Category: Upcoming Films

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

Girl In The Closet

Release Date:  3/11/23; Lifetime
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  TV-14
Director:  Jaira Thomas
Studio(s):  Swirl Films, Lifetime Television

Cast: Remy Ma (Patricia), Tami Roman (Mia), Daijah Peters (Cameron), Danielle LaRoach (Nancy), Stevie Baggs, Jr. (Chris), Teisha Speight (Joanne).

Story:  Based on real-life events.  10-year-old Cameron, who, after her mother Patricia suffered an aneurysm, is adopted by her Aunt Mia, despite having a record as a convicted murderer that was overlooked by overworked social workers. Soon after arriving in her new home, Cameron begins to hear strange voices at night coming from the basement’s locked door. She later discovers what was actually behind that door–people chained to the wall, innocent victims of her aunt’s schemes to enrich herself by cashing their benefit checks. It wasn’t long before Cameron was demoted down into the basement herself, where she would stay for the next ten years while her mother frantically searches for her whereabouts without much help from social services or the authorities. When Cameron finds herself locked in a closet with no food, no water, and no human contact, only her faith keeps her alive before she is rescued.

This is the latest in Lifetime’s “Girl In” movies which showcase harrowing stories of women who survive horrific circumstances, per the network’s news release. The movies include Girl in Room 13, Girl in the Basement, Girl in the Bunker, Girl in the Box and Girl in the Shed.  Source:  mylifetime.com.

Trailer:

 

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: , Leave a comment

Black Girl Missing

Release Date:  3/4/2023; Lifetime
Genre:   Drama
Rating:   TV-14
Director:  Delmar Washington
Studio(s):  Johnson Production Group, Motion Content Group, Lifetime Television.

Cast:  Garcelle Beauvais (Cheryl), Iyana Halley (Lauren), Taylor Mosby (Marley), Linda Park (Elise), Cleo Fraser (Bella).

Story:  When Cheryl gets into an argument with her daughter Lauren over her desire to drop out of college, she initially thinks Lauren is simply ignoring her calls and texts, but Cheryl soon realizes Lauren is missing. While she attempts to get help from authorities and the media, they quickly dismiss the case, labeling Lauren as a runaway while they are all too consumed with another case–that of a missing white girl. Desperate to find Lauren, Cheryl and her 15-year-old daughter Marley enlist the help of a dedicated community of amateur internet sleuths to try to find Lauren. Cheryl also discovers the Black and Missing Foundation and is horrified to discover the disparity in how missing persons of color cases are treated with significant lack of media attention and law enforcement resources.

Black Girl Missing, is Lifetime network’s latest addition in its Stop Violence Against Women campaign, focusing on people of color and the lack of media attention on their stories when they go missing.  Sources:  mylifetime.com; jacksonprogress-argus.com.  Photo Source:  jacksonprogress-argus.com.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming FilmsTags: , Leave a comment

House Party

Release Date:  1/13/23; In Theaters
Genre:  Comedy
Rating:   R
Running Time:  100 mins.
Director:  Calmatic
Studio(s):  New Line Cinema, SpringHill Entertainment, The Hideaway Entertainment, Warner Bros.

Cast:  Jacob Latimore as Kevin, Tosin Cole as Damon, DC Young Fly as Vic, Karen Obilom as Venus, Andrew Santino as Peter, LeBron James as himself, Allen Maldonado as Kyle.  Cameo appearances by Lena Waithe, Tinashe, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Bill Bellamy and original cast members, and hip hop duo Kid-N-Play.

Story:  Aspiring club promoters and best buds Damon and Kevin are barely keeping things together. Out of money, down on their luck and about to lose the roofs over their heads—and freshly fired from their jobs as house cleaners—the pair needs a huge windfall to make their problems go away.  In a ‘what the hell?’ move, they decide to host the party of the year at an exclusive mansion, the site of their last cleaning job, which just happens to belong to none other than LeBron James. No permission? No problem. What could go wrong?  How about a time traveling DJ, undependable security, a runaway guest list, one borrowed Lamborghini, angry rival promoters, a stolen championship ring, escalating property damage, an angry koala..?  Reboot of the 1990 film of the same name. Source:  Official site, WarnerBros.com.

Trailer:

by Categories: Upcoming Films Leave a comment

To Live and Die and Live

Release Date:  1/20/23; Sundance Film Festival

Genre:  Drama

Rating:  NR

Running Time:  105 mins.

Director:  Qasim Basir

Cast:  Amin Joseph, Skye P Marshall, Omari Hardwick, Cory Hardrict, Dana Gourrier, Maryam Basir.

Story:  Muhammad, a strong, handsome Hollywood film director, makes his way through the gorgeous and alluring landscapes of a rebuilt Detroit — the glistening legacy of his newly deceased stepfather Khalid, a beloved and highly regarded building contractor. Muhammad has returned for the funeral, but his own battle with addiction, which he hides from the world, drives him to immediately fade away into the sultry, late-night, drug-saturated after-hours of Detroit and an equally intoxicating romantic relationship. As he struggles to cope, Muhammad’s family and friends look to him as a leader and provider, and he forges ahead shouldering all of their needs, claiming he’s got this, even though it’s a lot — maybe too much.  Source/Photo Source:  festival.sundance.org.

by Categories: Upcoming Films Leave a comment

A Thousand and One

Release Date:  1/22/23; Sundance Film Festival

Genre:  Drama

Rating:   NR

Running Time:  116 mins.

Director:  A.V. Rockwell

Studio(s):  Sight Unseen Pictures, Focus Features, Hillman Grad, Makeready

Cast:  Teyana Taylor (Inez), Will Catlett (Lucky), Josiah Cross (Terry), Aaron Kingsley Adetola (Terry, Age 6).

Story:  Struggling but unapologetically living on her own terms, Inez is moving from shelter to shelter in mid-1990s New York City. With her 6-year-old son Terry in foster care and unable to leave him again, she kidnaps him so they can build their life together. As the years go by, their family grows and Terry becomes a smart yet quiet teenager, but the secret that has defined their lives threatens to destroy the home they have so improbably built.  Source/Photo Source:  festival.sundance.org.

by Categories: Upcoming Films Leave a comment