By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Nearly two and a half years ago, Isaiah Washington found out about legendary deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves and it made the accomplished actor with credits in movies “Clockers,” “Get On The Bus,” and TV series “Grey’s Anatomy” and “P-Valley,” mad.
He learned that the expert tracking, sharpshooting, master of disguise lawman with over 3,000 arrests in a 32-year career, was a very powerful entity.
So much so that after cleaning up an Indian territory where 250 U.S. Marshalls died, Reeves and others like him moved the U.S. Government to create the state of Oklahoma in 1907, where he died three years later.
“There would be no civilized or no state of Oklahoma without the work of [the man],” Washington told Tasty Clips. “Now that pissed me off. He’s not on a stamp?”
No, but thanks to Washington’s efforts as an actor, co-writer and newbie director, Reeves is the focus of a new movie, “Corsicana,” opening with special screenings Nov. 4 and 5 with Washington and iconic Creative Director Art Sims at Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza before its regular run.
“I never thought I’d be a director,” Washington admitted. “The ones I worked with were arrogant a–holes. I didn’t want to be an arrogant a–hole. I don’t want to be treated like God.”
He listened to a song from the “Once Upon a Time in the West” soundtrack to keep him in the Sergio Leone mindset and pulled from filmmakers Francois Truffaut, Akira Kurosawa and Terrence Malick, to guide the vision of this passion project.
So how was the Texas native able to pull this off before others who were vying to tell the story first, including Morgan Freeman, Carl Weathers, Ernie Hudson and James Pickens Jr.?
“I was willing to tell the truth,” he said. “I didn’t have any influences from Paramount Plus, Taylor Sheridan (“Yellowstone”) — a white man writing a Black story with a British actor (David Oyelowo) portraying as 5-8. That’s a lie. Talented, but that’s a lie. Morgan Freeman’s too old. James Pickens has been sitting on it for 15 years. I talked to him. He didn’t want to collaborate. He told me to ‘Go on and make your movie.’
“The same guy that knew what happened on the set of Grey’s (referring to the conflict that led to his ouster), that didn’t want to tell the truth. So, he doesn’t get to share the lion’s share of this beautiful journey, because he’s either a liar or liar by omission. And that’s OK, cause we all have lied about something at some point. But God don’t like ugly.”
As for Oyelowo’s now filming mini-series, Washington said he talked about it with the “Selma” actor and challenged him.
“I said, you got to turn it up because I done already got out the gate. We have to both do this right. Delroy Lindo played him in ‘The Harder They Fall,’ but we need to give him his story.”
“I hope there’s a thousand more movies,” he added, “because I’m convinced every western starring John Wayne or James Garner or Clint Eastwood or even Sam Elliott with that thick mustache in “1883” was stolen from Bass Reeves. I’m convinced Sherlock Holmes was inspired by Bass Reeves if you look at the timeline.
“I made this movie ‘Corsicana’ for the American people. Unbought. Unbossed. Unfettered. Untethered. The truth of our power. Our elegance. Our beauty. I do dare say this — he was illiterate, but he was genius.”
RED CARPET WALK: Guillermo del Toro‘s stop motion animated “Pinocchio” kicks off this week’s Hollywood premieres. The film’s contributors including Ewan McGregor, Ron Perlman, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, John Turturro and Christoph Walz are expected Nov. 5 at TCL Chinese Theatre (as part of the AFI Fest).
The fest continues at the venue, Nov. 8 with Steven Spielberg‘s autobiographical movie “The Fabelmans.” Tasty Clips previewed that one at the Toronto International Film Festival and can tell you it is a sure shot for multiple award nominations — especially Michelle Williams. She, along with Gabriel LaBelle, Seth Rogen and Judd Hirsch should be taking bows Nov. 8.
CLIPPETTES: Salt-N-Pepa will get their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (6212 Hollywood Blvd, near Argyle), on Nov. 4 at 11:30 a.m. …
That evening, Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, The 5th Dimension and Taylor Dayne are Home For The Holidays at the Cerritos Center; while The B-52’s Farewell Tour with KC & The Sunshine Band hits the YouTube Theater …
Jenifer Lewis (“Walking In My Joy!”), Nikole Hannah-Jones (“The 1619 Project”) and Tabitha Brown (“Cooking From The Spirit”) participate in the virtual 15th annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair Nov. 5. Register for free at www.leimertparkbookfair.com …
Also that date, The Microsoft Theater hosts the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022 Induction Ceremony honoring Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, Eminem, Duran Duran, Carly Simon and The Eurythmics …
In addition, legendary guitarist Jeff Beck is in concert at the Kavli Theatre and The Orpheum (Nov. 6); while the Walt Disney Concert Hall for two nights presents A Musical Portrait showcasing the works of 1930s Black women composers Florence Price and Margaret Bonds …
Post Malone returns to the Kia Forum on Nov. 10 for his 12 Carat Tour with Roddy Ricch; while The Grammy Museum is celebrating Kendrick Lamar’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Stepper” with a panel discussion with the album’s collaborators moderated by Spotify Urban Music’s Carl Chery.
