Archive » Soul On Film

The 'Black Dynamite' Soundtrack Is Explosive. And That Ain't No Jive.

 

I am as picky with which movies I see as much as I am discerning about which music finds its route past my eardrum. When I went to go check out Black Dynamite last night, I expected a few chuckles...

ill Mami  |  10/21/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Kanye's 'Fairytale' Is An Inside Story

 

Today, I've come to praise Kanye West, not to bury him. It's amazing that even when the man decides to take a break, he remains in the spotlight. His latest pet project is a short film entitled We Were Once...

Harlem  |  10/19/2009 at 3:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' Coming Soon To Theaters Near You

 

Around these parts we love Michael Jackson, so much so that our worlds stopped briefly when he left the physical plane for the spiritual one. Prior to his passing, I was this close to securing tickets to his This Is...

ill Mami  |  09/14/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Relive The Days Of True Hip Hop With Big L Documentary

 

If you hail from Harlem as I do (Uptown stand up!), then you are more than familiar with slain rapper Big L. For those unfamiliar with Big L, consider the fact that he was so respected as a lyricist that...

ill Mami  |  08/31/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Mary J.'s New Video Clip Isn't 'Bad' At All

 

So, we've already seen the trailer for Tyler Perry's latest spun tale of urban redemption film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself. We also already know that both Gladys Knight and Mary J. Blige will be acting in the...

Harlem  |  08/17/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (5)  |  Permalink

'This Is It': Michael Jackson Movie To Hit Screens This Halloween

 

So, did you hear the one about the movie studio that bought the film rights to the concert footage of greatest entertainer that ever lived? Yup, According to the Los Angeles Times, Sony Entertainment has paid upwards of $60 million...

Harlem  |  08/11/2009 at 12:30 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

LeToya Luckett Is The Latest 'Preacher's Kid'

 

OK, I know most of you probably expected me to come on here and slam this latest attempt by "us" to make a believable cinematic gospel drama. But really, I haven't come to bury Gener8Xion Entertainment's Preacher's Kid, which stars...

Harlem  |  08/10/2009 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Spike Lee's 'Passing Strange' To Rock Your World Soon In A Theater Near You

 

While I'm totally not into musicals (too much emoting), I am into musicals that portray a side of life that intrigues me. Quiet as kept, the Spike Lee directed movie of the musical Passing Strange will be coming soon to...

ill Mami  |  08/07/2009 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Your 'Purple' Production is 25, Your Highness

 

Guess what turns 25 today? Purple Rain! Yeah, we're so old! Why, it seems like only yesterday we were made to close our eyes during the Lake Minnetonka sequence. ...

nOvaMatic  |  07/27/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (20)  |  Permalink

Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight Make Appearance In Trailer For 'I Can Do Bad All By Myself'

 

Fresh from the Tyler Perry factory, the trailer for his newest film I Can Do Bad All By Myself gives us our first peek at stars Mary J. Blige and Gladys Knight. And, no surprise, they spend just as much...

Ro  |  07/23/2009 at 3:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

'Soul Power' Funkdafies Theatres Just Like It Did Zaire in '74

 

I fancy myself an art house nerd, yet managed to miss this epic display of soulful Funk this weekend. (For the record I saw Brüno and felt as though my mind got sexually assaulted.) Epic fail for me, since I...

ill Mami  |  07/14/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

Getting What You Never Asked For: 'A Day In The Life' Movie Spoken Entirely In Rap

 

There are few things in life that get on my nerves more than interpretive dancing, bad musicals, and spoken word with bongos. Now I can definitively add to this list the "rapudrama" as evidenced by the Sticky Fingaz-written and directed...

ill Mami  |  07/09/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

The Remake Monster Claims 'Fame' As Next Victim

 

Fame is the phenomenon that unleashed the powerhouse voice of Irene Cara into the world and had many '80s babies wanting to live forever and learn how to fly and stood as one of the best coming-of-age stories with a...

Ro  |  06/18/2009 at 5:15 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Skip The Blockbusters This Summer, See 'Still Bill' Instead

 

Rarely, if ever, have I watched the trailer for a film and been so thoroughly intrigued, impressed and inspired. If you manage to get through the two minutes and eleven seconds of spliced footage from the forthcoming Bill Withers movie Still Bill...

