#JoeMorton

[duranduratulsa]

Now showing on DuranDuranTulsa's Retro Cinema...Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) on glorious vintage VHS 📼! #movie #movies #scifi #actionadventure #terminator #terminator2 #T2 #Terminator2JudgmentDay #JamesCameron #carolco #arnoldschwarzenegger #LindaHamilton #EdwardFurlong #JoeMorton #earlboen #RobertPatrick #jamescooksey #XanderBerkeley #JenetteGoldstein #SEpathaMerkerson #NikkiCox #robertwinley #daltonabbott #vintage #VHS #90s #durandurantulsa #durandurantulsasretrocinema

[anthonyvcrivello]

The Chita Rivera Awards this Monday May 18th !!

Presenters include: #DebbieAllen (Fame), #ShoshanaBean (Hell's Kitchen), #CorbinBleu (High School Musical, Little Shop…), #AnthonyCrivello (Kiss of the Spider Woman), #JoelGrey (Cabaret), #HueyLewis (The Heart of Rock and Roll), #JoeMorton (Scandal, ART), #BebeNeuwirth (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Chicago), #KennyOrtega (High School Musical), #DavidHydePierce (Here We Are, Spamalot), #BrookeShields (Suddenly Susan; The Adams Family), #BenVereen (Pippin), #WayneBrady (The Wiz), #KristinChenoweth (Wicked), #NormLewis (Phantom of the Opera; Porgy and Bess),  #LeaSalonga (Miss Saigon; Old Friends) and special honoree, #BernadettePeters.

[doomonfilm]

Favorites : The Inkwell (1994)

In the wake of Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, the doors seemed wide open for a number of young Black directors to step into the business, and one of the youngest and brightest was Matty Rich.  After writing, directing and producing the breakout debut film that was Straight Out of Brooklyn, Rich returned to the scene with a completely different look in the form of The Inkwell, but unfortunately (or possibly fortunately, as he found success in other realms), the film did not connect the same way as his debut.  In my opinion, this was a shame, as I’ve deeply enjoyed The Inkwell from my first access to it.

Sixteen year old Drew Tate (Larenz Tate) is an emotionally stunted and misunderstood young man living in Upstate New York.  His parents, Kenny (Joe Morton) and Brenda Tate (Suzzanne Douglass), decide to spend the summer of 1976 by taking Drew to visit his family in Martha’s Vineyard for two weeks.  The Tates settle in with Spencer (Glynn Turman) and Francis Phillips (Vanessa Bell Calloway), Drew’s aunt and uncle, his grandmother Evelyn (Mary Alice), and his cousin Junior (Duane Martin), but things get off to a rocky start.  Spencer and Francis suggest that Drew meet with their friend Dr. Wade (Phyllis Yvonne Stickley), a psychiatrist, much to the behest of Kenny, but Drew quickly finds himself obsessed with a local girl named Lauren Kelly (Jada Pinkett-Smith).  Despite the constant teasing of Junior and his two friends, Darryl (Markus Redmond) and Moe (Perry Moore), Drew takes a shot at getting to know Lauren, and in the process, discovers more about himself than he realized was possible.

While The Inkwell is at heart a romantic comedy and coming of age film, at its heart, it’s truly a film about the struggle between socio-political and economic ideas that plague Black people in their struggle to find where they fit in.  While we are given two extreme examples in Kenny and Spencer, at the heart of their characters, they perfectly define those concerned with the betterment of their people as a whole versus those who think that financial success will bring Black people to the place where they belong in society.  Kenny and Brenda’s struggles with raising Drew also bring up long-held assumptions of and hesitations to use psychiatry and psychology as a way to raise a child, chiefly based on ideas that Drew would be labelled crazy, and they would be labelled failures as parents.  

Speaking of Drew, I found myself extremely connected to and understanding of the character seeing that I was a young, imaginative and, at times, isolated individual growing up.  Having our protagonist be an understanding, sensitive and caring young man rather than someone forced to make life-altering decisions with their back against the wall was a refreshing change of pace.  Positioning Drew as the son of Kenny begs the question if Drew’s sensitive nature stems directly from Kenny’s radical posturing and outward focus, as if his personality and actions were a cry for attention of some sort.  This is further driven home with details such as Drew’s doll/imaginary friend Iago whom he constantly talks to, or his tandem bike that publicly broadcasts his need for companionship.

It’s not only nice to see a film with a majority Black cast in a location such as Martha’s Vineyard, but more importantly, nice to see a coming of age film with Black characters that’s absent of the hood as the primary setting.  Speaking of settings, the Phillips home is definitely impressive, and Junior’s room specifically is a goldmine of stimulus.  With the many, many personalities presented through our characters, we are given a surprisingly deep exploration of Black identity.  As a 1970′s film, it probably doesn’t need to be stated, but the soundtrack is KILLER.  I remember this film being poorly received when it was released, which was a shame, because Matty Rich put together a truly poignant film… perhaps it was public expectations in the wake of the successful debut Straight Out of Brooklyn, but in my opinion, people missed out on a low-key classic.

