'Love Field': A Well-Made Interracial Drama

Just watched the 1992 Michelle Pfeiffer/Dennis Haysbert drama "Love Field." Came across the VHS tape at Half Price Books.

This is a very well-made movie about race relations in the South, with the assassination of President Kennedy as a backdrop. Michelle Pfeiffer plays a Dallas housewife obsessed with the Kennedys who ends up going on the lam with an African-American man (Haysbert) and his daughter when their paths unexpectedly cross on a bus trip en route to the Kennedy funeral in D.C.

There are hints of an interracial romance between Pfeiffer and Haysbert, but it's very tame. The characters are nuanced and three-dimensional. Michelle Pfeiffer earned the Best Actress nomination for her performance; Haysbert should have been nominated as well. Wikipedia says Pfeiffer's character is based on writer Don Roos' own mother. No wonder the story's so believable.

'Freedom Riders'

Just watched the "Freedom Riders" documentary that PBS aired in May; I had taped it and just got around to checking it out. It's really moving, how these men and women of different races from all over the country risked their lives to combat hatred - and did so with peaceful means.

The tag line for the promotional poster asks "Could you get on the bus?" Definitely makes you think about whether you'd have the courage to endure beatings, fire bombings and police intimidation to stand up for the cause.

Like Bruno Mars' "Lazy Song," Not Sure About the Video

Bruno Mars' "Lazy Song" is a guilty pleasure. It expresses exactly how I feel on Saturdays - would love to have one that's not full of chores and errands and I could act out the lyrics of the song ("Today I don't feel like doing anything/I just want to lay in my bed"). I'm not so sure about the video for the song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLexgOxsZu0), with the guys wearing monkey heads and sunglasses. I think Bruno wanted to do something gimmicky that would go "viral." Guess I can't blame him for that.

Get Well Wishes to Clarence Clemons

Get well wishes to E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who suffered a stroke. I've always been a fan of his, both his work with Bruce as well as his solo stuff from the '80s: his single "I Wanna Be Your Hero" and duet with Jackson Browne "You're a Friend of Mine."

'Super 8' Review

Just saw "Super 8" with my bud Ramin, a huge sci-fi/horror fan who loved the new Steven Spielberg/J.J. Abrams movie. It's definitely a throwback to Spielberg's "Close Encounters" and "E.T.," with a little "Stand By Me" thrown in.

I was glad to see the casting is somewhat diverse, mainly Glynn Turman ("A Different World") and Richard T. Jones (from the "Why Did I Get Married?" movies) as a scientist and soldier, respectively. Unfortunately, like many sci-fi/horror flicks, the bruthas die early on.

It would have been nice if one of the main characters, the group of kids who are at the center of the action, would have been black, Hispanic, Native American or Asian. Oh, well, at least there were minorities in small, supporting roles.

Kinda cool that Ohio was the setting. A closeup of a map in one of the scenes shows Dayton and surrounding areas.

Overall, "Super 8" is a formulaic yet entertaining summer movie.

'Night of the Comet'

Had fun '80s flashback watching the comedy/horror flick "Night of the Comet." This very underrated zombie movie is about 2 sisters who are among a handful of survivors after a comet hits Earth.

"Comet" was somewhat ahead of its time with diverse casting, a heroic Latino male lead (Mexican-American actor Robert Beltran in the role of Hector). Plus, it's tame enough that I was able to watch it with my 10-year-old niece.

Had seen bits and pieces of it on cable as a kid and it came to mind Memorial Day weekend when I had a hankering to watch a scary movie that's not too gory. Watched the first part on YouTube, but it kept freezing up and was able to find it on DVD at the library.

"Night of the Comet" would be great addition to a Halloween movie marathon.

Oprah's Final Broadcast

Thought Oprah's shows at Chicago's United Center were a very fitting tribute to her and a great way to end on a high note. The moment when the Morehouse men she helped educate marched in carrying candles was very moving.

On her last show, she was eloquent and inspirational as always. Her last words were very appropriate: "To God be the glory."

The fact that at least 2 whole generations of young African Americans have had such a positive role model on TV every day for the last 25 years is pretty amazing. Oprah will never be replaced.