It’s Monday and we’re back with the always-wonderful Phonte, talking about the greatest moviemakers of all time: Fellini, Eddie Murphy and Rudy Ray Moore. Also! Snacks, bathrooms and what makes a good date movie.
If you were to guest on 2J3BD, what movie would you want to watch with us?
Man. Okay, I got two. Fastball, straight down the middle? Bronx Tale. I mean, I’m with The LOX, I’m with y’all, watching Bronx Tale?
Amazing.
Okay, if I want to go curveball? Bring It On.
Yes!
Listen! That shit is a classic. Sparky Polastri? “I’m a choreographer. That’s what I do.” Boy!
What’s a movie you like that none of your friends do?
Man. That’s a good question. I don’t know that this is a movie that none of my friends like but…well, one of my friends and I, we love it. Dunno about anyone else. But I would say 8 1/2.
Wow. Real film-y movie.
Real film-y movie. My buddy was like, “You’ve gotta watch it. Watch it!” It was one of those movies I’d always heard about — it being so visionary and ahead of its time. I’d heard of its hype, lemme just watch it and see what it is. I watched it and, wow, homie was doing this in like, 1963? Yea, that was cold. It resonates with me: it’s the story of an artist trying to make his next piece of art and how that shit just torpedoed his life. (laughs) I was like, “Oh my god.” So yea, that’s my answer, 8 1/2. It’s a movie I like but it’s not casual viewing, “Hey, we’re all coming over to my house, let’s watch 8 1/2.” Nah. It’s not movie night.
Okay, well, what is a good movie night movie for you?
Shiiiit. I mean, John Wick is a good movie night movie. For me, movie nights, I’m a good hour-and-a-half, hour-forty. Any comedy. Friday’s a good movie night. Harlem Nights. I quote that movie all the time. Boomerang. Eddie, he was on a run.
I’d never seen Harlem Nights until we just reviewed it for the show. And it’s interesting that the reviews at the time were so bad, because —
Because it was white people reviewing it! It was like, y’all are reviewing this in a way where you’re not the target audience for this film. And it’s not like there weren’t flaws — even Eddie has admitted that: with the script, he rushed it, whatever-whatever. But for the Black audience, listen: you’ve got Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Della Reese, you’ve got all these great heavyweights…we just wanna see them get busy! It’s giving us what we need. If you don’t get the joke, you’re just not in on the joke.
What’s a good date movie?
That’s a good question — everyone’s idea of a date is different. I’d watch The Revenant. (laughs) That was a good date with my wife, that was one of the first movies we watched together, before we were married and everything.
I was talking to Max B about The Revenant — he loved the visuals — which led to us talking about how he went hiking when he was in prison. But also, I talked to Taylor Rooks about how date movies are meant to be revealing, not necessarily rom-coms.
Yea, a good date movie is not a Hallmark movie. I think if you’re getting to know someone, I kinda gotta know where your taste falls, nah mean? I kinda need to gauge where you are artistically. I think The Revenant is a better measure than 50 First Dates or whatever the fuck, I don’t know.
What’s a movie that has incredible killings in it?
Ah man! For me, I’ve gotta go with The Raid.
I don’t know it!
Oh my God! Watch that shit tonight!! The Raid was kind-of the precursor to John Wick. It’s in Indonesia and it’s basically the story of this cop that has to take down this drug lord in this big, tall slum building. And the drug lord’s at the top, and the building is filled with nothing but lieutenants. You’ve literally got to fight your way to the top. If the movie is an hour thirty — I’d say there’s 20 minutes of dialogue. That other hour ten??? Straight up action, boy! (laughs) The Raid, if you want action?? The style of fighting they use is called pencak silat, it’s constant motion. Yeah, man. The choreography, the fights, the kills in that are fucking awesome. Watch The Raid, bro, that’s one of them ones — for real.
What’s a great bad movie?
Aw man! A great bad movie! I gotta go in my 70s bag, Blaxploitation, I gotta go Dolemite or Disco Godfather. “Where is Bucky, and what has he had?” “I want you to call an amba-lance!” Listen, that movie’s great. “Put your weight on it, put your weight on it, put your weight on it!” The whole Rudy Ray Moore catalog — I mean, calling these “good” movies…you can see visible boom mics…it’s ridiculous but it’s funny as fuck! It’s a great viewing experience. Whatever it lacks in technical whatever, it more than makes up for in heart and humor and Blackness. Great bad movies, that’s a genre unto itself.
What’s your ideal movie snack?
I’m old-fashioned: I gotta go with popcorn, but popcorn is a noisy food. If it’s a dialogue-heavy film, I might not snack so much. But if we’re talking about Alamo Drafthouse…
Where they have real food…
Then boy! Them chicken tenders is undefeated, cuz! Lemme tell you something! Them goddamn lemon pepper chicken tenders at the Alamo Drafthouse? Man! Undefeated! And they done switched it up now: they got this kinda breakfast sandwich situation. On Tuesdays, they’ve got $7 movies. So that would be my thing: egg and cheese on a croissant and that shit go hard. Sometimes I go to the movies for the food more than the movie.
By the way, here’s a life hack if you’re ever in New York, you’re an AMC A-List member and in need of a bathroom: go to the movies and “buy” whatever ticket. Cleaner than a Starbucks.
That is a great life hack, thank you for that. Finding a bathroom in New York is…taxing.
Also, our great friend David Cho put us onto this: go to a fancy restaurant where you know there’ll be a wait, put your name down and then use the bathroom while you say you’re waiting for your friend. Boom.
I didn’t know it was a possibility but we need to get Phonte up to talk Bring It On, next time he’s in New York. Also, I still haven’t watched The Raid but I will — I promise. Next week, I’m talking to Philly’s Freeway on here about the State Property movies and why he wouldn’t want to go to the moon…yet. In the meantime, get ready for our episode today: Teen Wolf, with special guest Lenny S!