Hello MMT Fam. I’ve been putting off writing this for as long as possible, but I have to share some unfortunate news. Due to unforeseen medical complications, I am having to go on hiatus for a bit.
Prior to this revelation, I was actually considering whether or not to continue MusicMoviesThoughts as is, and debating with myself on revising or starting over anew. I must be honest, I am not sure – given the amount of time I will have recuperating from surgery – what the determination will be, but for now I am planning to resume as normal once I am physically capable.
I want to thank everyone who has supported the site faithfully, and those newer persons who’ve just signed on for a chance to win those “Roman J. Israel Esq.” and “Suburbicon” contests. PS – the winners for the latter will still be notified this week (so lookout for those emails đ ).
In a display of gratitude, Universal Pictures and AMC Theatres have announced that, on October 26, up to 10,000 free tickets will be presented to U.S. veterans and active-duty servicemembers for DreamWorks Picturesâ Thank You for Your Serviceâat more than 400 AMC locations nationwide. Each of the first 25 servicemembers (per location) with valid, government-issued ID who request a ticket will be given one free admission to the 7:00 p.m. preview screening.
âOnce we began a discussion with AMC about how we could embody the spirit and message of Thank You for Your Service, they stepped up to the plate in a major way,â said Jim Orr, Executive Vice President, General Sales Manager, Universal Pictures. âWe are honored that up to 10,000 U.S. veterans and active servicemembers will be among the first to experience this riveting film from our partners at DreamWorks.â
âThank You for Your Service reminds us all of the tremendous sacrifice made by Americaâs servicemembers and their families,â said Elizabeth Frank, EVP Worldwide Programming and Chief Content Officer, AMC Theatres. âAMC is pleased to partner with Universal Pictures to offer veterans and active servicemembers the opportunity to attend this preview screening at no charge.â
From the writer of American Sniper and the studio that brought you Lone Survivor, the film follows a group of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq who struggle to integrate back into family and civilian life, while living with the memory of a war that threatens to destroy them long after theyâve left the battlefield.  Thank You for Your Service arrives in theaters nationwide on October 27.
This promotion will be available at all AMC Theatres playing the film. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and may only be picked up at the AMC box office on October 26. Each guest must present a valid government-issued military ID to receive their ticket, with a limit of one free ticket for each military ID presented, while supplies last. This offer is valid for the 7:00 p.m. showing of the film on October 26, only.
Most Americans have a compelling or noteworthy story to tell when it comes to discussing the tragic events of 9/11. Personally, I was working for a major mental health insurance company that managed several accounts of companies that were housed in the World Trade Center and/or severely impacted by the events that occurred on that day – including American Airlines, United Airlines, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. For a company that was used to the constant ringing of phones, and all day assistance of people dealing with various issues, the phone lines slowed when the first plane hit, and subsequently came to a complete halt when the second plane made impact with the Towers.
What I most remember, after that day, was speaking to consumers who called for months with harrowing stories of deceased family members/colleagues, escaping and survivor’s remorse, and persistent fears of returning to work – especially those employed in the airline industry. It was, without question, one of the most heart-wrenching and humbling experiences I’ve ever had.
Over the years since, there have been several films made with actual and theorized accounts of that day (including Paul Greengrass’s United 93) and today 9/11, starring Charlie Sheen, Whoopi Goldberg, Luis Guzman, Gina Gershon and Wood Harris, joins that group and opens in theaters nationwide.
“9/11” is based on a true story and adapted from the original play “The Elevator,” which chronicles the lives of five average, everyday people who find themselves trapped in an elevator during the events of 9/11 in the World Trade Center.
Do you remember where and what you were doing when 9/11 occurred? Send an email to contests@musicmoviesthoughts.com telling us, with the subject line “Remember 9/11” and your full name and address in the body. MMT will select one winner to receive:
1 – 9/11 poster Hand Signed Autographed by star Charlie Sheen
1 – âHopeâ Pendant with necklace
1 – Guide to Talking To Your Children About 9/11 thanks to Tuesdayâs Children
You can download a digital copy of the resource guide from Tuesday’s Children and learn more about its organization, which helps traumatized, grief-stricken children and families and communities left reeling from terrorism or traumatic loss, at the official “911” movie website here.
