Burn Hollywood Burn (Film: 30 Years To Life) By Knowfrillz

Seriously. Whoever the person(s) in Hollywood responsible interfering with the original release of the film "30 Years To Life," written and directed by first-time filmmaker Vanessa Middleton, should be burned at the stake Joan of Ark style. Luckily, I was privileged enough to live in a Metropolitan area, as well as having a good number of informed citizens in my circle of friends who alerted me to this film's existence. I guess everyone else will have to wait to stumble upon the one copy in their local Blockbuster when it goes to Video/DVD in the not too distant future.

Being that I recently celebrated my last birthday in my 20's, the film "30 Years To Life" was very relevant to many of the situations and decisions being made in my own life right now. The film is based around a group of 6 longtime friends in the midst of the year in which many of them are celebrating their 30th birthdays. The ensemble cast, which includes Melissa DeSousa (The Best Man), Erika Alexander (Living Single, The Cosby Show), Paula Jai Parker (Friday, Phone Booth), Tracy Morgan (Saturday Night Live), Allen Payne (New Jack City, The Cosby Show) and T.E. Russell (City Of Angels), guides the audience though some of the common yet life-altering trials and tribulations that many of us are going though at this pivotal stage of life.

The story is based in New York City. Natalie (Melissa DeSousa) is a single, very independent and successful investment banker who is struggling with the notion of "traditional roles" for men and women and how that ties into her hustle and bustle lifestyle and lack of companionship. Troy (Tracy Morgan) is a struggling comedian contemplating his future and the grim reality that he may never catch his "big break" as his age becomes more of a hindrance to his career. Stephanie (Paula Jai Parker), a real estate agent, has had issues with her weight her entire life, which has damaged her self-esteem and hindered her relationships with men. Her 30th birthday marks a milestone in her life that she does not want to take "lightly"(or maybe she does?). Malik (Allen Payne) is a successful advertising executive living the "player" lifestyle, who is unsatisfied with his future outlook in that profession as well as his personal life and the monotonous future both seem to hold for him. And then there is Joy (Erika Alexander) and Leland (T.E. Russell), who have been living together in a long-term relationship and are at crossroads where they have to decide within themselves what direction the relationship should go in. With supporting roles from the likes of Kadeem Hardison (A Different World) and Janet Hubert-Whitten (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Middleton has assembled a very talented cast to tell this story.

The surprise element of the film in my opinion is Tracy Morgan, who has a truly entertaining and breakthrough performance and somewhat steals the film from some very talented actors and actresses. He of course is very comical, but also captures the viewer's emotions by drawing them into the internal struggle of having some very serious realizations about one's existence and is able to show a dramatic side to himself as well. I see a bright future for Morgan regardless of whether or not his character in the film ever achieves success.

The film is very well done and very applicable most any person viewing it because the situations are ones that we all have, are or will be going through somewhere around this pivotal age of 30. I would recommend it to anyone who can possibly find a way to view it, whether it be on the big screen or the small one when it is released.

Because of the problems encountered in the release of this film, I would like to part by saying PLEASE SUPPORT QUALITY BLACK CINEMA.  It is a travesty that a quality film like this has taken 4 years to be released from the time it was filmed.  And with the extremely limited release that it finally did receive, it is doomed to fail and will most likely fade into oblivion while "Scary Movie 19" will probably make 100 million dollars.  But I digress.

GPA: 3.37