Ro  |  06/12/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

If This Is Naturi Naughton Singing 'Fame' Then Call Me Lil Kim

 

The last time I had this much interest in anything Fame-related, I was six-years-old, and Janet Jackson hadn't yet appeared in the hallowed halls of the fictional High School of The Performing Arts. Speculation as to whether Naturi Naughton, 3LW...

ill Mami  |  06/01/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (10)  |  Permalink

Islam, Politics, & Hip Hop Take Center Stage In 'New Muslim Cool'

 

Despite the unequivocal fact that music and politics are as inescapable as sports and politics, the most political trends in music these days seem to come in the form of prison sentences for easily avoidable crimes. But let's not forget...

ill Mami  |  05/25/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

'This Is The Life' Is Finally Seeing The Light Of Day

 

Since we told you all about This Is The Life, a documentary directed by Ava Du Vernay, word has come that after touring several festival circuits, this look at Hip Hop in early '90s Los Angeles is now ready for...

ill Mami  |  03/10/2009 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Big Daddy Kane Documentary Coming Soon

 

If you really want to know my opinion on the prospect of a Big Daddy Kane documentary, I will unequivocally say that it is long overdue. The "Smooth Operator" still has not found himself without the adoration of fans, and...

ill Mami  |  03/09/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

Will Mariah's Latest Role 'Push' Her To Acting Greatness?

 

Yes, we know. You've heard all the buzz that came from Salt Lake City a few weeks back as the Sundance Film Festival screened the new Lee Daniels-directed film, Push, based on the novel by Sapphire and winner of the...

Harlem  |  02/10/2009 at 2:45 PM  |  Comments (11)  |  Permalink

Run-DMC Movie In the Works

 

The recent news of the Juice Crew film getting the plug pulled was a bit of a blow, but this news that the Run-DMC story will be made into a feature film may satisfy those hungry for more classic...

Butta  |  01/30/2009 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Wesley Snipes As James Brown? In What Alternate Universe?

 

Earlier this week news spread that Wesley Snipes had been cast to play James Brown in an upcoming biopic by Spike Lee. The diminutive director bought the rights to the Godfather of Soul's story in 2007 and cast Snipes...

Butta  |  01/29/2009 at 7:00 PM  |  Comments (12)  |  Permalink

What Tyanna Wallace Thinks of 'Notorious'

 

Christopher Wallace's eldest has managed to stay off our radar for the majority of all things Biggie-related. In fact, the only Tyanna Touchstone for me is the answering machine intro to "One More Chance". Well little Tyanna is all grown...

nOvaMatic  |  01/29/2009 at 1:25 PM  |  Comments (10)  |  Permalink

SoulBouncers: Win 'The Secret Life of Bees' On DVD!

 

After a successful theatrical run last year, The Secret Life of Bees is coming to DVD on February 3rd and SoulBounce is giving away three copies to our lucky readers. Why is a music blog giving away a non-music-related feature...

Butta  |  01/28/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (11)  |  Permalink

Move Over, Roger Ebert! Make Way for Phonte's 'Movie In a Minute'

 

While many of you were sleeping last night, Phonte announced his latest creation on Twitter, "Movie In a Minute," which is yet another production from his beautiful mind. In one-minute videos that he posts to YouTube, Tay Gravy reviews the...

Butta  |  01/27/2009 at 11:30 AM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

Babygirl Biopic Is 'Hot Like Fire' According To Film's Director

 

After a long while of being speculated about, the Aaliyah biopic is now actually being made. For real. The point made over at Pop Tracks about this having a lot to do with the success of Notorious so far is...

Ro  |  01/27/2009 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments (7)  |  Permalink

Rappers' Desire To Be 'Scarface' Realized With 'City of God's Son'

 

Cinematically, 2009 looks as though it is off to a great start. Not only do we have Black Dynamite to look forward to with its humorous take on the gangster side of life, but now we have a more somber...

ill Mami  |  01/14/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

'Black Dynamite' Depicts SoulBounce Header Graphic in Shocking Live-Motion!

 

You know what kind of movies we love here at SoulBounce? The ones where the hero throws a punch but you don't hear it land until ten seconds later. We hope this is the case with Black Dynamite, a spoof...

nOvaMatic  |  01/06/2009 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments (12)  |  Permalink

Mariah Channels Her Inner Thespian in 'Tennessee' Role, New Video

 

I know that I give Mariah Carey a hard time around these parts, but I just expect so much more from her than what she's been delivering us lately. However, after seeing her new music video I might be inclined...

