FENCES

Plot:

It is during the year 1950, within an urban neighborhood in Pittsburgh that Troy (Washington) a city garbage man who works along with his best friend Bono ( Henderson) try to relate to the racial segregation that they experience while on the job. Then from work to home where he will then cope with life's various tangibles like his loving wife Rose (Davis), his freeloading oldest son Lyons (Hornsby), his defiant youngest son Cory (Adepo) and his mentally ill brother Gabriel (Williamson), with only the goal of building a fence around his yard to keep him motivated. But is the fence designed to keep the wrong things out or to keep him in?

Reel Talk:

"Fences" is a screenplay written by August Wilson in 1983 and performed on Broadway from 1987 for over a year With James Earl Jones and Mary Alice in the lead roles, then in 2010 it was re-cast again for Broadway with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis as the lead characters for a limited 13 week run. Well Denzel appreciated and enjoyed the experience so much that he co produced, directed and stars in the film adaptation and also brought along all his Broadway cast mates with the exception of the roles Cory and Raynell who are portrayed by Jovan Adepo and Saniyya Sidney. This is an excellent movie with some superb acting (well they did have a lot of practice with their roles...LOL). The play has won all types of awards and I don't see why there is no way that it will not get nominated for any Oscars during the upcoming award show. Denzel and Viola puts in that work and Denzel also does a good job as the director. A must see!!!

Starring: Denzel Washington, Viloa Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson and Saniyya

Sidney
Directed by: Denzel Washington
Rated: PG-13

I give it 5 corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

WHY HIM?

Plot:

To briefly take his mind away from the pressure that he is under from trying to save his newspaper company from going bankrupt, Ned Fleming (Cranston) along with his wife Barb (Mullally) and son Scotty (Gluck) set out for Los Angeles to spend the holiday weekend with Ned and Barb's daughter Stephanie (Deutch). When they arrive they are surprised that rather than stay at a hotel Stephanie arrange for them to stay at the home of her boyfriend, Laird (Franco) an unrefined, free spirited multi millionaire. Well it doesn't take long before Ned realizes that Stephanie and Laird are shacking together and that he wants to propose to her during the holiday which Ned is strongly opposed to. But Laird along with help from his spiritual adviser Gustav (Key) will stop at nothing to try to impress the reluctant Ned  with the hope that he will soon be called his son.


Reel Talk:

Who remembers Meet The Parents? Then you know how nervous Ben Stiller was to meet his girlfriend's parents and all the havoc that was brought on, well that is not the case with James Franco, he is actually the opposite from being rattled with nerves and instead he is the one that causes the chaos for Bryan Cranston. Franco portrays a bumbling stoner better than most in the  business and his resume backs that up (Pineapple Express, This Is The End, The Interview, etc...) and then for him to team with the versatile Cranston along with a good supporting cast, you have one of the funniest movies to wrap up the year with. This is a very hilarious movie that I say cash out because it is worth every laugh.

Starring: James Franco, Zoey Deutch, Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally, Keegan-Michael Key, Griffin Gluck and Cedric The Entertainer
Directed by: John Hamburg
Rated: R

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

STEVIE WONDER AVENUE UNVEILING

WE GONNA ROCK DOWN TO STEVIE WONDER AVE.

It was a bone chilling cold afternoon as people packed in a crowded tent and the people that could not get in waited outside with anticipation for the chance to catch a glance at their hometown hero, the legendary musical genuis Stevie Wonder who would be honored with a street to be named after him. As cold as it was, the crowd did not deter from waiting and in fact they began to sing Stevie Wonder songs accapella up until the sound system got hooked up and began playing some of his hits. Soon after the program began  which was hosted by radio personality CoCo who first invited a performance by Detroit School of the Arts students who belted out a few classic hits from the Grammy awards winning artist. Then CoCo invited Sharon Dumas, Chairwoman for the Stevie Wonder Tribute Committee, City Council President Brenda Jones and Mayor Mike Duggan who then presented the honored guest Stevie Wonder with a key to the city. After Stevie's outpouring gratitude and appreciation for the generous display of love for the city that he called home as a child superstar we made our way to the corner of Milwaukee Ave. and Woodward Ave. led by the Cass Technical High School marching band for the official unveiling of the street that will now be known as Stevie Wonder Ave. This is a long over due honor for the singer who has provided not just Detroit but the world with songs that are timeless classics. Congratulations Mr. Stevie Wonder, you deserve it and much more. Now you know THE REEL HUSTLER was there to show some love and capture the moment.

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLER!!!

Some pictures contributed by Big Hank Photography

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ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Plot:

In a galaxy far, far away, Jyn (Jones) who when she was a child watched her mom get murdered and her father, a knowledgeable scientist, taken into custody while she was able to escape. Years had passed and her father was held captive by an Imperial Galactic Empire senator named Orson Krennic (Mendelsohn) who needed him to continue with plans to create The Death Star which would be the ultimate planet devouring weapon. But Jyn who has now joined with The Rebel Alliance in their fight against the Empire recruits a small band of rebel warriors lead by Cassian Andor (Luna), to go on a rogue mission to steal the plans for the weapon to thwart the Empire's plans. This mission will pretty much set the tone and give some leverage for The Rebel Alliance's battle against the evil Empire.


