In Collapse, Michael Ruppert, who is a former UCLA College Student; a former Los Angeles Police Officer; and a CIA employee, offers his explanation of, in a March 2009 Interview, why The United States’ Economy and, ultimately, The Government “collapsed.” Often interesting but, for the most part, far too willing to offer simplistic explanations of highly complex concepts, Collapse is an extremely confused attack against the misuses and abuses of natural and man-made resources (Oil, Energy, Electricity, Transportation, Food) by the World.

Perhaps, if he had been less pro-Saddam Hussein and anti-Obama, as well as less intent upon passing himself off as a modern day “Deep Throat” who emerges from the shadows, Mr. Ruppert would have been more convincing.

In Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, Producer and Director Clint Eastwood, demonstrates how, through the use of the South African Rugby Team, Nelson Mandela unified the Nation.

In South Africa during Apartheid, at least eighty-five percent of the population was Black while only six percent of the population was Afrikaner. For decades, however, the wealth and the political power of the Nation remained in the hands of the White Afrikaner Government. Extremely similar to the predicament of African-Americans in the United States before the Civil Right’s Movement, a symbol to the Blacks in South Africa of their oppression was the Rugby Spring Box (Rugby Football Team). So menacing was the predominantly all White Rugby Team to Black South Africans that Blacks routinely cheered against The South African Team.

As Mandela in Invictus, however, Morgan Freeman, through the Rugby Team’s Captain, handsomely played by Matt Damon, uses the National Rugby Team of South Africa to unify the polarized races in the Nation.

The Blind Side is the true story of how orphaned Michael Oher was befriended, taken-in, and finally adopted by a wealthy family during his last year of high school. With his mother addicted to drugs, and his father deceased, Oher becomes a male Cinderella, not only because he is adopted and treated like Royalty by his new family, but also because he becomes a major talent in football guiding his small Christian Academy, were he is a student, through a championship year.

What this means for Michael Oher is , if he can raise his grades to an acceptable Grade Point Average, he will be able to attend college on a football scholarship. Seemingly over sentimental and sometimes hard to take because of the racist sentiment otherwise conveyed, I needed to keep reminding myself that The Blind Side was not a fictional story but a true one in which the real life Michael Oher really met such people as The Touhys’ family.

Inspired by his concern for the self-concepts of his two pre-school aged daughters, Good Hair starring Chris Rock, is an insightful look into one aspect of The Black Hair Care Industry. The aspect of the Industry which Chris Rock explores is that which can give a woman “good hair”. Good hair is a euphemism in the Black Community for long, silky, straight hair. Through a series of interviews with actors and actresses, models, musicians, writers, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, civil right’s activists, beauticians, and other men and women having their hair done in beauty salons and barber shops producer, writer, and comedian Chris Rock examines the self-concepts of those people who prefer the more Eurocentric look which “good hair” can give to them as well as a few people who have found the beauty in wearing their own natural tresses.

To be fair, Rock does speak to some people who are willing to concede that “nappy” or coarse and curly hair is not “bad hair”. For the most part, however, the film investigates those aspects of Black Hair Care which straighten “nappy” hair. The documentary examines the hair relaxer (chemical) business as well as the sodium hydroxide found in crème relaxers, weaves, the process by which the hair for weaves is obtained, and African-American Hair Shows. Rock also examines the preference of Black Men for Caucasian Women by associating this preference with the concept of Caucasian Hair and the fact that Black Men can run their fingers through it.

In the documentary film entitled Thing With No Name producers Sarah Friedland and Esy Casey present a touching portrait of two HIV/AIDS afflicted women as they live out their final months in the province of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.

Thing With No Name may be dull and boring for those who are unwilling to read the subtitles for the people in the documentary do not speak English. The English subtitles, however, convey staggering statistics regarding HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and, specifically, in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa which are astounding enough to compel one to watch the entire film. For instance, did you know that of The World’s 39.5 million HIV/AIDS infected people that 63% live in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Also, did you know that in Kwazulu Natal, one in six people is HIV/AIDS infected. Because of this documentary’s ability to educate its viewers about HIV/AIDS, I would recommend this film as a vehicle with which to improve HIV/AIDS awareness amongst children as well as amongst adolescents and adults.

On a scale of from one to twelve roses, therefore, I give Thing With No Name eleven roses.

In Sin Nombre, Sayra (Paulina Gaiton) and El Casper (Edward M. Flores) join forces to battle the ever present and far reaching hand of the Mexican gangs. First and foremost, this is a film about gang violence. On a secondary level are the subplots of child abuse and the corruption of youth as told through the eyes of Benito (Smiley).

