FIRST LOOKS: TLC, 1982 and ALI

Posted by | Ray Cornelius

More pictures are starting to emerge of the cast of VH1’s new TLC biopic. Apparently the real Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins instagramed a photo last week of Keke Palmer, Drew Sidora and Lil Mama all dressed up as TLC. The photo was juxtaposed to a picture of the real group and the comparison is simply amazing. Take a look below:

As previously reported, Keke Palmer will portray Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, Drew Sidora is Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Lil Mama will play the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in the made for television film. Rounding out the cast is Evan Ross as Dallas Austin, Anthony Payne as Antonio L.A. Reid and Rochelle Aytes as Perri ‘Pebbles’ Reid. When I talked to the real Chilli and T-Boz at the Ludacris Fast 6 Fan Fest & Celebrity Race, they told me they didn’t try to advice the actresses on how to play them but instead shared with the girls the “attitudes and emotions” they were feeling at certain moments in their careers.  Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story  airs this fall!

The first movie poster for Tommy Oliver’s directorial debut, 1982 has been released. As previously reported, the new indie project is based on a true story about a black father whose wife suffers from crack cocaine addiction and his efforts to protect his 10-year old daughter from having to experience life as the child of a drug addicted mother. The film features an all-star cast including Hill Harper, Sharon Leal, Bokeem Woodbine, Lala Anthony, Quinton Aaron, with Wayne Brady and Ruby Dee. According to Indie Wire, principal photography for 1982 took place last summer and the film is co-directed by Hill Harper and Heather Rae.

The first official poster for the new feature documentary on the life and times of boxing icon Muhammad Ali has been released. “The Trials of Muhammad Ali” is the latest project from Kartemquin Films and will premiere this Friday, April 26 at the Tribeca Film Festival. According to Indie Wire, the film is not your typical boxing flick but will show Ali “as a fighter fueled by defiance, faith and a quest for justice.”

Here is a brief synopsis of the film: … Ali’s toughest bout, his battle to overturn the five-year prison sentence he received for refusing US military service during the Vietnam War. Brash boxer Cassius Clay burst into the American consciousness in the early 1960s, just ahead of the Civil Rights movement. His transformation into the spiritually enlightened heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali is legendary, but this religious awakening also led to a bitter legal battle with the U.S. government after he refused to serve in the Vietnam War. This film reveals the perfect storm of race, religion and politics that shaped one of the most recognizable figures in sports history.