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Enjoy this unapologetically Black streaming platform for an incredible price this holiday season.

Prime Video subscribers are already well aware of the benefits of Prime Video Channels. This platform is the perfect way to supplement your streaming library, adding movies and streaming services and keeping all the bills for those transactions in a single convenient place. Prime Video Channels is offering some excellent deals on more than 15 streaming services now, to commemorate Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Allblk is one of the streaming services on sale through Prime Video Channels this week. This service is specifically curated to offer the best Black stories by Black creators, and the normal monthly price of $5.99 is already a great deal. But thanks to the Prime Video Channels offer, new customers can get two months of Allblk for just $1.50 each (75% off).

How to Get Allblk for Just $1.50 for 2 Months (75% off) Click here to get...

Leonard “Hub” Hubbard, a founding member of The Roots who played bass on the iconic hip-hop group’s first seven albums has died, according to his wife Stephanie. He was 62.

This tribute was posted to the Roots’ social media pages:

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to our brother Leonard Nelson Hubbard. May your transition bring peace to your family to your friends to your fans and all of those who loved you. Rest in Melody Hub.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Roots (@theroots)

Hub had been battling multiple myeloma– a type of blood cancer — since 2007. He did his last show with band in August 2007.

In the intervening years, he had undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, according to his wife Stephanie. She told Philadelphia’s 6Abc that the musician had been feeling energetic of late, but last night his condition deteriorated rapidly.

By the time the Roots took to the stage at Woodstock ‘99, the now-notorious fest was already well underway. Slated between sets by Buckcherry and Insane Clown Posse on Friday, July 23rd, the group made the best of their time at what would become a chaotic mess, grooving their way through an hour-long performance featuring songs off their latest album, Things Fall Apart, released over 20 years ago. With a new HBO documentary revisiting the infamous Woodstock ’99, a new generation is learning about one of the most calamitous festivals of all time.

New Amsterdam Pressure Drop Trailer and Things Fall Apart Plot Synopsis and Air Date — NBC‘s New Amsterdam: Season 3, Episode 11: Pressure Drop TV show trailer and Episode 12: Things Fall Apart plot synopsis and air date have been released. Cast and crew New Amsterdam stars Ryan Eggold, Janet Montgomery, Freema Agyeman, Jocko [...]

Continue reading: New Amsterdam: Season 3, Episode 11: Pressure Drop Trailer; Ep. 12: Things Fall Apart Plot Synopsis & Air Date [NBC]...

WaterTower Music is excited to announce the March 18 release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), which features a completely brand-new score to accompany Snyder’s vision for the film, created by Grammy nominated multi-platinum producer, musician, composer and educator Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie Xl.

The album features Holkenborg’s music from Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the film in which, determined to ensure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf, DeSaad and Darkseid and their dreadful intentions.

A new track from Holkenborg, “Middle Mass (From...

As Sly and the Family Stone’s 1971 tune says, it’s a family affair,

Less than two weeks after his directorial debut Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was picked up in a multi-million dollar Sundance Film Festival deal, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is heading back behind the camera for a documentary on Sly Stone – with some long time collaborators on board.

“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA….it’s a black musician’s blueprint….to be given the honor to explore his history and legacy is beyond a dream for me,” the Roots drummer and musicologist said in a statement today on MRC Non-Fiction project.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stone formed and fronted the genre and culturally defining Family Stone. This latest film on Stone is expected to focus not just on his successes, but also...

In Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, a group of teenagers from very different walks of life learn that they have to depend on one another in order to survive the ordeal of being abandoned on an island full of dinosaurs. As much as the series revolves around escaped dinosaurs, jump scares, and corporate conspiracy, at its core are six lonely teenagers who really just want to have someone to connect to. By the time the season has concluded, those teens have found that they can trust each other with their lives, if not with everything else.

Darius

The series opens with Darius, a video gamer who wins a trip to Camp Cretaceous by successfully completing a game mission. He’s the only one of the Camp Cretaceous campers who truly loves dinosaurs for their own sake, and his only ulterior motive for being at Camp Cretaceous is to fulfill a promise...