Reel Talk:

OK, is it just me or can it be said that The Star Wars series goes on and on like the Energizer Bunny? There is no expiration date for this saga, they will probably drop a movie a year. Now for die hard Star War fans (which I am not, just a good film enthusiast) they will love that idea. With so many galaxies there are so many ways to tell a Star Wars story. Well this one started off a little slow or dull to be honest but after about twenty minutes in it did pick up and became a good action film. Definitely will be a blockbuster so you can definitely go see it to be included in contributing to its success. It is worth checking out and "May the force be with you"!

Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Forest Whitaker and Ben Mendelsohn
Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Rated: PG-13

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Plot:

With the holiday approaching, Josh Parker (Bateman) who heads up the department for an IT firm and his boss and longtime friend Clay Vanstone (Miller) who runs the branch prepare for their annual holiday party until Clay's sister Carol Vanstone (Aniston) who is CEO of the company comes to town for an emergency meeting. Her visit is not one that brings joy and cheer to the branch but rather to give them one week to turn things around or they will be shut down indefinitely and to cancel any plans for their office party. But with one last hope to rise to the occasion the pair along with other office employees continue with plans to host not just their regular office holiday party but rather the ultimate party with the idea that it will snag a major account that will cease Carol's attempt to dismantle the office.


Reel Talk:

Movies like this one seem to be tailor made for Jason Bateman. He can portray the subtle leveled headed guy with the wild side better than most in the business and then you add the already wild and edgy T.J. Miller, the seductive but brash Olivia Munn along with some other talented comedians and of course Jennifer Aniston and you have one funny movie. You will see the normally stern Courtney B. Vance who I can't say that I remember ever doing a comedy cut loose in this movie. Yes it is a hilarious movie  and worth cashing out to see at the theaters.

Starring: Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Jennifer Aniston, Kate McKinnon and Courtney B. Vance
Directed by: Josh Gordon and Will Speck
Rated: R

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

BAD SANTA 2

(Sorry this movie review is a few weeks late)


Plot:

Life has not gotten any better for the career drinking wrongdoer Willie Soke (Thornton) who is taking menial jobs just to get by and the once little boy Thurman (Kelly) that use to tag a long is now a young man, still clueless but yet still a man. When he is presented with a stack of cash and offered a job in Chicago he believes that his life may be on the upswing until he realizes that the job is presented to him from his ex-partner who tried to kill him Marcus Skidmore (Cox) acting on behalf of Willie's mom Sunny Soke (Bates), a foul mouthed drunkard also, who wants her son to help her rob an orphanage for homeless children run by Diane Hastings (Hendricks) and her seedy husband Regent Hastings (Hansen). But with so many distractions, like worrying about being doubled crossed, Thurman showing up in Chicago in shorts and no coat and then an affair with Mrs. Hastings, Willie is caught up in a serious moral dilemma. The question is which road will he take, the low life road he has consistently been on or the road of decency?


Reel Talk:

WOW!!! It has been thirteen years since Billy Bob Thornton donned the Santa suit as the hard drinking, fouled mouthed Wille Soke and now here he is to suit up again with his original compadres Tony Cox and Brett Kelly who was the Kid in the previous film. If you thought the first one was bad, this one is raw and raunchy on the next level. The combination of Thornton, along with the foul mouths of Tony Cox and Kathy Bates and you got an off the chain movie that will have you rolling laughing in your seat. Bad Santa 2 is worth the bucks to see.

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Tony Cox, Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly and Ryan Hansen
Directed by: Mark Waters
Rated: R

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

HIP HOP -VS- EVERYBODY VOLUME 2

ROLLING WITH THE BIG DOGS! 

It went down again in Detroit as Perfection Entertainment, one of the city's premier concert promoters under the leadership of CEO Ivory Bryant, presented the HIP HOP-VS-EVERYBODY VOLUME 2 concert at the Masonic Temple Auditorium. The show was the platform for some of hip hop's legendary rappers with Detroit's own BOSS that kicked things off from the national artists scheduled to perform. Then AMG came and rocked the mic with some of his classic joints warming the crowd up for FREEWAY and BEANIE SIGEL who kept the party going. Next up was REMY MA who had everyone going "All The Way Up" and yes she rocked it along with her husband rapper Papoose. Then the legendary TOO SHORT took to the stage and rocked the audience with his classic jams only fueling the hype for what was to come next. Yes the finale act was the undefined, unpredictable DMX who people can say what they want about him and his troubles but when he sets his feet on a stage he is a Savage beast as he still can rock the audience non stop. Oh yeah it was another perfect night for Perfection Entertainment as the presented another awesome concert and yes THE REEL HUSTLER was there to chronicle the moments for you. 

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLER!!! 

Some pics were contributed by Marius Bingue Photography.