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'The Kitchen' Reminds Us That Women Are The Doers & The Changemakers Of Society
I am not a movie critic or some girl who is used to hanging out a Hollywood premieres just steps away from a movie star like Tiffany Haddish, but somehow I ended up at the Chinese Theatre among a sea of white people to see a movie with three female leads (all of which I am long-time fans of) one who happened to look like me.
When I was I invited out to cover this premiere one thing stuck out at me, I hadn't heard anything about this film. With three heavy hitters and a badass woman making her directorial debut, I would have at least Googled to find out more about the film.
I hadn't seen a trailer. A movie poster. A billboard. Nothing, and I live in Los Angeles.
This made me ask the question: Is Hollywood still toting the narrative that if you aren't white and male, no one wants to see you on-screen unless you're hot by European standards? I can't give a definitive yes or no on that, but based on my experience, knowing nothing about what turned out to be a movie beyond what I expected (in a good way), I can walk away with a maybe.
'The Kitchen'
The Kitchen is an adaptation of a comic book miniseries from DC Vertigo about three married women living in New York City's Hell's Kitchen in the late 1970s who become mobsters after their husbands are sentenced to four years in jail.
One of the changes from the comic book is that three heroines of the story were white women but director Andrea Berloff made a mindful change to the story creating space for Ruby who Tiffany Haddish brings to life.
Just as a sat in my seat after running down Hollywood Boulevard in my faux red leather dress (think Cruella de Vil, but make it fashion), and Tibi heels to make it the theatre by 7:20 at 7:17 the house lights went down, and then I saw Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, and Elizabeth Moss standing right in front of me. Okay, maybe not right in front of me (because I was given a seat at the back of theatre), but I was breathing the same air.
To be honest, as someone who is never starstruck, it was a serial moment for me. One that I don't take lightly and will always remember.
Before the lights went down and the film rolled, Tiffany Haddish said a prayer. I guess even movie stars get nervous about sharing their work.
As the movie began, I felt myself judging it.
So Ruby (Tiffany's character) is going to be the sidekick while one of the white women (Melissa McCarthy's character) saves the day? I've seen this movie so many times I almost checked out, but then Andrea Berloff got in the driver's seat and took a hard, fast left. A left so sharp, I closed my eyes and held my breath because I was stressed for the characters even if they were mobbing the street.
I can't say too much without giving the story away, but the messaging of The Kitchen is very clear.
We (women) are the do-ers, the changemakers, and the muscle even when the patriarchy tries to tell us otherwise.
'The Kitchen'
If I am honest, some of the movie's messaging felt rooted in white feminism, but the ending of the film (which I did not see coming) made it up for it.
I have watched Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, and Elizabeth Moss slay their most memorable roles (in Girl's Trip, Bridesmaids, The Handmaid's Tale respectively) and this was a departure for each of them which was so fun to watch. If you like mob movies, strong female leads, and writing that allows those leads to shine, this movie is worth a watch. One little disclaimer I will give for those who don't usually watch movies with violence, there will be a few parts where you'll want to close your eyes (you'll see them coming… actually there is one point when you won't, and it'll break your heart).
As the credits rolled and the audience clapped, I realized if we want to see more films starring and directed by women, we've got to support them.
The Kitchen is out in theaters this weekend. Watch the trailer for the film below.
THE KITCHEN - Official Trailerwww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images
Bianca Lambert is a proud Atlanta native soaking up the Los Angeles sun. She is the founder of Mae B: a stationery company for women of color and a digital content creator on a mission to elevate the voices of women of color everywhere.
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."