Malik Abdul Basit (aka Malik B.), a rapper, singer and longtime member of The Roots, died Wednesday. He was 47. The Roots announced Basit’s death in a statement on the group’s verified Twitter account but did not provide a cause of death.

“We regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit,” the statement read. “May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam and innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time. We ask that you please respect his family in our time of mourning.”

We regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit. May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam and innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time. We ask that you please respect his family in our time of mourning pic.

Before the late-night show and the household fame, the Roots were the pride of Philadelphia’s underground hip-hop scene. The quiet heart of that version of the Roots — an unforgettable part of the lineup that put them on the map, won countless devoted fans, and enabled all the success to come — was Malik B, who died this week at age 47.

Malik wasn’t the flashiest verbal technician in the Roots; that was always Tariq Trotter, a.k.a. Black Thought, a boundless lyrical dynamo whose freestyle abilities were legendary from Day One.

Malik B., the rapper who was a longtime member of the Roots from their formative years, has died. The group confirmed the rapper’s death to Rolling Stone, though no cause of death or other details were provided.

“It is with heavy hearts and tearful eyes that we regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit,” the Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought said in a statement. “May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam, his loving brotherhood, and his...

Things Fall Apart: Lee’s New Joint Unearths a Heart of Darkness Alive and Well

“There is no story that is not true,” wrote Chinua Achebe in his classic 1958 novel Things Fall Apart, a seminal Nigerian text which deals with the southeastern part of the country’s introduction to the first round of Europeans in the late 19th century, and, of course, colonialism. Conversely, the suggestion is, every story is true, even if those who tell them wouldn’t necessarily agree—to exist is a certain truth. But whether perspective is the true scribe or just the inchoate cohort of every narrative’s origin, the intentions are as suspect as any narrator is subjective.…...

Taylor Kitsch revealed on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Oct. 16 that he had to lose 30 pounds to play cult leader David Koresh in the limited series “Waco.”

“I’d get 500 calories at breakfast and then it would go from like veggies in the mid-afternoon to chicken broth after 4 o’ clock. And then you go run, which is awesome!” he explained, adding that he is still trying to gain back the weight.

Chris Hemsworth shocked the Internet on Nov. 22, when the “Thor” hunk revealed the dramatic weight loss he endured for “In the Heart of the Sea.”

Also Read: Chris Hemsworth Shares Shocking Photo of Extreme Weight Loss for 'In The Heart of the Sea'

Beyoncé dropped 20 pounds from her “Bootylicious” body with the help of a cleanse for her role in “Dreamgirls.”

Also Read: Beyonce Pulls Biggest Power Play Yet: No Interview for Vogue Cover Story

Liam Neeson...

Since its release in 2003, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s “In Da Club” has gone on to rival “Happy Birthday to You” as the most popular song to celebrate another lap around the sun. While speaking to People about his new film, heist-thriller Den of Thieves co-starring Gerard Butler and Pablo Schreiber, the multi-talented artist and entrepreneur reflected on the 15th anniversary of his career-launching smash.

“Simplicity is a big key to hit music,” Jackson says of its staying power. “Don’t overthink things, just organically see what you feel when the production comes in. Like, ‘Go shorty, it’s your birthday.

Yoga is harder than it looks!

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson got that rude awakening when he took his first yoga class, and finally learned the truth behind the deceptively difficult practice.

“I didn’t know what I thought I was going to do. You know, you go to yoga. I thought I was going to stretch in a sauna, just stretch and have a good time,” 50 Cent tells Harry Connick Jr. during Thursday’s episode of Harry.

“It started out good and then the ladies started going faster and faster. It was difficult moves for you to put your body in...

Rob Leane Aug 2, 2016

Tomorrow, Today is the new collaboration between Starz and 50 Cent. It's also a superhero show...

Curtis Jackson - Aka 50 Cent - is developing a new TV show with the Starz network, reprising the collaboration which previously brought us the popular crime drama Power.

