By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Award-winning living legends Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen have teamed as executive producers to tell the incredible story of a descendent of slaves who rose to make a fortune before falling into oblivion.
The documentary “King of Kings,” which has nabbed more than 25 awards in the past year on the film festival circuit, opens this weekend at the Cinemark 15 Theatres at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, before heading to digital platforms and video-on-demand.
Through newspaper clippings, various documents, archive footage and countless anecdotes from family, friends and lawmakers, director Harriet Marin Jones searches for the truth about her charismatic grandfather, Edward Jones, who rose to the heights of financial and political prominence in Depression-era Chicago thanks to the policy business, an illegal numbers game that ultimately became a modern state lottery now played by millions nationwide.
It is estimated that Jones amassed a fortune of $25 million and put money in the pockets of Black folks who didn’t have many economic opportunities. But in those times of segregation, his success and unfailing support to the African-American community are a problem. In conflict with both the mob and the feds, he is eventually forced into a life on the run.
Ten years in the making, this story has it all: love, success, violence, revenge, mafia, murder, betrayal, prison, kidnapping and the racial attitudes of the era.
Also opening in theaters: “The Wild Robot” featuring the voices of Lupita Nyong’o and Pedro Pascal; Frances Ford Coppola’s epic “Megalopolis” with Adam Driver, Lawrence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito and Aubrey Plaza; and the thriller “Amber Alert” starring Tyler James Williams (“Abbott Elementary”).
FESTIVAL FILE: Our man at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Victor Baines Marshall of “The Middle Passage,” reports that the first post writer’s strike edition was solid with a plethora of movies and celebrity appearances.
Among his favorites was the Canadian-filmed “40 Acres” starring Danielle Deadwyler (who also made a splash in the Malcolm Washington-directed adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson”); the People’s Choice Award winner “Life With Chuck” with Tom Hiddleston; “Daniella, Forever;” Ron Howard’s “Eden;” “Emilia Pérez;” “The End;” “The Order;” “The Cut;” “William Tell;” and “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band,” which will debut Oct. 25 on Hulu and Disney+.
He also notes that the continent of Africa was well represented with “Freedom Way” and “The Legend of The Vagabond Queen of Lagos,” to name but two.
Continue to check this space for more information about next year’s festival (Sept. 4–14), as they celebrate 50 years of presenting the world’s finest films.
RED CARPET WALK: Warner Bros.’ “Joker: Folie À Deux,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, and Lady Gaga, has its Hollywood premiere Sept. 30 at TCL Chinese Theatre around 5:30 p.m.
CLIPPETTES: Questlove of The Roots, who made his directorial debut with “Summer of Soul,” has announced that his next project will be a documentary on the iconic Earth, Wind & Fire sanctioned by the band and estate of its founder Maurice White …
Ledisi is at The Wallis on Sept. 27 as Black Pumas play The Wiltern, Boney James headlines at Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, and Twista is at The Venice West …
KRS-One tops the New Earth Platinum Gala on Sept. 28 at the Wende Museum while Snarky Puppy is at the Terrace Theater, George Lopez at the Dolby Theatre, Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Pepperdine University, and Long Beach’s Carpenter Performing Arts Center presents author Charles Blow …
Gwen Stefani gives a free performance (with tickets from 1iota.com) for Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Sept. 30 as A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s Better Off Alone Tour comes to YouTube Theater, and Deon Cole continues his Monday residency at The Improv …
Serena Williams and Oscar-winning costumer Ruth Carter are uniting to produce “The Dress,” a biopic on pioneering fashion designer Ann Lowe who made the dress Jackie Bouvier wore at her wedding to John F. Kennedy …
Tems is at The Greek on Oct. 1, while movie composer Hans Zimmer is live at Crypto.com Arena …
An all-star line-up of guitarists including Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Eric Johnson have been confirmed for “Experience Hendrix 2024” drawing from the songbook of Jimi Hendrix. In addition, special guests are expected to drop in for the show Oct. 1 at City National Grove of Anaheim …
Also being tributed in a new recording is former Hendrix drummer/vocalist Buddy Miles. “Biscuit and Buddy,” from Philadelphia native James “Biscuit” Rouse, whose credits include work with Stevie Wonder, Usher, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and currently Gerald Veasley, is now available via Leopard Records. For more info, visit: jamesbiscuitrouse.com …
André 3000: New Blue Sun Live In Concert is performed at The Greek on Oct. 2, as Johnny Britt plays Catalina Bar and Grill …
The Grammy Museum welcomes Will Smith to their Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace to discuss his upcoming music, creative process, and legendary career, with a performance to follow on Oct. 3.
