tobenson

Member since 7/6/2007, last signed in awhile ago.

"WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID?"

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Personal statement:

If it's a "Personal Statement" then shouldn't it remain personal?

Killjoy is my middle name :o)

TAO

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28 Days Later

SUNSHINE
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"SUNSHINE is one of those films that had me hooked for most of its length, but then during the last act almost completely lost me; although not entirely in this case, thankfully. I was slightly disappointed that Danny Boyle, the director the film (also TRAINSPOTTING and 28 DAYS LATER), went for the conventional mainstream plot devices that he threw into the last act of film. I won’t say what they were… you’ll just have to see the film, and we can talk about it afterwards if anyone wants to… but anyway… I really liked the film overall – it’s one of those apocalyptic, end of the world scenarios that we’re presented with: in a nutshell, the sun is dying, and world governments assemble a team of scientists and astronauts to go on what is essentially on a suicide mission, into space, in a ship armed with a nuclear weapon meant to be launched into the sun’s core, where it will explode and reignite the sun… a scenario which we ... " [More]

Soul Food

THIS CHRISTMAS
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"THIS CHRISTMAS One of two holiday films that tell stories about black people – specifically black families. The other being the upcoming PERFECT HOLIDAY starring Morris Chestnut, and Gabrielle Union.THIS CHRISTMAS (TC) is as predictable and as simplistic as one might expect a film like it to be. But that makes it easier to digest, if, going in, you know just what you’re in for. The proverbial family drama but without very much real drama… no one is ever in any real quandary, even though the filmmakers try to make us believe that they are, not only because we know the clichéd Hollywood happy ending is forthcoming, but also because every dilemma feels a little too sugary sweet, wrapped up in mawkishness, didactics, and often suspect acting and dialogue deliveries.It’s clear that the film wants you to love it at all costs… to have that wonderful, joyous feeling afterwards. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. And one could even sa ... " [More]

Inland Empire

Inland Empire = Rubbish!
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Just finished watching INLAND EMPIRE, David Lynch’s last opus… suffice it to say that this is the last David Lynch film I’ll ever see! I’ve given the man enough hours of my life over the last 7 years, to convince me that he is a voice that I should pay attention to, or be interested in, and I’m regretting almost every second :o) UGH! A 3-hour ride that goes nowhere, shows me nothing new, and doesn’t seem to care whether it accomplishes anything, other than confuse audiences into believing in its false sense of importance. If this film was made by any other person who wasn’t called David Lynch, it would be trashed fiercely by critics and dismissed altogether. But because it IS David Lynch, we’re supposed to automatically raise our heads and commend its genius. Poppycock!! If David Lynch didn’t exist, the film world wouldn’t miss him… at least I certainly wouldn’t. Listen to my audio podcast at www.obensonrepor ... " [More]

Fuck Your Freedom Of Expression ...
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"So... word on the street is that the noose is becoming the next bling accessory. I hear it comes in 3 colors: bloody red, the customary KKK white, and of course rigor mortis blue. You can even get your name engraved on it! Wow! Sizes available include: XXL (or KING), for those who like it a little loose and sagging (expected to be the most popular model), as well as a yet to be labeled much snugger fit, that's sure to never leave you hanging, if you catch my drift. Of course, an expected Tree add-on, will be sold separately, for those who want the full bling effect!As expected, there are doubters of this new bling phenomenon... but supporters, as well as expected future connoisseurs of the noose bling, claim that this is partly an attempt to simply take the power out of the symbol, much like they tried to do with the N-word.Get yours now before it all goes mainstream, like the X cap did in 1992!(COMEDIAN KAT WILLIAMS AT THE BET HIP-HOP AWARDS LAST NIGHT)TAO " [More]

My NPR Editorial Op-ed Piece...!
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Hey Folks!Last week, NPR asked me to write an oped piece for the "News and Views" section of their website. I just received an email notifying me that they loved it, and have published it on the site, along with a picture of me (I had to use an old pic, since it's the most professional one I've got), and of course a link to my podcast. The producer also says that they'll mention my piece during next week's "News & Notes" show, so listen to NPR next week to hear it, or just follow the link below to read what he called my "brilliant op-ed piece." So, one editorial down, one to go. I still have to write the piece for Filmmaker Magazine, which will be significantly longer and more extensive. I'll let you know when that's ready.This is exciting... here's the link: NEWS AND VIEWSTambay A Obensontao@tambayobenson.comww w.tambayobenson.comwww.obenson report.com " [More]

