FILM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOVIE NIGHTS

Movie night, anyone? ‘Cause I’m about to toss a few films into your lap! So, throw on your sweatpants and pop some popcorn, and let’s get this show started!

First up on my list, though not truly a recent release, is an LGBT film called “Saturday Church,” a film about “a young African-American male struggling with his gender identity and family tension, so he seeks hope and support in the New York City’s underground LGBTQ ballroom,” as Netflix describes it.

It’s a beautifully directed film and it touched me. As an LGBTQ member myself, I identify as transgender and have struggled and still often struggle with gender identity: Am I masculine enough? Am I feminine enough? Is it even worth it trying to pursue the life I wanna live, or should I continue to just simply try to pass? Like I said, it’s a beautiful movie and definitely worth the watch!

Another good film to pass the time with is “Goldie,” a film about “when a good teen mounts a gritty pursuit to dance in a music video, [and] must also evade child services so she can keep her younger sisters together,” per Netflix. It’s wonderfully directed and a film that will keep you on edge until the end, and one where I feel you’ll need to put yourself in the main character’s shoes in order to fully immerse yourself; you will only love it more when you do. Next, don’t let the title of this movie fool you – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is a serious film about “(t)ensions and temperatures [rising] at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session.” (Netflix)

This film is not only great to watch but also it’s inspiring and breathtaking to know it is Chadwick Boseman’s final film. Starring alongside Viola Davis, who plays the wonderful Ma Rainey, he is amazing to watch because we are able to see him fully dive into his role even with everything he was going through (terminal colon cancer), and he brings history back to life alongside his cast members. He was an amazing actor and an even more amazing person, and though I never met him, those who did have nothing bad to say about our Black Panther. May he Rest in Power! Our final film to recommend will arrive in the future. Even though you can’t watch it now, at least you, like me, can make plans to watch it then (hopefully in a theater): “Black Panther 2” is scheduled to be released on July 8, 2022.

Though there isn’t much information yet, from what I have been able to find, Marvel Studios is now starting to develop the sequel again and figure how it can proceed without Boseman. In order to honor his legacy they will not be recasting the role of T’Challa, nor will they be using a digital double in the film. It seems that our next visit to the land of Wakanda will have us spending more time with the range of characters there, as well as the “mythology” of the land. We might even see Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, become the next Black Panther – as occurred in the comics – but we’ll have to wait and see!

So there you have it: A small list of films with which to cozy up on the couch and enjoy a nice night in, because, trust me, that’s what I’m gonna do one of these weekends after a long work week, to de-stress and relax.