50 Cent's new TV project is entitled Tomorrow, Today. According to Deadline's story-breaking report, it's a "superhero-themed series about a veteran from the south side of Chicago who, after being falsely imprisoned, becomes the personal experiment of a mad prison doctor trying to create the perfect man – and an unstoppable killing machine. Set free, but on the run, the veteran must reconcile with the world that has turned against him, and use his newfound abilities for good."

"I am looking forward to continuing my relationship with my Starz family," said Mr Cent in a statement, "We have had great success together on Power and I...

Hollywood is known for physical transformations, and stars often take pride in losing tons of weight - sometimes for a role and other times just to get healthier. But for a few actors, the results of the rapid weight-loss are downright startling.

Here's a look at six celebs who lost a shocking amount of weight.

Zach Galifianakis

The Hangover star's dramatic weight-loss first made headlines in October when the once-portly comedian showed up to the screening of Birdman, on the closing night of the New York Film Festival, having gone down a few clothing sizes.

His new, slimmer look also surprised people when he was featured in the opening of the 2015 SAG Awards. It's estimated that Galifianakis may have lost as much as 50 pounds.

Photos: Before & After: Celebs' Most Dramatic Transformations

Jake Gyllenhaal

The Prisoners star famously dropped 30 pounds for his role as the deranged freelance crime photographer Louis Bloom in the Oscar-nominated thriller Nightcrawler. Gyllenhaal, who has...

Russell Leigh Sharman’s passion project, Apartment 4E is Now Out on DVD (as of May 21st), courtesy of Rlj Entertainment. The “urban” thriller stars Nicole Beharie (in Fox’s upcoming Sleepy Hollow). Here’s a press release:

Los Angeles (May 16, 2013) – One Village Entertainment, an Rlj Entertainment (Nasdaq: Rlje) brand, announces the release of the urban thriller film, Apartment 4E (formerly known as Small of Her Back), available on DVD on May 21, 2013 at an Srp of $14.98. Starring Nicole Beharie (42, Shame) and Christopher Domig (Second-Story Man), the film was written and directed by Russell Leigh Sharman.

Piper (Beharie) is a beautiful, intelligent young woman with everything to live for…but she’s trapped in a dark world of her own making. Deeply troubled, desperate and clutching a handgun, Piper has not left her apartment in a long time, and when there’s a knock on the door, she will face a...

Tut-tut-tut... so which one of you folks has been pirating All Things Fall Apart? And if you did, was it worth it? If you'd asked, I'd have told you how terrible it is, and saved you the trouble. News from TorrentFreak.com: In a fresh lawsuit filed by attorney Boden Davidson on behalf of his client Contra Piracy, it is claimed that thousands of individuals downloaded and shared the 50 Cent movie All Things Fall Apart. The anti-piracy outfit said it obtained the “enforcement rights” from Los Angeles-based Hannibal Pictures. Contra Piracy claims to have monitored 2,919 individuals infringing All Things Fall Apart on more than 280,000 occasions. They say they cannot...

Ever since Robert De Niro’s shocking 60-pound weight gain for “Raging Bull,” radical body transformations without a heavy hand from prosthetics have been Oscar gold.

Hillary Swank won her first Oscar after dramatically shedding pounds and hair in “Boys Don’t Cry”; she won again when she bulked up for “Million Dollar Baby.” Tom Hanks also found success with the diet game, first for “Philadelphia” and again for “Castaway.” But, like Hanks, Charlize Theron proved it’s not always just about weight but about total appearance transformation in “Monster.” Call it the Academy’s respect for method acting.

Now, Anne Hathaway may have the lock for the Feb. 24 Academy Awards in the supporting actress category for her part in “Les Misérables,” for which she lost 25 pounds and looks emaciated.

Still, there have been some transformations on par or exceeding the above success stories that left the actor without a golden statue,...

