Urban Thought Collective

About Me:

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for The 213 Magazine, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com where his new novel I DO? is available NOW.

MOVIE BIASES:
Pre-sold - but I hear it’s long as hell.
MAJOR PLAYERS:
Derek Luke, Laz Alonso, Michael Ealy, director Spike Lee
Logline:
A cold-blooded murder by a World War II vet (Alonso) in 1983 unravels a flashback involving the untold story of the Buffalo Soldiers, the first all-black infantry unit in the U.S. Army, and the bond they […]

MOVIE BIASES:
Oh God (pun intended), here we go again…
MAJOR PLAYERS:
Alfre Woodard (Love and Basketball), Sanaa Lathan (Love and Basketball), Taraji P. Henson (Talk to Me), Rockmond Dunbar (TV’s “Prison Break”), Kathy Bates (Misery), Cole Hauser (Paparazzi), and actor/producer/writer/director Tyler Perry (Meet the Browns).
It’s like a semiannual tradition by now: Tyler Perry releases a film and […]

BANGKOK DANGEROUS (R)
Biases: Smells fishy, but I’m still curious.
Players: Nicolas Cage, The Pang Brothers
Logline: Contract killer Joe (Cage) lives a solitary existence until he decides to take on one last job in Thailand, one that exposes him to acquiring a protege (Shahkrit Yamnarm) and a love interest (Charlie Yeung), thereby endangering his work.
“Bangkok: it’s corrupt, […]

I.O.U.S.A. (PG)
Movie Biases:
It’s not sexy, but it’s important.
Major Players
Co-writer/director Patrick Creadon.
“I will argue that the biggest threat to America isn’t someone hiding in a cave in Afghanistan or Pakistan, but our own fiscal irresponsibility.” David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, sort of like the nation’s accountant, leads a dishearteningly fascinating discussion of […]

TRAITOR (PG-13)
Biases:
If it’s starring Don, it’s gotta be smart, brainy entertainment.
Major Players:
Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, writer/director Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Logline:
Former US Army Special Forces soldier, explosives expert, and devout Muslim Samir Horne (Cheadle) is either a Semtex-providing, terrorist-enabling traitor or the deepest cover operator the country has in the war on terror, having cozied up to a […]

DEATH RACE ®
Movie Biases:
Looks stupid-cheesy.
Major Players:
Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Joan Allen, writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson
Logline:
In a brutally stark future where private corporations run all prisons and televise gladiator-like contests for sport, framed wife-killer and ex-NASCAR driver Jensen Ames (Statham) is sucked into the popularly carnal Death Race with the lure of winning his freedom - […]

THE ROCKER (PG-13)
Movie Biases:
It’s Dwight! But I hate rock.
Major Players:
Rainn Wilson, Josh Gad, director Peter Cattaneo.
Logline:
After being cut from his band “Vesuvius” so that they could sign a major label deal and blow up without him, Cleveland drummer Robert “Fish” Fishman (Wilson) winds up filling in for his teenage […]

TROPIC THUNDER (R)
Movie Biases:
Downey Jr. as a black man?!? Pre-sold!
Major Players:
Actor/director Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Tom Cruise.
Logline:
A squad of narcissistic actors (Stiller, Downey Jr., Black, Jay Baruchel, and Brandon T. Jackson) filming a Vietnam war movie is dropped into the middle of a Southeast Asian jungle to scare up some verisimilitude for […]

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (R)
Movie Biases:
Can Apatow reverse the curse?
Major Players:
Seth Rogen, James Franco, producer Judd Apatow, director David Gordon Green
Logline:
Stoned process server Dale (Rogen) and his dealer-cum-buddy Saul (Franco) are on the run - in “high” style - from a ruthless distributor (Gary Cole) and dirty cop (Rosie Perez) who want them […]

THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (PG-13)
Movie Biases:
Sorta sold.
Major Players:
Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, director Rob Cohen
Logline:
Retired spy/adventurer couple Rick & Evelyn O’Connell (Fraser & Maria Bello) are coaxed out of retirement to escort a precious artifact to Shanghai where it’s used to awaken the slumbering, immortality-chasing dynastic Emperor Han […]