Samantha LaBat
Obsessed with Hamilton and most things Disney. Gets too attached to TV show characters. Loves a good thriller, but will only tolerate so much blood.
Latest articles by Samantha LaBat
![Michael B. Jordan in Just Mercy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vYfC832sQtHEY5ASXWnt49-320-80.jpg)
A Rundown Of The Times Michael B. Jordan And Lori Harvey Were So Adorable It Hurt
By Samantha LaBat published
Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey's new relationship makes me so happy yet so sad.
![Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qfAFNm2ycz2DhJsyVUe528-320-80.jpg)
Judas And The Black Messiah Wants To Change How The Black Panther Party Is Perceived
By Samantha LaBat published
The Lucas Brothers shared how their film Judas and the Black Messiah will change the way people view the Black Panthers.
![LaKeith Stanfield in Judas and the Black Messiah](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e3PDQG3JraZrvu4ndjhUC-320-80.jpg)
Why Judas And The Black Messiah's Writers Weren't Worried About Spoiling Anything With The Title
By Samantha LaBat published
The title let's you know what's coming, but the story's perspective makes it more epic.
![Iliza Shlesinger and Cleopatra Coleman in The Right One](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohu9BkP5JY9F966wwLcEZK-320-80.jpg)
How Social-Media Culture Shaped The Story Of The Right One
By Samantha LaBat published
How do you find your authentic self in the social media age?
![Cleopatra Coleman in The Right One](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Voqjdp6rv72KEfPdhnRdKh-320-80.jpg)
The Right One Director Discusses ‘Organically Diverse’ Casting
By Samantha LaBat published
Ken Mok made sure his film reflected the world as it is today.
![Nick Thune and Cleopatra Coleman in The Right One](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nVDsvE8rPwYqzH5cJ7BBsS-320-80.jpg)
Calling The Right One ‘A Very Different Romantic Comedy’ Is The Best Compliment To The Director
By Samantha LaBat published
Different is exactly what he was going for.
![Ciera Peyton as Wendy Williams in Wendy Williams: The Movie](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3QUqoaeLSsE8hR6Y5L6fg-320-80.jpg)
Wendy Williams Has ‘No Regrets’ And Is Living Her ‘Best Life’ Since Divorce
By Samantha LaBat published
Gotta love her honesty.
![GG Townson and Laila Odom as Salt and Pepa in Salt-N-Pepa](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KMjTUYsQsaNuYUDyotV9HQ-320-80.jpg)
Hip-Hop Legends Salt-N-Pepa Talk Revisiting Old Wounds For Lifetime Biopic
By Samantha LaBat published
Imagine putting 35 years into a 2.5 hour film.
![Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RhVKCBnm4BezA5jHUfCFsE-320-80.jpg)
Borat 2 Producer On Why Movies Shouldn’t Be Censored Based On Current Events
By Samantha LaBat published
The executive producer also worked on Zoolander and has strong thoughts about movies being a slice of life.
![Tanya Maniktala as Lata in A Suitable Boy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FsuDe88KwLwt2WGCUoHJKC-320-80.jpg)
How Americans And Indians Look At Love Differently, According To A Suitable Boy Director
By Samantha LaBat published
So much of what we see is actually absolutely averse to self-awareness.
![Danesh Razvi as Kabir and Tanya Maniktala as Lata in A Suitable Boy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oE7K57jHtG4F6LFnPLcyuF-320-80.jpg)
Why A Suitable Boy’s Characters Switch Between Languages So Often
By Samantha LaBat published
The book is written entirely in English, but the TV series made some changes.
![John Boyega in Small Axe: Red, White and Blue](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DCWX99n53EubSt8baazWfk-320-80.jpg)
John Boyega Calls Big Franchise Work ‘Luxury Jail’ For An Actor
By Samantha LaBat published
He makes a solid point here.
![Maria Bakalova and Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xoUX8FXwT9NGaUWx2YcsvG-320-80.jpg)
Borat 2’s Producer ‘Excited’ That Maria Bakalova’s Getting Awards Consideration
By Samantha LaBat published
It's an award-winning performance, for sure.
![John Boyega as Leroy Logan in Small Axe Red, White and Blue](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3UM2atSxgtrSgbnm6LQ2iE-320-80.jpg)
Steve McQueen Talks Blacks Being Given The ‘Keys’ To Create Things That ‘Cannot Be Ignored’
By Samantha LaBat published
The esteemed British filmmaker best known for his award-winning feature 12 Years a Slave has commented on a shift in the industry for Black artists and creators.
![Sacha Baron Cohen in BORAT 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cHLxmrJMt3FjXT859KreJf-320-80.jpg)
Why Borat 2 Needed To Be Filmed In Secret Despite The Stress It Caused
By Samantha LaBat published
How did they pull this off?
![Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr and Lin Manuel Miranda as Hamilton in Hamilton](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Yrt5GPr4X4c7bqjwkFtzHK-320-80.jpg)
One Milestone Leslie Odom Jr. Hit While Working On Hamilton
By Samantha LaBat published
He's inimitable and an original.
![Leslie Odom Jr., Eli Goree, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Aldis Hodge in One Night in Miami](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kqk5rsGaGLn4smwcBN5rNi-320-80.jpg)
Eli Goree Shares ‘Surreal’ Experience Of Recording One Night In Miami ADR Days After George Floyd
By Samantha LaBat published
The One Night in Miami star shares a meaningful day recording.
![Eli Goree as Cassius Clay and Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X in One Night In Miami](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nxaRRnAmLPsLy3YMrubDjf-320-80.jpg)
One Night In Miami Stars Have Strong Thoughts About An Actor’s Responsibility To Use Their Platform For More
By Samantha LaBat published
Can an actor be content to just be an actor, or do they have to use their platform to take a stand for current issues?
![Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8trHVNaveWdXJDpnaUj4tj-320-80.jpg)
What ‘Pains’ Leslie Odom Jr. About One Night In Miami’s Sam Cooke
By Samantha LaBat published
The Hamilton star spoke with CinemaBlend about portraying the King of Soul.
![Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X in One Night In Miami](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gwmDnsVzdtWVLQeA4Wk6pL-320-80.jpg)
Regina King On History ‘Repeating Itself’ For One Night In Miami
By Samantha LaBat published
The film is set in 1964 and is possibly more relevant than ever today.
![Tamara Bass, Meagan Holder & Mekia Cox in If Not Now, When?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ocVyzG8ZyFcjx8wtuDHwWP-320-80.jpg)
If Not Now, When? Director’s Biggest Motivator As A Black Entertainer
By Samantha LaBat published
Tamara Bass is chasing her dreams. Full stop.
![Eli Goree as Cassius Clay in One Night In Miami](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4NqqC6NYDQrizDmpWLmZd4-320-80.jpg)
How Eli Goree Made The Self-Centered Cassius Clay Likable In One Night In Miami
By Samantha LaBat published
Eli Goree was the perfect man for this job.
![Lexi Underwood in If Not Now, When?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dG8pVwsoAHDLfLFrfEz5dV-320-80.jpg)
Lexi Underwood Addresses Colorism In The Industry
By Samantha LaBat published
The Little Fires Everywhere star speaks out about the dark vs. light skin problem.