Movies – Page 5 – Suite 411

Columbus Short jumps into action in ‘Armored’

(l to r) Columbus Short, Laurence Fishburne and Matt Dillon star in Screen Gems' action thriller ARMORED.

by Allison Horton

In “Armored”, actor Columbus Short’s first action film ever, he was excited to be able to do all of his own stunts such as running, jumping and crashing armored trucks.

“It was pretty crazy and intense,” he said. “It is like a kid being able to play cops and robbers and shooting it up. It was fun.”

“Armored,” which opens this Friday also stars veteran actors Laurence Fishburne and Matt Dillon. Short plays a young armored truck driver who is coerced by his co-workers to steal $42 million.

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Jennifer Hudson to play Winnie Mandela

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Chicago’s favorite ‘Dreamgirl’, Jennifer Hudson, will begin production in South Africa May 30 on her new film “Winnie.” The Oscar-winning actress will play the the former wife of South Africa’s first Black president, Nelson Mandela. The wife, mother and activist was jailed for campaigning for her husband’s release and the end of apartheid. She was later convicted of fraud.

“I was compelled and moved when I read the script,” Hudson told Variety. “Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I’m honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told.”

Chris Rock talks ‘Good Hair’

by Allison Horton

It all started when Chris Rock’s then five-year-old daughter asked him, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?”

The question set the comedian on a path to learn more about the importance African American women place on their hair, specifically what they will go through to have straight or relaxed hair. The result is “Good Hair,” an entertaining documentary opening Oct. 23 that takes a look at how women achieve that goal. From visiting beauty shops where perms are applied to traveling to India to see how weaves are created, Rock leaves no stone unturned in his quest.

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Spielberg to make MLK movie

Steven Spielberg will co-produce a Dreamworks movie about slain civil rights leader, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., reports National Public Radio. The studio is touting the project as the first big screen movie authorized by King’s estate to use his intellectual property.

Dexter King, the civil rights leader’s son and chairman and chief executive officer of King Inc., signed off on the deal. His siblings, sister, Bernice and brother, Martin III, are suing because they had no input on the decision.

Tyler Perry and Oprah team up for new movie

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Tyler Perry and Oprah are flexing their muscle to help promote Lionsgate new film, “Precious,” which is based on the book “Push” by Sapphire. The movie centers on Princess, played by actress Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, an overweight and sexually abused teen who finds hope in alternative school. Mo’Nique plays her monster of a mother who is suffering from her own demons. The film also stars Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd and Lenny Kravitz.

The movie will be released Nov. 6 and was screened at Cannes Film Festival Friday.

‘Obsessed’ movie tops weekend box office

“Obsessed,” the movie starring Beyonce Knowles and Idris Elba, debuted no. 1 at the box office this weekend, raking in $28.5 million. The two star in the Sony Screen Gems movie as a married couple that faces trials when a psychotic temp played by Ali Larter begins stalking the husband.

Ne-Yo is “Part of the List”

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Ne-Yo’s new video,”Part of the List,” is the prequel to his last video,”Mad,” where he is involved in a lover’s spat over a text from another woman. In “Part of the List,” it is discovered that the text is from an old girlfriend that he sees again while vacationing with his new girl. The plot thickens!

The video was filmed in Prague, where Ne-Yo is filming the Tuskegee Airmen movie, “Red Tails,” with Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Suite 411 reported earlier that singer Jasmine Sullivan also appears in the movie.

Diddy to star in “Sarah Marshall” movie spin-off

Diddy will appear in the comedy movie, “Get Him to the Greek,” a spin-off to “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Judd Apatow, who produced “The 40-year-old Virgin and “Knocked Up,” will produce the film. In the movie, Diddy plays a record label executive. It is scheduled to be released in April 2010.

‘Kumar’ goes to the White House

Kal Penn, who starred as Kumar in the movie, “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle,” is now part of the Obama administration. Penn most recently had a recurring role on the FOX series, “House.” There is no start date yet for his new job as associate director in the Office of Public Liaison. Penn will connect President Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander communities plus the arts & entertainment groups.

Gladys Knight joins new Tyler Perry film

Gladys Knight and gospel singer Marvin Winans have joined the cast of Tyler Perry’s new film, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” As reported earlier, Mary J. Blige and Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson were already cast in the movie set to be released Sept 11.

The movie follows the character Madea as she finds a 16-year-old girl and her brothers ransacking her house and sends them to live with their Aunt April, a nightclub singer played by Henson. Knight plays Wilma, a neighborhood matriarch who sings at the Marshall Baptist Church where Madea hangs out. Knight, Winans and Blige will all sing in the film.