Check out fresh images from Anchor Bay's Officer Down, including star Stephen Dorff, a luscious-looking AnnaLynne McCord, David Boreanaz, Stephen Lang, Dominic Purcell, Walton Goggins and Soulja Boy in his feature film debut. Brian A. Miller (All Things Fall Apart, House of the Rising Sun) directs from the script by John Chase with a DVD and Blu-ray release date on January 22nd, 2013. James Woods also stars in Officer Down. One year ago, dirty cop Detective Callahan (Dorff) was shot in a drug bust gone wrong and saved by a stranger, giving Callahan a second chance to clean up his life. But when the stranger finally comes forward, seeking revenge against the men responsible for a string of assaults on young women at a local strip club, Callahan must go rogue to find the attacker in an effort to hide how his own past played a part in these crimes. His...

Check out fresh images from Anchor Bay's Officer Down, including star Stephen Dorff, a luscious-looking AnnaLynne McCord, David Boreanaz, Stephen Lang, Dominic Purcell, Walton Goggins and Soulja Boy in his feature film debut. Brian A. Miller (All Things Fall Apart, House of the Rising Sun) directs from the script by John Chase with a DVD and Blu-ray release date on January 22nd, 2013. James Woods also stars in Officer Down. One year ago, dirty cop Detective Callahan (Dorff) was shot in a drug bust gone wrong and saved by a stranger, giving Callahan a second chance to clean up his life. But when the stranger finally comes forward, seeking revenge against the men responsible for a string of assaults on young women at a local strip club, Callahan must go rogue to find the attacker in an effort to hide how his own past played a part in these crimes. His...

It was in April when Robert Johnson's plans to acquire Image Entertainment and Acorn Media Group, to create what was deemed a "formidable independent distributor," were revealed.  Skip ahead 6 months to news today that the acquisition is indeed complete; both Image and Acorn have been swallowed by Rlj. In case you're not already aware... Image Entertainment is the acquisition and distribution company (primarily) behind the releases of recent titles we've written about, like 50 Cent's All Things Fall Apart, Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer (home video), Matthew Cherry's The Last Fall, Dysfunctional Friends, the Berine...

Image Entertainment acquired USA rights to All Things Fall Apart (formerly known as Things Fall Apart), last year, the inspirational sports drama directed by Mario Van Peebles and starring Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Ray Liotta, Lynn Whitfield, and Tracey Heggins, with plans to release it in theaters in early 2012, followed by a home video release. Soon after that news, the film aired on Bet, after it screened at the Urbanworld Film Festival last fall, and was eventually shuffled on to Blu-ray/DVD earlier this year. Fiddy reportedly lost 54 pounds in preparation for his role in the movie in which he plays a...

When an actor completely immerses themselves into a role, the result is usually stunning. Sometimes though, what’s more impressive is the work that went in before filming even began. Changing appearance for roles has become quite common in movies today, but occasionally, an actor’s physical transformation goes far beyond a bit of make-up or a haircut, like Christian Bale in, well, most of his films.

In The Dark Knight Rises, out in theatres this week, actor Tom Hardy bulked up significantly to play the menacing terrorist Bane, a new villain intent on taking down Gotham City. The actor has had to bulk up for roles before (Warrior, Bronson) and in honour of his dedication, we look back at ten actors who have undergone remarkable physical transformations for their roles.

To start, let’s look at the aforementioned Mr. Hardy.

Tom Hardy For The Dark Knight Rises

Tom Hardy has never been slim,...

Image Entertainment has announced that it has joined forces with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks to distribute Spike Lee.s coming-of-age film, Red Hook Summer. The agreement covers all North American rights, besides theatrical, including VOD, digital, Blu-ray./DVD and broadcast and will be released under Image.s One Village label. With a slated theatrical release of August 10th through Variance Films, Image Entertainment anticipates a Q4 home entertainment release..Spike Lee is hands down one of the greatest working filmmakers we have today. Red Hook Summer personifies the type of films we release on our One Village label and I am personally honored that Spike has chosen Image to distribute it.

.I.m very happy with my new friends and partners at Image Entertainment,. said Spike Lee. .They are helping me bring Red Hook Summer to the World..

.We.re excited about the opportunity to work with Spike Lee and his team,...

