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Hancock
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize
Theron star in "Hancock."
Theron star in "Hancock."
The Dark Knight
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - PG 13
2 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
LAUREN FRANCIS-SHARMA SAYS:
Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize
Theron star in "Hancock."
Theron star in "Hancock."
Miracle At St. Anna
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
5 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
MOVIE REVIEW
Rated - R
5 OUT 5 POPCORN BAGS
SHAWN EDWARDS SAYS:
For years Hollywood has reduced the black soldiers’ role in the military to a Casper the Ghost like
status. Invisible. Yes, you get the occasional war movie where African Americans are featured as the
driver, the cook or the junkie. But you never see the champions of freedom who helped save America
from the big bad wolves, or the patriotic action hero whose only mission is to protect our values and
democracy. That is until now.
First, director Spike Lee deserves props for correcting history. The contributions African American
troops have made to our history of wars have always been missing from text books and the big
screen. Now they take center stage in “Miracle at St. Anna” as Lee delivers a moving cinematic tribute
that is accurately gruesome, completely honest and painfully realistic.
Secondly, Lee should be commended for providing a fresh take and new perspective on the World
War II picture. There has never been a movie about the Second World War from a black perspective
and “Miracle at St. Anna” is precisely detailed and keenly produced. And it’s about damn time!
status. Invisible. Yes, you get the occasional war movie where African Americans are featured as the
driver, the cook or the junkie. But you never see the champions of freedom who helped save America
from the big bad wolves, or the patriotic action hero whose only mission is to protect our values and
democracy. That is until now.
First, director Spike Lee deserves props for correcting history. The contributions African American
troops have made to our history of wars have always been missing from text books and the big
screen. Now they take center stage in “Miracle at St. Anna” as Lee delivers a moving cinematic tribute
that is accurately gruesome, completely honest and painfully realistic.
Secondly, Lee should be commended for providing a fresh take and new perspective on the World
War II picture. There has never been a movie about the Second World War from a black perspective
and “Miracle at St. Anna” is precisely detailed and keenly produced. And it’s about damn time!
Shawn Edwards is a film critic for Fox 4 News in Kansas City, Missouri . Edwards co-founded the
African American Film Critics Association and is currently working on his third documentary “Our
Heroes: The 25 Best Black Sports Movies (Ever)."
African American Film Critics Association and is currently working on his third documentary “Our
Heroes: The 25 Best Black Sports Movies (Ever)."
Matteo Sciabordi, Omar Benson Miller, Michael Ealy,
Derek Luke and Laz Alonso.
Derek Luke and Laz Alonso.
In the movie Lee throws an early jab at Hollywood’s racist past. “Miracle at St. Anna” begins with an
older black man watching one of those old whack John Wayne war flicks (“The Longest Day”) on TV
and utters, “We fought for this country, too Pilgrim.” Bam suckas! This is why Lee is the greatest black
filmmaker in the history of film. He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s a freakin’ myth buster
and a damn good maker of movies that uplift and inform.
“Miracle at St. Anna” chronicles the story of four black American soldiers portrayed by Derek Luke,
Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller (now an official iloveblackmovies.com favorite) who
are members of the US Army as part of the all-black 92nd Buffalo Soldier Division stationed in
Tuscany, Italy during World War II. The movie begins in 1983 as a postal clerk kills an Italian man with
a German pistol. The police uncover an Italian statuette head in the clerk’s apartment. Reportedly the
head is worth millions. Flashback to 1944 and the four G.I.s find themselves trapped in a small Italian
village behind enemy lines.
“Miracle at St. Anna” has all the elements of a classic war picture mixed with heavy doses of Spike
Lee flava. Great combat scenes. Check. Witty banter between the troops. Check. Plenty of racial
tension. Check. Crazy Lee camera tricks. Check. It’s all there in "Miracle at St. Anna." But it's the
scenes where the four G.I.s interact with the villagers that Lee's vision becomes clear. The film's
most interesting element deals with Miller's character who adopts and befriends a traumatized young
Italian orphan boy lost in the shuffle and confusion of war. The two develop a heartwarming friendship
and humanize the movie which is often brutal and painfully horrid.
"Miracle at St. Anna" is way more entertaining than Clint Eastwood's unbelievably boring "Flags of Our
Fathers," as interesting as the overrated "Saving Private Ryan," and just as compelling as
"Schindler's List." At the very least, Lee deserves an Oscar nomination for his accomplished directing
and Miller one for his terrific performance. The Lee nomination ain't gonna happen. Not in a million
years. He blew his chance by correctly scolding Eastwood for his lack of including blacks in his two
World War II movies, "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima." Lee was correct, but
Eastwood is a God in Hollywood and the Academy Awards are all about politricks. Miller has a better
shot but is more likely to get props at the NAACP Image Awards.
