Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 2002 — Page 24

THE INDIANA ROUS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6,2002

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Deliberately scaring me is abuse.

Stop it.

Domi'stic viok'f i i: feeds on feitr Victims of dbusive partners e*ist ir in oppressive, often cruel relationship T »»v feel si ared. alone and powerless. Creating fear and .r-.xiety are devastating behaviors to teach your children Certainly fear vvill destroy your family and theirs It you think deliberately s tong someone is no tut di al. Think again, it's one of the fifteei warning signs of domestn . nience isted in this ad. R» .>d the list. Then consider your

ii dons. Nothing goo : elationship So. stop

~omes from an abusive

Partners Against Domestic Violence

C*H 117 205 MOPt

mArrunm of 4on>e%tf< -

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Morris Chestnut has managed to build a solid career with loyal fan-base

By MARVIN NEIL For the Robertson Treatment Wanted: Strapping, Black leading man. Solid acting skills a must. Seeking actor willing to stretch his wings and step out of the box. Able to make women swoon on sight, a plus. Not Denzel. If this is your ad, then Morris Chestnut is the man for you. Now starring in actionthriller “Half Past Dead,” opposite Steven Segal and Ja Rule, Chestnut warns that this time out he’s not playing the guy that gets the girl. No, this time around he plays the villain. “This is a departure from

the way that people are used to seeing me,” he says. “But I had fun and it was a welcome challenge.” Most of us remember Morris from his role as Ricky in the John Singleton classic “Boyz in the Hood.” “I’ve really learned a lot since then,” says Chestnut over breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel. “I’ve made some mistakes choosing roles and having people in my life who may have delayed my career a bit — but overall I’m very happy with what I’ve done.” Now 33, Morris is one of Black Hollywood’s most sought afrer talents, Starring in favorites such as “The Best

Man,” “The Brothers” and “Two Can Play That Game.’' “Morris should open some new eyes as Donny in the filn^’ says “Half Past Dead” writer and director Don Michael Paul. “We wanted someone to bring a cool sophistication to the role and that is the essence of who Morris is.” He’s so cool in fact that he was affectionately labeled ‘Dark Gable’ on die set. Though the audience will be taken aback and won’t believe Morris is doing all the things that he’s doing. But he handled eveiything well and I think that filmgoers will find it engaging.” In a Hollywood that hasn’t

always been so kind to young Black stars, Chestnut has come a long way since his role as Ricky, and he’s managed to build a solid career with a * loyal fan-base. The Cal State North ridge grad and former bank-teller now admits that getting girls was his initial inspiration for wanting to become an actor. Today, now a married man and admittedly more grounded, he has a more mature reason for doing what he does so well. “I just want to keep working and develop myself as an actor and a person,” he says. He seems to be headed in the right direction.

‘Friday After Next’ full of gross gags and groans galore

By KAM WILLIAMS For The Recorder Quite understandably, most movie studios want to milk the most out of any successful formula. Thus, they exert considerable pressure on each installment in a film franchise to be a little more outrageous than the last. Depending on the genre, if it’s action movie, there’s a call for more elaborate pyrotechnics. If it’s ahorrorflick, you get a higher body count. And when it’s gross-out humor, it means appealing to an ever-lowering common denominator in the target audience. This is the sorry situation we have with “Friday After Next,” the latest in the bona fide blackbuster Friday series conceived and created by renaissance rapper Ice Cube. I half expected to find this sequel somewhat objectionable, given the depths of depravity some dig for humor in this Golden Age of Gross. But, heavens to Murgatroyd! I still wasn’t prepared for so many insulting stereotypes to be slickly passed off as if merely entertainment.