With the iconic role of O-Dog the only one on his resume at the time, it would have been very easy for Larenz Tate to fall into the realm of typecasting, but The Inkwell allowed him to be as vulnerable and short of confidence as O-Dog was menacing and terrifying.  Joe Morton channels enough radical posturing to be believable as an ex-revolutionary, but not at the cost of displaying caring and loving characteristics.  Suzzanne Douglass displays all of the patience and unconditional love it takes to raise a troubled young man.  Glynn Turman dives headlong into bougie characteristics with great aplomb, barely avoiding becoming a caricature in the best ways possible, while Vanessa Bell Calloway steps in as the support system that allows Spencer to validate his actions.  Mary Alice plays withdrawn and guarded, only letting down her guard as the film comes close to resolution.  Duane Martin brings most of the comedy beats to the table, and has great chemistry with Markus Redmond and Perry Moore.  Jada Pinkett-Smith displays all the beauty and charm that makes her irresistible, while channeling all of the fierceness and selfishness it takes to make her wholly undesirable.  Phyllis Yvonne Stickley and Adrienne-Joi Johnson bring the most grounded and sincere human elements to the table, while Morris Chestnut plays the stereotypical womanizer role to a tee.  Supporting appearances by Akia Victor and R&B group Jade round out the main cast.

While the film was not a financial success at the box office, there has been a slow but steady growth of a grassroots following that has discovered the film many years after the fact.  As someone who has been a day one fan of the film, it’s nice to know that I’m not crazy, and it’s validating to know that I was way ahead of the curve in terms of The Inkwell fandom.  I will certainly continue to bear the torch for this slept-on classic, and maybe in due time, it will find the connection with the masses that it always deserved.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Executive Decision (1996)

I picked up Executive Decision solely because the title amused me. I was expecting junk but it proved to be a pleasant surprise. There are plenty of twists and tension throughout to keep you entertained.

When a Boeing 747-200 is hijacked by terrorists, Dr. David Grant (Kurt Russell) believes they are after more than just their leader's freedom. He suspects the plane will be used to unleash a deadly chemical agent when the hostages are released. He, along with a special ops team (which includes John Leguizamo, Joe Morton, BD Wong, Whip Hubley, and their leader, Steven Seagal) plan on sneaking aboard the Boeing before they make it into U.S. Airspace. Then, things go terribly wrong.

Bad guys take over a plane. Our hero and his entourage have to sneak around and take out the threat while the hostages are threatened. Outmanned and outgunned, the risks are high. This plot isn’t all that original. Stuart Baird nonetheless gives us enough new material to make it feel like its own thing. Firstly, it's a great setup. One wrong move and our heroes give away their position or get themselves killed. They only have a limited amount of time before the plane gets shot down by U.S. Navy Fighter Jets and then there’s that deadly chemical onboard. All on a plane. That means explosive decompression, running out of fuel, storms/turbulence, and your life in the hands of two pilots who have guns pointed to their backs. Your nerves are bent to the point of breakage.

There are also some nice touches added to give you that little bit of extra. Halle Berry plays a helpful stewardess. Her character is a lot of fun. Think our heroes are underdogs? She doesn’t have any weapons to defend herself with.

I've got to credit writers Jim and John Thomas for keeping the twists coming and making the most of this setup. When you think it’s over, it isn't. Not even close. I also have to tip my hat to a choice made with Steven Seagal’s character that blew me away. He's known for his ego so this was an unexpected turn. I was convinced that I was mistaken when I had just seen it with my own two eyes! Actually, this film makes great use out of all of its characters. Even Oliver Platt, who I had pegged as just comic relief, plays a much more important role.

All that said, 133 minutes is excessive. Just a bit, not a huge deal. The familiar story is also noteworthy, but not a sinking blow. I did feel uneasy about the choice of villains here though. I wish the baddies here were anything other than Middle-Eastern terrorists, particularly with David Suchet as their leader, and the multiple references to the Quran… it’s just a bit too much. You might let that one go as well but one thing's for sure: the love story tacked on at the end? Completely unnecessary.

Executive Decision contains big surprises, plenty of scenes to make your palms all clammy, and makes imaginative use of its location. It needed some trimming but that’s ok, few movies could be called perfect. I’ll give it a 3.5/5. Check it out. (Full-screen version on VHS, October 12, 2015)

[cellmembrane416]

Tony Goldwyn - November 16, 2018. More press day pics! GMA Day and Access! 😁😆🤗🥰😍 #networkbroadway #tonygoldwyn #anthonyhowardgoldwyn #joemorton #loml #mcmeveryday #director #actor #producer #activist https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQtfKVhiVl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ka1sr7xcl980

[twodollarlatefee]

Happy 73rd birthday to Joe Morton! Joe has kept us entertained for 30+ years! Whether Joe’s playing a lead (The Brother From Another Planet) or supporting (Terminator 2: Judgment Day), he shines in every performance! What’s your favorite JM movie/role? ❤️📼❤️ • •• ••• #joemorton #actor #birthday #movie #vhs #vcr #videostore #podcast #80spodcast #80s #90s #2000s #terminator #speed #johnsayles #action #drama https://www.instagram.com/p/CGfNEb3FIVg/?igshid=1jl6nc34y5trw

