Denzel's Bad Boy Roles Are All Good

(NEWSER) - President Obama made his most direct appeal yet to black America with a rousing speech that sounded more like a sermon, the New York Times reports. Addressing the NAACP on its 100th anniversary, Obama said the "pain of discrimination" still exists in America, but he told black parents they must rise above it to take responsibility for themselves and their children. African-American kids can't use the excuse of growing up disadvantaged for bad grades, he said. More»

35-year-old Benjamin Jealous prevails in contentious vote

(NEWSER) - The NAACP selected its youngest president ever today, picking 35-year-old Benjamin Jealous after a contentious 8-hour meeting. Jealous promised to bring financial stability to the organization by tapping his ties with top foundations nationwide. He said he will also "pull people into this movement" by focusing more on technology, the Baltimore Sun reports. More»

Charlie Wilson's War follows with 5

(NEWSER) - The WWII-era romance Atonement leads today's Golden Globe nominations with seven, including best drama, best actor, and best actress. Also among the seven drama contenders—there are typically five—are There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, The Great Debaters, American Gangster, Michael Clayton, and Eastern Promises. No Country filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen were also nominated for directing and for their screenplay. More»

Great Debaters brings spotlight to Wiley, which hopes money follows

(NEWSER) - Wiley College may be on the ropes, but the historically black Texas school is betting that being on screen will turn things around. Staff face unpaid furloughs, limited office supplies, and the college hasn’t fielded a debate team in years. But The Great Debaters is already changing that—enrollment is up, the campus has been renovated, and Wal-Mart has endowed a scholarship. More»

Crowe shines as a cop who takes on drug king pin Frank Lucas

(NEWSER) - As 1970s Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas, Denzel Washington is equal parts charisma and cold blood—a combination critics can't resist. "In the still, watchful center of his volcanic performance you'll find the measure of a dangerous man," writes Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, adding that American Gangster, a stunningly paced film that finds director Ridley Scott at the top of his game, "goes to the heart of America's obsession with success as a killer instinct." More»