READING WITH A FLIGHT RING
  • About
  • reviews
  • Contact
  • Cosplay of the Day 2
  • Company News
  • Entertainment Section
  • Convention News/Updates
  • original artwork
  • My Best Books of the Week
  • Cosplay of the day!
  • FCBD
  • Interviews
  • Webcomics

BODY CAM (2020)

5/25/2020

0 Comments

 
BODY CAM (2020)
Director: Malik Vitthal
Producers: Mark Bienstock
Screenplay: Nicholas McCarthy, Richmond Riedel
Music: Joseph Bishara
Cinematography: Pedro Luque
Cast: Mary J. Blige, Nat Wolff, David Zayas, Anika Noni Rose
“To Serve and Protect…and Die”

Body Cam, a new action thriller (with a heavy dose of the supernatural) gets off to a good start, then careens back and forth from horror to social commentary, never really settling comfortable into either. It’s a noble effort from director Malik Vitthal (Imperial Dreams, 2014) but the tonal shifts and weak script (courtesy of Nicholas McCarthy and Richmond Riedel) do him no favors. Even the undeniable presence of Mary J. Blige can’t elevate Body Cam above B-list territory.
When a routine traffic stop results in the unexplained, grisly death of her colleague, a cop (Mary J. Blige) 
​
finds body cam police footage of the incident (which only she can see).
As the attacks mount, she races to understand the supernatural force behind them.
 In most movies, this storyline would provide enough substance. In Body Cam, however, we’re also handed a few more subplots. Blige’s character is a grieving mother, her son lost in a tragic pool accident. There’s the obligatory corrupt police department (a cliché that’s been around as long as the movies themselves). On top of that, there is a good deal of social commentary; the movie opens in the aftermath of an unarmed black boy killed by the police. This is a lot to juggle at one time and, unfortunately, it’s a juggling act that can’t be executed. ​

There are highlights. An extended scene in a convenience store (involving a shootout and the appearance of the supernatural presence bent on revenge) is exciting and well-staged; Vitthal deftly handles the action scenes. A flashback showing the murder of a deaf black boy is appropriately disturbing and powerful. There are three or four good scares that made me jump. And gore hounds won’t be disappointed in the graphic content of Body Cam, even if we never really get a good look at the vengeful spirit that terrorizes the police force. Overly dark cinematography by Pedro Luque doesn’t help. When most of the action takes place at night it’s imperative the audience at least be able to see what’s essential.
As for Mary J. Blige, I found her performance lacking, though the script doesn’t give her much opportunity to show off her acting chops (not even during scenes of grief over her dead son). Had I not seen her shine in her Oscar-nominated role in 2017’s Mudbound, I’d figure her to be an actress of limited means. She deserves better.

Body Cam also suffers from extended periods of inaction. There are one-too-many scenes of Blige and others walking through dark buildings, investigating empty rooms and searching through cluttered drawers; it feels as though these scenes exist to pad an already short run time of 96 minutes.

Overall Body Cam is a mixed bag. A stronger script would have definitely served the cast better. Vitthal is attempting too much. Horror. Ghost story. Police thriller. Social injustice. That’s a heavy load for one film to carry. Unfortunately in failing to pull off any of those with solid success Body Cam ends
up as another B-grade flick with lots to say but no place to go.


From the Back Row, Left of Center…
Darren McCullah

​
0 Comments

LOS ANGELES NON-PROFIT ASSISTING HOMELESS YOUTH SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH ANNOUNCES SAFE AND SOUND VIRTUAL BENEFIT CONCERT

5/11/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
LOS ANGELES NON-PROFIT ASSISTING HOMELESS YOUTH
SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH
ANNOUNCES SAFE AND SOUND VIRTUAL BENEFIT CONCERT

MAY 19, 5PM PT / 8PM ET [RSVP]
 