I also encourage you to check out the 9/11 movie Blog App where you can:
⢠Read and share the 9/11 fact cards, provided by Tuesday’s Children
⢠Watch behind-the-scenes interviews with Charlie Sheen, Gina Gershon, and Luis Guzman
Subscribers can also Tweet @musicfilmdiva and @9_11Movie, and use the hashtag #Remember911, to pay tribute to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Remember, any tweets or social media shares tagging us (@MMThoughts on Facebook) always increases your chances of winning.
You can watch the full trailer and read the synopsis for “9/11” below, and get additional information at the official website here.
Good luck family. Until next thought, Thomasena
911 synopsis
9/11 opens in theaters on September 8 and features an all-star cast including Luis Guzman(The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3), Gina Gershon (Showgirls), Wood Harris (Justified), Jacqueline Bisset (Dancing on the Edge (BBC), Welcome to New York), Olga Fonda (The Vampire Diaries) and Bruce Davison (X-Men).
In the World Trade Center, a billionaire sits in his attorneyâs office awaiting a divorce hearing against his wife. In a west side apartment, a bike messenger kisses his 5-year old daughter and sings her âHappy Birthdayâ before leaving for work. A maintenance man gets dispatched to help a tenant with his lock. In an upper east side apartment, a young model musters the courage to break up with her sugar daddy. As random as random can be, these individuals step into a crowded World Trade Center elevator.
Wrapped up in their own world, they all ride silently hearing only the sound of the elevator giving notice of each floor. When the elevator stops on the 34th floor, it empties leaving only these five behind. Moments later … their world changes as the collision of a jet into the North Tower incapacitates the elevator.
With no understanding of what has happened and is happening around them, these fives are forced to band together and fight against all odds to escape from the impending horrific collapse. During these critical minutes, a story of courage, faith, and the will to live unfolds.
Happy Labor Day weekend MMT Fam! I hope everyone is enjoying summer’s final wind down! Here’s this week’s list of entertainment notes, in case ya missed it!
Our friends at The Mann Center are celebrating the weekend by offering a 25% discount to several select end of season shows. You can click here to see the line-up and use code: LABOR through 11:59 pm on August 4 to apply discount (please note: offer does not apply to Father John Misty and the Kid Cudi shows).
How many of you follow Property Brotherson HGTV? Well, those twin fixer-uppers aka The Scott Brothers are coming to Philly on September 6. For the first time ever, Philadelphians will have a chance to experience real estate experts Drew and Jonathan Scott, creators and hosts of the top-rated TV series Property Brothers: Buying and Selling, Property Brothers at Home, and Brother vs. Brother. Drew and Jonathan will offer fans an uncensored look into their lives during this one-of-a-kind show featuring audience participation, entrepreneurial dos and donâts, behind-the-scene-bloopers, and plenty of laughs. Get additional info and tickets at the Kimmel Center official website here.
Speaking of the Kimmel, former First Lady, Democratic presidential nominee (first woman in history to accomplish the feat), 67th US Secretary of State and US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is coming to the Kimmel Center Campus for one night only at the Academy of Music Thursday on November 30 to discuss her new memoir “What Happened.” You can go to www.hillaryclintonbooktour.com for additional information and register for ticket pre-sales.
And friend to #MMT and saxophonist extraordinaire Najee has a new album out entitled “Poetry In Motion!” This is his 17th studio release and he says the title “Poetry In Motionâ is a phrase that describes the flow of the music, as well as the contributions by the artists involved.
The album blends Najee’s signature smooth R&B sound with sultry nuances and exchanges provided by the featured guest artists that include Will Downing, Incognito, Maysa, Bobby Lyle, and Blake Aaron. Also contributing to the project is a friend to the site, singer/songwriter Eric Roberson, whom Najee considers a “long overdue” collaborator on the track âIs It The Way.â (You can find a 60 second clip of the song being performed live at Warmdaddy’s by Najee with guest artist Eric Roberson at my Instagram page @musicfilmdiva).
