Right after For Colored Girls, Thandie Newton isn’t taking a break.  She is returning to the big screen in the thriller Vanishing on 7th Street, which includes Hayden Christensen and John Leguizamo. Here is the synopsis for the post-apocalyptic thriller:

An unexplained blackout plunges the city of Detroit into total darkness, and by the time the sun rises, only a few people remain – surrounded by heaps of empty clothing, abandoned cars and lengthening shadows. A small handful of strangers that have survived the night each find their way to a rundown bar, whose gasoline-powered generator and stockpile of food and drink make it the last refuge in a deserted city. With daylight beginning to disappear completely and whispering shadows surrounding the survivors, they soon discover that the enemy is the darkness itself, and only the few remaining light sources can keep them safe. As time begins to run out for them, darkness closes in and they must face the ultimate terror.

Check out the trailer!

BET.com got an exclusive look at the latest images from Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls, which is in theaters Friday, November 5th. The film is based on the iconic 1974 play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange.

The movie is directed and written by Tyler Perry with a powerhouse cast that includes Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington and Macy Gray. It’s one of the biggest cast of Black actresses since Oprah Winfrey’s Women of Brewster Place in 1989.

Check out the exclusive images below!

Thandie Newton as Tangie, a role that was originally for Mariah Carey.

Oscar-winner Whoopi Goldberg as Alice, a religious woman and the mother of Thandie Newton’s character.

The legendary Janet Jackson as Jo.

Are you excited to see For Colored Girls?

Summary: The Mayans predict the world is ending on December 21st, 2012. The government hides the end of days and once the secret is out, it’s a mad race to survival headquarters.

Review: I had no idea 2012 included an all-star cast: Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor.  Newton, Glover and Ejiofor are missing from the trailers and seem to be doing no press.  I thought John Cusack was the only headliner.

It’s clear, 2012 is no Independence Day or The Day After Tomorrow, two films that were directed by Roland Emmerich, who also directed this film. 2012 is another tale of global destruction that we have all witnessed before, but this time it’s padded with Sony PSP-like special effects, not-even-bad-enough-to-be-camp dialogue and a nap-inducing running time of 158 minutes.  2012 is a gargantuan mess.

The Bad  -  2012’s desire to inject poorly written emotionality into a typical disaster flick is the mostly costly error. There are too many random characters for you to care: a scientist, a jazz musician, the president, a novelist, a radio host, a rich Russian and the list goes on. Their high school drama monologues matched with fantastical scenarios detonates the possibility of a fun popcorn flick. With each minute, 2012’s script crumbles right at the core.

The Almost Good  -  There are some suspensions of disbelief that you must take in a disaster movie. Characters always have perfect timing — in 2012 they expertly dodge falling buildings, escape the ground vanishing beneath them and learn how to fly a plane as easily as riding a bike. Regardless, there are some suspenseful scenes and the film succeeds when it focuses solely on the action. It’s a hoot to watch the Eiffel Tower, Washington Monument and Vatican City get destroyed (New York was left alone this time around!). In moments, there is a decent plot under the rubble of melodrama — 2012 just never quite gets to it.

2012 is in theaters this Friday, November 13th.

We always hear about the success of Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy.  However, who are the top black actresses of all time *according to their box office gross*?  Check out the official list below.

10. Jennifer Hudson (3 films)
To have only been in three films and manage to be one of the top black actresses of all time is amazing for Oscar, Grammy, SAG and Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson.  The woman definitely has a long career ahead of her.

Lifetime gross: $293,750,056
#1 movie: Sex and the City $152,647,258

9. Beyonce Knowles (5 films)
The singer turned actresses has only been in five films, but Austin Powers in Goldmember racked in over $200 million, placing Sasha Fierce at number 8.

Lifetime gross: $437.3 (5 films)
#1 movie: Austin Powers in Goldmember $213.3

8. Thandie Newton (22 films)

The UK actress has always been known for her respectable and critically acclaimed roles. From Beloved to Mission Impossible, Newton is a mainstay in cinema from Hollywood to London.

Lifetime gross:$664.9
#1 movie: Mission: Impossible II $215.4

7. Nia Long (22 films)

The Brooklyn born Nia Long has worked with Whoopi Goldberg, Jude Law and Will Smith. She ranks #6.

Lifetime gross: $691,414,242
#1 movie: Big Momma’s House (1999) $117.6

6. Angela Bassett (24 films)

The Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee has become one of the world’s most highly respected actresses for films like What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Waiting To Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Lifetime gross: $750,045,528 (24 films)
#1 movie: The Score (2001) $71.1

5. Regina King (18 films)
While she is considered one of the most underrated actresses of this generation, her box office numbers proves she is a draw.  According to http://www.the-numbers.com, Her films have grossed more than Kate Winslet, Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster.

Lifetime gross: $1,050,799,524
#1 movie: Jerry Maguire $274,000,000

4. Jada Pinkett Smith (21 films)

Jada Pinkett Smith has a diverse range of films from the hood classic Menace II Society to The Matrix.  She manages to rank at #4.

Lifetime gross: $$1,417,189,353
#1 movie: The Matrix Reloaded $281.6

3. Queen Latifah (28 films)

Queen Latifah is an Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner. Credited for 26 films and starring in 13, Latifah’s biggest paycheck was 10 million for Beauty Shop in 2005. At this rate,  the Newark native could easily become the top black actress of all time.

Lifetime gross: $$1,431,366,338
#1 movie: Ice Age 2 $195.3

2. Halle Berry (27 films)

It might surprise some people that  Halle Berry isn’t the top grossing black actress of all time.  She’s had six movies that grossed over 100 million and received 14million dollars to star in Catwoman, which was an international bomb.  Nonetheless, she was the first black woman to receive this much for a film.

