Thursday 6

Savoy Live
The Savoy Restaurant & Lounge presents Savoy Live from 6-9 p.m. at 2623 Penn Ave., Strip District. Every Thursday, Savoy will showcase live music in Pittsburgh. The guest artist will be Kevin Howard featuring Stacia Abbott. For more information, call 412-281-0660.

Being a movie buff I’ve probably watched everything Denzel Washington has been in. But after watching “Flight” I’m still wondering what was the purpose.

Every movie, even the dumbest comedy’s purpose, is to make somebody laugh.

I guess the purpose was to enlighten the world about alcoholism and drug addiction. But did they make any kind of point?

Don’t get me wrong. Denzel did an excellent job of being that alcoholic, drug addicted pilot. Those of us who have friends, relatives and others strung out on alcohol know the different personalities, the refusal to accept the truth and the lying to themselves and everyone else. He was these people.

But my confusion was the plane crash.

The crash was because of a defect in the plane, not because of his addiction.

At the hearing it was established that after every kind of test the best pilots in the world would have crashed the plane and killed everyone on board. Because he was a superior pilot, he landed it with only six of the 104 people dying. It was established that only he could have landed that plan. And even if he had been sober, he could not have done any better.

So what was the point of the movie?

If his being drunk and high had caused the accident then he should have been thrown in jail and the key thrown away. But he went to prison and lost his license because he broke rules and laws, not because he wasn’t able to do his job better than anyone else even despite his addictions.

Which leads to the question. If a drunk and high person can fly or drive better than a person who is not drunk, who do you want to ride with? I know several people who I am very reluctant to get in the car with and they don’t drink, or use drugs, to the best of my knowledge.

Even though the crash part of the movie was the most exciting part of it and the entire movie centered around it, it didn’t seem to fit the rest of the movie, which was this person, who happened to be a pilot, not trying to come to grips with his addictions.

This movie also starred Don Cheadle, who was wasted on a non-exciting character, and John Goodman who was an interesting character.

Denzel is probably the biggest Black star in Hollywood; he needs to be more selective about the movies he plays in. Again, great job acting, but what was the point?

Pittsburgh native Tamara Tunie played a key role in the film as an airline stewardess who helped land the plane. She’s a regular as a medical examiner in “Law and Order SVU.”

The other DVD release with a Black star was Quentin Tarantino's “Django Unchained” starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.

If you can get past Tarantino's excessive use of blood and guts, which he is famous for, this was a great movie.

I’m a big time Western movie fan, following the greats like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Randolph Scott, Gary Cooper, Charles Bronson, Jimmy Stewart, and the beat goes on.

But Blacks in westerns are rare, even though Blacks were in the west during the entire history of this country. They were ranchers, farmers, hunters, businessmen, you name it.
But only a handful of movies have depicted Black men and women in the west, such as “Buffalo Soldiers,” Danny Glover;  “Posse,” Mario Van Peebles;  “100 Rifles” and “Take A Hard Ride” Jim Brown; and the three classics by Sidney Poitier, “A Good Day To Die,” “Buck and the Preacher” and “Duel at Diablo.”

Foxx as usual did a fantastic job of playing the character of Django, who was a slave freed by a bounty hunter who taught him the trade. It also exposed the great equalizer in the west, the one thing more than anything else that made all men equal, and some superior to others, the Colt 45 or the Smith and Wesson.   

But as good as Foxx was Jackson almost stole the movie as he showed once again why he’s one of the greatest actors to ever set foot in Hollywood.

He was the perfect Uncle Tom, Clarence Thomas character on the plantation. He wasn’t the typical dumb Negro. He was far more intelligent than his master or any other White person on the plantation, yet he accepted his role as a slave and made sure everyone else stayed in their place.

We have a lot of these Black people in the corporate world today. Blacks who work harder than Whites to keep Black people in their place which is below the White man or totally outside looking in, and sincerely believe they are doing the right thing. He made you hate him, yet ask, why is he doing this? What is wrong with him?

Kerry Washington played Foxx’s love interest, but a relatively small role in the film.

This movie will keep Foxx and Jackson out front as two of the hottest and most talented actors in Hollywood.

Both DVDs are now available for purchase, for rental, and on cable.

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ARIES
Where are you going in such a hurry? What you want you already have. Stop looking around yourself trying to find out what’s missing. Nothing is missing. Lucky Numbers: 3, 18, 45.

TAURUS
Knowing and accepting your love nature is extremely important. Don’t try to claim that it is as society says it should be. Acknowledge the fact that your love and friendship are often inseparable. You like to be in an adventure with your lover just as you would a partner or a friend. Lucky Numbers: 16, 24, 47.

GEMINI
Dive into it! Don’t be intimated by the unknown. Your adventurous spirit can take you to a new place of celebration this week. If you can, bring someone along who can celebrate in the same manner with you. Lucky Numbers:  30, 31, 32.

CANCER
This week would be good for getting your house in order so you can spend the extra time outdoors and enjoying the company of others. With an orderly habitat waiting for you, you’ll have a head start for the task you have to accomplish. Lucky Numbers: 39, 49, 52.

LEO
Don’t spread yourself too thin. But if you’ll need to move around in many different circles this week, your spirit should be high and your vibes are strong for meeting new people. You will be receiving a piece or two of great news. Lucky Numbers: 4, 50, 55.

VIRGO
Strong vibrations make for a series of dramatic interactions with others this week. Practice your art with your heart, and let your energy carry you upwards to your best, highest self. Lucky Numbers: 32, 38, 43.

LIBRA
You’ll be energizing others this week as you speak what’s on your mind regarding spiritual matters and masters. The quality of your thoughts is very pure; write yourself a love letter. Lucky Numbers: 17, 23, 29.

SCORPIO
Surprises are in order this week, and you can roll with everything that comes at you unexpectedly. Healing can happen in a relationship if you just show up. That’s power! Lucky Numbers: 12, 16, 18.

SAGITTARIUS
You want a comrade who doesn’t place inordinate expectations or demands on you, and who is creative, intelligent, a good conversationalist, and highly spiritual. Perhaps you should be out looking this week with eyes wide open! Lucky Numbers: 13, 24, 41.

CAPRICORN
Work calls and you are not completely happy with current divisions of labor. Do your part as a member of the team and you’ll be glad that you did. Others will notice that you are a committed team player. Lucky Numbers: 23, 45, 48.
AQUARIUS
Business looks good this week as you discover a new way of increasing exposure to your product. Let hope and optimism lead you into new beginnings and fresh starts. Go! Lucky Numbers: 16, 19, 27.

PISCES
You seem preoccupied this week and it’s because your mind is filled with a vision of love for the entire planet. Use your gifts to assist others in seeing the world as you do, in glorious color. Lucky Numbers: 22. 34. 55.

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BIG DADDY KANE

Young cats with a new sound and style is how Big Daddy Kane describes his new group, Las Supper.