We spoke with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) about his latest documentary Ernest Cole: Lost and Found released on November 22, 2024.
Some of the biggest names in music and film stepped out on Friday night (Jan. 5) for the Los Angeles premiere of The Book of Clarence, the newest film from writer and director Jeymes Samuel.
Many of the film’s cast and crew were there, including star LaKeith Stanfield, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, David Oyelowo, and more. Much of the crew behind the scenes, like the legendary Jay-Z who is a producer on the film, were also in attendance.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 05: (L-R) David Oyelowo, RJ Cyler, director Jeymes Samuel, producer Jay-Z, Nicholas Pinnock, LaKeith Stanfield, Caleb McLaughlin, Babs Olusanmokun, Teyana Taylor, SAINt JHN, Anna Diop and Alfre Woodard at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
The Knockturnal was on the scene and got to catch up with some of the actors of the film.
“I think, more than ever, we need the opportunity to look inside ourselves and hopefully excavate something that can give us some answers as to where to go.” LaKeith Stanfield told The Knockturnal about the importance of putting out this kind of movie with this cast. “Hopefully we can provide a platform where people can see that…”
Caleb McLaughlin is playing a newer, more grown up role in the film. When we asked him how this film is different from the work he’s done, not only does he have a beard now, he also boasted that “the film is just so nuanced, it’s different, it’s engaging… I’m excited for people to see what [Jeymes Samuel] brings to the table.”
Besides those one and off screen of the film, many other stars attended the event like Angela Bassett, Karrueche Tran, Doja Cat, and more.
The Book of Clarence is in movie theaters nationwide on January 12, 2024!
Check out the gallery of iconic stars on the red carpet below:
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: James McAvoy at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Writer/Director/Producer Jeymes Samuel, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard and Babs Olusanmokun at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Teyana Taylor at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Doja Cat at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Micheal Ward, Anna Diop, Nicholas Pinnock, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, David Oyelowo, LaKeith Stanfield, Jeymes Samuel, RJ Cyler, Alfre Woodard and Babs Olusanmokun at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Nicholas Pinnock (L) and LaKeith Stanfield at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Omar Sy, Writer/Director/Producer Jeymes Samuel, Eric Kofi-Abrefa and Nicholas Pinnock at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) CEO of Legendary Entertainment Joshua Grode, James McAvoy, LaKeith Stanfield and RJ Cyler at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Angela Bassett at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Jay-Z at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Karrueche Tran at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: LaKeith Stanfield (L) and Alfre Woodard at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: L-R) Writer/Director/Producer Jeymes Samuel, Leni Klum and Seal at the LA Red Carpet Premiere of THE BOOK OF CLARENCE at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
“The Book of Clarence” is at once a modern classic; a cinematic gem that seamlessly blends the ancient and the contemporary, delivering a unique take on the biblical epic genre.
Civil rights activist and Black Panther, Fred Hampton was 21 when he was assassinated in his apartment during an FBI raid.
There are moments in ‘Judas and The Black Messiah’ where Lakeith Stanfield looks like he might tear at the seams. He plays William O’Neal, the infamous real-life FBI informant who infiltrated the Black Panthers and gave information that leads to the death of charismatic revolutionary Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya).
On Tuesday, February 2nd The Critics Choice Association hosted the 3rd Annual Celebration of Black Cinema, via a virtual ceremony, to honor 10 visionary films and 15 actors, producers, and directors of the season.
A true story of an informant in the Black Panther Party, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ is powerful in performance but mediocre in storytelling.
Judas and the Black Messiah honors the life and legacy of Chairman Fred Hampton of the Illinois Black Panther Party.
The romantic drama, The Photograph, written and directed by Stella Meghie, is set to release in theaters this Valentine’s Day.
Issa Rae stars in The Photograph as Mae Morton, an assistant curator at a New York museum, who has just received a series of letters from her late mother, Christina Eames (Chanté Adams). She also comes across an old photograph of her mother, perhaps the only one that exists, and begins to unpack all the secrets she left behind.
Universal Pictures
Opposite Issa is Lakeith Stanfield as Michael Block, a notable journalist who digs deep into the Christina Eames story, leading him to meeting and pursuing Mae Morton shortly after a tumultuous breakup of his own.
As anticipated, Issa and Lakeith have great chemistry on screen, and each represent characters with a complicated past but a new future ahead. They fail in making progress, at first refusing to confront the true issue/s, but through a single photo, and a journey intended upon discovering Eames, all those connected to the frame discover themselves. As a result of not letting a single screenshot be the parameters of their full picture, they learn to take the limits off of love and beyond.
Universal Pictures
Lakeith and Issa are able to smooth over the rough edges of the quick-moving timeline. There’s a questionable amount of back story missing from Michael Block’s perspective, with a narrative that heavily focused on Mae’s motives and fears and not much placement to Michael’s. But it is a love story after all, and though the timeline feels unrealistic, it’s not disruptive.
Universal Pictures
All the love stories are intertwined. The double narrative—starting with the Eames story—helps us to understand how one could forfeit true love in the first place, and it feeds that curiosity behind the hunger for a better life at any cost.
Universal Pictures
There were moments when I was more invested in Christina’s drive and her ability to command her first interview than I was watching Mae and Michael settle into their new and unexpected love. However, one plot drives the other and we wouldn’t fully understand Mae’s motives without the mother’s story at the sublayer. And while every action in the film is linked to a single photograph — the film is beautiful in that way — moving through flashbacks and present-day so poetically, the movie could easily be split into two separate parts.
Universal Pictures
The minor characters are some Hollywood veterans and rising stars: Courtney B. Vance, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Teyonah Parris, Rob Morgan, Jasmine Cephas, Lil Rel, and Chelsea Pareto.
Universal Pictures
The culture of the film and the music reminds you of Love Jones, and settles you like the ending scenes of Love and Basketball. It’s a unique black love story that should not be missed in theaters on February 14, 2020.
Even those hesitant on wearing their hearts on their sleeve couldn’t help but feel the love in the air Tuesday night at the SVA Theater in Chelsea, New York for the red carpet premiere of ‘The Photograph‘.
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