Double Idemnity.

So as I'm perusing the interview on illprofessors.com with Arlen Escapeta from the new horror movie, Friday the 13th, I see that her favorite movie is Double Idemnity. Coincidently, I just watched that movie for my film criticism class and enjoyed it!

*Sorry...I got a tad bit of a spoiler for those of you that just so happen to read this and haven’t seen it...!*

Double Idemnity is a classic black and white film released in 1944. The film describes the story of Walter Neff, a salesman for an Insurance Company and a married, Phyllis Dietrichson. Phyllis has an affair with Walter. They fall in love and plan to murder her abusive husband so she can get the insurance money and begin her life with Walter. After Walter and Phyllis have carried out the murder, Walter finds out from Phyllis' husband's daughter that she believes that Phyllis killed her mother. Walter also becomes suspicious that Phyllis was cheating on him with a younger man. This causes him to murder Phyllis.

So there is more to what I wrote about the film...but that's the jist of it. I thought the dialogue between Phyllis and Walter was very interesting. I thought it was funny how Walter was directly flirting with Phyllis and how she would come back at him with sharp responses. Such as the conversation about the police scenario where Phyllis feels that Walter was getting a little "fresh" by asking if he was breaking the speed limit by flirting with her as much as he was.

I also found it interesting how they did not show Walter and Phyllis having sex in the movie. The most they showed was them kissing…which was not too disturbing to watch like it can sometimes get nowadays. Back in the day, viewers had to...put two and two together. For example, in Double Idemnity, viewers could tell a sexual act just occurred when Phyllis was reapplying her lipstick and Walter was relaxing on the chair, smoking a cigar.

I think the film was very good. The dialogue was interesting; the murder story was inviting and made me want to see how Walter and Phyllis’ plan evolved throughout the movie. I did not know about this gem before this film criticism class and am glad I had to watch it. I'm interested to see what else I have missed out on from the era this movie came out of.

Death in a music note?

I just can't relate. Well...sometimes I can and sometimes I can't. What am I talking about? I'm talking about this thing called music that I love so much. I find that I can't just push on the radio and find what I'm searching for. I have to click on my iPod and search...I mean...that's all well and good but I know there was a time when the music that was put out on the air waves was not a whole bunch of jibber jabber. Everyone loved it because they could relate to it...not just because they could rock their hips to some nonsense words over a hot beat.

Now I'm not going to sit here and act like I don't feed into this phase of music but I just feel that musicians need to take a step back, look at their musical roots and...Revamp!

"...Since fifteen in my stilettos been struttin' in this game What's your age? Whats the question they asked when I hit the stage I'm a diva, best believe her, you see her, she getting paid She ain't callin' him to greet her, don't need him, her bed's made..." -- Beyonce

Yes I brought her up...& I'm not going to lie...I absolutely adore Beyonce. No I don't categorize myself as a groupie but I feel she is truly blessed with her God given talent and yes I do feed into the empire she has built for herself.

I am not the only loyal fan Beyonce has though. Beyonce, along with Jill Scott, Chrisette Michelle, Corinne Bailey Ray, Alicia Keys, Usher, Ne-Yo, Jamie Foxx, Jaheim and the like have a huge fan base that jam to their tunes because they literally speak to their fan base. The notes and lyrics mesh together molding a song that is relevant...catchy...but not too...juvenile.

These artists have learned from their predecessors such as Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Minnie Ripperton, Josephine Baker, Dorthy Dandridge, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Teddy Pendergrass, The Temptations, The Five Heartbeats, Earth Wind and Fire, The Whispers and the like. These artists that I have named have captured their audiences because they evoked an emotion and related to them like no one else could. They did not put out nonsense music just to get their next dollar. They shared their soul through their songs and people knew that and latched onto them.

I feel those artists such as Souljah Boy and the like need to take some advice from artists such as the ones I mentioned. They would be able to captivate their audiences if they were able to relate on a more personal level. I understand that may not be their style and they might just want to get their money quickly with little effort but I think in order to get the feeling of the past to the present this is key.

I can't wait until the thought of quick money is put to the side and embrace the true essence of music there once was.

It's A Love Thang.

Okay so everybody knows that I love love love black romance movies...but *Suprise! Suprise!* ... I have not seen Love Jones...I know it's kind of sad...and honestly, I have no idea why I haven't watched it yet...but I will change that ASAP.

Let’s just switch gears to on movie I have seen...and truly adore…Love and Basketball. The story of these best friends turned lovers took me on a romantic journey that I don't mind going on over and over again. The thought that your childhood romance could grow and mature over time…evolving into this fairytale like ending captivates me...and I don't see any wrong in this. I enjoy wishful thinking.

I think one of the main reasons why so many young black women enjoy movies like Love and Basketball is simply because everybody is on the search for that perfect someone. Then when you've found your someone...some tend to wonder if that is the right someone.

Movies like Love and Basketball relate to single people who may be living in this…fantasy world. You most likely will not grow up with a cutie pie that you play basketball with...sneak in each other's windows...experiment with...get jealous of each other's relationships...etc. etc. but it's a nice idea. And who knows...that just may be how you met your special someone...but the chances of that scenario actually panning out are not that high.

That is why I feel like a good number of people enjoy these types of movies. They relate with a common feeling that everyone shares. Everyone is looking for that special someone. People watch these movies and wish the process of finding love and making it last forever were that easy. People wish they could reunite with their childhood lover, get married and have children and live happily ever after.

It's great that these producers have found their niche. But how long can people continue to send themselves on an emotional rollercoaster...wishing that they could end up like the characters in the movies?

I don't think this epidemic will end anytime soon. And frankly...I don't mind it at all.

Be Blessed.

--Lauren