Twentieth Century Fox has debuted the trailer for Won’t Back Down, which stars Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal,  Oscar Isaac, Holly Hunter, Rosie Perez, Lance Reddick and Emily Alyn Lind.

Directed by Daniel Barnz, “Won’t Back Down” is an original story about two strong women, both mothers, who channel their frustration into action and join forces to transform an inner-city school. They want to make a difference in education and the lives of their children.

Hunter will play the head of the teacher’s union. Oscar Isaac will play Michael Raymond, a sexy, ukulele-playing teacher who helps inspire, challenge and romance Gyllenhaal’s character throughout the film. Perez will play a former teacher who is now the poised-yet-frank head of the school board, while Reddick will play Davis’ husband who’s also a teacher.

The film opens on September 28, 2012.

Release Date: August 24, 2012
Distributor: Open Road Films
Director: Dax Shepard, David Palmer
Screenwriter: Dax Shepard, David Palmer
Cast: Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, Beau Bridges, Kristin Chenoweth, David Koechner, Michael Rosenbaum, Joy Bryant, Ryan Hansen
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance

Synopsis: “Hit an Run” is the story of Charlie Bronson (Shepard), a former getaway driver who busts out of the Witness Protection Program to drive his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to Los Angeles so she can land her dream job. Their road trip grows awkwardly complicated, when they are chased by the feds (led by Tom Arnold), and increasingly dangerous, when Charlie’s former gang of criminals (led by Bradley Cooper) enter the fray.

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May 16, 2012

Film Life Inc., today announced the Narrative Features Competition selections and Grand Jury Award nominees for the 16^th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) taking place in South Beach Miami, FL, June 20^th – 23^rd.  Kimberly Elise, Isaiah Washington, Common and S. Epatha Merkerson are among the stellar list of thespians nominated to receive the Grand Jury prize for their work.

The films in ABFF’s 2012 Narrative Features section reflect a creative multiplicity which can be seen, felt and heard in controversy through rhythmic Jamaican patois (Better Mus’ Come) to a young Parisian woman’s search for her father (Elza).  Struggle and disappointment between generations is candidly explored (LUV) and two men of the cloth face consequences (The Undershepherd).

Each film in the narrative features section must be directed by a person of African descent, tell a story of the Black experience or feature a person of African descent in a leading role. Films that are submitted for consideration are reviewed by a team of film industry professionals, which comprises the ABFF’s screening committee. Each film is graded on artistic merit and impactful subject matter.  As this year’s Grand Jury President, Actor, Mekhi Phifer (“Lie to Me,” “ER”), will serve as a judge and will present prizes in front of the festival audience at The Winners Circle awards presentation on the closing day of the festival.

The complete list of the 2012 Narrative Feature films is as follows:

BETTER MUS’ COME

Written and directed by Storm Saulter, produced by Paul Bucknor
CAST: Sheldon Shepherd, Nicole ‘Sky’ Grey, Everaldo Creary, Ricardo Orgill and Roger Guenveur Smith
SYNOPSIS: The film follows warring political factions in 1970s Jamaica as they enlist the support of gangs to enforce their policies, and advanced their political agenda.

THE DARK PARTY

Written by William Wells, Kadeem Hardison, Salenta Baisden and Terry Wilkerson, produced by Terry Wilkerson, Deji LaRay, Salenta Baisden and William Wells, directed by Kadeem Hardison
CAST: Kadeem Hardison, Marcus Patrick and Tiffany Hines
SYNOPSIS: When two best friends want to find true love, a radio talk psychologist helps them throw the ultimate blind date party and serous social experiment.

THE LAST FALL

Written and directed by Matthew Cherry, produced by Ellis Hobbs, Monique Hobbs, Nikki Love and Scott Hebert
CAST: Lance Gross, Nicole Behari, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Obba Babatundé, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Michael Moss, Harry Lennix, Keith David
SYNOPSIS: An NFL journeyman struggles to deal with life’s complexities after his professional career is over at twenty-five.

