May 17, 2006
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WEDNESDAY MOVIE
Akeelah and the BeeDid
you happen to notice the hook-up between Lion’s Gate films and
Starbucks to promote this film? This is an innovative new
marketing campaign that I bet we’ll see lots more of in the near
future. For its first film push, Starbucks picked Akeelah and the
Bee, carrying the soundtrack since early April and the DVD when it
comes out later on. Even better, a little traveling Scrabble set
for long car trips was right on the counter by the cash register, where
I snapped it up to send along with my grandchildren when they take a
12-hour journey to San Francisco in June. Not that they’re 100%
likely to use it. Neither of them has been noted to carry a book
around with them for entertainment. Reading is something required
by school, not something to pry yourself away from anywhere else.
Electronics and TV are their drugs of choice when amusing themselves
indoors. So then I went to see Akeelah and the Bee with them and
their dad at the cineplex. It was stuck in one of the tiny venues
that seat about 100 people for starters. I noticed several little
gaggles of grade school age girls chaperoned by teacher/mother type
women. No African-Americans of any age in the room. I
wonder what the customer profile is for Starbucks. My impression
is mainly yuppy, mainly white, mainly young-to-middle age, mainly
middle to upper income. So why a film about an adolescent
break-out speller from South Central LA? You got me.
Akeelah can spell. Simple as that. She got the gene.
Having the gene myself, I learned like she did at an early age that it
was better to keep a low profile about it. Does the word
“brainiac” give you an idea of how popular this gift is? So
Akeelah’s dad was shot down in the street in the past, her mom is a
hardworking no-time-for-nonsense single parent (Angela Bassett), and
her brother is drifting into the street life. Luckily for
her, the school principal notices her talent and pushes her to enter a
local spelling bee, which eventually becomes regional, then
national. Also, a former spelling champ, now famous English
professor (played by Laurence Fishburne), just happens to be asked to
coach her. To make a long story short, this is a happy ending
type deal. Akeelah manages to heal just about everybody’s wounds
- including her whole ghetto community cheering her on. She turns
it into a win-win situation – teaming up with her nastiest rival at the
top-level contest. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for happy
endings. We were glad we went in my family. It was just a
teensy bit prettier than I would have thought life in South LA would
be, but I feel guilty kvetching about such a detail. Good for you
Starbucks! Politically correct first choice for sure, though I
have yet to hear my grandchildren beg me to break out the scrabble set
again.
Deep Thought: “Too
bad Lassie didn’t know how to ice skate, because then if she was in
Holland on vacation in winter and someone said ‘Lassie, go skate for
help,’ she could do it.”
Today I am grateful for: Irises.
Guess the Movie: “Come
to Los Angeles! The sun shines bright, the beaches are wide and
inviting, and the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see.
There are jobs aplenty, and land is cheap. Every working man can have
his own house, and inside every house, a happy, all-American family.
You can have all this, and who knows… you could even be discovered,
become a movie star… or at least see one. Life is good in Los
Angeles… it’s paradise on Earth.” Ha ha ha ha. That’s what they tell
you, anyway.” Answer: LA Confidential, 1997.
Winner: buttermelon
Memo to Pelosi: How to Discuss Impeachment
Submitted by Bob Fertik on May 7, 2006 – 6:32pm.Impeachment
To: Rep. Nancy Pelosi
From: Bob Fertik
Re: How to Discuss Impeachment
As
the Democratic Leader in the House, you are the chief spokesperson on
whether Democrats will impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney. (Rest
of article here).
Comments (29)
L.A. Confidential. I love L.A. minus the strip malls – it’s like New Jersey, except with palm trees. Starbucks is clever.
Very good – yes, LA Confidential!
was starbucks in the film at all, i usually notice when products are “advertised” in film. There’s a word for it. I learned it last year but forgot it
It sounded like a beginning monologue on Dragnet! Nice movie review. I’m fascinated by Starbucks. I think they will be designing homes next. Would this movie be OK for an 8-year-old?
Answers:
Good question about was Starbucks in the film – I actually didn’t notice if it was.