[pitbull247]

💙 #Speed #KeanuReeves #SandraBullock #JeffDaniels #JoeMorton #DennisHopper https://www.instagram.com/p/CGNAz8YJ9XN/?igshid=13w0kkw7z02p

[sibling-cinema]

Could "Redrum" have pointed a new way for #thexfiles to go about its business? One's thing for sure -- Joe Morton helped spin an intriguing tale. https://andnowsiblingcinema.blogspot.com/2020/10/x-files-s8e6-shining-light-on-this.html

[adafine]

My mother typically doesn’t suggest her and I go to the movies. Even back then, it was usually my father, brother or sister. Movies have never been my mother’s things, especially not scary ones. So, imagine my surprise when, 20 years ago today, she suggested that her and I go see “What Lies Beneath” in the theater. I should have known something was amiss. It was a good time; we both were scared throughout. We got home and my mother told me she had some “bad news”. It was then she informed me my godfather Gerry was found out to have multiple cancerous masses and he didn’t have long to live. Granted, sure, our family had suffered other losses prior to this, but this one hit different. Gerry was always the tough one, always a stiff upper lip. It didn’t make sense. What was worse, I wasn’t allowed to see him. I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to anyway because he died four days later. Unfortunately, this film is forever linked to the bad news I received that evening but, in a way, it allows me to remember Gerry. I’ll be watching this when I get home. Happy 20th! #whatliesbeneath #harrisonford #michellepfeiffer #robertzemeckis #alansilvestri #joemorton (at El Apartamento De Sweeney) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC7Jv_XgPh6/?igshid=1n3ldpc3n9bfh

[duranduratulsa]

Up next on my 90's Fest Movie 🎬 🎞 🎥 🎦 📽 marathon...Apt Pupil (1998) on classic DVD 📀! #movie #movies #horror #drama #aptpupil #stephenking #bradrenfro #RIPBradRenfro #IanMcKellen #joshuajackson #davidschwimmer #brucedavison #AnnDowd #mickeycottrell #jameskaren #heathermccomb #EliasKoteas #JoeMorton #kevinspirtas #DVD #90s #90sfest #durandurantulsas4thannual90sfest

[laviniamorenaofficial]

Kiss😘 #zara #xbox1 #contentstrategy #villachiquita #branding #nickiminaj #motivation #likesmile #k #joemorton https://www.instagram.com/p/CAgBit1llnj/?igshid=enoptu6shz2s

[burak0z]

#Speed 10/8.5 #keanureeves #sandrabullock #dennishopper #joemorton #joemorton #jeffdaniels #jandebont #jeffdaniels #bluray #blurays #bluraycollection #action #actionmovie https://www.instagram.com/p/B-CRgR4lGnH/?igshid=wx0z3fwnd1oa

[tahitianstarseed]

Great Movie👍When terrorists hijack a plane traveling from Greece to Washington, D.C., U.S. Army specialist David Grant (Kurt Russell) and Lt. Colonel Austin Travis (Steven Seagal) join forces to bring the plane to safety. While terrorists on board the plane claim they hijacked the plane to force the U.S. government to release their leader, who was captured by military forces, David and Austin discover that the plane is carrying a bomb full of nerve gas to be released on Washington, D.C. #excutivedecision #greatmovies #moviestowatch #netflixmovies #netflix #stevenseagal #kurtrussell #hallyberry #johnleguizamo #davidsuchet #oliverplatt #joemorton #bdwong #whiphubley #jtwalsh #stuartbaird #adventure #action #thriller #terrorists #military https://www.instagram.com/p/B4_mA7kH-Dm/?igshid=1kp2rygexymw

[cellmembrane416]

Scandal cast on Ellen, airs tomorrow! ❤️😘😫🤧😍😭😢 ain’t ready to say goodbye to my cast and crew, the scandal fam in 6 weeks. #scandal #scandalfam #tgit #tonygoldwyn #kerrywashington #joemorton #darbystanchfield #katielowes #guillermodiaz #georgenewbern #joshmalina #corneliussmithjr #scottfoley #jeffperry #bellamyyoung #ellenshow #scandalonellen

[dirtees]

Joe Morton won't stop trying. In the Terminator franchise he's responsible for the creation of Skynet, and therefore for the T-800. In the DCEU he's doing it all over and created Cyborg. Won't he ever learn? ;) -Melvin #joemorton #terminator #t800 #terminator2 #judgementday #cyberdyne #skynet #justiceleague #dc #dceu #cyborg #nerdbait #geek #geekgasm #movie #arnoldschwarzenegger #robots #future #robot #batman #superman #wonderwoman #flash #dc #dceu#aquaman

[mcnieves]

A Scene In Scandal Season 6 Episode 6 “Extinction” With Joe Morton as Eli Pope.

It was very clear that Rowan has strong feelings for Sandra. Considering the way he usually snaps, I thought he would pull the trigger on Sandra sooner, but maybe that would have meant Olivia being targeted sooner.