Third, however, is the theme of immigration to the United States and what the promise of this dream means for Sayra, the members of her entourage (her father and her uncle), and for El Casper. Beautifully filmed by Adriana Goldman as well as well directed by Cary Joli Fukunaga, who also wrote the brilliant script, as we watch the story of El Casper’s involvement in a gang called El Mara, Fukunaga contrasts Sayra’s journey with her father and her uncle across the Latin American Countryside from Honduras to The Mexican Border.

Although the film uses subtitles which are displayed too rapidly to read in some instances,uses frequent obscene language, and extreme violence is depicted (rape, murder, mutilations, armed robbery, and savage beatings) Sin Nombre is a first-class film worthy of the honors bestowed upon it thus far.

One of my favorite books as a child was Maurice Sendak’s classic 1963 children’s book entitled Where the Wild Things Are. Today, children and adult fans of this classic will get the chance to see the book on film. The book, which chronicles the imaginary adventures of a little boy named Max, has been the recipient of many awards in literature. The story begins rather innocently with Max’s mother sending him to his room for an apparent punishment without dinner.

There is a thing called loosing with grace and somehow the grace in the dancing was lost in the post show interview available at www.mtv.com The eliminated Rhythm City’s Alonzo came out bashing Massive Monkees’s performance. Insisting RC had done better Alonzo did not understand why they were eliminated. And I agree that RC had a better performance and within the context of the show is the better crew, but I think he got rather nasty and I was dissapointed to see a crew losing without any grace or dignity but instead complaining like children

Last week held a lot of controversy for contestant Leiomy and Judge Lil Mama. Both are controversial figures. Many fans of the show have said since season one that Lil Mama should not be a judge on the show and there is plenty to back that up. Her lack of speaking skills, age, and sometimes even her manner are usually the reasons for fans having such strong displeasure with her place of authority on the show. Leiomy a transgendered woman from New York City and member of the all gay Vogue Evolution was having more issues than just her sexuality on the show. One week was marred by a consistently bad attitude that went so far as to walk out of rehearsals.

My dear HHR readers I am so sorry I missed last week’s Dance Crew Blog. Life catches up to you when you are a full time college student looking for work and attempting to fulfill a personal goal for an all expenses paid trip to Puerto Rico. In other words…. I was busy busy busy. But let’s do a little recap.

So the other night marked the season premiere of ABDC season 4. By and large the show was lack luster and knowing some of the crews that had auditioned this certainly was not overall, the best of the pickins. Compared with previous seasons that provided out of this world good performances the other night was kind of hum drum.

Tyson: Portrait of the Pugilist as a Young (and Old) Man
By Javier E. David 
Witnessing the grotesque spectacle he’s managed to make of his life, it’s almost difficult to imagine that Mike Tyson was once a singularly fearsome fighter who bestrode the boxing world and pummeled opponents into submission. His turbulent personal life and professional controversies often made for the ultimate reality television show, one that gradually chipped away at the hard-earned respect Tyson garnered by way of his boxing prowess.  
James Toback’s documentary, Tyson, is a compelling yet ultimately one-dimensional film that manages to spotlight many of the characteristics …

by Angela Severiano 
Since the Tribeca Film Festivals inception in 2002, it has been a playground for New York’s top celebrities. This year was no exception. From the jurors to the filmmakers to the actors, there was no shortage of celebrity excitement in Tribeca. 
Here are a few Red Carpet Highlights from Tribeca’s Official Website. 
This year non attendees of Tribeca Film Festival could get sneak peeks and follow their favorite celebrities, along with breaking news thanks to social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.   Facebook and Twitter gave over 20,000 followers and fans a first hand look at their favorite celebrities, events and …

By Javier E. David
Upon hearing the title of the recently released comedy-drama, “Sunshine Cleaning”, one might be forgiven for confusing this small-budget film with a 2006 film with a similar name, the light-hearted yet over-praised “Little Miss Sunshine.” Aside from their sunny titles, both of these films share (or suffer from, depending on who you ask) a similar trait: a contrived ‘quirk’ factor that has become endemic and somewhat cliché to the independent film genre. In short, these movies are designed to make you laugh, cry, and contemplate the vicissitudes of life and the sloppiness of love/romance.
“Sunshine Cleaning” labors under …

 By Javier David
Most movie-goers this weekend are likely be transfixed by the spectacle of teenage vampire angst in “Twilight” (Transylvania 90210, if you will). Reasonable adults who like their entertainment mindless but not necessarily pre-pubescent should repair to the theater showing Quantum of Solace, the latest installment of the James Bond 007 series.
Be forewarned, however: the operative word in this one is revenge - which in this movie gets alternately served very cold (the final scene takes place in an apartment complex in wintry Russia) and very hot (the climax takes place in a desert wasteland in Bolivia). The formula …