And yes, definitely fine for an 8-year-old. It’s PG for some language. (But hey you might need those words for Scrabble)
Have a blessed day. Judi
I really liked the movie, though I too thought it a bit too “pretty.”
I bought a traveling scrabble game for myself.
RYC: Yes, extra curriculum things count a lot towards scholarships. As a matter of fact, with some it counts
1/3rd Academics–1/3rd volunteer/community services/leadership and 1/3rd need. I never set out to make my son do extra stuff….I always encouraged him to participate and volunteer….along with the importance of studying. I think universities are looking for well-rounded students. I mean, the academics brains get full rides…but the above average in academics + the other = scholarships that add up. The University awarded him $4,000 a year for academic excellence the school of music $1,000 (for his composition pieces)…these are renewable every year for 4 years…IF he maintains at least a B average. The others (total $2,500) are only for this year. We’re waiting on another from the University based on leadership….and hopefully he’ll get it. I continue to pray. It is difficult for single parents every where. I’m a social worker and work for a county agency…so my pay is OK, but not great!
Do you have kids that will enter college in the near future?
Thanks for your comment.
many more business alliances like this will come…
I’ll have to see this one now…I love spelling….always have….it was something I was always good at…although I am not quite as sharp as I used to be.
I am appalled ….there are so many kids that can’t spell these days…
Starbucks. I’ve never actually been inside one of the stores. I bought coffee at one that was inside a bookstore once.
Too pricey for me.
ryq: “Many of you have shared your love of the mighty Xanga Lock, which keeps non-Xangans out of your site.”
interesting. i had no idea what this movie was about….but then again, i don’t go to Starbucks often. i’m one of those support-your-local-coffehouse-kinda-gals
but good for Starbucks, it’s good that they’re using their special powers for good.
So, is this a “Finding Forrester”-type film? Sounds good, and Angela Bassett is a great actress.
A relative bought a Bob Dylan cd available only at Starbuck’s…never available before anywhere….yes, a great marketing strategy, I think.
John
thank you so very, very much for your kind comments!!!
I want to see this movie. Anymore, I’d much rather see a movie like this, than a death and destruction movie.
RYC: Because of his height alone I would encourage him to ask his doctor about the possibility of aortic aneurysim. I think that the test they do to check the aorta is a simple ultrsound of the chest area.
Concerning Marfan Syndrome – think of the Abe Lincoln appearance. Long and lanky – really long fingers. One site I looked at mentioned really long arms. Did you look at the CNN video or follow the link that I had. I thought both of those had really clear explanations.
I didn’t want to worry anyone. Knowledge is power and it’s something that now that you know about it, you can have him talk to his doctor about it.
glad i was of some help!
Akeelah and the Bee sounds like a movie I’d like. Barbara and I got a kick out of Spellbound.
I love your layout here, the colors and the articles and your writing. I dropped down to the one on Neil Young (my favorite musician) on April 30th. I was wondering if I might borrow that one from you and post it this week, just so it’ll be on my blog? Be the Rain (my screenname) is from Neil. ~ lea
Thank you. I’m subscribing to you if that’s okay. ~lea
Great movie review. Thanks for coming by, Judi
thanks so very much for your warming words of encouragement. means so much.
starbucks is devious. though, their name “star” = universal and “bucks” = money is clever too. so, i guess i’m not surprised. i do hope there are not more films in similar marketing strategy coming. but more importantly, thanks for the review. i hate hollywood, happy endings. maybe it’s just cause i’m realistic. haha..
I didn’t know that akeelah & the bee was based in LA. To think my family was in the area yesterday making the most of our time together. I’ll try to see this movie before it gets out of the theaters.
Hello again. I’m definitely wanting to see this movie. I’m glad you wrote about it, I had forgotten I meant to check it out. ~Lea
what a great review. Starbucks, is there anything they aren’t getting their paws into? As a fan of their coffee at home, I just am in bewilderment at how far-reaching they are anymore.
RYC: Thank you.
I love your Deep Thoughts, by the way.
I can’t wait to see it. I’ve never heard of it but it sounds wonderful.