Butta  |  12/09/2008 at 1:15 PM  |  Comments (7)  |  Permalink

'Cadillac' Actors Dig Deep to Rock Their Roles

 

One of the most highly anticipated films of the season opens this Friday when Cadillac Records bows in theaters, boasting both an all-star cast and soundtrack. The film premiered this week in New York and Los Angeles, with many of...

Harlem  |  12/03/2008 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments (18)  |  Permalink

The More Official 'Notorious' Trailer Surfaces

 

For those of you (un)fortunate enough to actually sit through the BET Hip Hop Awards, you may have noticed the more official trailer for Notorious, the not really anticipated biopic chronicling Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace's life. After viewing the trailer,...

ill Mami  |  10/24/2008 at 4:30 PM  |  Comments (12)  |  Permalink

A 'Notorious' Conundrum

 

The trailer for the film Notorious surfaced yesterday ... and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I mean, I grew up in New York during the "Biggie Smalls" era, watched Christopher Wallace go from ashy to classy...

Harlem  |  09/23/2008 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (5)  |  Permalink

Alicia Keys Finds 'Another Way To Die' With Jack White

 

Having a sexy mocha-hued chanteuse sing the opening song for a James Bond movie is nothing new (see Shirley Bassey, Gladys Knight and Tina Turner), so it should come as no surprise that Alicia Keys's vocal stylings will be blessing the...

ill Mami  |  09/16/2008 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

Is A Documentary About 'The Source' Really Necessary?

 

There was a time in my life when I was known for chronically missing my subway stops fueled by being completely engrossed in the latest issue of The Source magazine. Please remember that this was circa 1992 when this magazine...

ill Mami  |  09/10/2008 at 2:10 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Will 'Soul Men' Be The Real Deal?

 

Now that the trailer for the upcoming Bernie Mac/Samuel L. Jackson film Soul Men has been officially released, and we get a chance to see the stars in action, all of the sadness surrounding the deaths of both Mac and...

Harlem  |  09/08/2008 at 10:30 AM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Ursula Rucker Documentary to Premiere at Urbanworld Film Fest

 

I must admit that poetry has always made me feel uncomfortable. Maybe it has to do with the lack of singing and the over-expression of emotion that sometimes occurs...often with the presence of a bongo or two. Despite all of...

ill Mami  |  08/22/2008 at 2:20 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

'Buzz'-Worthy: 'Secret Life of Bees' Trailer Surfaces

 

The trailer for the film The Secret Life of Bees surfaced recently, and after much (wait for it...) "buzz"--which has included major props at various film festivals--director Gina Prince-Bythewood is ready to unveil her adaptation of the Sue Monk Kidd...

Harlem  |  08/21/2008 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments (7)  |  Permalink

Sneak Peek Of New 'Wax Poetics' Documentary

 

It's no secret that I have major love for one of my favorite magazines, Wax Poetics. Reading each issue is kind of like knowing that there is someone else out there with just as much love for rare funk, jazz...

ill Mami  |  08/12/2008 at 1:15 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

LA Shows Its Hip Hop Roots In New Documentary

 

Remember back in the '90s when West Coast hip hop meant more than gangsta rap? Yeah, we do, too. That's why it's such a pleasure to see This Is The Life, a documentary exploring the roots of LA's freestyle scene...

ill Mami  |  06/16/2008 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Marvin Gaye's Life Story To Come To A Theatre Near You

 

We will finally see a biopic about the life and journey of the minister of soul, Marvin Gaye. F. Gary Gary (The Italian Job) will hold the responsibility of directing Marvin with C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) writing the script....

Soul Bounce  |  06/09/2008 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

New Documentary Explores Untimely Death of Jam Master Jay

 

Last night at the annual Hollywood Black Film Festival, 2 Turntables And A Microphone kicked off the four-day event with its debut. While there had been some speculation about a theatrical release chronicling Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell's rise to...

ill Mami  |  06/04/2008 at 3:00 PM  |  Permalink

N*E*R*D: The Movie

 

Between the Fame remake, the upcoming Teddy Riley/B2K masterpiece and the film adaptation of Soul Train, we're having a hard time keeping track of all these music-related movies on the way. And it gets better, or worse depending on your...

nOvaMatic  |  05/22/2008 at 10:45 AM  |  Permalink

J-Hud Chosen for 'Sex' Because She's Black? Or Because She's Not Kelly Rowland?

