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FILM REVIEW: The Gentlemen

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Writer/director Guy Ritchie, coined a style of staccato crime/thriller moviemaking that is dense, filled with characters, laden with cheeky graphic language, sexy, often ultra-violent and cast with teams of multicultural British actors. The Gentlemen is an imperfect return to form.

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Henry Golding, Matthew MacConaughey and Charlie Hunnam in “The Gentlemen.”

By Dwight Brown, NNPA Newswire Film Critic

It’s a sign of the times. Marijuana, which has been illegal in so many places for so long, is about to go legit in the United Kingdom. Anyone who’s been dealing dope in the shadows can come into the light.

That’s the position American expat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) finds himself in. He’s been the ghost boss of a thriving reefer empire in London, England, his new home. Thugs, growers and dealers report to him. Weed liberation is just around the corner, and he’s fully prepared to profit in what is likely be a very lucrative industry.

Charlie Hunnamand Hugh Grant in “The Gentlemen.”

Charlie Hunnamand Hugh Grant in “The Gentlemen.”

The dude knows he’s large and in charge. And the saying goes: “If you want to be the king of the jungle, you must act like the king of the jungle.” He’s wise enough to be shopping his business around to the highest bidder. He cultivates a gay, cunning and filthy rich billionaire buyer named Matthew (Jeremy Strong, The Big Short), who seizes on business opportunities. Mickey, his wife Rosalind (Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey), righthand man Ray (Charlie Hunnam, TV’s Sons of Anarchy) and a protective thug named Bunny (Chidi Ajufo, The Widow) are setting themselves up for a big pay day.

Various scoundrels are just as determined to undermine, rob or murder them: There’s Dry Eye (Henry Golding, Crazy Rich Asians) and his crew of saboteurs. The Coach (Colin Farrell, In Burges) and his adolescent gang. The Asian crook Lord George (Tom Wu, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw). They all fit into the mix. Hands down the most duplicitous one in the bunch is that snooping bugger private investigator Fletcher (Hugh Grant, Four Weddings and a Funeral). He’s never met anyone he couldn’t swindle or blackmail. Drugs, money, loaded guns. What could go wrong?

Michelle Dockery and Matthew McConaughey in “The Gentlemen.”

Michelle Dockery and Matthew McConaughey in “The Gentlemen.”

Writer/director Guy Ritchie, a former video/commercial director turned filmmaker, made his big splash feature film debut with the very clever crime movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He coined a style of staccato crime/thriller moviemaking that is dense, filled with characters, laden with cheeky graphic language, sexy, often ultra-violent and cast with teams of multicultural British actors. Snatch and RocknRolla followed this pattern. Sherlock Holmes and Aladdin did not. The Gentlemen is an imperfect return to form. As Ritchie wipes away the cobwebs on his signature writing/directing style, he misses a few ingredients—especially breakneck pacing.

The script uses an overabundance of voiceovers and conversations and too many onscreen narrations by Fletcher. Though Hugh Grant is completely charming, he runs his mouth way too much. His recollections are realized in flashbacks, where there is double-dealing, death and betrayals. There’s some of that in the present too. Deciphering it all is like peeling layers off an onion that smells more intensely as you get to the core.

The difference between this clunky piece of storytelling and Lock… or Snatch is that you’re frustrated during the process and not always gleeful. There are lots of stagnant scenes where the pacing (editor James Herbert, Aladdin) grinds to a halt and will test your patience. That’s when your eyes focus on the way too obvious sets (production designer Gemma Jackson and set decorator Sara Whittle) and the neatly pressed clothes (Michael Wilkinson, American Hustle) that look so new you’ll think they’ve still got price tags on them.

Colin Farrell and Charlie Hunnam in “The Gentlemen.”

Colin Farrell and Charlie Hunnam in “The Gentlemen.”

The wordy script may be a problem, less for adult viewers, more for casual action/thriller fans. But Ritchie’s overall direction of the action scenes, dramatic moments, murders, and swindling is not. In fact, even though he is not at the peak of his game, his style and swagger is still ultra-cool. The cinematographer (Alan Stewart, Aladdin) has a good eye for composition and lighting. The visuals, coupled with a very fun musical score (Christopher Benstead, Gravity) and toe-thumping playlist give the film a rebellious spirit that carries it to the finish line.

Most of the cast looks like they just stepped out of a GQ photo shoot. McConaughey has an air about him that is even more imperialistic than British royalty. Hunnam as Ray is like a hamster in a cage finding out that he’s being played. Strong is suitably sneaky as the buyer. Farrell brings a touch of dry humor to the Coach. Golding, Wu and Ajufo are fun to watch.

But hats off to Grant as the scene stealer. He does whatever he has to do to make Fletcher look like complete scum. If anything, the dazzling Michelle Dockery is not in enough scenes and ditto for the other few actresses who don’t get enough screen time. This is a boy’s club movie.

Time marches on. That youthful swagger that formally burned through Guy Ritchie’s creative soul has matured. So has his selection of actors. Come for the fun of it, sit through the cumbersome storytelling, find a way to enjoy the puzzling antics and you may experience the heady joy of this gangsta caper.

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.

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EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — “I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.”

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By Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
46th President of the United States: 2021—2025

The people of Galveston, Texas, have been commemorating Juneteenth since the Civil War ended. Yesterday, in honor of the 160th anniversary, I went there to join them.

You can read about the events of Juneteenth, but there’s nothing quite like going to Galveston and seeing where it all happened.