EVENT HOSTED BY DAVE BURD A.K.A. LIL DICKY
 
TO FEATURE PERFORMANCES BY:
ALOE BLACC, MATT BERNINGER of THE NATIONAL, YOUNG THE GIANT, GROUPLOVE, NATHAN WILLET of THE COLD WAR KIDS, DAVID SABASTIAN, PHANTOM PLANET,
MILK CARTON KIDS, NOMBE, BEACH BUNNY, BRYAN GREENBERG, LEIF VOLLEBEKK,
DAVID RYAN HARRIS, FRANK TURNER, JAE-MI, BILL WAVES and SIERRA SELLERS

A QUARANTINE COOKING INTERMISSION with GIADA DE LAURENTIIS
PLUS S.P.Y. YOUTH MUSICIANS: YEYA, METAMORPHOSIS, RELLY D., KALIHEIR & GABRIEL
Picture
New York, NY (May 11, 2020) – Today, Los Angeles non-profit assisting homeless youth Safe Place for Youth (S.P.Y.) announced Safe and Sound, a virtual benefit concert that will take place on May 19 at 5pm PT/8pm ET [RSVP]. Hosted by Dave Burd a.k.a. Lil Dicky, Safe and Sound will feature an incredible array of talent, including performances by Aloe Blacc, Matt Berninger of The National, Grouplove, Young the Giant, and six musicians from S.P.Y.'s own youth music program. There will also be a quarantine cooking intermission with acclaimed chef Giada de Laurentiis. The concert offers an opportunity to bring together the community by raising awareness and funds for youth homelessness, as well as the work that S.P.Y. is doing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic

"I started coming to S.P.Y. over two years ago,” says S.P.Y. music program member and Safe and Sound performer Relly D. “This organization changed my life and offered a place where I could be just me. I am so happy to be a part of this concert to raise awareness for S.P.Y. and youth homelessness.  S.P.Y. is all LOVE.”


"I am very happy to be a part of Safe Place for Youth's Safe and Sound benefit concert,” adds Aloe Blacc. "It is really important right now for people to come together to help support our homeless youth and vulnerable members of our population. I hope this concert can also bring some uplifting moments to people in their homes.”

The mission of S.P.Y. is to inspire, nurture, and empower the resilient human spirit of homeless youth by providing immediate and lasting solutions, one young person at a time. S.P.Y. is the leading service provider for this vulnerable population on the Westside of Los Angeles, where it supports over 1,500 youth annually.

This mission is more vital than ever. In the midst of the pandemic, the youth whom S.P.Y. serves are at an increased risk of complications if they contract COVID-19. According to a report published by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Homeless individuals infected by COVID-19 would be twice as likely to be hospitalized, two to four times as likely to require critical care, and two to three times as likely to die than the general population.”

S.P.Y.’s residential programs are still up and running 24/7, and they continue to provide basic survival needs, case management, counseling, and essential resources to street-based youth. This concert will help to raise funds in place of previous scheduled fundraising events that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited about the Safe and Sound Concert and all of the support we have received from the community and this amazing lineup of artists,” says Alison Hurst, Founder and Executive Director of Safe Place for Youth. “Our team of dedicated professionals are on the frontline every day, working hard to provide safety to our young people. The funds and awareness raised during this concert will help us to carry out our commitment to our mission of ending youth homelessness, in our community and beyond.”
Picture
ABOUT SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH
Founded in 2011, Safe Place for Youth (S.P.Y.) is a Venice Beach, CA-based community non-profit organization focused on providing support to homeless youth in Los Angeles. The numbers of homeless youth have grown to epidemic proportions, meaning we must respond to the crisis by continuing to grow our programs and maintaining our leadership role with coalition groups working to end youth homelessness. SPY does this on a daily basis through street outreach, counseling, health clinic services, housing programs, education and employment support, mentorship, art workshops, basic survival needs and more. In 2019 alone, 1.5k+ homeless youth were served, 130 exited homelessness, and 105 gained employment through SPY’s continuum of care.

www.safeplaceforyouth.org
www.twitter.com/safeplace4youth
www.instagram.com/safeplaceforyouth
www.facebook.com/safeplaceforyouth
# # #
0 Comments

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.