JonTMarin

Spike Lee's latest effort "She Hate Me" has been a debate for moviegoers. Some like it, some don't. I love Spike's work but that doesn't mean I am biased. I went into "She Hate Me" expecting the worst. But like most of Spike's films, I liked it. Some parts did make me cringe a bit but overall it is a clever film. You all know who the story goes, Jack Armstrong (Anthony Mackie) witnesses the suicide of his co-worker and finds a CD with his co-worker confessing of the company's (Progeia) wrong doings. Jack gets fired from his VP position and his bank accounts are frozen. His ex-fiancée Fatima (Kerry Washington) and her lesbian lover Alex (the stunningly beautiful Dania Ramirez) gives Jack an offer he can't refuse. He gets to impregnate ("the old fashion way") 18 lesbians for the price of 10 grand each. He does what he has to do until his ex-boss Leland Powell (Woody Harrelson) finds out about it and get him on charges. Also in the storyline is Monica Bellucci's character get impregnated with her mob family knowing about it. I heard that this film is confusing and a big mess but if you follow Spike's films you know that he has done this his whole career. All of his film's go off the storyline and gives the audience a chance to know the character. By the end of the film, you feel connected with Jack, Fatima, Alex and all the other characters surrounding them. Another thing that Spike did a good job on was the portrayal of lesbians. Unlike other films, "She Hate Me" doesn't portray them as sex vixens who have nothing on their mind but sex. But as smart, intelligent and funny women that are concerned about family values and the society surrounding them, and maybe a little bit of sex. I really think that Spike redeemed himself with "She Hate Me". Nothing was wrong with "25th Hour",it's a great film, but it just didn't feel too much like a Spike Lee joint. "She Hate Me" is a sassy comedy and very entertaining. Watch out for the Bush bashing scenes.

She Hate Me- rated R *** out of ****

Coming off his commercially disappointing album "Lovesexy",

Prince was into the whole spiritual thing. He conceived "Graffiti

Bridge" sometime in 1989, planning to make it a film with him and

his then girlfriend Kim Basinger. They broke up but "Graffiti Bridge"

was still going to be made. He took time off to compose the

"Batman" soundtrack and in late '89, he began filming "Graffiti

Bridge". Many that got first dibs on the film forewarned a lot of

people about it. "Graffiti Bridge" was released in the fall of 1990

with horrible reviews. It also bombed at the box office. People that

didn't even see the film gave it negative reviews. What people fail

to understand is that "Graffiti Bridge" is a musical. It is almost like

a homage to the old 50's musicals that were filmed on studio lots.

This was film on Prince's Paisley Park compound, giving it a

cheap look. Perhaps Prince took himself a little bit too seriously

when advertising it, and threw people off making them think it is a

regular movie. "Graffiti Bridge" is like one long music video. And

honestly, the acting is horrible. The highlight of the film has to be

the music. That is the whole point. It is a musical and nothing else.

So don't watch "Graffiti Bridge" expecting a real movie with drama

and great acting. It's a good film but it has it's flaws.

Graffiti Bridge- rated R **1/2 out of ****

"Purple Rain" solidified Prince as a rock star and big ticket actor.

However, the public were thrown off with his attempt at musical

comedy with "Under the Cherry Moon". "Under the Cherry Moon" is

the story of Christopher Tracy (Prince) and Tricky (Jerome Benton

of The Time,) two gigolos. They go to France to woo the women

and make money. Christopher stumbles across a newspaper that

says that wealthy Mary Sharon (Kristin Scott Thomas) will be

getting a large amount of money for her 21st birthday. Christopher

and Tricky come up with a plan to take her heart and her money.

This film was blasted with negative reviews and bombed at the

box office. This is very underrated and very funny. "Under the

Cherry Moon" was filmed in color and converted into black and

white, giving it a cool and stylish look. Prince is excellent and so is

his sidekick played by Jerome Benton. They almost have a

connection like Abbott and Costello, future films with the two as a

duo would've been cool. Kristin Scott Thomas's career took off

after this film and Prince was given his first film failure and

definitely not his last. But this film is really romantic and funny. It's

a great date film. The ending gets a little bit too dramatic but

nonetheless "Under the Cherry Moon" is a feel good film.

Under the Cherry Moon- rated PG-13 *** out of ****