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Forrest Whitaker

Jingle Jangle: Lighting the Spark of Hope

November 13, 2020 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Set in the whimsical wintery world of a Christmas bedtime story, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey tells the story of Jeronicus Jangle (Forrest Whitaker), toymaker extraordinaire. A brilliant inventor, Jangle is known around the land for his innovative creations and wild toys. However, when his book of inventions is stolen by his protégé, Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key), Jangle is left in ruins as his competition takes credit for his ideas and makes a fortune. Years later, when his granddaughter Journey Jangle (Madelen Mills) arrives, Jangle recognizes her talent but struggles to grapple with his own failures. However, when a new invention begins to reignite the spark of his soul, Jangle also sees the re-emergence of an old foe who wishes to steal the project for himself as well.

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (2020) Forest Whitaker as Jeronicus Jangle. NETFLIX

Written and directed by David E. Talbert (Almost Christmas), Jingle Jangle is certainly a much more ambitious project than his previous efforts. While Talbert’s work normally focuses on families and relationships, Jangle is a steam-punk sight for the senses. Featuring stunning special effects and some spectacular musical numbers, the film effectively brings to life the magic and whimsy that families want from their Christmas classics. Frankly, the attention to detail in the visuals is often truly remarkable, with each whizzing gear and popping spring feeling like an extension of Jeronicus Jangle’s complicated emotional state. 

Speaking of Jangle himself, Whitaker handles the role in with a mixture of sadness and charm as the once-great toymaker. For someone who is not particularly known for his work in children’s fare (has he ever done a film like this before?), Whitaker embraces the script and manages to bring a subtle spark to the character. While much of the cast are in fine form here, from Key’s mustache-twirling villain Gustafsen to the always regal Phylicia Rashad, the real story of the film is newcomer Madalen Mills who is absolutely wonderful as Jeronicus’ granddaughter and protégé, Journey Jangle. In her first major role, Mills absolutely lights up the screen with her performance and holds the film together with a sparkling debut. (And, frankly, it’s also refreshing to see a holiday myth that features an entirely African-American cast as well.)

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (2020) Diaana Babnicova as Young Jessica Jangle and Justin Cornwell as Young Jeronicus Jangle. Cr.Gareth Gatrell/NETFLIX

Despite the magical music and eye-popping contraptions, the true heart of the film lies in its celebration of belief. While this is a theme that extends through numerous films at this time of year, there is something special about Jangle in the way that it explores its message. With each failed invention, Jeronicus Jangle falls further into bitterness, refusing more and more to try. Having seen his best days stolen from him, his frustration is understandable. Burned out and broken, Jangle is a man who has lost everything and feels frozen in his inability to move forward. (Seems appropriate for 2020, doesn’t it?)

However, with the arrival of Journey, light begins to enter the room again. Transformed by the belief that ‘nothing is impossible if you believe’, Journey recognizes that, even in our worst circumstances, hope exists. Her youthful innocence and willingness to take risks have not yet been marred by trauma and she is able to find joy in the midst of suffering. As a result of Journey’s willingness to believe that there is more on the horizon, Jeronicus is forced to confront his own emotional blockage and, potentially, allow himself to heal. While the film doesn’t take particularly focus on what to believe in, it is refreshing at this time for a film to remind audiences in 2020 that belief and hope are essential, especially in the darkest of moments.

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (2020) Keegan-Michael Key as Gustafson. Cr.Gareth Gatrell/NETFLIX

Having said this, the film does have a few flaws. Clocking in at just over two hours, admittedly the film does feel a tad too long at time. What’s more, though some of the musical numbers are truly amazing, there are also those that fall flat. (Whitaker does his best but he likely does not have a singing career in his future.) Even so, these are minor quibbles. The truth is that, for the most part, there is more than jingle and magic in Jingle Jangle to keep families enchanted through the holiday season.

And, in 2020, that may be the most that one could hope for.

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (2020) Phylicia Rashad as Grandmother Cr.Gareth Gatrell/NETFLIX

Jingle Jangle is available on Netflix on November 13th, 2020. 