Nevertheless, it was cool seeing these young black brothers on the big screen representing a slice of
neglected history, and it was interesting watching Lee intertwine elements of drama in a combat
setting that also examined social issues with traces of humor and dead on social commentary.
"Miracle at St. Anna" is a powerful story well executed by Lee who boldly reclaims a chapter of
American history with one of the best films of his career and easily this year.
older black man watching one of those old whack John Wayne war flicks (“The Longest Day”) on TV
and utters, “We fought for this country, too Pilgrim.” Bam suckas! This is why Lee is the greatest black
filmmaker in the history of film. He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s a freakin’ myth buster
and a damn good maker of movies that uplift and inform.
“Miracle at St. Anna” chronicles the story of four black American soldiers portrayed by Derek Luke,
Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller (now an official iloveblackmovies.com favorite) who
are members of the US Army as part of the all-black 92nd Buffalo Soldier Division stationed in
Tuscany, Italy during World War II. The movie begins in 1983 as a postal clerk kills an Italian man with
a German pistol. The police uncover an Italian statuette head in the clerk’s apartment. Reportedly the
head is worth millions. Flashback to 1944 and the four G.I.s find themselves trapped in a small Italian
village behind enemy lines.
“Miracle at St. Anna” has all the elements of a classic war picture mixed with heavy doses of Spike
Lee flava. Great combat scenes. Check. Witty banter between the troops. Check. Plenty of racial
tension. Check. Crazy Lee camera tricks. Check. It’s all there in "Miracle at St. Anna." But it's the
scenes where the four G.I.s interact with the villagers that Lee's vision becomes clear. The film's
most interesting element deals with Miller's character who adopts and befriends a traumatized young
Italian orphan boy lost in the shuffle and confusion of war. The two develop a heartwarming friendship
and humanize the movie which is often brutal and painfully horrid.
"Miracle at St. Anna" is way more entertaining than Clint Eastwood's unbelievably boring "Flags of Our
Fathers," as interesting as the overrated "Saving Private Ryan," and just as compelling as
"Schindler's List." At the very least, Lee deserves an Oscar nomination for his accomplished directing
and Miller one for his terrific performance. The Lee nomination ain't gonna happen. Not in a million
years. He blew his chance by correctly scolding Eastwood for his lack of including blacks in his two
World War II movies, "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima." Lee was correct, but
Eastwood is a God in Hollywood and the Academy Awards are all about politricks. Miller has a better
shot but is more likely to get props at the NAACP Image Awards.
Nevertheless, it was cool seeing these young black brothers on the big screen representing a slice of
neglected history, and it was interesting watching Lee intertwine elements of drama in a combat
setting that also examined social issues with traces of humor and dead on social commentary.
"Miracle at St. Anna" is a powerful story well executed by Lee who boldly reclaims a chapter of
American history with one of the best films of his career and easily this year.
Matteo Sciabordi, Omar Benson Miller and Michael Ealy.
(right) Derek Luke in Miracle at St. Anna.
(right) Derek Luke in Miracle at St. Anna.
SPIKE LEE'S BOX OFFICE HITS
1. Inside Man (2006) - $88.5 million
2. Malcolm X (1992) - $48.1 million
3. The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) - $38.1 million
4. Jungle Fever (1991) - $32.4 million
5. Do the Right Thing (1989) - $27.5 million
1. Inside Man (2006) - $88.5 million
2. Malcolm X (1992) - $48.1 million
3. The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) - $38.1 million
4. Jungle Fever (1991) - $32.4 million
5. Do the Right Thing (1989) - $27.5 million
Spike Lee has made 21 movies, and
iloveblackmovies ranks the good and the
bad. Click here.
iloveblackmovies ranks the good and the
bad. Click here.
The military history of
African Americans
spans from the arrival
of the first black slaves
history of the United
States to the present
day. There has been no
war fought by or within
the United States in
which African
Americans did not
participate, including
the War of 1812, the
Civil War, the Spanish
American War, the
World Wars, the Korean
War, the Vietnam War,
the Gulf War, and the
current wars
Afghanistan and Iraq, as
well as other minor
conflicts.
African Americans
spans from the arrival
of the first black slaves
history of the United
States to the present
day. There has been no
war fought by or within
the United States in
which African
Americans did not
participate, including
the War of 1812, the
Civil War, the Spanish
American War, the
World Wars, the Korean
War, the Vietnam War,
the Gulf War, and the
current wars
Afghanistan and Iraq, as
well as other minor
conflicts.
History
Fact
Fact