50 Cent is a financial titan. The rapper has expanded his brand into sneakers, books, body spray, condoms, vitamin water, energy drinks and, of course, film production via his Cheetah Vision production company. And that's what we're here to talk about. You see, while 50 Cent likes to make money -- lots of it -- that doesn't necessarily mean he cares about the quality of product he puts out there. And so, it's hardly a shock that his steps into the film production world have resulted in movies that pretty much go straight-to-dvd. We're talking about his cancer drama "All Things Fall Apart" or the thriller "Setup" with Bruce Willis and Ryan Phillippe. And now his latest attempt at moviemaking, "Freelancers," seems headed for the same fate, and this time it will bring down two Academy Award winners with it.

The project was first announced last spring, and then we forgot about it,...

The cast for the Stallone/Schwarzenegger prison break action film The Tomb continues to round out somewhat impressively. In February, we learned that Jim Caviezel (The Passion Of The Christ) would be playing the film's main baddie, that of a warden. Today, Variety reports that Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone), Vincent D'Onofrio ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"), Vinnie Jones (X-men: The Last Stand), and 50 Cent (All Things Fall Apart) will all be joining the Mikael Hafstrom-directed...

The cast for the Stallone/Schwarzenegger prison break action film The Tomb continues to round out somewhat impressively. In February, we learned that Jim Caviezel (The Passion Of The Christ) would be playing the film's main baddie, that of a warden. Today, Variety reports that Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone), Vincent D'Onofrio ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"), Vinnie Jones (X-men: The Last Stand), and 50 Cent (All Things Fall Apart) will all be joining the Mikael Hafstrom-directed...

The new cancer drama All Things Fall Apart provoked widespread, richly merited mockery when photos of 50 Cent, looking skeletal and Oscar-hungry, circulated online amid reports that the rapper-turned-actor had lost more than 50 pounds to play a cancer-stricken college football player. The dramatic weight loss earned headlines, but the fact that the 36-year-old actor—who thoroughly looks his age—felt he could convincingly play an athlete in his early 20s says even more about the self-delusion and narcissism behind this unintentionally hilarious vanity project. In the role he was born not to play, the G-Unit head honcho—who also ...

Interview With Mario Van Peebles On All Things Fall Apart

Mario Van Peebles was originally set to just star in his latest film, All Things Fall Apart, before being asked to also serve as the director. In the film, Curtis Jackson, also known as 50 Cent, plays Deon, a promising, college football player who is getting ready for the NFL. All of a sudden, Deon becomes diagnosed with a deadly disease. The film also stars Lynn Whitfield and Ray Liotta.

Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...

Happy Valentine's Day! Sadly, there aren't too many romantic movies hitting DVD or Blu-ray today, but I suppose anything with Johnny Depp always makes for a perfect date flick... even if he happens to be playing an alcoholic. The Rum Diary is really the only major release of the week, with most of the other selections being indie and foreign films including Take Shelter starring Michael Shannon, Jose Padilha's Elite Squad: The Enemy Within and The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence. Criterion is also putting out Lena Dunham's Tiny Furniture and Hideo Gosha's Three Outlaw Samurai, and then there are a couple of acclaimed documentaries in The Interrupters and Urbanized. We'd also be remiss if we did not mention 50 Cent's cancer drama All Things Fall Apart... did someone say Oscar snub? What will you be buying or renting this week? Check out the list of new releases after the jump.

DVD or Blu-ray? Redbox or Netflix? Streaming? Whatever your poison, we've got the highlights and lowlights on the week's new releases. Moviefone's Pick of the Week "The Interrupters" What's It About? "Hoop Dreams" director Steve James tackles the crisis of inner-city violence and the people who are trying restore peace and unity; following the CeaseFire activist organization for over a year as they try to quash Chicago's outbreak of gang-related crimes, "Interrupters" documents several cases of possible redemption -- with various results. See It Because: Steve James films some incredibly real moments of hope and despair, and while the film feels epic in scope, it hits hardest when you realize that these events are just another day for everyone involved. Also New on DVD & Blu-ray "The Rum Diary" Johnny Depp adapts another Hunter S. Thompson novel, but without any of the flair of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." See...

