Category: Upcoming Films

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia

 

Release Date:  4/3/21; Lifetime
Genre:  Biography
Rating:  Unknown
Director:  Kenny Leon
Studio(s):  Rock’n Robin Productions, Lincoln Square Productions
Running Time:  TBA

Cast:  The TV movie stars Tony Award nominee, SAG, and Grammy Award winning actress Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black) as the legend and civil rights trailblazer.  Brooks is joined by an impressive list of Broadway stars including Tony nominee Joaquina Kalukango (Slave Play), Jason Dirden (Fences), Olivia Washington (The Butler) and Rob Demery (Lovecraft Country).  Dirden stars as Russell Roberts, the Reverend who falls for Mahalia when they first meet in the late 1940s while Kalukango takes on the role of Mildred, Mahalia’s talented and opinionated long-time pianist.  Washington portrays Estelle, a piano teacher Mahalia meets at church who goes on to become her life-long friend, and Demery stars as the influential civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Story:  The upcoming biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia Jackson — the first project produced under a partnership between anchor Robin Roberts and Lifetime — is a fictionalized retelling of 40 years in the life of one of the greatest gospel singers of all time, Mahalia Jackson, dubbed the Queen of Gospel.

Born in New Orleans, Mahalia Jackson began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in United States history, merging her music with her work as a civil rights activist. Her recording of the song “Move on Up a Little Higher” sold millions of copies, skyrocketing her to international fame.  She performed in diverse settings, including in front of a racially integrated audience at Carnegie Hall, as well as at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball.  An active supporter of the civil rights movement, Jackson sang at numerous rallies, including the March on Washington in 1963 alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in hopes that her music would encourage and inspire racial equality. She took centerstage at the historic march, where she not only performed as the lead-in to King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, but also played a direct role in turning that speech into one of the most memorable and meaningful in American history.

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia Jackson will premiere Saturday, April 3, 2021, marking the 53rd year since Dr. King’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  Source(s):  yahoo.com.  Photo Sources: preprod.abcnews.go.com.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: , , , Leave a comment

Into The Dark: Blood Moon

Release Date:  3/26/21; Hulu
Genre:  Horror
Rating:  TV-MA
Director:  Emma Tammi
Studio(s):  Blumhouse Television, Hulu
Running Time:  90 mins.

Cast:  Megalyn Echikunwoke, Yonas Kibreab, Joshua Dov, Marco Rodriguez, Gareth Williams, Jack Yang, Brian Norris, Patrick W. Day, Jan Munroe, and Danielle Juliet Ma.

Story:  When Esme (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and her ten-year-old son, Luna (Yonas Kibreab), move to a small desert town looking for a fresh start, they attract all the wrong kinds of attention. As the locals begin to probe, Esme must battle to protect her son and a terrifying secret before the next full moon threatens their very existence.  Into The Dark is a horror anthology series with each episode inspired by a different holiday.  Source(s):  Joblo.com.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: , Leave a comment

Genius:  Aretha

Release Date:  3/21/21; National Geographic
Genre:   Biography
Rating:  TV-14
Director:  Anthony Hemingway

Studio(s):  EUE / Sokolow, Fox 21 Television Studios, Imagine Television, MWM Studios, National Geographic Channel

Cast:  Cynthia Erivo (Aretha Franklin), Shaian Jordan (Little Re, young Aretha), Courtney B. Vance (C. L. Franklin), David Cross (Jerry Wexler), Malcolm Barrett (Ted White), Patrice Covington (Erma Franklin), Kimberly Hébert Gregory (Ruth Bowen), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Carolyn Franklin), T.I. (Ken Cunningham).

Story:  National Geographic’s Genius is an anthology series focusing on the untold stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators.  Season 3 of the series will explore Aretha Franklin’s musical genius, her incomparable career, and the immeasurable impact she has had on music and culture.  The four-night broadcast event will culminate on March 25th, which will mark the late Aretha Franklin’s 79th birthday.  Source(s):  nationalgeographic.com; yahoo.com; slashfilm.com; IMDB.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: , , , Leave a comment

Ludi

Release Date:   3/16/21; SXSW

Genre:   Drama

Rating:  NR

Director:  Edson Jean

Studio(s):   Bantufy

Running Time:  80 mins.

Cast:  Shein Mompremier (Ludi), Patrice DeGraff-Arenas (Coretta), Madelin Marchant Blanca), Alan Myles Heyman (George).

Story:   Desperate to send money to her family back in Haiti, hardworking and exhausted nurse Ludi Alcidor spends a chaotic day battling coworkers, clients and an impatient bus driver as she chases the American dream in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood.  Source(s):  Rottentomatoes.com; IMDB.

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: Leave a comment

I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)

Release Date:  3/16/21; SXSW
Genre:  Dramedy
Rating:  NR
Director(s):  Kelley Kali, Angelique Molina
Running Time:  90 mins.

Cast:  Kelley Kali as Danny, Wesley Moss as Wes, Deon Cole as Chad, Brooklynn Marie as Brooklynn, Ira Scipio as Bobby, Jackie Holmes as Nyla, Xing-Mai Deng as Mr. Yu, Angelique Molina as Christina, Julia Kennedy as Charlotte, Roma Kong as Rebecca, Brian Brooks as Gus, Lamar Usher as Lamar.

Story:  When a recently widowed mother becomes houseless, she convinces her 8-year-old daughter that they are only camping for fun while working to get them off of the streets.

 

Trailer:

Source(s):  Official site, imfinethanksforasking.com, IMDB.

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: Leave a comment

Sweet Mahogany 2: Pure Indulgence

Release Date:  2/23/21 (DVD)
Genre:  Thriller
Rating:  NR
Director:  Karlton T. Clay
Studio(s):  Victory Productions, L.L.C., Maverick Films
Running Time:  86 mins.

Cast:  Jessica Lark, Kineh N’Goajia, Ronza Bee, April Davis, Michael Mykkel, Niya Kerr.

Story:  Mahogany Andrews appears to be in the fight for her life as she is battling Tony Hawkins for custody of their daughter, Rachel. However, another fight is beginning to ensue as Cassie Pearson is doing whatever it takes to keep her entire family, which includes Mahogany, together and Khalil Pearson is battling internally to figure out what he truly wants and needs out of life and his marriage.  Source(s):  Maverick Entertainment; IMDB.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: Leave a comment