“Poetry In Motion is available on iTunes and Amazon Music. You can also find out more information about the album and Najeeâs upcoming tour dates at www.najeeofficial.com or @najeeofficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Lastly, don’t forget MMT is currently running two DVD/digital giveaway contests for “Unleashed” movie and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” So, pay close attention to those entry details and make sure you’re tagging properly on social media when sharing posts (it really will increase your chances of winning)!
Happy Friday MMT Fam! I remember being a teen and first hearing the story of how the HeLa cells were obtained. I was amazed and angered at the same time, and I really couldn’t imagine how the family and loved ones of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks felt when they became aware of how her cells were unknowingly harvested.
So I was eager to watch the 2017 HBO film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, in which Oprah Winfrey executive produces and stars, when it premiered earlier this year.
Adapted from the critically acclaimed 2010 novel by Rebecca Skloot, the 2017 Emmy-nominated film is told through the eyes of Henrietta Lacksâ daughter, Deborah Lacks (Oprah Winfrey). The film chronicles her search, along with journalist (Rose Byrne as Skloot), to learn about the mother she never knew and understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacksâ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs, changing countless lives and the face of medicine forever.
With a supporting cast that includes RenÊe Elise Goldsberry, Reg E. Cathey, Courtney B. Vance, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Leslie Uggams, Reed Birney, Rocky Carroll and John Douglas Thompson, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a story of medical arrogance and triumph, race, poverty, and deep friendship between the unlikeliest of people.
And guess what MMT Fam? Our friends over at HBO Films have provided DVD/Digital HD copies for giveaway to two lucky subscribers, in honor of the upcoming Blu-RayTM and DVD release on September 5!
To put your name in the hat to win, you must be subscribed to this website and send an email to contests@musicmoviesthoughts.com with the subject line “HeLa” and your full name and address in the body. Want to double your chances for one of those copies?Tag @MMThoughts on Facebook or @musicfilmdiva on Twitter/Instagram while sharing this post!
Two winners will be selected and notified by Thursday, September 7. You can get additional information about the film at the official site here.
Happy Saturday MMT Fam! I’m starting a new post category called “In Case You Missed It,” or ICYMI for short, to catch you up (and condense) music and movie news bites!
Typically, this info is regularly posted at MMT on Facebook, or my Instagram and Twitter pages, but I wanted to make sure the website subscribers are also “in the know.” đ
First up, Â is the amazing deal Groupon is having for the “ICON” Janet Jackson’s upcoming “State of The World” tour in Philly. You can click here to purchase $40 or $75 tickets – but act quick because they are selling fast!
And if you missed this concert announcement, the one and only Brandy Norwood will appear in Philly on September 23 at the Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA). Get additional information and tickets at tlaphilly.com.
Next up is the streaming event most comic lovers are discussing, the release of the long-awaited Marvel’s The Defenders on Netflix Friday, August 18! Our resident Marvel contributor Darryl King has been super busy with his first love, film making and editing, but I know for a fact that he’s binge-watching the show this weekend, and I pray his schedule allows him to give us a proper review and wax poetic about Luke Cage, Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist soon. đ
For those who still don’t have a Netflix subscription, even though we’ve recommended some great watches in the MMT Netflix Picks section, you can sign up for a free month of viewing by clicking the link here!
And congrats are in order for director/producer Malcolm D. Lee, producer Will Packer, and the stars of Girls Trip – Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah – which grossed 100 million dollars according to yesterday’s box office totals, making it the first film starring, written, directed and produced by African-Americans to reach that mark.
Lastly, if you missed some of the blockbuster films MMT reviewed this year – including Spider-Man: Homecoming, War For the Planet of the Apes, and Girls Trip – cable channel FX will have you covered! According to Deadline Hollywood, the network has acquired several major movies titles from Fox, Universal and Sony for cable broadcasting. So stay tuned to the FX channel schedule for those release dates!
