent hit "Brother to Brother" will get a second act when it arrives in DVD format in June 14. In the daring and courageous film, directed by Rodney Evans, Mr. Mackie plays a gay black art student channeling the spirit of Harlem Renaissance legends James Baldwin and Langston Hughes through his own self-discovery in the new millennium.

"'Brother to Brother' is an amazing film. It's reached a level of success and awareness in the Hollywood community that I never imagined," he beamed. "I mean, when I did 'Brother to Brother,' you know, I did it just as an idea, as an artistic venture for myself. You know what I mean? Because growing up in the South, you grow up homophobic, sexist and racist. You understand what I'm sayin'? So moving to New York, it was a big culture shock for me. And that was something that I wanted to deal with as an artist because a lot of my friends are homosexual. And I've always had an uncomfortable nature around them. You know what I mean? So that was something that I wanted to deal with and work on."

He plays gay quite convincingly. The flick won three 2004 Outfest Awards, four 2004 Independent Spirit Awards and a Special Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

"'Brother to Brother' was the first script I read that, you know, dealt with homosexuality that wasn't, you know, just like a snap queen, drag queen type movie," he added. "I mean some gay men are, you know, drag queens, but some just are regular guys that date men. And 'Brother to Brother' was the first script that I read where it was a three-dimensional person. It was an actual human being."

On May 2, BAMcinématek, BAM Rose Cinemas' repertory film program, will present a special screening of "Brother to Brother" followed by a Q&A with the director and cast members (www.bam.org).

He added that one of his dreams is to bring the story of Shakespeare to the silver screen-- with an all-Black cast. "Get James Earl Jones to play 'King Lear.' He can do it," Mr. Mackie pontificated. "Get a dynamic actor, we got a bunch of them. Morgan Freeman could play King Lear. And I bet brothers would jump at the opportunity. We got, Harry Lennix, we got some phenomenal actors that are classically trained actors. Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright, phenomenally trained actors. And like, I don't need to be the lead, I just want to be a part of it. I just want to stand on set and watch them work."

"It's not just about money for me. This means something to me. This is not my job, this is my career."

Spoken like a true pro.

Stages
Tony Award winning chanteuses Dee Dee Bridgewater and Melba Moore recently returned to the New York stage for two separate shows at two very separate venues within the last few weeks. Ms. Bridgewater, the Grammy Award-winning jazz stylist who nabbed her Tony thirty years ago for her dazzling performance as Glinda the Good Witch in the Broadway musical "The Wiz," played a string of dates at New York's hot and hip performance venue, Le Jazz Au Bar from April 6 through April 17. For the show billed "J'ai Deux Amours" in honor of her new CD of the same name, Miss Bridgewater sang an eclectic evening of jazz, including collection of French love songs paying homage to French music icons Josephine Baker, Eith Piaf and composer Sacha Distel from the new album.

And Ms. Moore, who is having a renaissance of sorts lately, recently opened a one-woman show called "Sweet Songs Of The Soul" at the New Federal Theater in lower Manhattan. The former pop princess, who became the first Black woman to take over a lead role in a Broadway musical from a white actress (Diane Keaton--"Hair"), won a Tony Award for best supporting actress in her role as Lutiebelle in "Purlie." A glorious version of the Ossie Davis-created show was recently revived at New York's City Center, as part of its Encore series--starring Tony Award winners Lillias White and Anika Noni Rose. Produced by Woodie King, Jr. and directed by Rhonda Passion, "Sweet Songs Of Soul" promises to chronicle the triumph of Ms. Moore's life, featuring songs from Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Harold Arlen, amongst others. The three-week limited engagement concludes on April 17.

At The Movies
Unlike other horror remakes, the 2005 edition of "The Amityville Horror" stays true to the form. And it's scarier than ever.

Hollywood's next hearth-throb on the rise Ryan Reynolds and Tinseltown's latest British import Melissa George leads the cast in the latest incarnation of the legendary horror flick, based on the true story of the familial massacre that took place in the Amityville section of Long Island, New York thirty years ago.

Mr. Reynolds, of "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" fame and most recently a star of "Blade: Trinity," stars at the beleaguered George Lutz--the young and strapping stepfather who literally gets the devil inside of him, after he and his ready-made new family move into the what they thought was their dream house. It turns into one hell-of-a-nightmare replete with a string of spine-chilling events that cause the family to abandon the residence a little less than a month after they move in.

"The Amityville Horror" movie concept is based on the best-selling book of the same name, written by Jay Anson, which in turn documented the actual incident. The original movie opened in 1979 and is considered a horror movie classic.