 

If you watched HBO's Sex and the City for any length of time, then you probably didn't think black women lived in New York! Sarah Jessica Parker, on behalf of director Michael Patrick King, offers that a large part of...

nOvaMatic  |  05/21/2008 at 11:45 AM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

Casting the New 'Fame' Motion Picture

 

At first Fame was an Oscar Award-winning film in 1980, starring Debbie Allen and Irene Cara, that followed a group of kids at a performing arts high school in NY, who dance, sing and cry their way from "audition" to...

nOvaMatic  |  05/13/2008 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Up Close With The Cast & Crew of 'Notorious'

 

The jury's still out on whether Notorious, the movie detailing the life and times of Notorious B.I.G. up to his untimely death in 1997, will be a theatrical release or staight-to-bootleg, but after watching this video, you can definitely tell...

ill Mami  |  05/05/2008 at 12:45 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

'Soul Train: The Movie'

 

Snarky title not needed.If you're still reeling from the news of the Soul Train Awards being canceled this year (because of the WGA strike, suddenly), don't fret. The conductor himself Don Cornelius has revealed that he and Warner Brothers are...

nOvaMatic  |  04/21/2008 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

Erykah Badu's Words of Wisdom Featured In New Music Industry Documentary

 

Despite the proclamations of some (okay, one) that SoulBounce needs to (and I'm paraphrasing here) stop swinging from the pair housed between Erykah Badu's legs, we have decided to pursue our tireless coverage of Ms. Analogue Girl in this...

ill Mami  |  04/10/2008 at 3:00 PM  |  Comments (8)  |  Permalink

Leona Lewis Songs Wanted For Big Movies

 

The good news just keeps raining down on Leona Lewis. After topping the US charts last week with "Bleeding Love," the British bombshell's hit song is caught in the middle of a bidding war from various movie studios who...

Butta  |  04/02/2008 at 4:35 PM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

More 'Cadilliac Records' Casting News

 

Cadillac Records, the upcoming movie about famed Chess Records, will be adding another modern-day musician to portray another legendary artist on its roster. Many side eyes were a-twiching after news was announced that Beyoncé would be playing Etta James,...

ill Mami  |  03/31/2008 at 1:30 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Bob Marley Songs May Spark Bidding War

 

Not so shortly after it was announced that a movie based upon Rita Marley's biography, No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley, would be brought to movie screens next year, comes more news. Firstly, there is also...

ill Mami  |  03/21/2008 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Notorious B.L.O.G.

 

If you just cannot contain yourself awaiting the release of "The Greatest Hip Hop American Dream Story", then check out Wayne Barrow's Fox Searchlight production blog for Notorious. I already have side-eyes for this, mainly because, although I'm a huge...

nOvaMatic  |  03/20/2008 at 2:02 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Roots of House Explored in New Documentary

 

Wherever you dwell, the one fact that all house music lovers seem to agree on is that House music originated in Chicago circa 1984. House music, an amalgam of soul, hip hop breakbeats, disco, and jazz, has always had a...

ill Mami  |  03/10/2008 at 12:20 PM  |  Comments (7)  |  Permalink

Rapper Gravy Chosen for 'Notorious'--Is It a B.I.G. Mistake?

 

As you've probably heard by now, casting for the Christopher Wallace biopic Notorious was confirmed yesterday.  And after thousands auditioned for the role, it was New York rapper/actor Jamal "Gravy" Woolard who won both the heart of Biggie's mom,...

Harlem  |  03/06/2008 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (12)  |  Permalink

Beyoncé And Idris Elba To Star In Stalker Thriller

 

Ladies, if you are die-hard Idris Elba fans and easily upset, then you may not want to read this blog. Word is that the actor/rapper/DJ/producer has secured yet another film role opposite singing siren Beyoncé who will be playing...wait for...