Until next thoughts family, Thomasena
PS – There are advantages to reading to the end! Congrats to subscriber Earlene Drummond, who won that copy of Phoenix Forgotten on DVD/Digital/Blu-ray! We’re giving away a copy of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, courtesy of our friends at HBO Films, soon! So make sure you’re not only following, but interacting with us on the MMT social media sites! I keep on eye out for those active responders đ
I’m a little late to the party, but was so moved with this #FirstTimeISawMe campaign by Netflix that I feel inspired to share my thoughts. When I think back on representation in television and when I first saw images of myself, I was amazed at my reflections. Although I saw persons of color represented during the 70’s and 80’s, most remarkably for me were shows like “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons” and “The Cosby Show,” it wasn’t until the 90’s that I felt like I saw actual representatives of people I knew on TV.
I fell in love with the Charles Dutton led “ROC,” and I scheduled evening classes (i.e. I skipped out on the last hour of class every Thursday night!) around Fox’s old Thursday night lineup of “Martin” and “New York Undercover,” because it included “Living Single” – a series that featured four African-American women navigating life and friendship, to which I could certainly relate.
And after the template was laid in “Living Single” came one of my all-time favorite sitcoms “Girlfriends.” Ooh and the oh, so missed Showtime drama “Soul Food.” Those shows displayed reflections of, not only myself, but people around me. I could empathize with their struggles, because I knew, or knew of, them.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay shares a similar thought about identifying with characters later in life here:
MMT Fam, do you remember the first time you saw yourself on-screen? Do you identify with any character on TV today?
We all know that seeing people who look like you and deal with similar life experiences is powerful, because you inevitably believe you can achieve anything once you’ve seen someone else do it first. Just listen to what MMT fave Marlon Wayans has to say about watching his older siblings:
So, shout out to Netflix for all of the shows added to its platform where people are seeing representations of themselves and beautiful representations of others as well. Personally, I’m loving shows like “Luke Cage” and “Daredevil” and enjoy adding movies and shows, where I’ve enjoyed seeing representation, in my queue – like “Mississippi Damned,” “Being Mary Jane,” and “Greenleaf.” Maybe Netflix will work on adding Soul Food the series, Girlfriends and Living Single? Just asking for a friend…lies, you know it’s for me!
And MMT Fam you can check out some of the past reviews of our Netflix Picks, and get some good recommendations for those queues by clicking here.
Happy Monday MMT Fam! We have a great subscribers onlyfamily giveaway today! We’ve obtained 15 family of four passes for next Saturday’s THE NUT JOB 2 screening at King of Prussia.
To put your name in the hat to win, you must be a subscriber of this website and send an email to contests@musicmoviesthoughts.com, with the subject line “Let’s Get Nuts” and your full name in the body. As always, if you follow us on Facebook as well you will increase your chances of winning (hint, hint)!
You can read the synopsis and watch the trailer below, and get additional info at the official website here.
THE NUT JOB 2 opens in theaters nationwide August 11.
Good Luck!
The Nut Job 2 synopsis
Surly Squirrel (Will Arnett) and the gang are back. We are once again in Oakton where the evil mayor has decided to bulldoze Liberty Park and build a dangerous amusement park in its place. Surly and his ragtag group of animal friends band together to save their home, defeat the mayor, and take back the park.Â
NUT JOB 2 also features the voice talent of Katherine Heigl (The Nut Job), Jackie Chan (Kung Fu Panda 3), Peter Stormare (Penguins of Madagascar), Bobby Cannavale (Ant-Man), Isabela Moner (Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life), and Maya Rudolph (The Angry Birds Movie).
Happy Friday MMT Family! We’re giving away passes for the next performance in the â Met: Live in HD” 2017 Summer Encore Series,â from Fathom Events and The Metropolitan Opera. This is a series of encore performances from past seasons, and that will occur on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. local time throughout June and July.
The second performance, ‘Macbeth,’ will take place on Wednesday, June 28th. To put your name in the hat, you must be subscribed to this site and send an email to contests@musicmoviesthoughts.com with the subject line “Macbeth” and your full name and address in the body.
MMT will select two winners and notify them on Sunday, June 25. Remember, following MMT both here and on Facebook increases your chances for winning a contest!
You can watch a trailer for the summer series below, and get tickets and additional information at the Fathom Events website here.