Peculiarly, this new production was shot outside of Chicago in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, and in Salem, Wisconsin, last fall. Directed by admitted atheist Andrew Douglas--the relatively unknown British lens-man who helmed music videos in the past--"Amityville" was produced by Platinum Dunes producers Michael Bay, Andrew Form, and Brad Fuller, who signed a first-look deal with Dimension Films. The trio brought 2003's box-office hit, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," to the big screen, and are considered a hot commodity.

"It's kind of a hybrid," Mr. Douglas said of the psychological thriller during a recent interview at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons. "I think the inherited wisdom is that in some way that original film had so much equity, and because of that we wanted to tap into it, not just for commercial reasons, but also tap into the idea of it being a true story.

"That is so much value in a horror film," he continued. "And it's clearly elaborated on, and bent and twisted and speculated but there really were those grotesque moments and there really were the scandal where the place was considered haunted and the Lutz family left."

Working with eerie subject matter of the MGM-distributed product wasn't a problem for him. Getting through with it was. "I had nightmares about whether at the end of the story I finished the damn story. Those were my nightmares," he quipped.

Early reviews of the film show promise of it being just as resounding as the original – or maybe have the same financial luster as "Texas." But does that mean a sequel is in the works for the "Amityville" franchise?

"I personally don't know how much juice we can get," Mr. Douglas replied to the thought. "I think we squeezed it pretty dry," adding, ""It would be so bold to do The Shining."

"Is it too soon to do 'Shaun Of The Dead?' he deadpanned.

"The Amityville Horror" opens this Friday and will play in over 145 Loews Cineplex Theaters. For times and a theater near you, please log onto www.enjoytheshow.com.

Music Notes
Multiple Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter, bassist and producer Meshell Ndegeocello's latest project, "Dance of the Infidel" is due out via Shanachie Records on June 21. The instrumentals on the set are 70s Miles Davis flavored fusing jazz with elements of Funk, electronica, R&B and more. Miss Ndegeocello never ceases amazement. Via her ensemble called The Spirit Music Jamia, which means "school" in ancient African, the set boasts sublime collaborations with Cassandra Wilson, Lalah Hathaway and Sabina of The Brazilian Girls. While the jazzmatazzmic vibe highlights Ms. Ndegeocello as a bassist, it brilliantly juxtaposes her talents with an all-star cast including Kenny Garrett, Jack DeJohnette, Oliver Lake, Don Byron, Wallace Roney, Ron Blake, and Michael Cain amongst others. It's like you've never heard her before. And it's damn good!!!

Only the good Lord knows what ever became of Def Jam's big plans for Ashanti's latest album, "Concrete Rose." But thanks to her management team's sharp business acumen, she has other interests elsewhere. Her star turn as the lead in the forthcoming ABC telefilm "The Muppets' Wizard Of Oz" will get the royal roll-out with a huge red carpet premiere at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, which was co-founded by Robert DeNiro. On April 27, the movie will premiere at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in lower New York City. The platinum-plated Murda Inc. Princess will be joined by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo and Pepe the King Prawn for the actual premiere event. " Wizard of Oz" will air on May 20 as part of the hit family franchise, The Wonderful World of Disney. Fans are encouraged to visit www.Muppets.com to enter to win a chance to attend the premiere.

Clear Channel Communications sure knows how to bring out the star-power. This Saturday's "Power Music Summit"--held at New York's Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom--is shaping up as the "place to be" for hip hop aficionados. Def Jam Records newest head honcho Jay Z will make a special appearance and will be presented with the "Man Of The Millennium Award" by hip hop Godfather Russell Simmons. Jermaine Dupri, LL Cool J, Irv Gotti are also expected to participate in the one-day event that a spokesperson says "gives business executives, aspiring label entrepreneurs, song writers, producers, and artists a chance to discuss the ins and outs of the business." On-air personalities from Clear Channel's dominant hip hop station Power 105.1 (such as Ed Lover, Cherry Martinez, Malikha Mallette, Déjà Vu and the gorgeous Egypt) will serve as hosts for the day.

