Aaliyah: Princess of R&B

Shipp as AaliyahRelease Date:  11/15/14 (Lifetime TV)
Genre:  Drama/Biography
Rating:  NR
Running Time:  Unknown
Studio:  Aaliyah Productions, Lifetime Television
Director:  Bradley Walsh

Cast:  Alexandra Shipp (Aaliyah Haughton), Elise Neal (Gladys Knight), Christopher Jacot (Ryan Nichols), Lyriq Bent (Barry Hankerson), Rachael Crawford (Diane Haughton), Clé Bennett (R. Kelly), Sterling Jarvis (Michael Haughton), A. J. Saudin (Rashad Haughton), Chattrisse Dolabaille (Missy Elliott), Izaak Smith (Timbaland), Anthony Grant (Damon Dash).

Story:  The two-hour movie event is executive produced by Howard Braunstein, Debra Martin Chase and Wendy Williams, and is based on the bestseller Aaliyah: More Than a Woman by former Time Magazine music editor Christopher John Farley. 

Before Beyoncé and before Rihanna, self-proclaimed “street but sweet” Aaliyah was poised to become a global icon with top-selling albums, a hot movie career and an adoring fan base. The film follows the beautiful and talented performer’s inspirational journey, from her debut on “Star Search” at the age of ten to the challenges she faced during her rise to become the Princess of R&B. On August 25, 2001, at the height of her popularity, her life was tragically cut short when a plane carrying the singer and some of her video crew crashed after takeoff from a Bahamian runway. Although just 22-years-old at the time of her death, Aaliyah continues to lead a legacy as Billboard’s tenth most famous R&B artist of the past 25 years and one of the recording industry’s most successful artists in history. Sources: Lifetime; IMDB.  Photo Source:  Lifetime.

See what the critics are saying about this film at Critics’ Connection.

Trailer:

Teaser:

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Matthew 18

Matthew 18 poster

Release Date:  11/14/14 (Limited release)
Genre:  Horror
Rating:  R
Running Time:  Unknown
Studio:  Adopt Films; Bats N Belfrey Productions
Director: Roy Belfrey
Cast: Jennifer Jayleen Martinez (Michelle Jamieson), Faizon Love (Lifton Tyler), Luenell (Aunt Jessie), Don Benjamin (Nathan)

Story: The title, “Matthew 18” refers to the Matthew 18: 19-20 chapter and verse from the bible, which states: “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Michelle Jamieson, a beautiful 18 year old, has a strong desire to go away to college for her pre-med education. When the opportunity arises for her to separate from her Washington D.C. home and her bible-thumping parents, she takes a scholarship for a medical program at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Once there she is to be looked after by her aunt Jessie and is allowed to stay in a large mansion that has been kept in her family for generations. But what she finds supersedes her natural existence – making her mortality vulnerable to the spiritual realm she so comfortably doubted. She begins to encounter strange and unexplainable occurrences. Michelle decides to investigate and uncovers a world of family secrets and unspeakable evil. Sources: matthew18themovie, official site; official Facebook page; Shadow and Act; Photo Source:  Official Facebook page.

Teaser:

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The Congregation

The CongregationRelease Date:  10/31/14
Genre:  Comedy
Rating:  NR
Running Time:  85 mins.
Studio:  Zapruter Productions, Green Apple Entertainment.
Director:  J. Horton.

Cast:  Courtney D. Harris (Rain), Shari Headley (Maple), Jerome Ro Brooks (Malik), Elia Cantu (Tanisha), Larry Flash Jenkins (Vernon Pride), Farley Jackson (Felix), Ely LaMay (Kita).

Story:  The congregation meets on the hottest day in the summer to make a big decision that could change the landscape of their church. Source(s): Official Facebook page, IMDB; Photo Source: Official Facebook Page.

Trailer:

 

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BRUTE, THE

The Brute (wikimedia commons)“To make a woman love you, KNOCK HER DOWN” – Bull Magee

Details
Year of Release: 1920
Genre: Drama
Rating: N/A
Runtime: Not Available
Black & White
Silent
Studio: Micheaux Film Corporation
Producer & Director: Oscar Micheaux

Cast
Evelyn Preer (Mildred Carrison)
A.B. DeComathiere (Bull Magee)
Sam Langford (Tug Wilson)
Susie Sutton (Aunt Clara)
Lawrence Chenault (Herbert Lanyon)
Laura Bowman (Mrs. Carrison)
Mattie Edwards (A Guest in ‘The Hole’)
Alice Gorgas (Margaret Pendleton)
Virgil Williams (Referee)
Marty Cutler (Sidney Kirkwood)
Foy Clements (Irene Lanyon)
Louis Schooler (Klondike)

Synopsis

Herbert Lanyon and Mildred Carrison are engaged. When Herbert is presumed dead in a shipwreck, Mildred is forced by her gold digging Aunt Clara to marry gambler and crime boss, Bull Magee. Mildred is unhappy married to Bull who mistreats her. When Herbert is found alive, a repentant Aunt Clara and Herbert free Mildred from Magee, and the lovers are able to marry.

A subplot involves boxer “Tug” Wilson (played by boxing champion Sam Langford), who is ordered by his manager, Bull Magee, to throw a major fight at the film’s climax.

Notes  

It is reported on Wikipedia that the original version of the film included a scene where the boxer defeats a white rival, but Micheaux was forced by the censors to remove the scene, though Black Cinema Connection has been unable to confirm this information.

This film is considered lost.

Source(s): TCM, Wikipedia; Quote: Zazzle Oscar Micheaux vintage movie ad card; Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

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The Good Life

The Good LifeRelease Date:  11/18/14 (DVD)
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  Unknown
Running Time: 125 mins.
Studio:  Redd Bone Productions; Maverick Entertainment Group
Directors:  Owen McManus, Jr. 
Cast:  Robert McGill, Jr. (Mikey), Janell Flugence (Alicia), Selam Workeneh (Sasha), James Mastio, Drew Benson, Jonathan Sorapuru (Kevin).

Details:  Women, money, power, greed, drugs, passion, desire, love, wealth, secrets, seduction…family, tragedy…choices. Protagonist Mikey searches for the alluring good life in an underworld where antagonist Fabian holds all power. Younger brother, Kevin, wants in, against Mikey’s will. Forced to choose between family and the good life, what will Mikey choose?  Source: Maverick Entertainment.

Trailer:

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Englewood

Englewooda/k/a Englewood: The Growing Pains in Chicago
Release Date:  10/7/14 (DVD)
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  NR
Running Time:  93 mins.
Studio:  Forever Foreign Films LLC; Maverick Entertainment Group
Director:  William Cochran
Cast:  David Cowan (Joshua), William Cochran (Dennis), Rodney Harvey (Calvin), Aayisha Chanel (Kiesha)

Story:  Englewood examines the lives of three young men in Chicago, growing up in the Englewood area, who all have different views on the world as well as their value in it. Source(s): Maverick Entertainment; Forever Foreign Films; Official Facebook page.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRL-Vy9vETQ&rel=0

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