Release Date: 6/24/14; Direct-to-video Genre: Drama Rating: NR Running Time:75 mins. Studio: Nu-Lite Entertainment; eOne Entertainment Director: Jean-Claude La Marre Cast:Eurika Pratts (Carmen Johnson), Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. (Mr. Murray), Ernest Dancy (Tyrone), Ernest Thomas (Lenny), Kristian Bernard (Blak), Jean-Claude La Marre (The Hatian). Story: Tyrone is one of the top college basketball stars in the country, but when his brother is released from prison he begins to feel the pressure of going back to hustling drugs on the street. Tyrone’s coach hopes to set his talented player straight by introducing him to Carmen. Carmen is a beautiful tutor, who in a tragic twist of fate turns out to be the sister of a rival drug lord. (Source: promotional material, IMDB).
Release Date: 5/27/14; DVD Genre: Romance Rating: NR Running Time: 86 mins. Studio: Entertainment One Director: Cardinal Lamberto Cast: Drew Sidora (Sandra), Steven Sutton (Terrance), Thomas Mikal Ford/Tommy Ford, Dominique Duvernay, Romeo Miller.
Story: Sandra a small town country girl, returns home after college to take over the family business, her father’s beloved bed and breakfast. Facing an unfaithful husband and a dysfunctional relationship with her mother, she finds herself at a difficult crossroads. Everything changes, however, when Terrance a young, handsome lawyer checks in and opens her eyes to an entirely different life filled with happiness. (Source: promotional material).
Release Date: 4/25/14 (limited); 6/8/2013 (Ardmore open) Genre: Drama Rating: PG Running Time: 97 mins. Studio(s): Royal Street Productions; Gyre Entertainment; Freestyle Releasing Director: Pierre Bagley Cast: Taraji P. Henson (Catana Starks)
Michael Clarke Duncan (Roger)
Tom Felton (Edward)
Justin Chon (Ji-Kyung)
Henry Simmons (Kendrick Paulsen, Jr.)
James Saito (Won-Sik)
Robert Bailey, Jr.(Craig)
Tony Bentley (Coach Hank Taylor)
Letoya Luckett (Stacey)
Story: The inspirational true story of Catana Starks from the Historically Black University Tennessee State, who became the first African-American woman ever to coach an all-men’s team at the collegiate level. Through grit and determination, she overcame incredible odds and deep-seated prejudice from all corners to guide a rag-tag group of golfers to an all-time record championship season. Source(s): IMDB; Fromtherough.com, official site.
Release Date: 10/27/14 Genre: Comedy/Drama Rating: Not Available Studio(s): Fox Television Studios /VH1 Television Director: Billie Woodruff Cast: Nick Cannon (Devon Miles), Alexandra Shipp (Dani), Jordan Calloway (Jayven), Leonard Roberts (Sean Taylor), Lisa Arrindell Anderson (Lois Bolton), Letoya Luckett (Dr. Nia Phillips), Jasmine Burke (Tasha), Kamille Leai (Lori) Jackie Goldston (Dean Scott), Rome Flynn (Leon), Scott Shilstone (Josh), Jeff Pierre (Tyree)
Story: Drumline: A New Beat will focus on a new set of characters at Atlanta A&T University — the setting of the original movie. The story follows Dani Bolton (Shipp), an upper-class Brooklyn girl who defies her parents in order to attend Atlanta A&T so she can join — and revitalize — its once-prominent drumline.
Dani’s quest to become the first female section leader of the drumline in the school’s history will be hampered by upperclassmen, including her cousin, Tyree (Jeff Pierre, Glee), head of the percussion section and her feelings for fellow bandmate Jayven (Jordan Calloway, Unfabulous), an extremely gifted, yet cocky freshman.
Leonard Roberts will reprise his role as Sean Taylor, now a determined band director looking to make his mark at his alma mater while navigating the ghosts of his past. Cannon will executive produce and reprise his role as Devon Miles in a cameo. Letoya Luckett (Single Ladies) will portray Dr. Nia Phillips, the intelligent and determined dean at Atlanta A&T with former romantic ties to Sean. Her support of Sean’s return to lead A&T’s band proves to be difficult as the Panthers take on a rival band led by Phillips’ ex-husband — and Sean’s brother — Kevin Taylor. Jasmine Burke (Ride Along) is set as Tasha Williams, one of Dani’s roommates who is wooed by Josh (Scott Shilstone, Now You See Me). Source: The Hollywood Reporter.