LUV

Written and directed by Sheldon Candis and Justin Wilson, produced by Jason Berman, Datari Turner, W. Michael Jenson, Gordon Bijelonic, Joel Newton, James Rosenthal, Common and Derek Dudley
CAST: Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Michael Kenneth Williams and Meagan Good
SYNOPSIS: An orphaned eleven-year-old boy is forced to face an unpleasant truth about his beloved uncle during one harrowing day in the streets of Baltimore.

ELZA

Written and directed by Mariette MonPierre and Mama Keita, produced by Mariette MonPierre, Gerard LaCroix, Eric Basset
CAST: Stana Roumillac, Vincent Byrd Le Sage, Christophe Cherki, Sophie Berger
SYNOPSIS: A young Parisian woman of Caribbean descent returns to her native island of Guadeloupe in search of the father she has never known.

THE UNDERSHEPHERD

Produced and directed by Russ Parr, produced by Russ Parr, Eric Tomosunas, Scott Aronson and Isaiah Washington
CAST: Isaiah Washington, Louis Gossett Jr., Lamman Rucker, Malinda Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Elise Neal, Robinne Lee, Clifton Powell, Keith David and John Wesley
SYNOPSIS: Two minister’s opposing decisions destroy their friendship as the ascension of evil verses the struggle of an honest church impact the entire community.

The specific nominees are as follows:
Grand Jury Prize for Best Screenplay, presented by Ciroc

Storm Saulter – BETTER MUS’ COME
Matthew Cherry – THE LAST FALL
Mariettte MonPierre and Mama Keita – ELZA
Russ Parr – THE UNDERSHEPHERD

Grand Jury Prize for Best Director, presented by Cadillac
Sheldon Candis – LUV
Matthew Cherry – THE LAST FALL
Russ Parr – THE UNDERSHEPHERD
Storm Saulter – BETTER MUS’ COME

Grand Jury Prize Best Performance by an Actor (Male or Female), presented by Gold Peak Tea
Common – LUV
Lance Gross – THE LAST FALL
Sheldon Sheppard – BETTER MUS’ COME
Isaiah Washington – THE UNDERSHEPHERD
Nicole Behari – THE LAST FALL
Kimberly Elise – TIES THAT BIND
Malinda Williams – THE UNDERSHEPHERD

Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature, presented by BET Networks
THE LAST FALL
ELZA
LUV
THE UNDERSHEPHERD

Grand Jury Prize for Documentary

THE CONTRADICTIONS OF FAIR HOPE 2012 USA 67 min Written by Rockell Metcalf, Produced by S. Epatha Merkerson Directed by S. Epatha Merkerson and Rockell Metcalf

FORCE M.D.s RELIVED 2012 USA 98 min Written by Antoine Elliott, Rodney Lundy, Produced by Rodney Lundy Directed by Frazier Prince

THINK NFL, LOVE DAD (The DeSean Jackson Story) 2012 USA 107 min Produced by Byron Jackson, DeSean Jackson and Kip Konwiser Co-directed by Byron Jackson and Kern Konwiser

SOUL FOOD JUNKIES 2012 USA 63 min Written and directed by Byron Hurt, Produced by Lisa Durden.

May 16, 2012

There’s no way we can go without properly acknowledging that singer/fledgling actress Jordin Sparks has grown tremendously in her career since winning season six of television favorite, American Idol, in 2007. Sparks will reach another career high this summer when she hits the big screen in the remake of the 1976 classic film “Sparkle.” The movie tells the story of three singing sisters trying to successfully make it in the music business.

Blackfilm.com caught up with Sparks, who plays the lead character Sparkle, last November during a set visit in Detroit. The anxious singer dished on her involvement with the project, how she prepared for the role, and how she felt to have worked closely with her idol and cast mate, the late Whitney Houston.

How has is been filming in Detroit? What is your opinion of the first take of Sparkle now that you’re shooting the remake?

Jordin Sparks: Actually, it’s been really cool coming to shoot here. I’ve performed in Auburn Hills, at The Palace… so I haven’t really been in downtown Detroit but I’ve been able to be here and I can really see what the city was. I can feel why Motown started here and how amazing it was.

