Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett on Screen and Stage
Burbank, California—Akeelah and the Bee is out on DVD, offering another chance to catch What's Love Got To Do With It co-stars Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne together on screen. This time, they simmer more than sizzle, with Miss Bassett as Akeelah's hurt and widowed mother and Mr. Fishburne—in the words of writer and director Doug Atchison, speaking on the DVD—bringing a quiet, moral authority to the screen as the girl's teacher.
With these two stars on board—Mr. Fishburne is also billed as a producer—this wonderful picture became possible, driven by Atchison and aided by everyone from distributor Lionsgate to executive producer—and Dallas Mavericks owner—Mark Cuban. Curiously, retail coffee giant Starbucks (which backed the movie) barely is mentioned on the DVD, and there is probably more to that story, but now there is no excuse to miss this invigorating story.
As Akeelah, unaffected young Keke Palmer shines—Mr. Fishburne calls her not just a ham, but a honey-baked ham—and, if this is any indication of her talents, she is an actress to watch. Akeelah's two stars add a deeper dimension to characters that could have easily wound up as stereotypes.
This is an ideal movie to evoke what school ought to be—a place where excellence is admired and knowledge—not memorized answers—is taught, tested and acquired, no matter what life's like at home or in the neighborhood. As Angela Bassett explains Akeelah and the Bee's lesson plans in one of the DVD's features: "There's a potential in every child."
Stage Notes
Miss Bassett and Mr. Fishburne recently teamed on stage as well, with the Matrix star turning in a riveting performance in playwright August Wilson's Fences at the Pasadena Playhouse, which sold out its five-week run, ending Oct. 1. Mr. Fishburne, who won the theatrical Tony Award in 1992 for Wilson's Two Trains Running, paired with Miss Bassett to recreate ex-Negro League baseball player Troy and his loving wife, Rose.
The two-act Fences, part of Wilson's canon of ten Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based plays, is a naturalistic period drama and its success depends entirely on the leads to deliver powerhouse performances. These two great actors float on their lines in this demanding, poignant and humorous slice of black urban life. Wilson, who died of liver cancer in Seattle last year, won a Pulitzer Prize for this work in 1987.
Booming with an easy bravado, Mr. Fishburne raised the roof—at least he did on one hot September night, earning a long-lasting ovation, and taking an extra bow with Miss Bassett. It's a good choice for both actors, who favor quality work that does not debase the human spirit. The Fences cast includes Kadeem Hardison (A Different World), Orlando Jones (Evolution) and, in a flawless Playhouse debut, Wendell Pierce (Ray) as Troy's best friend, Mr. Bono. Spotted in the audience and glowing with star quality: Debbi Morgan (All My Children, Eve's Bayou).
Studio Notes
The Walt Disney Company is losing an outstanding asset down in Disneyland—very soon after its president, Matt Ouimet, quit to work in the hotel business. Disneyland's public relations maestro, Tim O'Day, is departing the Happiest Place on Earth after 30 years.
Tim's work extends well beyond promotion; he is indispensably knowledgeable about Disney's original theme park, with a real appreciation for the park's history and purpose, evident in his books and, more recently, in his podcasts. Tim O'Day personifies Disneyland's spirit: honest, sharp, and upbeat—with a benevolent sense of humor. He represented Disneyland during one of its finest hours—the grand 50th anniversary celebration—and he deserves the best of everything in his new endeavors.
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RELATED ARTICLES
• Review - 'Akeelah and the Bee' with DVD Notes
• 1/31/06 - Close-Up: 50 Years of Disneyland: Question and Answer with Disneyland's Tim O'Day
• 6/29/06 - Scott Holleran - 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' Premiere at Disneyland
RELATED LINKS
• 'Akeelah and the Bee' on DVD
• Pasadena Playhouse
• Disneyland Official Web Site
With these two stars on board—Mr. Fishburne is also billed as a producer—this wonderful picture became possible, driven by Atchison and aided by everyone from distributor Lionsgate to executive producer—and Dallas Mavericks owner—Mark Cuban. Curiously, retail coffee giant Starbucks (which backed the movie) barely is mentioned on the DVD, and there is probably more to that story, but now there is no excuse to miss this invigorating story.
As Akeelah, unaffected young Keke Palmer shines—Mr. Fishburne calls her not just a ham, but a honey-baked ham—and, if this is any indication of her talents, she is an actress to watch. Akeelah's two stars add a deeper dimension to characters that could have easily wound up as stereotypes.
This is an ideal movie to evoke what school ought to be—a place where excellence is admired and knowledge—not memorized answers—is taught, tested and acquired, no matter what life's like at home or in the neighborhood. As Angela Bassett explains Akeelah and the Bee's lesson plans in one of the DVD's features: "There's a potential in every child."
Stage Notes
Miss Bassett and Mr. Fishburne recently teamed on stage as well, with the Matrix star turning in a riveting performance in playwright August Wilson's Fences at the Pasadena Playhouse, which sold out its five-week run, ending Oct. 1. Mr. Fishburne, who won the theatrical Tony Award in 1992 for Wilson's Two Trains Running, paired with Miss Bassett to recreate ex-Negro League baseball player Troy and his loving wife, Rose.
The two-act Fences, part of Wilson's canon of ten Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based plays, is a naturalistic period drama and its success depends entirely on the leads to deliver powerhouse performances. These two great actors float on their lines in this demanding, poignant and humorous slice of black urban life. Wilson, who died of liver cancer in Seattle last year, won a Pulitzer Prize for this work in 1987.
Booming with an easy bravado, Mr. Fishburne raised the roof—at least he did on one hot September night, earning a long-lasting ovation, and taking an extra bow with Miss Bassett. It's a good choice for both actors, who favor quality work that does not debase the human spirit. The Fences cast includes Kadeem Hardison (A Different World), Orlando Jones (Evolution) and, in a flawless Playhouse debut, Wendell Pierce (Ray) as Troy's best friend, Mr. Bono. Spotted in the audience and glowing with star quality: Debbi Morgan (All My Children, Eve's Bayou).
Studio Notes
The Walt Disney Company is losing an outstanding asset down in Disneyland—very soon after its president, Matt Ouimet, quit to work in the hotel business. Disneyland's public relations maestro, Tim O'Day, is departing the Happiest Place on Earth after 30 years.
Tim's work extends well beyond promotion; he is indispensably knowledgeable about Disney's original theme park, with a real appreciation for the park's history and purpose, evident in his books and, more recently, in his podcasts. Tim O'Day personifies Disneyland's spirit: honest, sharp, and upbeat—with a benevolent sense of humor. He represented Disneyland during one of its finest hours—the grand 50th anniversary celebration—and he deserves the best of everything in his new endeavors.
$
RELATED ARTICLES
• Review - 'Akeelah and the Bee' with DVD Notes
• 1/31/06 - Close-Up: 50 Years of Disneyland: Question and Answer with Disneyland's Tim O'Day
• 6/29/06 - Scott Holleran - 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' Premiere at Disneyland
RELATED LINKS
• 'Akeelah and the Bee' on DVD
• Pasadena Playhouse
• Disneyland Official Web Site