After General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, Union troops marched across the South for two months, freeing enslaved people along the way. Their final stop was Galveston, an island off the Gulf coast of Texas. There, on June 19, 1865, Union troops went to Reedy Chapel, a church founded in 1848 by enslaved people, and posted a document titled simply “General Order #3.”

“The people of Texas are informed,” it said, “that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

We can only imagine the joy that spread through Galveston – and across the state and nation – on that day and those that followed.

Yesterday, there was once again joy in Galveston, with a parade, picnic, and fireworks. There was also great solemnity, because Juneteenth is a sacred day – a day of weight and power.

The Book of Psalms tells us: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and the promise of that joyful morning to come.

As President, I had the great honor of signing the law declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. It was our nation’s first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was created in 1983.

Our federal holidays say a lot about who we are as a nation. We have holidays celebrating our independence… the laborers who build this nation… the servicemembers who served and died in its defense.

And now, we also have a national holiday dedicated to the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.

Signing that law was one of my proudest acts as President.

Yet for 156 years, Juneteenth was not written about in textbooks or taught in classrooms. Still today, there are those who say it does not deserve a holiday. They don’t want to remember the moral stain of slavery and the terrible harm it did to our country.

I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.

I also believe that it’s not enough to commemorate the past. We must also embrace the obligation we have to the future. As Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead.” And right now, we Americans need to keep the faith and do the work.

In honor of Juneteenth, let’s help people register to vote.

For decades, we fought to expand voting rights in America. Now we’re living in an era when relentless obstacles are being thrown in the way of people trying to vote. We can’t let those tactics defeat us. In America, the power belongs with the people. And the way we show that power is by voting.

So let’s reach out to family, friends and neighbors – especially those who have never voted before. Remind them that with voting, anything is possible. And without it, nothing is possible.

Yesterday in Galveston, we gathered in Reedy Chapel to commemorate Juneteenth, just like people have done for 160 years and counting. We prayed, sang, and read General Order #3 again. The pews were full of families. How many people must have prayed for freedom inside those walls. How many must have sent fervent thanks to God when slavery finally ended.

I remembered the words of my late friend John Lewis. He said, “Freedom is not a state. It is an act.”

Juneteenth did not mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality. It only marked the beginning. To honor the true meaning of Juneteenth, we must continue to work toward that promise. For our freedom. For our democracy. And for America itself.

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Cities Across the U.S. Shrink or Cancel Juneteenth Events as DEI Support Wanes

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship. In many communities, the once-growing recognition of the holiday is facing sharp resistance tied to the unraveling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

In Denver, Colorado, the annual Juneteenth Music Festival, one of the largest in the nation—was cut from two days to one. Organizers said more than a dozen corporate sponsors walked away from commitments, leaving them with a financial gap that almost canceled the event. Norman Harris, the festival’s executive director, said several companies “pulled back their investments or let us know they couldn’t or wouldn’t be in a position to support this year.” Harris credited grassroots donors and small businesses for stepping in when larger backers stepped aside.

In Colorado Springs, the local celebration was relocated to the Citadel Mall parking lot after support from previous sponsors disappeared. Organizers noted that where there were once dozens of corporate partners, only five remained. The downsized event was pieced together with limited resources, but community leaders said they refused to let the holiday go unacknowledged.

Scottsdale, Arizona, canceled its Juneteenth observance after the city council voted to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion office in February. Without the office in place, the city offered no support for planning or funding, leaving residents without an official celebration.

In San Diego, the Cooper Family Foundation lost a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that had been earmarked for Juneteenth programming. Organizers said the decision forced them to personally finance key elements of the event, including cultural exhibits, performances, and youth engagement activities.

Bend, Oregon, called off its Juneteenth event entirely. Organizers cited political tensions and safety concerns, saying they could not secure the partnerships needed to proceed. A public statement from the planning committee described the current climate as “increasingly volatile,” making it difficult to host a safe and inclusive event.

West Virginia, which has recognized Juneteenth as a paid state holiday since 2017, will not sponsor any official events this year. State leaders pointed to budget constraints and recent decisions to eliminate DEI programming across agencies as the reasons for stepping away from public observance.

Austin, Texas, has also reduced its Juneteenth programming. While the city has not canceled events outright, organizers said diminished city support and fewer private contributions forced them to focus only on core activities.

“Thankfully, there was a wide range of support that came when we made the announcement that the celebration is in jeopardy,” said Harris. “But it shows how fragile that support has become.”

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Juneteenth and President Trump

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

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By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent

President Trump is set to proclaim the federal observance of Juneteenth as the White House is open for business on this holiday. The White House says the president will sign a “historic proclamation designating Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance, marking the 160th anniversary of General Order Number 3 in Galveston, Texas.” The declaration was that “all slaves are free.” This Trump proclamation, according to the White House, “will celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republican Party’s role in passing the 13th Amendment, and reaffirm the administration’s dedication to equal justice and prosperity for all.”

This proclamation comes as President Trump has denounced Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and anything Woke. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom from the tyranny of 250 years of slavery after the Civil War.

The Juneteenth celebration started when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, and told the slaves that they were free on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was created.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which is on display in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House, was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

The Juneteenth federal holiday was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden on June 19, 2021. This Trump White House is in full swing today, with a press briefing by Karoline Leavitt, not taking the federal holiday off. Also, President Trump will receive an intelligence briefing in the morning and participate in a swearing-in ceremony for the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

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