ONE-ON-ONE FLIX
Robin Givens
something totally op-
posite from anything
Brooklyn’s Finest
you’ve ever done?
By Janaya Black
RG: You know it’s inter-
Review by Crystal Riehl
esting because even if
In addition
we talk about Imabelle,
Brooklyn’s Finest is not
to her standout
who was in A Rage in
just another cop movie, it is a
roles in mov-
Harlem, I always think of
vastly different take on cops
ies such as
it in terms of Black wom-
and how the choices they make
The Family that
en and being strong and
on the job affect their lives.
Preys, Boomer-
all of that…but if I think
ang and A Rage
Rated R for bloody vi-
about Imabelle, she was
in Harlem, glam
olence throughout, strong
like this young [woman]
diva Robin Giv-
sexuality, nudity, drug
using her sexuality and
ens has been
content and pervasive
her sensuality to kind of
lighting up stag-
language
survive. And if I think
es all over the
about Jacqueline in Boo-
nation in pro-
The story behind Brook-
merang, she was more…
ductions such
lyn’s Finest involves three
she was very strong. I
WESLEY SNIPES and Don Cheadle in Brooklyn’s Finest
as Deranged,
different cops who all end up
don’t know. Now I can
If These Hips
in the same place at the same
acting and the way the movie is detrimental to a lot of action/
see the character that I’m
Could Talk, and
time, however, the career paths
is filmed. suspense films, it moves this
playing now who’s strong
For Colored Girls. Now she’s back on the scene in Detroit
that led them to that place were
From start to finish the
story along perfectly.
with sort of a sense of
and this time it’s in the sexy role of Cat Jones in the new
not the same at all.
viewer is on the edge of his/her The three different story-
desperation with her
stage play Church Girl by acclaimed writer and producer
The first of the policemen
seat, wanting to know what’s lines also allow for a great deal
world sort of falling apart.
Angela Barrow-Dunlap.
that you meet is Eddie. Eddie
going to happen next while at of character development which
But I think that now it’s
(Richard Gere) is a career cop
the same time being nervous allows the viewer to either iden-
The FrontPage got an opportunity to catch up with sort of I’m very much a
who is only days away from
and almost frightened as to tify, sympathize or despise the
Givens to fi nd more about her new role, upcoming proj- mother and it’s very much
retirement and it couldn’t come
what that could possibly be. characters. When the story-
ects and life in the spotlight. a big part of who I am.
soon enough. He has seen just
Not a lot of films can adequate- lines do finally come together at
FrontPage: Tell me about the new play, Church Girl,
So I’m like the dynamic about everything in his career
ly pull that amount of tension off the end of the film, the result is
that you’re starring in.
of strength but insecurity
as a patrolman and each day
without seeming forced or over unforgettable and even epic.
because I think we all sort
he has to find another reason
the top. Brooklyn’s Finest,
Overall, this film is one of
ROBIN GIVENS: It’s interesting when you said “new proj-
of wrestle with that. Like
to not end the life he finds to be
however, does this almost ef-
the best cop films to hit the big
ect.” First of all, for me, Angela Barrow Dunlap, who is our
sometimes you’re kind
so miserable.
fortlessly.
screen in a long time. The au-
producer and our writer, we have become friends. I’m
of strong on the outside, You also meet undercover
The storyline also centers dience reaction to the film was
happy to say that. So when she called me up to do this I
but inside you’re holding cop Tango (played by Don
a great deal upon stereotypes one of almost breathlessness
was really excited and I just enjoy working with her in ev-
your breath and barely Cheadle) who has been under
and corruption within “the and anticipation and that sig-
ery way, and I’m always sort of interested in anything new
holding it together. You
cover for far too long. His time
system.” And even though this nals a thriller.
that she’s doing. So when she told me I was playing the
know what I mean? So
on the streets inadvertently
type of role I was playing, I was like, “Angela, you’ve got
I sort of like the psychol-
leads him to protect the drug IN ROTATION
to cut it out. I’ll do it as long as you promise that one day I
ogy of that.
lord he has been assigned to
get to be a nice girl.” But it’s an interesting show because
catch and put away.
I think it sort of blends with what’s going on now and its
FP: Which do you pre-
Last but not least is Sal, a VICTORY
very contemporary – which is the idea that many young
fer at this point in your
cop who is doing everything he
women consider stripping as an option for life. And then
career: stage or fi lm?
can just to survive and provide Artist DJ Khaled
for looking at it in a larger spectrum, which is sort of a lost RG: It kind of doesn’t for his children and his wife,
Review by Crystal Riehl
soul in sort of the sense of coming back to who you are matter to me. I enjoy who is pregnant again. Sal is
While attempting to create a
and who God intended for you to be. working with people that I
surrounded by drug money and
temptation, and the stress of
review for DJ Khaled’s latest re-
FP: Talk about your role. Who are you in the play?
enjoy working with. I think
his job and home life are lead-
lease, Victory, this reviewer found
time fi lls up very quickly
RG: I play sort of, I would say, one of the main girls at this
ing him to do more than just
herself quite torn. DJ Khaled has
so I enjoy those situa-
club. I mean, now she doesn’t even really take her clothes
straddle the line between good
made a name for himself by riding
tions that are just nice
off anymore. She sort of helps this man build this busi-
cop and bad cop.
on the coattails of those more famous than he is.
and pleasant and bring
ness. She’s
me some peace and joy.
The story isn’t a new one.
While attempting to be impartial and unbiased towards him, I found
sort of like a
And like I said, working
The market has been saturated
it impossible as the only reason I found any of the tracks on this al-
Madame to
with Angela, I don’t care
with films involving cops gone bum even remotely interesting was because of the artists that were
the women.
what she’s doing I just
bad and those who struggle to featured.
stay on the side of justice. This
FP: We’re
love being with her.
film is different because of the
Now, don’t get me wrong. DJ Khaled definitely knows the who’s
used to
You can catch Rob-
who of the music world. Victory features some fantastic artists such
seeing you
in Givens at the Music
as: Usher, T-Pain, Drake and Lil Wayne. However, I found the perfor-
in kind of
Hall in The Church Girl
mance from DJ Khaled himself to be forgettable and almost not even
like the bad
stage play which will
noticeable as every single track has some other artist featured.
girl, the
run March 23-28. For You would think that having already released three previous al-
headstrong,
more information or to bums which did very well he would’ve learned a thing or two about this
don’t-take-
purchase tickets, visit industry, but obviously he didn’t.
no-prisoners
www.ticketmaster.com.
business
Overall, this album is annoying. The verses are forgettable and
woman type
For more informa- the rhymes aren’t even worth the album price. All of the featured artists’
roles. What
tion or to purchase tick-
albums are better buys.
would be
ets please visit www.
This reviewer’s verdict was that this album is a waste of time and
your dream
churchgirlstageplay.
money. When I had finally finished listening to it I was disappointed that
role that is
com or www.ticketmas-
ter.com.
I had spent any time on it at all.
www.frontpageconnect.com • March 19, 2010 13
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