TASTY QUIP: “There’s some very fine young artists out there doing great great work that I am impressed with. But the others, they just need to get them a job at the Post Office. They are always hiring! People are using Auto-tune. They need to get to the Post Office quick.” – CHAKA KHAN at Gabrielle’s Angel Ball
TC ON TV: Nov. 4 – “Causeway” (Apple TV+): Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry are paired in this darling film of the Toronto Film Festival about a returning vet. “Marvel Studios Legends” (Disney+): “King T’Challa,” “Princess Shuri” and “The Dora Milaje” delves into the Wakanda universe. “Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman” (Netflix): A true Nigerian story of a horseman who by tradition must sacrifice himself to serve his ruler in the afterlife. “The Silent Twins” (Peacock): The astounding factual tale of twin sisters (portrayed by Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance) who only communicated with one another. “20/20” (ABC): “Black Panther: In Search of Wakanda” features an exclusive interview between Whoopi Goldberg and the late Chadwick Boseman’s wife, Simone Ledward Boseman. “Lopez vs. Lopez” (NBC): A new George Lopez family sitcom. “Great Performances” (PBS): “NY Phil Reopening of David Geffen Hall” inaugurates the newly renovated venue with a world premiere work by Puerto Rican composer Angeìlica Negroìn. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Mariah Carey
Nov. 5 – “The Hair Tales” (Hulu): “Marsai Martin – Freedom’s Heir” and “Chlöe Bailey – Deeply Rooted” close the first season. “Criss Angel’s Magic with The Stars” (CW): U.S. Olympian Lolo Jones and TV star Frankie Muniz join host Eddie Griffin to perform illusions in front of judges Angel, Loni Love and Lance Burton. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Compton performer Steve Lacy (who has a Nov. 10 date at Anaheim’s House of Blues) is the musical guest.
Nov. 6 – “All Saints Christmas” (Hallmark): Ledisi stars as a popular R&B singer whose Christmas trip home to New Orleans gets complicated. “Unsung” (TV1): “Solar Records” “East New York” (CBS): Luna Lauren Velez (“Dexter”) guest stars. “Mood” (BBC America): The highly anticipated first drama series from actor, writer, and singer-songwriter Nicôle Lecky, based on her critically acclaimed Royal Court play (“Superhoe”). “Uncensored” (TV1): Deon Cole
Nov. 7 – “Don’t Worry Darling” (HBO Max): Harry Styles (who is in the middle of his shows at The Forum), Florence Pugh, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne and Chris Pine are united for this controversial film directed by Olivia Wilde.
Nov. 8 – VOTE! “The Resident” (Fox): Series regular Malcolm-Jamal Warner directed this episode. “Say Hey, Willie Mays!” (HBO): Follows the baseball Hall of Famer’s life both on and off the field over five decades as he navigated the American sports landscape and the country’s ever-evolving cultural backdrop.
Nov. 9 – “Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4” (Prime Video): The trailblazing fashion experience executive produced and curated by Rihanna returns featuring performances by global musical artists including Anitta, Burna Boy, Don Toliver, and Maxwell; and special appearances from Cara Delevingne, Damson Idris, Joan Smalls, Lilly Singh, Marsai Martin, Precious Lee, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Simu Liu, Taraji P. Henson, Taylour Paige, Winston Duke, and many more. “If We’re Being Honest with Laverne Cox” (E!): “The Beauty Issue”
Nov. 10 – “Cribs” (MTV): Macy Gray, Jacquees, Steelo Brim, Miles Chamley-Watson “Atlanta” (FX): “It Was All A Dream” ends the innovative series. “The Best of All The Smoke with Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson” (SHO): Wiz Khalifa
END QUOTE: “Once you realize that you can do something, it would be difficult to live with yourself if you didn’t do it.” –JAMES BALDWIN
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
