Scenes from Gabrielle Union’s Controversial New Dramatic Film Neo Ned. Why hasn’t Neo Ned been released yet?

Neo Ned is a  controversial indie drama, starring Gabrielle Union and Jeremy Renner. Neo Ned has won a lot of indie festival prizes,  and  praise by movie critics. Yet after two long years still no distribution. Is there any hope for a release for Neo Ned? Why can’t the producers of this movie get this film into the art house theatres? I think the people behind this movie must be seeking a theatrical release still? I believe Neo Ned is the best performance of Gabrielle Union’s career, this film should be her breakthrough.

Yes the N word is used in Neo Ned, however, the movie is clearly about fighting racism and prejudice. The movie appears to be too intelligent and controversial for Hollywood. Here is a role complex, dramatic role for a black actress and Hollywood refuses to release Neo Ned due to the Hitler factor. Gabrielle’s character Rachel is clearly “pretending” to be Hitler she is a victim of sexual abuse. Why can’t people expand their thinking a bit and think outside of the box?

I mean why wait two long years? If the producers behind Neo Ned wanted a DVD release couldn’t they have gotten one by now? I think the people behind Neo Ned still want a theatrical release. Its so sad that a movie that is so controversial and so thought provoking cannot get even an art house theatre release? Neo Ned uses strong language but it really challenges the viewer to think.

Neo Ned is Gabrielle Union’s best performance. Gabrielle really shines in this clip her acting is incredible. It was so nice to see Gabrielle try something different and do a drama instead of a romantic comedy. I really wish Gabrielle would get more film roles like this instead of the saccharine roles she gets like her new Christmas film coming out in a few months. Neo Ned should of been Gabrielle’s breakthrough. No the movie is not another Monster’s Ball contrary to what some people are saying. Why can’t Gabrielle get more challenging films like Neo Ned? Gabrielle tends to be typecast in those stereotypical black romantic comedies. Gabrielle obviously needs to work but why is Hollywood so myopic about the young black woman’s experience? Why can’t black actresses be challenged with tougher more complex roles?

Neo Ned is even better than monster’s Ball. Watch this clip and you will see why Neo Ned should be released. I mean the plot is a bit out there about a black woman that thinks the soul of Hitler is trapped in her body and she falls in love with a white male Neo Nazi guy. However, “Neo Ned” is an independent film and although the language is strong the performances of Union and Renner make this movie special.

Sanaa Lathan, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, and Meagan Good, Can they become the next black female superstars?

I don’t go to the movies that much these days and why should I? I am serious. There is absolutely nothing at the theatres these days that interests me. Am I supposed to get excited about “Superbad”? Its like give me a break! The last good movie I saw was The Notorious Betty Page.

I have written a play and I have sent the play out to various theatre companies. I have also gotten rejected but I am determined to make things happen for myself. I doubt very much my play will be produced in Canada I just don’t think it will happen here. I am determined to make things happen for myself. I want to start small and try to get a play produced first. I figure I’m starting with theatre. I love theatre. I remember when I was a kid in the late 1980s and early the early 1990s I was in a few school plays. The hunger is back and I want to create new art. I am tired of writing articles and sitting on the sidelines. Its time to explore the artistic world and get involved. I might even consider going to film school because I am tired of all the garbage films about the black experience that Hollywood puts out.

Now the argument is Hollywood will only release films that make money and due to the “research” black comedies tend to be more successful at the box office. However, is that all there is? I mean how many times do I have to see a black man in a dress? People praise Eddie Murphy, Tyler Perry, and Martin Lawrence but I just feel like screaming at the top of my lungs when I see their ludicrous drag queen movies. I feel like those movies emasculate black men. Yet if you go to www.boxofficemojo.com go look at the box office for these kinds of movies and you will see why Hollywood keeps on releasing this kind of crap.

And once in a while Hollywood will release a black drama at the end of the year such as “Ray” or “Last King of Scotland.” And what about black Canadian films? When was the last time I saw a good black Canadian movie? I think it was a decade ago when I saw “Rude”.

However, notice my dear readers that the black dramatic films are always about black heterosexual men and not about black heterosexual women, black gay men, and black lesbians. Next, people say to me well what about “Brokeback Mountain.” Well so what? “Brokeback Mountain” has nothing to do with the black gay man’s experience that’s for sure. And I didn’t think “Brokeback Mountain” was that good a film either. I am so sick of not having anything good to watch at either the art house theatres or the mainstream movie complex.

Why does everything that is related to the black experience centers around black heterosexual men? It appears to me we still live in a heterosexist male dominated world. The quality of scripts for black women and other women of colour are seriously lacking as well and nobody seems to care. What about the rest of us? Do our lives matter? Film and theatre is important because I want to see more textured representations of black people in art. Whenever there is something about gay people that is either a hit movie or play its always about white gay men. Now what does that got to do with me? I ask again is that all there is?

The mainstream media has focused on Queen Latifah and Halle Berry for the past five years both women have released once crap movie after the another.Latfiah had once decent film this year called “Life Support” but it was a TV film on HBO. Latifah unfortunately is the new black mammy of Hollywood. I mean look at new musical “Hairspray” and see for yourself. Halle Berry is the opposite of Latifah she is stereotyped as the black jezebel. Berry can’t seem to keep her clothes on she’s always semi nude in so many movies she’s released in the past five years. Hopefully for Halle her new movie “Things We Lost In a Fire” will return her to the glory she deserves.

It is times like this when I wonder why the Hollywood quota system is so racially stratified? Hollywood continues to ignore a second group of young talented black actresses that are poised for a major breakthrough. Black people we want to see good quality films. The black media to its credit has profiled Sanaa Lathan, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, and Meagan Good. Lathan, Union, Washington, and Good have got the looks but also the talent as well. However, the kinds of roles these talented black women have received is nothing to get excited about. I mean has anyone seen “Waist Deep”?