And in such a deceptively con- ney-brained, bimbo hos, and a cos, all women are called either sumable fashion. mustachioed, marshmallow- b~-—or hos. Oh, or niggettes, Credit for this dubious assed matron who just loves to which was a new one on me. achievement must go to Marcus scream and yell, reminiscent of Then there s the disgraceful Raboy, the noted director of Sanford & Sons battle-axe Aunt shot,long-sincespoiledbycom-music videos for the likes of Lil’ Esther. mercies of Willie slapping the Kim, Mary J. Blige, Naughty by The only thing worse than ugly off his own Mommas face. Nature and of course IceCube these bodacious buffoons is the The film never made me laugh, author of all the Friday scripts! dimwitted dialogue, which I just found it to be sad and Look for Raboy to be right back doesn’t deliver even one moment wrong, making MTV and BET booty of subtlety or wit. I suppose the The point of departure is vids after this deplorable, fea- best wayto make my point about Christmas Eve in our heroes’ ture film debut. how offensive it was is with a few apartment when a crook, In Friday 3, Ice and Mike choice examples. dressed up as Santa, breaks in Epps star once more as Craig To wit, when a police officer and starts stuffing his sack with and Day-Day, respectively, those politely asks the boys what to do everything from wrapped precrazy but lovable ne’er-do-well with a man he s just arrested, sents under the tree to their cousins who are always up to Day-Day suggests, “I say stick a rent moneyhidden in a speaker, some shiftless shenanigans. If plunger in his ass.” When the He departs with the jolly fareAmos and Andy could be rein- cop winks and carts the perpe- well of, “Merry Christmas, carnated, they’d probably ask to trator off, Craig supports the mother-f ! andtheadvenreturn as Craig and Day-Day. notion with, “I like them police, ture is on. What follows, obviAlso reprising their roles are This is a crass, self-deprecating ously, is a madcap race to reJohn Witherspoon and Don ‘DC reference to the Abner Louima cover the loot soon enough to Curry, as Craig’s dad, Willie, and incident in New York City. save the holiday. Uncle Elroy. And Clifton Powell In another scene, Day^Day That’s all the plot you need to is back as Pinky andAnna Maria declares that, “All I want for know, since the stoxy meanders Horefordisback as Mrs. Jones. Christmas is tw» firt h , a from there almost anywhere in Besides the happy-go-lucky hag of weed and some search ofa quick, crude joke. Ill leads, this neo-plantation com- cheesburgers.” In another, he bite my acid tongue at this juncedy is peopled by an array of accuses a modestly-dressed ture, before I get mean and beoffensive, two-dimensional group ofwomen on their way to come labeled the Simon Cowell characters like a buff, bronze church of“trying to use the Lord ofmovie criticism, a humorless ex-con rapist, a midgety, bozo- se II P - —•” cunnudgeoneagerto Scrooge a haired pimp, his stable of halo- I n fact* just as in the rap vid- holiday comedy.

Program announces Indy’s 25 for Kids books

When invited to recommend who nominated children’s

their picks for the One Book, One City - Indy’s Choice program, Indianapolis residents responded enthusiastically, recommending more than 850 titles for consideration. The program officials then ' announced Indy’s 25, a list of 25 adult books that includes the book that ultimately will become the final book for the

city to read.

In addition to the many adult titles suggested, Indianapolis residents also recommended more than 140 children’s and young adult books. While the selection committee will not pick an Indy’s Choice for children, program officials have compiled Indy’s 25 for Kids based on residents’ recommendations. “Based on the suggestions we received from the many adults

books, it’s very clear that we all have been greatly affected by books we read as children,” said Mayor Bart Peterson. “It’s important to encourage Indianapolis’s youngest citizens to read, and the books on this list are a good place for them to start.” Indy’s 25 for Kids are: The Adventures ofTdm Sawyer by Mark Twain Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomexy The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket Bud, not Buddyby Christopher Paul Curtis The Cat in the Hat by Dr.

Seuss

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly

Cleary The Giver by Lois Lowry Harry Potter and the Prisoner ofAzkaban by J.K. Rowling The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Holes by Louis Sachar Janies and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Redwall by Brian Jacques Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett Superfudge by Judy Blume Tuck Everlastingby Natalie Babbitt The Watsons go to Birmingham -1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis Where the Wild Things Are by

Maurice Sendak Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle “The library has copies of all of the books that appear on the Indy’s 25 and Indy’s 25 for Kids lists,” said Edward Szynaka, chief executive officer for the IndianapolisMarion Cotinty Public Library. “We encourage families to check out one of these titles and read the book together.” The final adult book, Indy’s Choice, will be announced in mid-December. Throughout January, residents will be encouraged to participate in book discussions and other “One Book”-related programming at their local libraries and other organizations.

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