As far as knowing the movie before, I wasn’t alive in the ‘70s so I didn’t see it when it came out, but I had heard about the remake at the beginning of the year (2011) before I even knew that I was going to be considered for auditioning. So I’d heard about it, so you know Netflix I went on there and watched Sparkle and I really liked it. I love anything that has to do with music.

Do you feel any pressure being the lead in the film? Do you have any music on the soundtrack?

JS: Oh my gosh, this is my first movie ever, and so it being my first movie and also being one of the principals…it’s a lot of pressure but I’m kind of like just flying by the seat of my pants. It’s great to have such an amazing cast with me because they’re helping me. I’m like, ‘Is that ok? Am I responding in the right way? Is that where my emotion is supposed to be?’ Salim (Akil), the director, he’s so great because we shoot things out of order; so the hard thing for me is to try and figure out where I am emotionally and in my growth stage. And Salim is so great because he comes to me and he’s like, ‘This is where you’re at in life. This is what just happened to you.’ And I’m like, ‘Thank you ‘cause I had no idea.’ But it is a lot of pressure, but it’s so much fun too; it’s a completely new experience for me. I did Broadway last fall, but now I’m going to be able to do acting and music but in a movie format; as well as I like doing it. I hope it turns out really well. It looks really good from what I’ve seen so far.

I can’t tell you the names of the songs that I did separately [for the soundtrack], but we are doing most of the songs from the original film. We’re doing “Hooked on Your Love,” “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” “Jump,” and there’s another one from the original, but we’re trying to figure out how to put it into the story of Sparkle. Yes, I did some new stuff that I absolutely fell in love with and I’m so excited to do. So I think you guys are really going to enjoy the soundtrack when it comes out.

A lot of the songs from the original film were legendary songs; do you have a feeling that the new stuff will be just as legendary?

JS: I think that the new stuff has the possibilities to be. I heard the demos; R. Kelly is doing a lot of the new stuff, and he’s just a beast. So to be sitting here hearing him sing the demos, I’m going. ‘How am I supposed to replicate that?’ I’m very honored and excited to sing songs that he’s written and been producing. They’re amazing. I think they’re going to be really, really good… I know they’re good because I’ve been listening to them on my iPod and they’re awesome.

Why did you want to pursue acting? And how did you prepare yourself for this role in particular?

JS: Ever since I was little, I knew that singing is what I wanted to do. And then I got into doing drama club at Community Theater in school. We lived in New Jersey, so I went to Broadway a lot and saw plays and I just loved seeing people being able to play a different character and be able to be themselves at the end of the night. So, I’ve always wanted to do it, I just didn’t know when it was going to happen and then this just sort of fell into my lap. I’m really excited for this being my first movie, like the cast and I’m like, ‘This is my life.’ But it’s been a lot of fun.

I don’t really know how I prepared for the role. I was like, ‘I’m playing Sparkle.’ They said, ‘Yep.’ And I was like, ‘Ok.’ I just prayed and prayed and prayed cause you never know how other people are going to be when you meet them and I never did a movie before so I didn’t really know how to prepare. I read the script over and over and over again. I really loved it so it wasn’t hard to read it. I read it back and forth. I had the script for a while before we started shooting so I just wanted to make sure I knew my lines and to figure out my emotions and try to figure out like how I would respond and then taking a step backwards and trying to figure out how she would respond cause we’re similar but we’re still very different at the same time.

Why do you think it’s important to tell this particular story given the nature of the current music industry?

JS: It’s really amazing to see because Sparkle in the movie she goes through a lot of adversity and she deals with insecurities with herself and trying to overcome that. Being around with her families and seeing them go through things herself, just everybody’s changing and everybody goes through stuff like that whether it’s an entertainer or [not]. Everybody goes through something and can have a personal struggle. So a lot of people are going to be able to relate to it. I think a lot of young girls or young men who are trying to break into the industry, even though this is based in the ’60s, they can see that it takes a lot of work and it also takes a lot of dedication and a lot of sacrifice. I think they’re going to be able to relate to the girls, and the mothers are going to be able to relate to Whitney cause she’s so awesome. But I think they’re going to be able to relate to Sparkle because she’s got that slight insecurities in herself and you see her grow and you see her blossom. I’m hoping that when people walk away they say, ‘Ok, if she can overcome stuff, if she can find it in herself to do something after all of that just happened, I can do it too and I’ll be ok too.’