Sanaa Lathan is well respected in the black community for her work and talent. Sanaa is a beautiful woman that unfortunately hasn’t gotten the right roles to match her incredible talent. Lathan tends to headline her own films such as “Brown Sugar”, “Something New”, and “Love and Basketball”. However, Sanaa’s movies also tend to be created specifically for a black or urban demographic. Lathan has attempted to diversify her roles with high profile movies such as “Out of Time” and “AVP.” Lathan was also on the FX show drama “Nip/Tuck” last season. Lathan should be a bigger star but Hollywood has already filled its black woman quota. Right now Queen Latfiah and Halle Berry get the best scripts and then after them every other woman of colour gets a chance.

Gabrielle Union is best known in the USA mostly for her role in the teen comedy “Bring It On” and the film “Bad Boys II”. Gabrielle has done a lot of black romantic comedies and she usually was the eye candy. Gabrielle Union is very beautiful and also very talented. Some people say Gabrielle has been typecasted as the “strong black woman” too often. Gabrielle has tried to find roles where her character is more vulnerable and I commend her for that. I love Gaby’s voice! It was nice to see Gabrielle expand her talents when she was cast in the the wonderful science fiction show called “Night Stalker” I loved that show but ABC cancelled it two years ago after just six episodes. Night Stalker is available on DVD there are ten episodes on the DVD and you will see why ABC should of saved that show.

After “Night Stalker” ended Gabrielle was in the controversial indie film “Neo Ned.” Neo Ned is a film starring Jeremy Renner and Gabrielle. Gabrielle’s character Rachel is a woman that has been sexually abused and she believes the soul of Hitler is inside her body. Rachel and Ned meet up at a mental institution and he’s a white male supremacist. Go to www.neoned.com and see for yourself. Neo Ned I believe could be Gabrielle’s breakthrough performance. The critics have been raving about Neo Ned for the past two years yet the movie hasn’t been able to acquire distribution. I think its because the subject matter is so controversial.

Gabrielle was also in an indie film this year called “Constellation” and even the black media ignored “Constellation”. I don’t understand our community? We complain about the lack of quality roles for black women in Hollywood and when decent films come along we don’t support them?

Gabrielle was also in the Tyler Perry movie “Daddy’s Little Girls” now I am the first to admit that Tyler Perry is not that great a movie director his movies tend to be comedies. And sometimes I wonder is that all Hollywood thinks black people are just for a good laugh? “Daddy’s Little Girls” was more of a romantic drama and it was different then Tyler Perry’s other films because the drag queen character Madea was not in the film. “Daddy’s Little Girls” grossed $31 million at the box office it was nice to see Gabrielle be the star of a film but I just feel like her incredible talent can be better served elsewhere. We like to complain about the gate keepers in Hollywood not greenlighting scripts for black actors but maybe more of us need to get involved and do less complaining?

Yes I am gay but I am not blind. I remember watching Rogers television last year a press conference for the film “The Last King of Scotland” and I couldn’t take my eyes off of Kerry Washington. Kerry is gorgeous!!! Everybody talks about how pretty Halle berry is but Kerry Washington is very attractive and a very serious actress. I read an article in Essence Magazine with Kerry and she is starring in a movie right now called “Lakeview Terrance” co starring with Samuel L Jackson I hope it works out for her. Kerry Washington appears to be the one that might be able to become a big star. Washington has endorsements for L’Oreal Cosmetics and I have seen print ads and TV ads for her.

Meagan Good is the youngest out of this group she is only twenty six so she’s got a bit more time on her side. Meagan is best known for being the eye candy in hip hop films such as “Stomp The Yard.” However, does anyone remember “Eve’s Bayou”? Eve’s Bayou was released over a decade ago it was an amazing African American drama and Meagan had a very important role in that movie. I still think its Meagan’s best work. Meagan was also in a film called “Brick” last year but her part was small.

Meagan is currently starring in a film called “The Love Guru” its a comedy and it is being filmed right here in Toronto! I wish Meagan well and I hope it works for her. After “The Love Guru” Meagan will be starring in a controversial film called “Sundays in Fort Greene” Meagan will be playing a lesbian in this movie. Its nice to see Meagan try to expand her craft as an actress and try new roles.

When are we going to see some serious dramas about black women that are female centered? And no I am not talking about “Dreamgirls.” “Dreamgirls” in my mind was nothing special it certainly wasn’t a serious drama it was a musical. Oprah can’t save the world you know. Black men have always had it easier then black women and other women of colour in Hollywood. Why isn’t Parminder Nagra a bigger star? Yes Parminder is on ER but I mean I think she can do a lot more then that. What is Lucy Liu up to these days?

I just wish the day will arrive when more then just two black women at a time can be big stars and get high profile roles. In the 1980s to mid 1990s it was Whoopi Goldberg and Angela Bassett and now its Halle Berry and Queen Latifah. People also need to discern that stars are created by the Hollywood dream factory there is a network of TV shows such as Entertainment Tonight, magazines, radio, internet, even the tabloids have a role in creating a star. However, for women of colour in Hollywood its just harder. And I commend all these ladies for actually trying to make it in this crazy world called Hollywood. People also have to remember movies aren’t just entertainment. Movies are very important in popular culture because messages are sent through the films.

A lot of people have been complaining forever that there are only a few solid movies with an all black cast per year? People need to pay attention and demand more. Perhaps even get involved? I’ve written a play that I hope will be produced one day because I am tired of all the crap that is being released from the vault in Hollywood. There is so much more to the black experience that needs to be explored.