A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

I got the opportunity to attend one of the first long-lead screenings of Focus
Features’ "Talk to Me", which opens in limited release on Friday, July 20th, 2007. I get invited to screenings all the time. I can't always honor the invites as my schedule can be unpredictable. I went to this one because I was available. Little did I know that I was going to be forever moved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW9zVyjTZjw

"Talk to Me" is the powerful, real-life story of Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene
(portrayed by Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle), an outspoken ex-con who talked
his way into becoming an iconic radio personality in the 1960s in Washington,
D.C. At first glance, I wondered if some of the "broad"-ness coming out of Don Cheadle and Taraji P. Henson (his love interest) was perhaps TOO MUCH and NOT REALISTIC. (Though I am a child of the '70s, it has been a minute. SMILE!). BUT THE REALNESS placed against the rest of the world (once he got out of prison) and the HEART in which he played PETEY GREENE landed on me on the reality that I was watching a MASTERPIECE and a MASTER of his craft (DON). And what a RICH and PROFOUND "local" story that has endless national implications for civil rights, black radio, the criminal justice system, etc.

Sparked by both the era’s vibrant soul music and exploding social consciousness, Petey openly courted controversy at a white-owned station. Relying on his producer Dewey Hughes (double Golden Globe Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) to run interference, Petey’s unprecedented “tell it like it is” on-air style gave voice and spirit to the black community during an exciting and turbulent period in American history.

Also starring in the film are BET Award winner Taraji P. Henson, Mike Epps, Vondie Curtis Hall, Cedric The Entertainer, and Martin Sheen. Directed by Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou), Talk to Me is a must-see. Meanwhile, to learn more about Petey Greene, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w7YPlGRX5w