Three Outlaw Samurai (Criterion Collection) I just watched this last night and enjoyed it quite a bit, but for anyone that reads this site often you will frequently see me complimenting samurai features. This one is a bit of a Criterion rarity in that it is feature free outside of the trailer and one essay, but the pricing does reflect that fact as Amazon has the Blu-ray listed at $19.99.

Prior to seeing this film I had never seen anything from director Hideo Gosha, but the storytelling here makes me want to see more. Three Outlaw Samurai follows the story of a wandering ronin who happens upon a situation where a trio of peasants have kidnapped the daughter of a tyrannical magistrate in an attempt to have their demands heard and to stop the oppression that has befallen eight local villages. The situation escalates when the magistrate fights back and two other samurai,...

This week: Johnny Depp again channels Hunter S. Thompson in "The Rum Diary," a disturbed man attempts to outdo the original film in "The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence," Michael Shannon believes the end is nigh in "Take Shelter," and Lena Dunham plays a college graduate at the crossroads in "Tiny Furniture."

'The Rum Diary'

Box Office: $13 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 50% Rotten

Storyline: In this adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's novel, Johnny Depp plays wandering journalist Paul Kemp, a man who grows weary of New York during the Eisenhower administration and takes a job writing for "The San Juan Star" in Puerto Rico. Fueled by drink and other mind-altering substances, Kemp encounters a group of self-destructive souls and becomes fixated on the beautiful Chenault (Amber Heard) and the dirty dealings of her fiancé, Hal Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), who sees Puerto Rico as something to pillage for profit.

Extras!

Mario Van Peebles said he was drawn to the film “All Things Fall Apart” due to “curiosity.” “I’m interested to see what the universe brings,” he said. He was highly interested to see what kind of energy Curtis Jackson, better known to the rest of us as “50 Cent,” would bring to the leading role of Deon, a collegiate football player who develops cancer and has to face his mortality. “I was interested to see how he [Jackson] would get there [in character] as an actor,” he said. Once Van Peebles took the reins of director as well as the role of “Eric,” he learned just how much acting talent...

[1] Over a year and a half ago, the world got its first glimpse at a shockingly emaciated [2] Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who'd dropped nearly 60 pounds to play the lead role in a project called All Things Fall Apart. (Originally called just Things Fall Apart.) When the finished feature finally comes to DVD and Blu-ray next month, we'll finally get to see what all the trouble was for. Directed by Mario Van Peebles from a screenplay by Jackson and Brian A. Miller, the drama stars Jackson as a college football player who's on the verge of joining the NFL when he's sticken with cancer. We got an early peek at the film in the form of a sales trailer [3] that hit around its little-noticed Miami Film Festival premiere last spring, but now that Image Entertainment is on board we finally have an official trailer as well. Take a look after the jump.

Today we have a brand new trailer for 50 Cent's "Things Fall Apart" drama, in which he dropped a whopping 54 lbs. A theatrical release is being planned for February 14th, but the film has already premiered on Bet last month. Check out the trailer below, and if you have already seen the movie, let us know what you thought of it. Plot: The film centers around a star football running back, played by 50 Cent, who faces a personal tragedy as well as his own mortality while in his senior year in college when is diagnosed with cancer. "Things Fall Apart" co-stars Ray Liotta and Mario Van Peebles, who also directed the film. Trailer: If you cannot see the player, click here.

The photos have circulated around the internet for nearly two years now, and the payoff is nearly here.

50 Cent got super skinny for his role in the upcoming film "All Things Fall Apart," in which he plays a star running back on the verge of the NFL draft who suddenly is diagnosed with cancer. He went on a liquid diet and got down to 160 pounds, which is especially striking given his broad, muscular physique seen earlier in the trailer.

It's a serious turn for the rapper, who has been on a filmmaking rampage of late. In 2011, he starred in "Setup" with Bruce Willis, while this coming year, in addition to "All Things," he'll feature in "Vengeance"; "Freelancers," with Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker; "Fire With Fire," with Josh Duhamel, Rosario Dawson and Willis; "Frozen Ground" with John Cusack and Vanessa Hudgens; and "Lives of the Saints," with Kat Dennings and Meg Ryan.

