Monday Movie Meme – Messages from Behind Bars

Recently, I’ve felt like I’m in a prison of sorts, or maybe a hole that I cannot manage to get out of for the life of me. That’s a story for another day…perhaps.

As the theatrical debut of Howard University alum Patrick “Praheme” Ricks’ family film “Troop 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions” continues, this week’s Monday Movie Meme is based on a scene where Triston visits his father in prison and learns a lesson that he carries with him when trying to figure out how to do the right thing: Messages from Behind Bars.

Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies featuring scenes involving though-provoking prison visits; where one of the main characters gets a rude awakening that actually benefits him or her, in the long-run. Here are my selections for this week’s Messages from Behind Bars theme.

A Time to Kill

 During one of many jail visits, Carl Lee makes it clear why he and his lawyer Jake are not friends.

Under normal circumstances, this would be sad and cruel, except for the fact that Carle’s explanations help Jake realize how to use common prejudices to his advantage during a murder trial, in this crime thriller starring Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson and Sandra Bullock.

The Town

A casual conversation gets real personal, tense and cut short when Doug addresses the dead elephant in the room during a visit with his imprisoned father in this crime thriller, starring Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Jeremy Renner.

“Look, I gotta die five times before I get out of here, but, I’ll see you again – this side, or the other!”

Fruitvale Station

Refusing to stand for any of the foolishness that caused her son to be in prison, Oscar Grant’s mother ends their visit by walking out and refusing to return, in this biographical drama starring Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer.

What movies involving though-provoking prison visits would YOU add to this list?

Troop: 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions

Now Playing at the Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas at Movieland until October 17^th!

1331 North Boulevard

Richmond, VA

Daily Showtimes: 11:40am / 2:20pm / 4:50pm / 7:00pm / 9:40pm

Monday Movie Meme - Choices, Chances and Consequences #MuddyLions

The theme for this week's Monday Movie Meme is inspired by "Troop 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions," a family film directed by Praheme -- now playing at Criterion Cinemas at Movieland in Richmond, Virginia through Thursday, October 10th October 17th.

Starring Tim and Daphne Reid, Michael LeMelle and Terrell Donnell Sledge, "Troop 491: the Aventures of the Muddy Lions" is about a young boy named Triston whose mother signs him up for the Boy Scouts, to keep him out of trouble. He soon learns that doing the right thing is not always easy.

After witnessing a murder, Triston becomes the target of a local criminal while also being a person of interest during a police investigation. Will he follow the code of the streets or the code of the scouts? -- Which brings us to the main theme of this independent film and this week's Monday Movie Meme: Choices, Chances and Consequences.

Share on your blog or in the comments section, movies involving adults who try intimidate or harm children for the purpose of trying to cover up, justify, or expose, illicit acts. Here are my selections for this week's Choices, Chances and Consequences theme.

The Client

A mob lawyer's suicide leaves behind details that puts one little boy in danger during this crime thriller starring Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. The District Attorney's office seeks this kid's cooperation to take down a notorious crime operation even if it compromises his safety, while the mafia is out for the little boy's blood.

The Professional

The corrupt cop pulls out all the stops in a pursuit of murdering the only remaining witness-- a young but fiesty girl -- to his drug pushing, family-killing deeds, in this drama starring Jean Reno and Natalie Portman.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- and on to -- the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

First of all, the question in this case is not about who wants to harm a kid. I mean, who isn't trying to intimidate, injure or even murder -- the poor little wizard in this adventure fantasy film starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint?!! For every person that fails to get to Harry Potter and those who have his back, there is someone else, already in pursuit to try and finish the job.

Heaven & Earth

A teenage girl is jailed, tortured and raped after being accussed of being a spy; she's ostracized by her village as a result, in this biodrama starring Hiep Thi Le and Tommy Lee Jones.

Did YOU ever hear or see something that you wish you didn't, when YOU were a child?

What movies involving adults trying to intimidate or harm children would YOU add to this list?

                                                            ***SPREAD THE WORD!!!***

If you live in or near the Richmond, Virginia area, I would highly recommend that you check out this movie. ALSO, if you have a family member, friend, old classmate, former flame, colleage, associate, buddy, etc. who is in or near Richmond, VA, please share this information with him or her and encourage this person to go see "Troop 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions!"

The Showtimes for "Troop 491: the Adventures of the Muddy Lions"

are as follows:

11:40am /2:20pm / 4:50pm / 7:00pm / 9:40pm

Criterion Cinemas at Movieland
1331 N. Boulevard 
Richmond, VA 23230 

                                                            ***SPREAD THE WORD!!!***

In addition, today's post marks the start of a #MuddyLions week here at The Madlab Post. #MuddyLions is the Official hashtag for 'Troop 491' -- use it on Twitter and your other social networks when referencing this post and/or the film.

Monday Movie Meme - Man in the Iron Mask

*If you’re visiting from The LAMB, go HERE to read my Acting School 101 post for September. Alternatively, you can just scroll down the page, since it’s the previous blog post published before today’s post.

This week’s Monday Movie Meme is short and simple, given that it is based on the subject of a blogathon I’m participating in today called LAMB Acting School 101, hosted by Courtney Small of Cinema Axis: Man in the Iron Mask.

Share on your blog or in the comments, ONE movie you think showed Leonardo DiCaprio at his best in terms of acting. Remember to visit the blogs of fellow Monday Movie Meme participants. Also, if you haven’t already, join the conversation about the trajectory of DiCaprio’s career, by reading my LAMB post: What Leonardo DiCaprio Can Teach Us About Diligence!

Here is my selection for this week’s Man in the Iron Mask theme...

Blood Diamond – For the most part, I hated Danny Archer’s manipulative, greedy and selfish ways in this movie. This tripped me out because I’ve always liked Leonardo DiCaprio, so I think that any lovable actor who can make you hate him while still wanting to watch what happens next is an actor who doesn’t mind taking on roles that don’t paint his or her character in the best light – and still manage to make us wanting to root for them in the end, or at the very least, hate them a little less than we did during the first half of the movie.

What movie do YOU think shows Leonardo DiCaprio at his best?