You’re already a superstar, but being that this is your first movie, and movies take you to a whole another level, and with it being Sparkle people are going to see it just because they want to see how well you’re going to do… are you ready for the extra attention and how your life is going to change?

JS: I was just saying that I don’t know if I’m ready for this yet. I don’t know if I’m ready for my life to change again because you’re right it’s a whole another level and I’m just like well I must be ready because I was put here and I’m supposed to be here and I’m doing the part for a reason. So, I’ll let you know when it happens.

Can you talk about how you got involved in the project? Is it something that came to you, or did you go after it and talk about any audition that you had to do for it?

JS: It was a little bit of both. Like I said I had heard about the project, you know it’s been in the works for a while. I first heard about the project earlier this year [2011], and it was funny because I was like, ‘Sparkle—that would be so funny if I got to play that role…’ cause my last name is Sparks. So I thought, o that would be so funny. So I read the script and I had that for a while, and then all of a sudden it became, ‘Are you interested? Do you want to go audition?’ and I was like, ‘Ok, I can do this.’ And if somebody just tells me to sing, it’s no problem, but you tell me to go stand in front of someone and go act, it’s like something else, and here memorize these lines and kiss this guy that you just met and it’s… I was shaking. But I did do the audition process; they pulled me in a couple of times. I never asked who else was auditioning because I didn’t want to know. I had a meeting with the casting director, and then the next one Salim came in and then the next one a few other people came in and then they taped me and the producers and everybody got together and watched the tape to see how it goes. Then I was sitting in a meeting outside of the hotel near the roof pool, and I got the call that I made it and I just screamed so loud. I was so excited. It was a lot and it was a learning curve for me as well to figure out how the audition process is and I know I guess all of them are different but it was fun for me. All of it has been so much fun.

What was your reaction when you found out that Whitney was going to be involved?

JS: As a singer, Whitney is like through the atmosphere…She is just somebody that you aspire to want to sing like. I remember like with Whitney around everybody just trying to mimic her. I already knew like that she was executive producing so I knew that she would be around and that I’d be seeing her around; and then I heard that she was going to be playing my mom and I was just like, ‘Could this get any better?’ It’s been so exciting, she’s such a riot and it’s so fun to be around her. For the past two weeks we’ve done a lot of scenes together and she is so funny. She’s definitely going to make a lot of people happy. She has millions upon million of fans and I think they’re going to be very happy to see how she is in this movie. As well as the people who doubt that she’ll be able to do it, I think they’re going to be pleasantly surprised as well. I’m just so excited…I was on the red carpet when I found out that she was going to be playing my mom. They’re (the press)were asking me questions and in my head all I was thinking was, ‘Whitney’s playing my mom.’ I couldn’t even pay attention. But yeah, she’s great.

May 15, 2012

Warner Bros. has released a clip from the musical film, ‘Rock of Ages,’ featuring Mary J. Blige singing “Any Way You Want It.”

Directed by Adam Shankman, and based on the Broadway musical of the same name, the film stars Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Diego Bonet, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Cranston, and Malin Akerman.

Based on the theater production, ‘“Rock of Ages” tells the story of small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock ‘n’ roll romance is told through the heart-pounding hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake, and more.

Tom Cruise will play Stacee Jaxx in the film, while Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip Hop, will play Justice, the bartender and mother of the character named Sherrie. One of Justice’s main songs is the 80s chestnut, ‘Harden My Heart.’

Rock of Ages opens on June 15th.

May 15, 2012

Experience a fresh perspective on what it means to be successful as Lionsgate debuts Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds on Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital Copy), DVD, Digital Download and On Demand this June. A moving and uplifting drama about coincidence, courage and the defining choices we make on our paths to happiness, the film stars its writer-producer-director Tyler Perry (Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?) along with an all-star supporting cast including Thandie Newton (Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls) and Gabrielle Union (Think Like a Man).