If you’re going to gain or lose a ridiculous amount of weight as an actor, make sure someone is gonna give you an Oscar, or a Golden Globe, or at the very least a People’s Choice Award for all your trouble. Remember when Jared Leto gained 5,000 pounds to play John Lennon murderer Mark David Chapman in “Chapter 27“? No? That’s because nobody saw the movie, and it’s just sad to pull a De Niro if you...

Well folks, the time has finally come. Nearly two years ago we heard about Curtis .50 Cent. Jackson taking on the role of a high school football player ailing from cancer, and today we finally get to see what the now 36-year-old rapper-turned-actor looks like playing someone half his age. All Things Fall Apart centers around Jackson.s Deon, who is on track to make the transition from high school straight into the NFL. But Deon is sidetracked by a form of spinal cancer that takes him down a completely different path, a strange path where Ray Liotta plays a doctor and not a mobster or corrupt cop who may chop your fingers off at any moment. Check out the many shapes and sizes of 50 Cent in the trailer below, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies. I.ve got to give Jackson credit. While strapping dreadlocks to him does nothing to make him...

Image Entertainment has released the first trailer for All Things Fall Apart, which will hit Blu-ray and DVD February 14. Click on the video player below for your first look at this drama starring 50 Cent, Mario Van Peebles, and Ray Liotta.

Deon is a college running back with a fierce combination of blazing speed and stunning power. At the pinnacle of his college football career and gearing up to start a successful NFL one, life unexpectedly takes a turn and what was once easy and natural becomes unattainable. With his football career in serious jeopardy, Deon begins to realize a startling truth he is not the man he thought he was. Equipped with this new found information, Deon sets out to better himself by reuniting his family and picking up the pieces of his life.

All Things Fall Apart comes to theaters February 14th, 2012 and stars Mario Van Peebles, 50 Cent, Lynn Whitfield,...

Though it premiered on Bet last month, Mario Van Peebles' latest film as both an actor and director, All Things Fall Apart , is set to receive a theatrical release on February 14th. Today, Yahoo! Movies released the trailer and you can check it out in the player beneath the film's official description: Deon is a football player who suffers a deadly disease. However, despite receiving love and praise for his entire life due to his athletic ability, he.s still a good person who loves his family and is willing to share the glory on the football field. His mother Bee is incredibly proud, his younger brother Sean is understandably jealous, and Bee.s boyfriend/Deon.s surrogate father Eric sees the football star as a winning lottery ticket.

Watch the first theatrical movie trailer for the upcoming film “Things Fall Apart” by director Mario Van Peebles (Red Sky, Redemption Road, Law & Order, Sons of Anarchy) from writers 50 Cent and Brian A Miller and starring Ray Liotta (Wanderlust, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout, The River Murders, Goodfellas), 50 Cent (Get Rich or Die Tryin, Caught in the Crossfire, Righteous Kill), Mario Van Peebles, Lynn Whitfield (King’s Faith, Head of State, Madea’s Family Reunion) and Elizabeth Rodriguez (Pound of Flesh, Cold Case, Tio Papi). Synopsis: A drama centered around a promising football running back during his senior year in college. Follow @Shockya on Twitter for the latest movie...

Good titles are hard to come by. Artist 50 Cent thought he had one all set to go for the film he.s making, however he was forced to change the name when he learned that the title chosen was previously claimed by an African author who doesn.t want to give it up. According to the Guardian, Curtis Jackson a.k.a. 50 Cent spent much of last year filming a movie about a football player with cancer, which he intended to tile Things Fall Apart. It.s a great title, to be sure, so it shouldn.t come as a surprise that someone else had previously used it for their own work. Described as one of Africa.s greatest novelists, Chinua Achebe published a book in 1958 titled .Things Fall Apart.. Upon hearing that 50 Cent was titling his movie the same, Achebe contacted his legal team and had them put a...