Butta  |  03/06/2008 at 2:35 PM  |  Comments (7)  |  Permalink

The Bob Marley Question

 

Now that Rita Marley has decided to produce a movie detailing the life of her late husband Bob Marley, tongues are already wagging about casting choices. The widow Marley would like Lauryn Hill to portray her because "She sees my...

nOvaMatic  |  03/04/2008 at 4:19 PM  |  Comments (11)  |  Permalink

'The Wiz' Turns 30!

 

Lost in all the hubub surrounding Michael Jackson's 25th anniversary Shriller Thriller project is the fact that another Mijac project is celebrating a huge anniversary in 2008.  That's right, the movie that had us believing that New York City...

Harlem  |  02/25/2008 at 10:40 AM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

It's Official: Beyoncé To Play Etta James In New Movie

 

A few weeks ago a nasty rumor was floating around that Beyoncé had snagged the role of Etta James in an upcoming feature film about Chess Records. We laughed it off as a simple attempt to garner some buzz...

Butta  |  02/20/2008 at 3:50 PM  |  Comments (13)  |  Permalink

More Casting News Announced For 'The Vapors'

 

As previously reported on SoulBounce, a movie detailing The Juice Crew's rise to fame entitled The Vapors has been greenlit and already been cast with Keke Palmer (Akeelah & The Bee) as Roxanne Shanté and Clifton Powell (The Gospel, Dead...

ill Mami  |  12/14/2007 at 4:30 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Alicia Keys To Play Lena Horne, 'No One' Can Touch Her On Charts

 

Oprah Winfrey has confirmed that Alicia Keys is set to play Lena Horne in an upcoming biopic about the legendary entertainer's life. The media mogul chatted about the upcoming project while working the red carpet at the premiere of The...

Butta  |  12/13/2007 at 5:30 PM  |  Comments (10)  |  Permalink

Sharon Jones Shines On New Soundtrack

 

Sharon Jones has one of those voices that you'd expect to hear in a juke joint on Saturday night and in a gospel choir on Sunday morning. And with her appearance on the soundtrack for the upcoming film, The Great...

Butta  |  11/21/2007 at 11:00 AM  |  Permalink

The Juice Crew Story To Be Told In 'The Vapors'

 

Dust off your fly Gucci wear and Bally boots, folks. The story of the Queen-based hip-hop collective, The Juice Crew, will soon be told in a new film entitled The Vapors, named after the hit song by group member Biz...

Butta  |  11/20/2007 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

D-Nice, Film Auteur

 

Derrick "My Name is D-Nice" Jones has apparently been doing much more than DJing recently. Not only has Jones been  busy  since launching his own United Camps web design company in 2005, but citing his mentor Gordon Parks as inspiration,...

ill Mami  |  11/02/2007 at 1:00 PM  |  Permalink

"And This Christmas Will Be..."

 

There seem to be two types of Black movies these days: the ghetto, stereotypical, joke free-for-all, e.g. Three Strikes or Booty Call; or the family-centered Black bourgeois movie, e.g. Soul Food or Something New. Couple all the Black actors you...

Soul Bounce  |  11/01/2007 at 11:00 AM  |  Permalink

Lenny Kravitz Cast In First Movie Role

 

Lenny Kravitz is planning some major moves in '08. Not only does he have a new album, It's Time For A Love Revolution, on the way in February, but he will also make his acting debut in the motion picture,...

Butta  |  10/31/2007 at 5:30 PM  |  Permalink

Stax Records Celebrates 50th Anniversary With New DVD Releases

 

Stax Records is enjoying a renaissance with artists such as Angie Stone, Soulive and N'dambi on the roster of the legendary label. However, as excited as we are about new music from these talented artists, we can't forget the rich...

Butta  |  10/23/2007 at 9:38 PM  |  Permalink

Jill Scott And Janet Jackson Are Tops At The Box Office

 

Congratulations are definitely in order for Jill Scott and Janet Jackson who both hit number one this past weekend--and not on the Billboard Hot 100 or any other music charts. These two lovely ladies known widely for their vocal...

Butta  |  10/16/2007 at 3:54 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Martin Luther Goes Hollywood

 

Imagine our surprise when we took a break from stanning VH1 Soul yesterday to watch Oprah only to see a familiar face on the widescreen. No, not Vera Wang, but none other than singer/songwriter/musician Martin Luther during a segment about...

Butta  |  09/15/2007 at 5:26 PM  |  Permalink