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds Blu-ray Disc and DVD include two entertaining featurettes that explore the central themes in the film and will be available for audiences on June 12th.

A successful, wealthy businessman, Wesley Deeds (Perry) has always done what’s expected of him, whether it’s assuming the helm of his father’s company, tolerating his brother’s misbehavior at the office or planning to marry his beautiful but restless fiancée, Natalie (Union). But Wesley is jolted out of his predictable routine when he meets Lindsey (Newton), a down-on-her-luck single mother who works on the cleaning crew in his office building. When he offers to help her get back on her feet, the chance encounter with someone so far outside his usual circle ignites something in Wesley. This one good deed may finally spark his courage to exchange the life that’s expected of him for the life he’s always really wanted.

BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*
• “Two Worlds Collide” featurette
• “Motherly Love” featurette

May 15, 2012

Coming out on May 18th is the epic action-adventure film, ‘Battleship,’ which is based on the Hasbro Game: “Battleship.”

Directed by Peter Berg, ‘Battleship‘ is an epic-scaled action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Inspired by Hasbro’s classic naval combat game, the film stars Taylor Kitsch as Lt. Alex Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam Shane, a physical therapist and Hopper’s fiancée; Alexander Skarsgård as Hopper’s older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson; international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane, and making her film debut is Grammy Award winner Rihanna as Petty Officer Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones.

Also in the film is Greg Gadson, who plays Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales. In 2007, as Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 32 Field Artillery, Gadson was severely wounded by an IED in Iraq, which resulted in the loss of both legs above the knee and a severely damaged right arm and hand.

At a recent Skype session with Blackfilm.com, and other journalists Gadson spoke about his film debut, working with Peter Berg, and the inspiration he’s giving others.

How did you get attached to the film?

Greg Gadson: It’s really pretty simple. Peter Berg called me up at my house one day, and asked if I wanted to be in his movie. Now, some background, two important points. You know, Pete Berg is a big Giants fan, and he had been following my relationship with the New York Giants especially during the 2007-2008 football season. And then I was part of an article on advancements and technologies related to prosthetics, and there was a photo of me in the January 2010 National Geographic that Pete had also seen. And I think that’s what gave him the idea.

What’s the next thing for you? Are you seeking an agent? Are there more movies in the works?

Greg Gadson: Well, we’ll see. If I keep getting good reviews from you all, maybe someone will give me another opportunity. So I’m going to keep all my options open.

You have a lot of scenes with Brooklyn in the movie, and were there any awkward moments or fun times you guys had in between scenes up on that mountain?

Greg Godson: Actually, no. Brooklyn did a wonderful job of allowing me to relax and be ourselves. If I had any nervousness about working with them, because my role was a very physical role, she’s a very strong woman herself. And not just there to support me, but she’d literally sometimes when I would walk somewhere I could put my hand on her shoulder to steady myself and balance myself. She’s quite fit obviously and able to give me a hand. So I think she was great.

How long did you work on that hook that you delivered?

Greg Gadson: Well, it was some practice. I can’t remember the exact time, but the stunt coordinators did have me practice. I will say that I accidentally hit the stunt man in the nose once. So we really were trying to make it realistic.

What was it like working with Peter Berg on the shoot itself?

Greg Gadson: I couldn’t have asked for a better director. You know, this is my first director obviously, but I really like to think of Peter as a coach. I’ve been around sports all my life and Pete really exemplified himself as a coach. And I watched him direct not just myself but other people. And he always was trying to get the most out of everybody using various ways to communicate.

Do you think the movie was a direct portrayal of the brotherhood within the military?

Greg Gadson: I think it does. It does a great job, and really one of the aspects that I’m really impressed with is how they included actual service members from really three or four different generations going back to I think those that fought in World War II or even Korea. So it really did fuse the brotherhood of those that serve in arms together.

Being that this is your first film, what acting and physical challenges did you?

