Author: blackcinemaconnection

Shooting Stars

Release Date:  6/2/23; Peacock
Genre:  Biography/Drama
Rating:   PG-13
Director:  Chris Robinson

Studio(s):  Cold Front Productions, SpringHill Entertainment, Tangerine Pictures, Universal Pictures, Peacock.

Cast:  Marquis “Mookie” Cook (young LeBron James), Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin), Willie McGee (Avery S. Wills, Jr.) Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage), Dru Joyce (Wood Harris), Dermot Mulroney, Romeo Travis (Sterling “Scoot” Henderson), Algee Smith.

Story:  Feature film adaptation of LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger’s book of the same name about the basketball star’s young life.  Set in the 1990s, where a young LeBron and his three best friends — Lil Dru, Willie McGee and Sian Cotton — declare themselves the “Fab Four.”  The group, under the guidance of coach Dru Joyce, is connected by more than basketball. So, when the coach at the top basketball school in their district threatens to separate them by putting Lil Dru on junior varsity, the Fab Four decide to switch schools to be able to play varsity together so they join the team at a predominantly white Catholic school. The community takes this as an insult, but the boys’ dedication to each other is more important than anything else. With their new coach, a disgraced former college coach seeking redemption of his own, the boys, along with former rival and new teammate Romeo Travis, will face battles not only on the court but in real life.  In their quest to become national champs, they rediscover that what matters most about the game is the people playing beside you.  Source(s):  IMDB, rottentomatoes.com.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: Leave a comment

The Angel Levine

Release Date:  July 28, 1970
Genre:  Drama
Rating:   PG-13
Running Time:  106 minutes
Director:  Ján Kadár
Studio(s):  Belafonte Enterprises, United Artists

Cast:  Harry Belafonte (Alexander Levine), Zero Mostel (Morris Mishkin), Gloria Foster (Sally), Ida Kaminska (Fanny Mishkin), Milo O’Shea (Dr. Arnold Berg).

Story:  Morris Mishkin, an impoverished Jewish tailor, is beset by difficulties: a backache prevents him from working; his wife, Fanny, is suffering from heart disease; and his daughter has run away with an Italian. Reduced to his last few dollars because of delays in the welfare system, Morris goes to the grocery store for a few meager provisions. On the way, he sees a black man steal a fur coat and yells for the police, but the thief dashes across the street and is killed when he is hit by a car. Morris returns home to find Fanny’s condition worse, and he castigates God for his continued suffering. He then walks into the kitchen and sees the black thief, who claims to be a Jewish angel named Alexander Levine. Levine explains that he must perform a miracle within 24 hours in order to be confirmed as an angel, but Morris is skeptical. Despite an immediate improvement in Fanny’s health, Morris refuses to attribute the miracle to God’s mercy. Eventually Levine’s 24 hours expire, and he leaves the tailor, who still disbelieves. Fanny soon becomes worse, and Morris, now ready to believe in Levine, searches for him in the streets of Harlem, but all he finds is a black feather in a synagogue.

Notes:  Based on a story by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Bernard Malamud.  It was brought to the screen by the late actor-singer-activist Harry Belafonte, who produced the film as his return to movies after more than ten years (his previous film had been Odds Against Tomorrow released in 1959).  Source:  tcm.com; Photo Sources:  IMDB; imcdb.com; civetmovies.blogspot.com.

Trailer:

by Categories: Seventies SaturdaysTags: , 1 Comment

Come Out Fighting

Release Date:   5/19/23 – VOD; Original Release – 11/3/22
Genre:  Drama
Rating:   NR
Running Time:  85 mins.
Director:  Steven Luke
Studio(s):  Lionsgate, Redbox Automated Retail, Schuetzle Company Productions, VMI Worldwide.
Cast:  Michael Jai White (Sergeant AJ ‘Red’ McCarron), Tyrese Gibson, Kellan Lutz (Lieutenant Frank Ross), Hiram A. Murray (Lieutenant Robert A. Hayes), Dolph Lundgren (Major Chase Anderson).

Story:  In this military adventure set during WWII, a small, specialized squad of U.S. Army African American soldiers are sent on an unofficial rescue mission behind enemy lines to locate their missing commanding officer. Upon battling their way through the German defenses they encounter more then they bargain for when they locate a downed U.S. Army fighter pilot. With the help of their friends at the 761st tank battalion, known as “The Black Panthers,” the squad must find a way to survive and make it back in one piece.  Sources:  IMDB; firstshowing.net.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: , , Leave a comment

Imani

Release Date:  1/6/23; BET+
Genre:  Action
Rating:  TV-MA
Running Time:  117 mins.
Director:  Mike Ho
Studio(s):  Imani Media Group, Faith Media Distribution.

Cast:  Brittany S. Hall (Faith Newford), Demetrius Shipp, Jr. (Bryce Newford), Stephen Bishop (Senator Grant Powell), Kris D. Lofton (Raymond ‘Supreme’ Avant, Jr.), Elyse Mirto (General Michelle Dupreee), Michael Monks (Sec Arthur Bridges), Corey Calliet (Khalil Dames/Myles Baker), Sydney-Lake Bradley  (Jada Newford), Isaac Stephen Montgomery (Jonathan Taylor).

Story:  A year after what she thinks was a car accident, a seemingly normal wife and mother slowly recovers from amnesia, only to learn that she is actually a highly sought after Army Special Ops Lieutenant who holds a secret that would blow the lid on a widespread government conspiracy.  Source:  prneswire.com.

Trailer:

by Categories: Now Playing Leave a comment

Aurora:  A Love Story

a/k/a Aurora

Release Date:  1/27/23; VOD

Genre:  Drama

Rating:  NR

Running Time:  95 mins.

Director:  Noel Calloway

Studio(s):  Tough Dog Media

Cast:  Tobias Truvillion (Kenny), Wakeema Hollis (Giselle), Marc John Jeffries (Will), Brian Anthony Wilson (Kevin).

Story:  Kenny and Giselle are set to marry on a beach in Puerto Rico. When Giselle disappears on the day of the ceremony it sets off a crazy chain of events, unearthing secrets, lies and betrayal that threatens to destroy their fairytale love story.  Source:  Prime Video.

Trailer:

by Categories: Now Playing Leave a comment

Three Ways

Release Date:  2/10/23; Hulu
Genre:  Comedy
Rating:   TVMA
Running Time:  92 mins.
Director:  Jamal Dedeaux
Studio(s):  Andscape, Mean Spirited Productions, Flourishing Films, Hulu
Cast:  Andrea Lewis, Brittany S. Hall, Jerrel O’Neal, Toccara Jones, David Raibon, Ronin Lee.

Story:  A sex comedy told in three ways… Sexually awkward Stacey Johnson decides to take control of her life, cancel her ex, and conquer her fears by having a threesome with her new beau and a mysterious woman she’s never met. What could possibly go wrong?  Source:  Hulu.

Trailer:

by Categories: Now PlayingTags: Leave a comment