Mariah Carey's association with power publicist Marvet Britto is paying off. There hasn't been this much momentum in the best-selling diva's career since she was signed to Columbia Records in the 1990s. Her newest album, "The Emancipation of Mimi"--released on Tuesday--has garnered critical acclaim and is selling out at retail outlets across the country. Def Jam, Ms. Carey's record label-- helmed by Antonio "LA" Reid and Jay Z--shipped over one million copies to stores this week, and the first week sales figures are expected to be high. A string of high profile TV shows are expertly framing the first week buzz, including stops at MTV, "Live with Regis & Kelly," "The Late Show with David Letterman" and a much bally-hooed, traffic-halting concert on "Good Morning America." The acclaimed singer/songwriter celebrated her liberation with a throng of record company brass, family members and super-producer Jermaine Dupri (who gave her the two lead singles from the project: "It's Like That" and "We Belong Together," respectively--bona fide hits) at the upscale Japanese restaurant Megu, in the Tribeca section of New York City --just a few blocks from her swank three story pied-a-tier. Appearances on "Oprah" and "The View" will follow her star turn on this Sunday's VH1 "Save The Music" benefit concert, formerly known as "Divas Live."

Tube Talk
Whoopi Goldberg's critically-acclaimed return to the Broadway's Lyceum Theater last fall premiered on HBO for a special, titled "WHOOPI: Back To Broadway – The 20th Anniversary," last weekend. The 90-minute special includes material from the Emmy, Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Golden Globe Award winner's twelve-week engagement on The Great White Way. The exclusive HBO presentation is her first solo comedy special in 13 years, also marking her return to Broadway and reunited her with Mike Nichols, who originally presented Ms. Goldberg onstage in 1985. The one-woman show features a provocative mix of familiar and new creations, including the rant-prone male dope fiend Fontaine, an older Southern woman facing menopause named Lurleen, and a handicapped woman who first found romance 20 years ago in the very first HBO special. "Back To Broadway…" also airs on April 14, 17, 20, 25 and 29. That's just in case you missed it.

On the April 26 episode of UPN's popular sitcom "Eve," "E.R."'s Sharif Atkins' stars as Shelly's (Eve) boyfriend who encourages discussion about HIV testing. Golden Brooks (of UPN's "Girlfriends") also guest stars as Nurse LaDonna for the show, which was directed by Leonard R. Garner, Jr. from a script written by Beverly D. Hunter.

I'm very happy to be the very first to report that Will Smith is being tapped to host this year's BET Awards, to air on June 28 live from Los Angeles. The Academy Award nominated box-office superstar will replace the previous host of the show, Mo'Nique, the super-sized comedienne who was a ratings draw for the network. According to a spokesperson for the network, they are still ironing out details for the show.

Stuff
"Essence" magazine spin-off "Suede" may have gone kaput after just four issues (and a lot of drama) but another Black women's magazine is still going strong--"Sister 2 Sister." The magazine's publisher Jamie Foster-Brown is celebrating the lifestyle publication's sixteenth anniversary in high style at New York City's Crobar nightclub on April 20, with a who's who of Black entertainment expected to attend. "'Sister 2 Sister' has been in the celebrity news business for sixteen years now and we couldn't be prouder," offered the always outspoken Mrs. Foster-Brown. "We owe our success and longevity to all of the celebrities in music, TV and film--from those just starting their careers to the mega-superstars--who have graced the pages of our magazine throughout the years. There's definitely a synergy between the artist and Sister 2 Sister, and this year's gala will be the perfect opportunity for us to come together and enjoy each other, let our hair down and have a great time." According to a spokesperson, the gala will feature a red carpet, a hot DJ, a special 'Sister 2 Sister' "sweet 16" cake presentation, and the Anheuser-Busch "Tried & True Bud Lounge" for sponsors and celebrity guests. Gala participants will also receive a special souvenir booklet entitled "Evolution." The pictorial will follow the publication's growth and profile founders and staff with photos and remembrances. "Sister 2 Sister" is the only ABC audited publication wholly-owned by an African-American female. It is considered one of the fastest growing African-American publications in the United States, and "Newsweek" has reffered to it as "the Black version of "People" magazine."

J. L. King's controversial, best-selling tome "On The Down Low: A Journey Into The Lives Of "Straight" Black Men Who Sleep With Men" has just arrived in paperback format via Broadway Books. The page-turner exposes a closeted culture of sex between black men who lead "straight" lives and reveals the warning signs and protective measures every African American woman needs to know. It's required reading.

Notable/Quotable
"I hate it. The only thing that I don't mind is that everyone on the show this season is not a super has-been. But they get paid a lot of money, so you gotta do what you gotta do."
--super-duper model Tyra Banks, about VH1's wildly popular reality show "The Surreal Life."

Coming Up
"The RU Report" will celebrate the theatrical arts with our annual "Give My Regards…" series, which will run throughout the entire month of May, preceding the Tony Awards. Be on the look out.

©2005 The Ru Report™. All Rights Reserved~~P.O. Box #25 Bushkill PA 18324

Message Karu F Daniels or email him directly at therureport@aol.com