Greg Gadson: The biggest challenge for me was actually getting my emotion into the script. I think as a career Army officer, we’re often trained to hide our emotions or manage our emotions. And so, I wasn’t used to exposing myself, and that wasn’t something I anticipated. So that was probably the biggest challenge for me. The physical challenges really were working here in Hawaii. I honestly hadn’t walked in a lot of off-road terrain prior to coming and working here in Hawaii. So I literally had to devote a lot of my mental energy to making sure I didn’t fall too much. As I said, really trying to pull out my emotions or let my emotions truly come out as I was acting was a significant challenge for me.

Do you actually believe there is intelligent life out in outer space? And if yes, do you imagine them to be more hostile as portrayed in the movie or more peaceful?

Greg Gadson: Well, I would lay odds that there is some other life out there. I mean my universe is awful big, and it’s probably not likely that we’re the only ones out there. And, you know, just as we have on our planet, we’ve got people that are aggressive and people that are not. It’s likely that those same sorts of characteristics are out there. So I wouldn’t be surprised.

Can you list some of your favorite alien invasion movies?

Greg Gadson: Independence Day is probably one of my favorites.

Your prosthetics were showcased in this film a lot. Do you feel that that was inspiration to some of the vets that have been in the same situation as you, that they can do other things?

Greg Gadson: I hope that they get – that’s one of the messages that come across. It’s really about moving forward and letting go of what’s happened in the past. It’s obviously going to make you part of who you are, but your future is always forward and it’s never backwards. And whether I have my legs on or whether I don’t, I don’t think I need them to move forward. But they’re part of my life.

What can you say to help others to be in that same situation?

Greg Gadson: Well, I try to be positive. I wish I could say I’m always positive, but I’m human, and, you know, I have my days. But I do try to take a positive approach to life. I guess kind of back to my last answer. You know, life is forward and I try not to spend a lot of time looking backwards or complaining about something that’s already happened because there is very little you can do about it. And so, if by example just to look forward and just continue to fight and get the most you can out of life.

In the film you had a big line about finding courage. What would you say was the most courageous moment you had during your military times?

Greg Gadson: I think really as I was going through my recovery having to kind of figure out how to get my life back on a positive direction, and not really knowing what was on the horizon. There are not too many scenarios where you envision something like this happening to yourself. And so, you don’t really have a road map to where you want to go or what you’re going to do. And so, sometimes I guess mentally having the courage to be able to go in a direction that is not clear, that’s unknown, and having the faith that everything is going to come out all right.

Do you think that your role in this film is going to help to inspire a lot of your fellow veterans who have been wounded during battle? And do you think that you can use this as a tool to motivate them to do the same kinds of things as you have?

Greg Gadson: I hope that’s an example that you can move forward after something devastating has happened to you. That to me is the true example. It’s not necessarily going to be Hollywood. It’s not going necessarily going to be sport or Olympics. I mean there are so many things in the world it can be. It can be as simple as taking care of your family. It’s really about what you as an individual want to do. And it doesn’t have to be someone that’s wounded. I mean many of the wounds that service members face are unseen, and those are challenges, too, that folks have to move forward to.

What have you learned about yourself in the process of making this film?

Greg Gadson: I would say that I can make myself pretty vulnerable having to expose myself. I wasn’t sure I was willing to do that in this kind of a forum, and that was a challenge. But I took it on and we’re here.

May 15, 2012

“Good afternoon. Welcome devils of the Zionist media and death to the West! Today I wish to highlight the plight of a terribly endangered group, the innocent victims of a global human tragedy, dictators. These brave leaders are suffering a daily victimization and brutality for the supposed crimes of embezzling money, oppressing their people and doing a tiny bit of genocide.”

That was how Sacha Baron Cohen of “Borat” fame introduced himself to a crowd of about 200 journalists for a canned press conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. He was in the guise of Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen, the clueless tyrant he plays in his latest hilarious comedy, “The Dictator.”

Flanked by sexy female guards armed with machine guns and clueless supporters waving placards reading “Say No to Democracy,” “I Heart Dictatorships,” and “Give Oppression a Chance.” The fictional head of the fictional Republic of Wadiya took pre-screened questions from Blackfilm.com and the media and read his answers off a teleprompter.

