Cuba Comes Clean On Dirty

Oscar-winner CUBA GOODING JR premiered his corrupt cop film Dirty in the southeast before its nationwide release this past weekend. When Tasty Clips asked writer/director Chris Fisher about the odd rollout there was a simple answer: "His last films performed best in the south." The tense thriller, based on L.A.'s Ramparts scandal, boasts a hot cast of Clifton Collins Jr (Capote), Wyclef Jean, Keith David, Cole Hauser, Wood Harris and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas making his film debut. After a private showing in South Carolina, Cuba came under fire during a Q&A from an audience not accustomed to hearing such profane language from the likeable actor. He had to defend his choice to star in a film with what he called "the most authentic script I'd read since Boyz N The Hood." "Unfortunately, that is the vernacular that is used today in our community," said Cuba. "It not only is used by the police, but by social workers, and in the schools. It is realistic to the situation we're portraying." Perhaps it is a testimonial to the strength of his performance that he had to assure the crowd that he was far from the Salim Adel character he portrays. "I no more talk like Salim than I do Radio," he joked citing his lauded role as a challenged adult. Up next, Cuba hosts The 37th NAACP Image Awards, which airs March 3 on Fox. On the big screen, he has Monster's Ball producer Lee Daniels' directorial debut Shadowboxer coming.