Henson’s fiancé, Super Bowl champion Kelvin Hayden, beamed as folks congratulated a mildly overwhelmed Henson. A DJ spun ’80s and ’90s hits as guests networked, danced and stood in a receiving line of sorts to sing Henson’s praises. And they’d just toasted Henson earlier that day as she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Īfter the screening, a small crowd headed over to a nearby W Hotel, where mini burgers, tuna tartare and macaroni and cheese were munched on at swanky STK just off the lobby. Many of black Hollywood’s most important content creators were in Westwood, including producer Will Packer, naturally, and director John Singleton, who cast Henson in her breakout role as Yvette in 2001’s Baby Boy. The screening happened in the same theater where, a decade earlier, Henson’s talent was introduced to Hollywood tastemakers via The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which she acted alongside Brad Pitt and earned herself an Academy Award nomination.
Sundance report: An Arthur Ashe virtual reality experience makes his historic 1968 victory real.Sundance report: Tichina Arnold reflects on ‘Martin’ and black women in Hollywood.Oscar-winning director of ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ was a prep running back who went to FSU - as a film student.Present-day adaptation of ‘Native Son’ opens Sundance 2019.Henson’s voice is reaching far beyond Hollywood That certainly was the sentiment at the film’s premiere and after-party on Monday in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
What Men Want is the kind of movie that black actors, specifically black female actors, don’t get the opportunity to make. And add to all this Karl-Anthony Towns, Shaquille O’Neal, Grant Hill and Lisa Leslie, who make seriously hilarious cameos. Henson has the recipe for what should be a successful film: The writing is sharp, the comedic timing is perfection, and Henson is surrounded by a phenomenal supporting cast that includes Aldis Hodge, who also shines in Clemency, a film that already has critics talking about next season’s big awards. The comedy is set in Atlanta, and Henson’s character is determined to land a big NBA lottery pick as a client to prove to her male colleagues that she should be made a partner.
In this film inspired by Mel Gibson’s 2000 What Women Want, Henson plays the Gibson character and has a chance to prove she is a major box-office draw.