Romance Playlist 1

Akira's Hip Hop Shop.

This is a short film about a Japanese Dj and

record store owner who falls in love with a

black culinary student. They bond over their

love of music and japanese culture. Director

Joe Doughrity has produced a little gem.

My only qualm is that it should be a feature

lenght film.

Medicine For Melancholy.
Barry Jenkins's assured indie debut about two African Americans post their
one night stand and their awkward attempts at an emotional connection
is sensual and engrossing. It's also about San Fransisco, gentrification
and the spaces people inhabit. Barry Jenkins is a director I'll be following. I
also like his short film Tall Enough. I'll foreever love Wyatt Cenac for his
role in this film. Another one on the husband's list.



The Piano.
In the 1850s a mute woman travels to New Zealand with her young daughter
and beloved piano for an arranged marriage. Unhappy in her marriage, she
soon falls into a heady relationship with a local plantation worker. Directed by
Jane Campion, this film is mesmeric. It's like a series of moods that engulf
you. Holly Hunter is astonishing in this, it also stars Harvey Keitel and
a young Anna Paquin.


Read My Lips.
I absolutely love this unorthodox french film by Jaques Audiard.
Starring the dynamic Vincent Cassell and Emannuelle Devos. It centers on
a nearly deaf secretary whose colleagues treat her badly. When ex con
Cassell comes into her life, her lip reading skills become very useful as the
pair become embroiled in tricky, life threating situations.


Boys Dont Cry.
Indie favourte Chloe Sevigny and of course Hilary Swank star in this
heartbreaking true story about a transgender man who falls in love with
a young woman,ultimately leading to tragic circumstances.



The Secretary.
I do like Maggie Gyllenhaal I tell you. She's interesting. The movie
is about a socially awkward woman who forms a submissve/dominant
relationship with her new boss.





Dirty Pretty Things.
What a gorgeous pair Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tatou
make. Stephen Frears's brilliant movie about illegal
immigrants and the underbelly of London is potent and strange.




Amelie.
The enchanting Miss Tatou beguiles in this magically woven
tapestry of a film.




Chocolat.
The divine Juliette Binoche and gorgeous, ever kooky Johnny
Depp mightily pretty and talented in equal measure. What's not
to love? A sexy chocolatier breezes into a small town and shakes
up its residents.



L'appartment.
Vincent Cassell and his real life exquisite wife Monica Bellucci
star in thi s stylish, sexy thriller.



The Big Sleep.
Can any couple top Bogart and Bacall for onscreen magic?
I don't think so. Superb romantic film noir. Murder, blackmail and
love. Lauren Bacall, what a woman.

I think Edward Norton is one of the finest actors around. This underrated

gem about a mysterious, delusional outsider in the San Fernando Valley

who falls in love with a rebellious young woman is complex and achingly

sad. It's also beautifully shot.

Out of Sight. George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez sizzle in this Elmore Leonard screen adaptation as bank robber and cop who fall in lust and love. Sublime onscren chemistry.

Jessica Care Moore

Phenomenal US spoken word poet Jessica Care Moore and her poem Black Statue of Liberty. She is a mind blowingly talented writer and performer. This piece gives me goosebumps.

XY Chrmosome Sundae: Daniel Henney

Let a pimp read you some literature. What's your preference sugar
Marquez or Mukarami?

Yeaah, I'm the shit.

What's that Gwyneth? You want to whisper sweet nothings in my ear?

Well go ahead girl!

Shhh, don't tell Chris Martin about our little tryst.

To tell you the truth I'm not sure I've ever taken a bad photo.

Surrounded by nature like this makes me take stock of what's important.

I'm just overwhelmed by how good looking I am during these special moments.

Go ahead, envy me...

Korean American actor and model Daniel Henney is unbelievably gorgeous. My God. No apologies for the onslaught of pictures, Daniel's on the dream husbands list. Daniel is mixed but interestingly, it's his asian features I find very attractive. His eyes, wow, his lovely skin tone. Daniel's been steadily carving out an acting career for a while now and he has the whole package to be a famous, mainstream leading man. I think plenty of women from all over the world, no matter their preference would drool over him. White women who'd never normally give asian men the time of day would suddenly say "damn!" and watch the panties fly over their heads.

But that's what Hollywood is afraid of. We all know they like to emasculate asian men and deliberately casts ugly ones when there are plenty of good looking asian actors to choose from.

But Hollywood doesn't really want to cast handsome men of colour as leads and when they do, they rarely have black or white love interests. It's why Eva Mendez was chosen as Will Smith's love interest in Hitch and why Denzel Washington couldn't kiss Julia Roberts in The Pelican Brief. They think the audience will be turned off. But would they? Sure a proportion, but not as much as they think. Money plays a huge part and these people care too much about their bottom line to take risks. I want to take a trip to Korea or maybe move to Hawaii. :-) In the mean time, I'll enjoy anything with Daniel in it and fantasize about our beautiful blasian children a la Sharon Leal, Kimora Lee Simmons, Tyson Beckford, Amerie and Will Demps. :-)

Charlie Sheen

If you haven't heard about Charlie Sheen's recent meltdowns you must be living under a rock. Charlie, real name Carlos Irwin Estevez is everywhere. Spouting off gandoise, deluded commentary in interviews and generally making himself look ridiculous. It seems you can't draw another breath without hearing something new about him. His life is spiralling out of control and right now seems to have one of two endings; bad and bad. His father must be very embarassed. It's funny I hear you say. It's hilarious! But is it? Is it really? What's even wierder but unsurprising is the media's reaction to it, his antics are being glorified. If Charlie was black or a woman he'd be crucified. Look what happened to Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan who's actually a genuinely talented actress, but being from hollywood royalty means you get away with shit. He's been behaving terribly and going unpunished for a long time. He shot ex girlfriend Kelly Preston now married to John Travolta.

Charlie's also a fan of racist rants. He left a bunch of racist voicemails for ex wife Denise Richards calling her "A Fucking nigger." then used the old "I'm not racist, my best friend is black!" lame getout. Charming. Nasty piece of work. Hey Charlie, been hangin out with Mel Gibson? Having beers together and slating black people, jews and anybody you consider "other." He's an over paid, over indulged and mediocre actor at best. Charlie you may be loaded but you're not "winning." You need help. You're not 21 anymore and your antics aren't cool. You're careening off the tracks in spectacular fashion and people are laughing at you. They're vicariously amusing themselves through your real life and it's a sad sideshow.

Run Lola Run!

Run Lola Run is a gem of a movie. It's a quirky thriller that's made in an unusual way. I remember watching it years back and having a huge girl crush on German actress Franka Potente. I love her look in this movie so much, it's one of those iconic looks from films you remember. She was so ridiculously hot in this movie she nearly turned me lesbian. She won numerous crtical awards for Run Lola Run and also had a role in Blow. I think she's very pretty. She's also great in the Bourne films with Matt Damon.

Timothy Bloom featuring V. Bozeman 'Till The End of Time'

I love this song and video so much. They are fantastic singers and the video is amazing for so many reasons. You rarely see black couples depicted in this way and it's absolutely beautiful. I lke the vulnerability displayed, to be so utterly naked with one another not just literally but emotionally. They look like art, she is gorgeous and to be that stunning with no hair! Astonishing looking couple.

Style Spotlight: Corrine Bailey Rae

I like most things Corrine Bailey Rae wears. She's a natral beauty and her style is effortless with a strong sense of identity. It's never overly contrived. Her hair is fabulous and she's a talented lady.