Filmmaker Magazine Mention...!
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Hey Folks!Just learned that Scott Macauley, editor at Filmmaker Magazine, posted my NPR op-ed on the Filmmaker Magazine website yesterday, along with a link to my podcast. It's in their blog section. Here's the link: http://www.filmmakermagazine.c om/blog/. It's towards the middle of the page, under the "Tuesday, November 06, 2007" section, titled "Toward A New Black Cinema." Feel free to leave a comment while you're there . It will also be mentioned in their weekly newsletter that goes out to all their subscrbers.This is certainly helpful press, given the magazine's readership. I hope it translates to more hits.Cheers!TAO " [More]

Brother to Brother

LISTEN NOW - Episode 24, Obenso ...
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Sponsored in part by ActNow FoundationRecorded Monday, November 12, 2007, 9PMTRT 60 MinutesTOPICS DISCUSSED:- Movie club selection for the week BROTHER TO BROTHER - listen to find out the rules.- An extensive review of the Malian film masterpiece YEELEN.- Creating alternate channels of film distribution for black cinema. - Revisiting "collective/movement power," and the "capable tenth" funded black film studio. Email me you comments at talk@obensonreport.com; or go to http://www.obensonreport.com/ and leave your comments.TAO " [More]

"...hippy hippy hips... give me ...
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Momma was right From the New York Post this morning... LEARNING CURVES: THE WIDER GALS' HIPS, THE HIGHER THEIR IQBy RITA DELFINERNovember 13, 2007 -- These hips don't lie - women with hourglass figures tend to be more intelligent and have smarter kids, a new study says. Researchers have even come up with a scientific explanation for their theory - and for why men prefer voluptuous women with large hips and small waists. It's all about omega-3 fatty acids and a woman's waist-to- hip ratio, or WHR - a measurement that, according to an online calculator offered by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, "looks at the proportion of body fat stored on your waist compared to that stored at your hips and buttocks." You calculate it by dividing the waist circumference by the hip circumfer ence. The lower the WHR, the better, according to the study by William Lassek of the University of Pittsburgh and Steven Gaulin of the University of California at Santa Barbar ... " [More]

Children of Men

CHILDREN OF MEN
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Rented and watched this last night for the first time. My most simplistic interpretation: the nativity story retold dystopian style. Oh, and Mary is black (likely Ghanaian), and the son that God sends down to save humanity is really a daughter... and she's African too :o)Relevant and ambitious - especially for an American studio production.Beautifully realized, despite the stark bleakness of the world the story exists in.Should have won the Academy Award for best picture of 2006.Certainly has it's flaws, but the pros dwarf the cons.Wish I had seen it at the theatre.CHILDREN OF MENTAO " [More]

So, I hear that men are increas ...
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Oh My Goodness!! What the hell is going on in the world? First I learn that Anne Coulter is really a man, and now THIS?Chuckle... chuckle... chuckle... BEGIN"The number of women who will just sit on a condom-free, erect penis without any kind of announcement or discussion is just shocking..." He's Just Not That Into It: Why are guys increasingly rejecting booty calls? Seems they've got feelings too. From Details MagazineOne morning a couple of years ago, Tyler Barnett woke up with a woman he barely knew. No surprise there: He was just your garden-variety twentysomething guy, a P.R. man in Los Angeles who enjoyed casual, commitment-free hook-ups. Yet sometime before dawn, something in him shifted. And once the sun was up, he decided he was over casual sex. He chased her out with a flimsy excuse: that he had to get to work.Sure, Barnett was concerned about STDs and pregnancy. But mostly he'd gotten fed up with putting out. And he's not alone. These days, in ... " [More]

Brother to Brother

Episode 25 - The Obenson Report ...
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"Episode 25 - The Obenson Report on Black Film / CinemaSponsored in part by ActNow FoundationRecorded Monday, November 19, 2007, 9PMTRT 60 MinutesTOPICS DISCUSSED:- Industry news and notes.- My review of BROTHER TO BROTHER. - Brief discussion on watching gay-themed black cinema. Your input?- Listener phone calls.- The "Capable Tenth" funded black film studio. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE WHATEVER YOU CAN. SEE INFO BELOW.Got something to say? Call the show's voicemail hotline at 1-800-765-7249 and leave a message there; and if it's worthwhile, I'll play your message on the show.OR, email me you comments at talk@obensonreport.com; or go to http://www.obensonreport.com/ and leave your comments. HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE "CAPABLE TENTH" FUNDED BLACK FILM STUDIO1. Go to the ActNow website – www.actnowproduction.org. 2. Click on the "donate/volunteer" link. 3. Click on the "Network For Good" link at the top of the page. 4. Follow the direction ... " [More]

Teeth

TEETH - the movie. It's really ...
By tobenson in The Obenson Report
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"I suppose the Native American legend known as vagina dentata isn't such a myth anymore...Gives a new appreciation for the proverbial "Power of the P."Alexyss K. Tylor will love this!Thus, in acknowledgement of this gluttonous Thanksgiving holiday, I'll leave you with the following: Let's Eat :o)TEETH - In theatres February 2008. " [More]