Filed Under: Film, Netflix, Reviews Tagged With: Forrest Whitaker, keegan-michael key, Madelin Mills, Phylicia Rashad

Burden – Only Love Can Replace Hate

February 26, 2020 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

Jesus told us “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27f, NRSV). We revere those words, but probably in our heart of hearts we say, “yeah, right.” In Andrew Heckler’s film Burden, we see what that means. It is hard. But it may also lead to transformation.

Based on a true story, the film is set in Laurens, South Carolina in the 1990s, the film centers on Mike Burden (Garrett Hedlund), a young man who has risen to the rank of Grand Dragon within the local Ku Klux Klan. He is mostly uneducated and get by working as a repo man. He, along mentor and father-figure Tom Griffin (Tom Wilkinson), opens The Redneck Shop and KKK Museum in downtown Laurens. This immediately gets the attention of a local Baptist minister, Reverend David Kennedy (Forest Whittaker), who organizes daily non-violent protests outside the shop. Kennedy is adamant about keeping the protests non-violent, but Griffin is eager to provoke a riot and wants Kennedy out of the picture.

When Burden begins dating Judy (Andrea Riseborough), a young single-mother, who is opposed to the Klan, his commitment begins to wane. His love for Judy and her son makes him question his place in the Klan, and eventually he opts to leave the Klan. He and Judy are immediately evicted from their home and lose their jobs. Living in Judy’s car and reduced to panhandling, Kennedy meets with them and hears their story. He invites them into his home—much to the dismay of his wife, son, and congregation.

But that marks about the halfway point in the film. The real conflict that fills the second half of the film is about how Burden must learn lessons of repentance, forgiveness, and transformation. As Kennedy says, hate will not go away unless it is replaced by love. Burden’s love for Judy was the starting point that opened the way for more love to flow in. I think the film could have used a bit more of Judy’s story to explain her antipathy for the Klan.

Many will look at this as a great triumph over racism. In some ways it is. The Klan and its hatred need to be confronted and overcome. The personal transformation of Mike Burden is not far short of miraculous. But showing racism in its grossest forms (as many films do) covers over the more subtle systemic racism that fills our society and, if we are honest with ourselves, our own lives. It is easy to look at Mike Burden and know that we were never the kind of racist he was before he was brought around to a new way of thinking. But will we be willing to look to see just how racist we are?

Where this film shines is not so much in its confrontation of racism as in its more subtle look at the power of non-violence and the transformative power of Jesus’ words in the first paragraph above. That teaching goes against everything else in our experience. Reverend Kennedy acted out those words in the way he treated a man who hated him and abused him. To befriend Burden went against Kennedy’s own sense of self-preservation. (And his wife and son were more than clear about their fears.) The fruits that flow from that act eventually led Burden to a new way of seeing the world in which he lived. It also opened him up to the point of confessing his own sins and repenting so that he could more fully appreciate the grace that had been offered him.

Photos courtesy of 101 Studios

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Andrea Riseborough, based on a true story, Forrest Whitaker, Garrett Hedlund, racism, Tom Wilkinson

4.12 The Power of the BLACK PANTHER

February 27, 2018 by Steve Norton 8 Comments

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/4.12-Black-Panther.mp3

 

As Marvel unleashed BLACK PANTHER, even they could not have foreseen the incredible impact that the film has had on both the box office and the culture at large! With its lush visuals and healthy portrayal of African-Americans, PANTHER has sparked positive conversations about race and depictions of culture on the big screen. This week, Steve welcomes back Chris Utley and Arnaldo Reyes to talk about the film’s impact and the power telling one’s own story.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.12 Black Panther

Thanks Chris and Arnaldo for joining us!

For those of you in Canada who are interested, you can donate to ScreenFish by clicking the link below and simply selecting ‘ScreenFish’ from the ‘Apply Your Donation…’ area. 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/connect-city/

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Angela Bassett, Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, Forrest Whitaker, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios, MCU, Michael B. Jordan, T'Challa, Wakanda, Wakanda Forever

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