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Don't wait until the Holiday. Open this present early.
See "This Christmas"
a Rainforest Film November 21, 2007
By Kamah Alicia Scott

With a seasoned cast including Delroy Lindo, Loretta Divine, Regina King, Idris Elba and new generation actors such as Columbus Short, Lauren London and Chris Brown, the movie "This Christmas" T'is the movie to see for the Holidays.

 

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Laz Alonso, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, Sharon Leal, Keith Robinson, Regina King, Ambrosia Kelley, Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo, Lauren London, Javion Francis, Lupe Ontiveros and Chris Brown in Screen Gems' This Christmas - 2007
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I was afforded the opportunity to represent Center Stage Magazine for a private screening by Rainforest Films and Mike Jackson of Urban Socialite Inc. There was no way that I would pass up a chance to view a movie with the likes of Idris Elba (The Wire, Daddy's Little Girls, Sometimes In April, American Gangster) or Columbus Short (You Got Served, Stomp The Yard) , Laz Alonso (Stomp The Yard) or Mekhi Phifer (ER). Veteran actress and a woman that deserves so much more recognition Regina King (The Ant Bully, 24, Ms. Congeniality 2, Friday) who blew the audience away with the strong performance as , Lisa Whitfield, the sister in the Whitfield that took care of everyone except herself.

Audiences can expect when viewing this colorful movie, the importance of a loving family, telling it like it is, forgiveness and reconciliation. Sounds like some serious stuff but the poetic and quite comedic way that director and writer Preston A. Whitmore II portrays the Whitfield family should be considered and instant classic.

In this film, The Whitfield children made up of three girls and three boys are a group that have their own issues but have the common love and need to please their mother, Ma Dear Whitfield played by Veteran Actress Loretta Devine who is keeping her own secrets. The family has for years conquered obstacles by dealing with them or ignoring them. Not all things can be 'swept under the rug'.

This sets the stage as events open the floodgates, as the Christmas Holiday becomes the time to celebrate, but to first make some serious family decisions. Although the nature of the movie is comedic, light and fluffy, there are heavy issues that the Whitfield family must settle. The unresolved matters of the heart, pockets and ego of the family and in-laws draw the audience in. There was never a moment that the audience was not intrigued, filled with laughter or gasping. The movie could have been about any American family. The way that Preston A. Whitmore II brings the topics forth is with ease, comedy is a recipe that I find non-stereotypical of what Hollywood usually portrays an African American family to be. The issues and topics of discussion are what any American family would have to deal with.

The movie was unpredictable, entertaining and left the audience with a sense of joy and understanding... for the most part realistic. It actually made me want to reconcile with a few family

Kamah Alicia Scott
Freelance writer

www.kas.mysite.com
"Kima"
Always ask, somebody might say yes
www.myspace.com/urbanbookwriter

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