January 11, 2014 - January 17, 2014, The Afro-American
B3
ARTS & CULTURE
Mark Wahlberg in Memoir about Ambush of Navy SEALs in Afghanistan
Lone Survivor Film Review by Kam Williams On June 28, 2005, a team of Navy SEALs based in Afghanistan were issued orders in accordance with Operation Red Wings to locate and terminate a Taliban leader whose militia
had been targeting coalition troops in the Kush Mountains of Kunar Province. The four were then dropped by helicopter line into rugged terrain Courtesy rottentomatoes.com outside the tiny village suspected of harboring Al-Qaida sympathizers. Soon, the soldiers crossed paths with several shepherds and, against their better judgment, allowed the seemingly innocuous civilians to continue on their way in accordance with the U.S. military’s rules of engagement. Unfortunately, about an hour later, the SEALs
found themselves ambushed by over a hundred Taliban fighters who had apparently been tipped off as to their whereabouts. The ensuing, epic battle is the subject of Lone Survivor, a gruesome war flick based on Marcus Luttrell’s (Mark Wahlberg) memoir of the high attrition-rate, harrowing ordeal. Adapted and directed by Peter Berg (Battleship), the picture is most reminiscent of Black Hawk Down, another grim film about an America overseas helicopter operation gone bad. Given this movie’s title, there isn’t any suspense about how the disastrous misadventure is going to end. Consequently,
the viewing experience amounts to little more than squirming in your seat while watching members of Luttrell’s unit perish, as well as over a dozen of the reinforcements sent to try to rescue them. A practically-pornographic tribute to fearless, fallen heroes strictly for patriots with a strong stomach for gratuitous violence, however accurate. Good HH R for graphic violence and pervasive profanity Running time: 121 minutes Distributor: Universal Pictures
Juanita Moore, ’Imitation of Life’ Oscar Nominated Black Actress, Dead at 99 By Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Juanita Moore, a groundbreaking actress and an Academy Award nominee for her role as Lana Turner’s Black friend in the classic weeper “Imitation of Life,” has died. Actor Kirk Kelleykahn, her grandson, said that Moore collapsed and died Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 99, according to Kelleykahn. Accounts of her age have differed over the years. Moore was only the fifth Black performer to be nominated for an Oscar, receiving the nod for the glossy Douglas Sirk film that became a big hit and later gained a cult following. The 1959 tearjerker, based on a Fannie Hurst novel and a remake of a 1934 film, tells the story of a struggling White actress’
rise to stardom, her friendship with a Black woman and how they team up to raise their daughters as single mothers. It brought supporting actress nominations for both Moore and Susan Kohner, who played Moore’s daughter as a young adult attempting to pass as a White woman. Kohner’s own background is Czech and Mexican. By the end, Turner’s character is a star and her friend is essentially a servant. The death of Moore’s character sets up the sentimental ending. “The Oscar prestige was fine, but I worked more before I was nominated,” Moore told the Los Angeles Times in 1967. “Casting directors think an Oscar nominee is suddenly in another category. They couldn’t possibly ask you to do one
AP File Photo
This March 31, 1960 file photo shows Juanita Moore, a groundbreaking actress and an Academy Award nominee. She was 99, according to a family member. Accounts of her age have differed over the years.
or two days’ work. You wouldn’t accept it. And I’m sure I would.” Moore also had an active career in the theater, starting at Los Angeles’ Ebony Showcase Theatre in the early 1950s, a leading Black-run theater. She also was a member of the celebrated Cambridge Players, with other performers including Esther Rolle and Helen Martin. Her grandson is currently president and CEO of the Cambridge group. She appeared on Broadway in 1965 in James Baldwin’s play “The Amen Corner” and in London in a production of “Raisin in the Sun.” “The creative arts put a person on another level,” she told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s why we need to bring our youngsters into the theater.” Her first film appearance was as
a nurse in the 1949 film “Pinky.” As with other Black actresses, many of Moore’s early roles were as maids. She told the Times that “real parts, not just in-and-out jobs,” were opening up for Black performers. Among Moore’s other films were “The Girl Can’t Help It,” ‘’The Singing Nun,” ‘’Paternity” and “The Kid.” Her TV credits include “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” ‘’Adam12,” ‘’Judging Amy” and “ER.” Born in Los Angeles, Moore got her start in show business as a chorus girl at New York’s Cotton Club, then joined the Ebony theater. She was the widow of Charles Burris. She is survived by her grandson and two nephews. ____ Biographical material in this story was written by former Associated Press writer Polly Anderson.
“A POWERHOUSE.
‘Lone Survivor’ laces action with moral questions that haunt and provoke. Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch and Taylor Kitsch add to the impact.” Peter Travers
“UNFORGETTABLE, TENSE AND INSPIRING.
Brilliantly acted and directed.”
Pete Hammond, MOVIELINE
EXTRAORDINARY “The most extraordinary war film since ‘Saving Private Ryan.’” Bill Simmons, GRANTLAND
NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR
UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND EMMETT/FURLA FILMS PRESENT A FILM 44/EMMETT/FURLA FILMS/HERRICK ENTERTAINMENT/ ENVISION ENTERTAINMENT/SPIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT/SINGLE BERRY/CLOSEST TO THEMUSICHOLE/LEVERAGE PRODUCTION A PETER BERG FILM MARK WAHLBERG “LONE SURVIVOR” TAYLOR KITSCH EMILE HIRSCH BEN FOSTER AND ERIC BANA BY EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY STEVE JABLONSKY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS GEORGE FURLA SIMON FAWCETT BRADEN AFTERGOOD LOUIS G. FRIEDMAN STEPAN MARTIROSYAN REMINGTON CHASE ADI SHANKAR RANDALL EMMETT NORTON HERRICK SPENCER SILNA MARK DAMON BRANDT ANDERSEN JEFF RICE PRODUCEDBY PETER BERG SARAH AUBREY ON BARRY SPIKINGS AKIVA GOLDSMAN MARK WAHLBERG STEPHENWRITTENLEVINSON VITALYDIRECTED GRIGORIANTS THEBASED BOOK BY MARCUS LUTTRELL WITH PATRICK ROBINSON A UNIVERSAL RELEASE BY PETER BERG BY PETER BERG
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