So what’s Erykah Badu done for me lately?:)
It seems she has faded a bit since she exploded on the scene as Dallas’ new “it girl” — “The Queen of Neo-Soul” a few years back, having gone triple platinum with the 1997 “Baduism” … a prodigy of Dallas’ multi-talented Booker T. Washington High School For The Performing Arts And Visual Arts …
(Quite a list of famous alumni there at Booker T … )
Last year it was reported Badu was researching and laying down drum tracks in Africa for an upcoming recording … a “mix tape.” I digress …
She has three children … as if that isn’t enough to keep anyone busy …
Erykah, Puma
She’s had her share of controversy … (you can Google that) … and she has a film out there, first seen at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
Last night Badu and company came to Dallas to open the 2016 Dallas International Film Festival with the drama “The Land.”
PingWi-Fi checked out the Wi-Fi at the venue — Dallas’ new Dallas City Performing Arts Center, and hung for the red carpet and after party with actors, directors, producers and media. Good times.
James Faust, Sarah Harris
Interesting … DIFF Artistic Director James Faust introduced the opening film with a bit of a disclaimer … a comment that colleagues had told him it was a crazy choice of films to open a festival. I think Faust is just one of those talented, out-of-the-box kind of guys who like to shake things up a bit … Ha … no wonder. Before SMU Film School, Faust graduated from Texas Tech University (that says it all, I think) … and he did a stint on air at several Lubbock radio stations. (Of course I had to get Faust to do a quick Texas Tech “Guns Up!” pose … a much better representation than Peter Fonda’s “Guns Up!” from the red carpet a few years back … I digress.)
Guns Up! Faust, Sarah Harris
“The Land” is a bit dark. The majority of the film has that gritty, low-light style of cinematography that evokes a bit of desperation in the hearts and minds of the audience. The story line … well, it’s right there with the camera-craft … The tale of inner city friends in Cleveland … who aspire to get ahead and escape the city through skateboarding of all things. Skateboarding provides too little too late and the circle of friends discover an easier way out … crime … But of course bad choices always have complications, now don’t they? The situation for these kids was pretty bleak …
Ezri Walker, “Boobie”
Jorge Lendeborg Jr. , “Cisco”
Rafi Gavron, “Patty Cake”
The film has some pretty poignant scenes, as you would expect as friends and family of friends fall victim to a violent situation … but thankfully there are some humorous moments to balance out the funk … (funk, in a bad way). Much of the humor is at the hands of young Moises Arias (Hannah Montana) … and it would have been great to have seen Arias on the red carpet. But alas …
There are two strong women +1. … sort of. Badu is “Turquoise” a bit of a bad woman fallen in a bad world. Natalie Martinez is the good strong woman. Then there is, Linda Emond in the role of “Momma” … a bad mama drug lord who has not given up her day job — a “tree hugging” co-op grocer at the farmer’s market. (Hmmm … some thought that worked …)
Oh … other fun casting … Kim Coats — “Tig” from “Sons of Anarchy” plays a sometimes tragic, sometimes comedic short-order cook/diner owner. And “Omar” from “The Wire” — back in the day — Michael Kenneth Williams as “Pops” provides some much-needed wisdom for the young skaters.
IF you are asking, I would recommend seeing the film and doing DIFF2016, certainly. You never know who you might run into at the event. No sign of Patrick Duffy last night, maybe tonight … They say Dallas’ other favorite daughter Janine Turner may be there tonight.
Know what I sayin?