Remember how rapper-filmmaker 50 Cent wrote, produced, and stars in a film about a football player who gets diagnosed with cancer? The Mario van Peebles-directed flick was set to launch Fiddy into dramatic stardom under the title Things Fall Apart until reps for Nigerian author Chinua Achebe -- who wrote a little book also called Things Fall Apart, practically the most famous African novel ever -- contacted him with a copyright infringement complaint. 50 offered $1 million for use of the title, prompting Achebe's camp to shoot back with a resounding rejection.

Washington, Sept 15: Rapper 50 Cent has had to rename the title of his new movie, after Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe protested that it shares the same name as his 1958 novel.

The rapper was unaware that his new movie, 'Things Fall Apart,' shares the same name with Achebe's 1958 book, which is considered one of Africa's greatest English language novels selling over 8 million copies worldwide.

Directed by Mario Van Peebles the movie, which is the story of an American football player who is diagnosed with cancer shares, premiered at the Miami Film Festival in March this year and has been completely financed by.

50 Cent's new movie has been forced to back down in a legal battle with representatives of the 80-year-old Nigerian novelist, Chinua Achebe.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, had called his movie Things Fall Apart - the same title as Achebe's most famous novel, which was included on the list of Time magazine's All Time Top 100 Novels. Chinua Achebe continues to write, and is currently professor of Africana Studies at Brown University in Rhode Island.

The movie's producers allegedly offered $1m for the rights to the title. Though Achebe himself has been silent on the issue, Naijan, a Nigerian news website, reports that a spokesman for Achebe's Foundation, which manages his works, informed producers that "the novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958 (that is 17 years before rapper 50 Cent was born), listed as the mostly read book in modern African literature, and won’t be sold for even $1bn.

Things fall apart for rapper as Nigerian writer makes him change forthcoming film title to avoid conflict with 1958 novel

50 Cent has been undone by one of Africa's greatest novelists, Chinua Achebe. The rapper's latest movie has been renamed ahead of its release, due to a conflict with Achebe's most famous work.

Things Fall Apart, published by Achebe in 1958, is Nigeria's most famous English-language novel. It has sold more than 8m copies worldwide. Unfortunately, 50 Cent was not aware of this. He spent much of 2010 shooting a film of the same name, the story of an American football player diagnosed with cancer. "It's a project that I wrote, produced and financed myself," he explained last year. Directed by Mario Van Peebles, it premiered at the Miami film festival in March and is expected to be released soon.

Unfortunately for Fiddy, his film will not keep its original title. After being contacted by Achebe's legal team,...

By Annlee Ellingson

(June 2011)

“Aruba is an island with more screens per capita than any other place I have been in the world,” says Aruba International Film Festival director Claudio Masenza. “Such a special bond with movies only means that a film festival is long overdue.”

The 2011 Aruba International Film Festival, held June 10–16 on the 70-square-mile island off the coast of Venezuela, will screen 45 films from 18 countries, including festival favorites “Beginners,” “The Guard” and “The Son of No One.”

Just in its second year, Aiff is already attracting celebrities from across the filmmaking spectrum to its annual event. Jonathan Demme, director of “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Philadelphia” and “Beloved,” will be on hand to discuss his body of work and present his 2003 documentary “The Agronomist,” which profiled Jean Dominique, the late Haitian radio personality who campaigned for democracy in his country.

In addition to screening “The Agronomist,” the festival,...

By Annlee Ellingson

(June 2011)

“Aruba is an island with more screens per capita than any other place I have been in the world,” says Aruba International Film Festival director Claudio Masenza. “Such a special bond with movies only means that a film festival is long overdue.”

The 2011 Aruba International Film Festival, held June 10–16 on the 70-square-mile island off the coast of Venezuela, will screen 45 films from 18 countries, including festival favorites “Beginners,” “The Guard” and “The Son of No One.”

Just in its second year, Aiff is already attracting celebrities from across the filmmaking spectrum to its annual event. Jonathan Demme, director of “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Philadelphia” and “Beloved,” will be on hand to discuss his body of work and present his 2003 documentary “The Agronomist,” which profiled Jean Dominique, the late Haitian radio personality who campaigned for democracy in his country.

In addition to screening “The Agronomist,” the festival,...