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By lUREKA TURK
Mlchlg.n Citizen
zanne Douglas), Drew finds it
difficult to become an dult in
such a mixed up world.
After deciding that her
family needs a break from the
hassles of the city (and also a
break from the arguments
they have amongst them
selves), Drew's mother tak
the family on a trip to her
family's home at the Inkwell.
Well, finally. here com a
film that prove that there is
more to Black Ii ves than just
hanging in the 'hoods. And
the beauty of it all is that it
com from a filmmaker who
made his mark with a
traight out of the 'hood flick
Matty Rich brings the glori
ous late 1970s back to life
with his new film, The Ink
well.
What's surprising is that,
after about two years when
his debut film "Straight Out
Of Brooklyn:" reached the sil
ver screen (i n the form of
what appeared to be an hour
and a half long episode of
"Good Times" sans the jokes),
it seems that Rich went back
to study the craft of filmmak
ing, and The Inkwell was
born. The film chronicles the
adventuresofa teenaged boy,
growing awkwardly into his
manhood when he vi its the
ritzy Black part of Martha's
Vineyard, called the Inkuiell,
Drew Tate, portrayed by
Larenz Tate from "Menace II
Society" fame, is a shy young
man whose only friend is an
African doll made by his
grandmother. Growing up
with, an ex-Black Panther fa
ther (Joe Morton) and a
smothering mother (Suz-
IT IS ERE THAT Drew
runs into a bunch of charac
ters that manage to change,
hurt and aid in his quest to
understand his surround
ings. These characters in
clude his uppity uncle who
can't seem to completely
white-wash himself (hilari-
Th ocial cene for African-American on the re ort island of Martha's Vineyard take place along a tr tch of beach known a
The Inkwell. Whil pend ng hi summer vacation on the Viney rd, a shy and awkw rd teenager named Drew (Larenz Tat t cent r)
experience a very pecl I coming-of-age, with the help of his new-found friend (l-r) Jr. Phillips (Duane Martin), Moe (Perry Moor )
and Darryl (Markus Redmond).
That scene between Mor
ton and Douglas is indeed a
tear-jerker and well written.
I t successfully captures the
plight of many Black couples
back thenand makes you re
alize the t some of them didn't
even quite make it to the
point of conversation.
Rich could not have cast
the film' itself any better. Tate
i wonderful as Drew and
manages to how th range of
hi talent. Any actor who can
go from a hard-core street
kid, trying to get ov I' and
survive, to a gentle, shy and
loving young nager who
can't understand the ways of
the world deserves as many
. props as possible.
cheating husband (Morris
Chestnut). Glynn Thurman
is witty and charming as a
Black man who tries desper
ately to leave Harlem on the
street and not in his memory.
I n fact, the scene between
Morton and Turman during a
"friendly" game of tennis jogs
the memory of Bill Cosby and
Richard Pryor.
Rich has spun a wonderful
film that's funny and enter
taining. Hopefully, the 'hood
movie crowds will hunger for
a change and pay attention to
this journey down memory
lane. Hopefully this is a sign.
that Rich will continue to use
his new found love of the craft
of filmmaking and k out'
original projects.
"I think Matty Rich has a
b utiful vision and this is
going to be a very nice film,"
ays Lar nz Tate.
Nice film, ind Some-
body has truck gold.
American bonding ritual, the
process of caring for hair, on
the scr n was delightful.
The beauty of The Inkwell
is that it deters from the rigid
formula of Black CInema
(gangster flicks 'hood mov
ies, basketball dreams, etc.)
and creates an originali ty
that Black filmmakers have
been called on to respond to.
Rich dives into the black hal
known as th Black experi-
nce and begi ns to xplore
the other =tor i that cur in
every day life.
A produc r uy Ri cl
say , "I t's a departure from so
many things we've seen."
ously portrayed by Glynn
Tu rm an), h is over-sexed
cousin (Duane Martin) who's
reminiscent of. Dwane from
"What's Happenin"', a prissy
Black Barbie (Jada Pinkett)
who manages to capture his
heart, and a sweet caring
young newlywed (Adrienne
Joi Johnson) who falls victim
to a ch ating husband.
The film explores Drew'
relations to these characters
and how they affect his own
view of the world.
He also forms a special
bond with an African child
th srapis on h island, Dr.
Wad (pi y d by Phyllis
Yvonn Sti kn y), who gets
Dr w op n up' to himself
via her diff r nces, namely
h 'r dr dl ks. Dr w gins
to f I the n to explore and
open him elfasDr. Wade lov
ingly turn hi afro into
braids. Rich' insight to re
v al a I' di ional African-
T LMTLl's
beauti ful and pleasing to I k
at. Rich manages to capture
he look of the I te 1970 very
well using the familiar II
bottoms and afros, 'but also
recreati ng the dialect, th
walk, the style and the mood,
Even the singing group Jade
mak a gu t appearanc ,
singi ng song we once
thought were buri in our
subconscious.
The script is good bu f I
rs in om pom . W n v r
really und r and he r 1 -
tion hip, b w en Drew'
mother and her own moth r.
Th compromi e betw n
Drew's "militant" father and
his bourgeois uncI is never
really very bel ievable. The
only "faltering" thati justi
fied is h relationship b •
twe n Dr w' mo h r
father.
R -J John on
has never succ fully xern
plified the depth of her skill
until now. You better grab
some tissu during th scene
where sh confront her
A summer holiday on the resort Island of Martha Vineyard
becomes a passage into manhood for timid teenager, Drew Tate
(Larenz Tate, It) who, with the help of the beautiful Lauren Kelly
(Jada Pinkett, rt), discover his budding sexuality.
. .
Adrie.nne-J�i Johnson (I) stars as Heather Lee, whose marriag
to phllanderinq husband Harold (Morris Che tnut, rt) ha become
unstable.
Jr. Ph,illips (Duane M rtin, left) nd Drew Tate (Larenz Tate, right).