TASTY QUIP: “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into something, and I’ve had an audition, and they were like ‘She was great, but we just don’t realistically believe her as this character because she’s a pretty girl.’ And I’m like, how can you determine what that character should look like or even what I will look like when I [take the role.]” – MEAGAN GOOD
TC ON TV: Sept. 27 – “She Taught Love” (Hulu): Arsema Thomas (“Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story“), Darrell Britt-Gibson (“Judas and the Black Messiah”), Kevin Carroll (“Snowfall”), Edwin Lee Gibson (“The Bear”), Angela Elayne Gibbs (“Black Jesus”), Alexander Hodge (“Insecure”), and Taissa Farmiga (“The Gilded Age”) are featured in this refreshingly tender love story from Andscape. “Wolfs” (Apple TV+): “Oceans 11” stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt reteam as fixers for this caper. “Lísàbí: The Uprising” (Netflix); The story of a Yoruba hero comes to life via Nigerian filmmakers. “Rez Ball” (Netflix): A festival circuit hit about a team of young indigenous hoopsters from the creators of “Reservation Dogs.” “Voces on PBS” (PBS): “American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos” “37th Hispanic Heritage Awards” (PBS): John Leguizamo, Emilio Estefan Jr. and Danny Ramirez are participants in the ceremony honoring fashion designer Caroline Herrera, NBA star Carmelo Anthony, and Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente posthumously. “Social Studies” (FX): Filmed over a school year, this groundbreaking social experiment features a diverse group of LA teens who open up their lives and phones to offer an intimate glimpse into how social media has reshaped childhood.
Sept. 28 – “Global Citizen Festival” (YouTube/Facebook/ABC News Live/Amazon Music/Apple Music): Doja Cat, Post Malone, Lisa, Jelly Roll, Rauw Alejandro, and more. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): The landmark 50th season is here with Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll.
Sept. 29 – “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” (AMC): The second season subtitled “The Book of Carol” brings back the fan favorite zombie killer played by Melissa McBride. “TV On The Edge” (CNN): “Oprah’s Wagon of Fat”
Sept. 30 – “Patrice: The Movie” (Hulu): An interracial disabled couple in their 50s want to marry but risk losing their benefits if they do in this documentary. “All American: Homecoming” (CW): Legendary filmmaker Michael Schultz (“Car Wash,” “Cooley High”) directed this third season finale of the HBCU-set drama. “Gangland Chronicles” (History): “The Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips” “Independent Lens” (PBS): “One Person, One Vote?” explores the Electoral College through diverse perspectives during the 2020 election, delving into its complex history rooted in slavery. “Late Night” (NBC): Alicia Keys
Oct. 2 – “The View” (ABC): Raven-Symoné returns. “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Stephanie Mills “Big Freedia Means Business” (Fuse): The second season focuses on the twerker’s ventures in a hotel, a record label, eyewear, purses, and a cannabis line. “Celebrity Crime Files” (TV1): “Meg The Stallion”
Oct. 3 – “House of Spoils” (Prime): Oscar winner Ariana DeBose stars as a chef who opens her first restaurant where she battles kitchen chaos, a dubious investor, self-doubt, and the spirit of the estate’s previous owner who threatens to sabotage her. “Salem’s Lot” (MAX): Yet another adaptation of Stephen King’s vampire novel with Louis Pullman and Alfre Woodard. “Zatima” (BET/BET+): A second season of the relationship drama from Tyler Perry. “Trivial Pursuit” (CW): The beloved game is reimagined in a question-packed entertainment format for television hosted by LeVar Burton (“Reading Rainbow,” “Roots”). “Found” (NBC): Shanola Hampton returns as the missing persons investigator with a dark secret.
END QUOTE: “Align yourself with the right people, forge the right relationships and you’ll set yourself up for the long run.” – DAYMOND JOHN of ABCs “Shark Tank”
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.