Lifetime gross: $1,592,734,690
#1 movie: X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) $234.4

1.  Whoopi Goldberg (46 films)

The Oscar-winner for Ghost has been a movie star since 1985. She is credited for 46 films and at the peak of Whoopi’s career she was paid 7 million for her role in 1993’s Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

Lifetime gross: $1,800,253,561
#1 movie: The Lion King (1994) $312,900,000

All numbers are from http://boxofficemojo.com/, http://www.the-movie-times.com and http://www.the-numbers.com/.

* All numbers are approximate.

I’m sure you’ve heard the news that there is an Angela Davis biopic in the works. The director, Franco-Algerian Rachid Bouchareb, has his eye on Beyonce Knowles to play the legendary civil rights leader.

According to the Hollywood Reporter.

“Bouchareb, who will produce the movie through his French production company, plans to shoot in summer 2010 with a budget in the region of $20 million-$30 million, and is lining up a major French backer. The script is by novelist  Yasmina Khadra, whose book ‘The Attack’ has been optioned by Focus Features. No cast is yet attached but Bouchareb has his lead actress firmly in mind: ‘I want Beyonce Knowles to play Angela Davis,’ he said. ‘It’s a great dramatic role for her.’”

Bouchareb is from France so maybe he doesn’t realize there are actually other black actresses in the world other than Beyonce. Sure, she is a talented singer and dancer, but playing the role of Ms. Davis should be reserved for a stone-cold actress. Also, if you think Etta James got mad with Beyonce, you don’t want a former Black Panther who was once on the FBI’s most wanted list to have it in for Bey — she might stage a protest outside of the House of Dereon headquarters!

So, in the event that Bouchareb doesn’t know any better, here are a few names that would be better consideration. Please feel free to spread the word!

Thandie Newton

With an afro, Newton would probably look the most similar to Angela Davis. She is also becoming more of a bankable actress having recently appeared in crossover roles like RocknRolla and W., where she played Condoleezza Rice.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji could be the next Halle Berry. She is an Oscar nominee and has a degree in theatre arts from Howard University.

Kerry Washington

You can’t go wrong with Kerry Washington. She is well-informed with politics, which one would need for this political role, and was amazing in films like The Last King of Scottland and Ray.

Regina King

King is a Screen Actors Guild nominee and has appeared in movies like Ray and Jerry Maguire. Pick Regina and the film just might be Oscar worthy — not Razzie worthy.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith’s wife might just be your number one pick. She is excels in aggressive female roles, a household name and might be willing to take a pay cut if there is a strong script — she ain’t struggling for cash with Big Willie.

Take notice!

Well, the year is officially over.  2008 has been a quiet year for African-Americans in film.  Last year we had The Great Debaters, American Gangster, Talk to Me — however, this year there were very films telling stories about African-American life.  Still, you can’t ignore the performances, whether heavy and emotional or fun and fashionable.  Here are the best performances from African-American actors in 2008:

10. Will Smith in Seven Pounds

While not the best film, Smith still gave a great performance.  If anything was right about Seven Pounds, it was Will Smith.

9. Jada Pinkett Smith in The Women

Okay, I know The Women was an awful movie.  Nonetheless, it was Jada’s character that gave the film some life.  She played a lesbian, which was not in the original movie and managed to add some soul to a drab cast and trite script.  Jada makes anything look good.

8. Jennifer Hudson in Sex and the City

J-Hud beat out Kelly Rowland for this role and while some criticized her for taking a supporting role after winning an Oscar, this was a good look.  She played the role of Louise, who was Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant.

7.  Brandon T. Jackson in Tropic Thunder

Jackson held his own with comedic legends like Ben Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr. Tropic Thunder wasn’t without its controversy (Downey playing a white guy who is playing black), Jackson’s character said everything black audiences were thinking.  Hopefully we will see more from Jackson in the not so distant future.

6. Douglas Silva in City of Men

Douglas Silva is a Brazilian actor who starred in the critically acclaimed City of God and the television series City of Men.  City of Men the film was released in the U.S. this year, which tells the story of Acerola (Silva) and his best friend turning eighteen.  A drug war breaks out and the two friends are tested beyond their limits.

5. Thandie Newton in Rocknrolla

The always stunning Newton gave a sizzling performance as the sassy and edgy Stella in Guy Ritchie’s Rocknrolla.  The Brit action-comedy revolves around clumsy criminals trying to get rich quick.

4. Sophie Okonedo in Secret Life of Bees

Okonedo is another underrated actress and her brilliance is hard to deny in any film.  She was the standout in Secret Life of Bees, holding her own among Grammy and Oscar winners.

3. Viola Davis in Doubt

Davis has been in film and television for over ten years and is just getting the attention she deserves.  Her performance in Doubt has already earned her a Golden Globe nomination and an Oscar nod is a strong possibility.

2. Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Taraji P. Henson might possibly be the next Halle Berry. She has grown from her days in 2001’s Baby Boy.  Now, she is getting recognition across the world for her performance as Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Henson received a SAG nomination and might battle out the Oscar with Viola Davis.

1. Jeffrey Wright in Cadillac Records

Littered with mixed reviews, Cadillac Records wasn’t the smash hit everyone hoped for. Whatever the case, you can’t ignore Wright’s performance as the legendary Muddy Waters.  Nearly every review praised his skills and he definitely has a bright future in Hollywood. If Cadillac Records would’ve been better written and executed, Wright would’ve had the year Jamie Foxx had with 2005’s Ray.

See you in the ‘09!