Trailer:
Teaser:
Details: The first Drumline featured a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, was a success for Fox, grossing close to $60 million. The sequel may be a possible pilot to a potential Drumline series on VH-1. Source(s): Deadline; Shadow & Act.
Release Date: 4/15/14, DVD; 11/27/13, Theatrical Release Genre: Drama/Musical Rating: PG Studio: Maven Pictures; Fox Searchlight Pictures Director: Kasi Lemmons Cast: Angela Bassett (Aretha Cobbs)
Jennifer Hudson (Naima)
Forest Whitaker (Reverend Clarence Cobbs)
Mary J. Blige (Angel)
Jacob Latimore (Langston)
Nasir Jones (Street Prophet /Isaiah)
Tyrese Gibson (Loot /Tyson)
Vondie Curtis Hall (Pawnbroker)
Story: In a contemporary adaptation of Langston Hughes’ celebrated play, the holiday musical drama follows Langston, a street-wise teen from Baltimore raised by a single mother, as he journeys to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs. Unwilling to live by the imposing Reverend Cobbs’ rules, a frustrated Langston is determined to return home to his mother, Naima. Langston embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey and along with new friends, and a little divine intervention, he discovers the true meaning of faith, healing, and family. Source: Foxsearchlight.com, official site.
Release Date: 4/15/16 Genre: Comedy Rating: Not Available Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Cube Vision, New Line Cinema Director: Malcolm D. Lee Cast: Ice Cube (Calvin Palmer), Common (Jabari), Nicki Minaj (Draya), Anthony Anderson (J.D.), Cedric the Entertainer (Eddie), Regina Hall (Angie), Garcelle Beauvais (Loretta), Sean Patrick Thomas (Jimmy), Eve (Terri), Deon Cole (Dante), Tyga (Whack MC), J. B. Smoove.
Details: On this date MovieWeb reported that Barbershop: The Next Cut is bringing the Beauty Shop inside their doors for a joint business to help both parties keep afloat, and with the girls and guys working side by side, you can bet that every day is going to be a party. That is, if the raining bullets don’t accidentally kill someone first. There’s a serious new problem in town. And it needs to be addressed by a community that can actually do something about it. Ice Cube’s Calvin Palmer has a young son growing up in a Chicago suburb where the presence of gang violence is growing by the day. And it is encroaching on his business. It’s a serious issue that Barbershop: The Next Cut seems to be cutting into with some humor, making for a slightly more serious affair than past sequels.
Joining the cast this time around is also Common, who is now married to the only woman working on the Barber side of the shop, Terri, a character being reprised by Eve. Their personal journey will be one of the many side stories on display in Barbershop 3, as each of the shop’s employees work through their own struggles in the face of a neighborhood that seems to be under constant attack. Source: MovieWeb.
Trailer 1:
Trailer 2:
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Update: According to Shadow and Act, Barbershop 3 is set for a February 19, 2016 release, with a cast the seemingly continues to grow, including additions, Deon Cole, Nicki Minaj, and Regina Hall, who have all booked roles in the New Line/MGM threequel, joining the previously cast Michael Rainey Jr., Common, Anthony Anderson and returning stars Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer and Eve.
Malcolm D. Lee is directing, from a script penned by “Black-Ish” creator, Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver. Ice Cube’s Cube Vision shingle is producing, with Bob Teitel and George Tillman, Jr. of State Street Pictures as lead producers.
Collectively, the first 2 movies grossed $140 million domestically on comparatively low budgets, and were financial successes for the studio.
As of May 5, 2015, according to Movieweb, it isn’t clear at this point if other original franchise stars such as Sean Patrick Thomas (Jimmy), Troy Garity (Issac), Michael Ealy (Ricky) and Leonard Earl Howze (Dinka) will also come back for the follow-up. Source(s): Shadow and Act, MovieWeb.
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On March 26, 2014 Deadline reported that MGM is reviving its Barbershop franchise. The film company is negotiating a mid-seven-figure deal with Ice Cube to reprise his role as the catalyst for Barbershop 3. They also hope to re-enlist Cedric the Entertainer and Queen Latifah as well. The 2002 original cost $12 million and grossed $75 million domestic while the 2004 sequel cost $30 million and grossed $65 million. Source: Deadline.
Release Date: 6/24/14; Direct-to-video
Black Cinema Connection 