How do you respond to accusations that you are the world’s most wise and glorious leader?

THE DICTATOR: You’ve got me, I have no response. Thank you for that fair and unbiased question.

What do you think of the American film industry and how is it different from what you have at home?

THE DICTATOR: I love American films, particularly their fantasy films like “Lord of the Rings” or “Schindler’s List.” What? Me and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad both studied at the same holocaust denial institute. The head of it is Mel Gibson. I am also a fan of “Sherlock Holmes.” There’s always a great twist at the end where they solve the case, I never see that coming. But my favorite film ever is from 1963 and features JFK in Dallas. There are differences between the Wadiyan film industry and Hollywood. People say I am extravagant for using 20 trillion bottles of Fiji Water every day to make snow for my ski resort in the middle of the desert, but am I the person who greenlit “John Carter”?

What are your pop culture guilty pleasures?

THE DICTATOR: When I am not watching my people I am glued to my couch watching the satellite television. My favorite shows are Wadiyan. We have our version of “Two and a Half Men,” it used to be called “Three Men,” but one of them tried to steal a grapefruit. Also I love the TV program “24,” you have it here? But we play it backwards so it has a happy ending.

So General, is it true or just a rumor that you’ve been banned from British TV?

THE DICTATOR: Oh yes, it is true. The BBC has issued sanctions against me. They have banned me from all the BBC channels and also the BBC radio. It’s true. Look, nobody is a a bigger fan of state sponsored (stumbles on the words), sorry I have something in my mouth, don’t worry it’s not what you’re thinking — look, nobody is a bigger fan of the state sponsored censorship than me, but the BBC took it too far. All I wanted to do on the BBC was use their airwaves to promote my anti-West, anti-Zionist platform and to quell those nasty rumors about the Holocaust. I guess no good deed goes unpunished. I guess that joke does not go down that well in New York.

Which U.S. presidential candidate would you like to endorse?

THE DICTATOR: I would say Santorum, despite his liberal views, but since he’s out of the running I give my full support to Mitchell Romney. He has the makings of a great dictator. He is incredibly wealthy, but pays no taxes, and it’s not much of a leap to go from firing people to firing squads, and from putting pets on top of the car to putting political dissidents on the top of them. He taught me how to do that.

Who have been your favorite celebrity conquest?

THE DICTATOR: I have made beautiful love and also sex activity with many of your celebrities, Britney Spears, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian. She is a very nice girl but unbelievably hairy. When I pulled her panties down I thought I was looking in the mirror.

Why did you dump the ashes on Ryan Seacrest?

THE DICTATOR: Ryan Seacrest. Well, it’s not the first time that he has had an Asian man poured all over his chest. But the reality is, you know, I was showing him that it was from South Korea, the urn it was made from South Korea, I lift it up, and then it accidentally fall on him. But you know, they were not his ashes. His son, Kim Jong-un, he is so fat he looks like he swallowed his father. And that is because he actually did, you know, so it was the remains of the barbecue.

“The Dictator” opens everywhere this Wednesday, May 16.

Release Date: June 8, 2012 (limited)
Distributor: IFC Films
Director: Bruce Beresford
Screenwriter: Christina Mengert, Joseph Muszynski
Cast: Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener, Chace Crawford, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Nat Wolff, Marissa O’Donnell, Elizabeth Olsen
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R (for drug content and some sexual references)

Synopsis: A portrait of an unconventional family, “Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding” tells the story of Diane (Keener), a conservative New York City lawyer who is in desperate need of an escape after her husband asks for a divorce. Along with her two children (Olsen and Wolff), she takes refuge at her estranged hippie mother Grace’s (Fonda) farmhouse, where she is exposed to a motley crew of free thinkers. What was meant to be a stress-free getaway quickly turns into a reminder of why Diane escaped her mother’s hippie lifestyle in the first place, but the reunion forces her, her children, and Grace to search for peace with each other and with themselves.

May 15, 2012

During America’s Got Talent‘s season premiere, Sony Pictures released a 4-minute preview of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man.’

Opening on 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on July 3, the action adventure stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen and Sally Field.

The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.