Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Gabrielle Union, Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Jacke Earle Haley

Nate Parker

“The Birth of a Nation” is sometimes an oddly inconsistent film, but it’s a movie that’s never without passion. Nat Turner’s story, as depicted by actor, writer, producer and first-time director Nate Parker, is often a moving experience. Though the Turner biopic has garnered controversy recently, as past rape allegations against an acquitted Parker have come to light, there’s no denying that Parker’s directorial debut is an emotional piece of work.

When Nathaniel “Nat” Turner (Parker) was a boy, he had a vision of his ancestors marking him as a future leader. This isn’t the only vision that comes to Turner, who, from a young age, was taught to read and the word of God by Elizabeth (Penelope Ann Miller), the wife to his present slave owner and mother to his future slave owner, Samuel (Armie Hammer). Turner grows into a strong, baptist preacher, speaking the word of God to the slaves on the plantation. When Samuel, who falsely believes he’s better than other slave owners because of his rare moments of empathy, has Turner start preaching on other plantations, he can no longer stand the horrors he sees. The slave owners hope a preacher discussing peace could help prevent insurrection, but their plan has the opposite effect, as Turner’s visions – including one of a crop filling up with blood – propel Turner to lead a violent rebellion.

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The 2012 Ultra Music Festival kicks off this weekend in Miami, and we caught a sneak peak of the party about to explode here in South Florida. Swedish House Mafia appeared for a surprise performance at ABSOLUT Greyhound bash in Miami on Wednesday night. We were invited backstage to meet the guys and special guest Gabrielle Union, who looked as beautiful as ever as you can see from the photos above.

After hanging out a bit backstage, we went back and joined the crowd as we sipped down some tasty ABSOLUT cocktails. The crowd was totally amped for this event and Swedish House Mafia blew them away! We experienced Ultra a couple of years ago and this surprise concert gave us a taste of what to expect this weekend. The crowd was filled with all of the amazing sights you expect to see in Miami as all the South Florida hotties were decked out in tiny dresses and shorts for the evening of dancing. The crowd at Ultra is definitely different than what you would see at a rock festival!

Greyhound is a collaboration between ABSOLUT VODKA and Swedish House Mafia – check out the video here!