Release Date: 10/16/18; DVD
(Original Release Date – 2017) Genre:Action Rating:NR Director: Sam Vanivray Studio(s):Imaginary Danger Productions, Summer Hill Films, Maverick Entertainment Running Time:100 mins. Cast:Adjovi Koene, Steven Lawlor-Jones, Sam Vanivray. Story:Keradin, an up-and-coming FBI agent, successfully extracts a stolen artifact from a den of criminals, despite freakish hallucinations. A year later, Keradin has returned to academia as a postdoctoral researcher in neuropsychology. Her former FBI boss swarms her research center with a group of agents to find a second artifact – a device which can alter reality. Realizing Maskin has sinister intentions, Keradin teams up with a thief to find the artifact first while Maskin unleashes bizarre traps to stop her. Source: Maverick Entertainment.
Cast: Y’lan Noel (Dimitri), Lex Scott Davis (Nya), Joivan Wade (Isaiah), Mugga (Dolores), Lauren Velez (Luisa), Marisa Tomei (The Architect-Dr. Update), Christian Robinson (Capital A), Kristen Solis (Selina), Patch Darragh (Chief of Staff-Arlo Sabian), Rotimi Paul (Skeletor), Mo McRae (7&7), Siya (Blaise).
Story:During the country’s first purge, any level of crime (including murder) is legal for 12 hours. Because all emergency services are also suspended, the citizens must keep themselves connected and protected during a night of sheer terror and uncertainty. Isaiah and his sister work as activists who are trying to keep everything under control while promoting peace, but are finding it increasingly difficult to promote their agenda when not even the government agrees. As the night goes on the crimes become more intense, frequent, and leave the activist group more unsure about the future of their country. Source: DVD Release Dates.
Release Date: 12/25/20; In Theaters – Limited Genre: Biography Studio(s): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), BRON Studios, Cinesite, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Glickmania Director: Liesl Tommy Rating: NR Running Time: Unknown
Cast: Jennifer Hudson (Aretha Franklin), Forest Whitaker (C. L. Franklin), Tituss Burgess (Reverend Dr. James Cleveland), Marlon Wayans (Ted White), Tate Donovan (John Hammond), Marc Maron (Jerry Wexler), Audra McDonald (Barbara Franklin), Mary J. Blige (Dinah Washington), Heather Headley (Clara Ward), Saycon Sengbloh (Erma Franklin), Leroy McClain (Cecil Franklin), Hailey Kilgore (Carolyn Franklin), Skye Dakota Turner (Young Aretha Franklin).
Story: The life story of legendary R&B singer, Aretha Franklin. The film follows Aretha’s rise as a singer, first in her father’s church choir, to how she eventually attains international superstardom.
Update 11/7/19:The Wrap reported that Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald and Mary J. Blige have all joined the ensemble cast of MGM’s Aretha Franklin biopic Respect starring Jennifer Hudson. Tituss Burgess, Tate Donovan and Marc Maron are also joining the life story of the queen of soul, as are Broadway stars Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley and newcomer Skye Dakota Turner.
Whitaker, Wayans, McDonald, Sengbloh and Kilgore are all playing members of Franklin’s family. Whitaker will portray Aretha’s father, Reverend CL Franklin, who was also Franklin’s manager early on in her career and himself was known as the man with the “Million-Dollar Voice.” Wayans plays Ted White, Franklin’s first husband. McDonald will play Aretha’s mother, Barbara Franklin. Sengbloh and Kilgore will play Franklin’s sisters. And Turner, known for her role in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” on Broadway, will play a young Aretha Franklin.
The rest of the cast is playing some other musical luminaries that surrounded Franklin throughout her career. Blige will play recording artist Dinah Washington. Headley will play Clara Ward, the gospel artist and leader of The Famous Ward Sisters. Burgess stars as “King of Gospel,” Reverend Dr. James Cleveland. Donovan stars Columbia Records producer John Hammond, and Maron is playing Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler.
Respect is fully sanctioned by Franklin’s estate and will include many of her iconic songs, including “Respect,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Think,” “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” “Spanish Harlem” and “Young, Gifted and Black.” Source: The Wrap. Photo Source: Oprah Magazine.
Details as of 8/16/2018: In January, it was announced by record executive Clive Davis, at his annual pre-GRAMMY party in NYC, that Jennifer Hudson had signed on to portray Aretha Franklin in the biopic based on her memoir Aretha: From These Roots. He also announced that Franklin actually handpicked Hudson to play her. The movie will center around Aretha’s journey to discover her true voice and who she wanted to be as an artist. Currently the film doesn’t have a release date and there are no plans to speed the production in the wake of Aretha’s passing
Sadly on this date, Franklin’s publicist confirmed that the legend died of advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type. Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to the Queen of Soul and took to Instagram to remember the legendary artist. Hudson Instagrammed a video of herself listening to Franklin’s cover of The Beatles’ “Let It Be.” “I have no words, so I will let the Queen say it!” Hudson wrote. “But I will say while teaching me about your life, u taught me so much about life and schooled me in mine. I will never forget those teachings #riparethafranklin.” Sources: People, ET Online, TMZ. Photo Source: ET Online.
Release Date:11/30/18; In Theaters Genre:Crime/Drama Rating: R Director: Barry Jenkins Studio(s):Annapurna Pictures, PASTEL, Plan B Entertainment. Running Time:117 mins.
Cast:KiKi Layne (Tish Rivers), Stephan James (Alonzo ‘Fonny’ Hunt), Regina King (Sharon Rivers), Colman Domingo (Joseph Rivers), Teyonah Parris (Ernestine Rivers), Michael Beach (Frank Hunt), Aunjanue Ellis (Mrs. Hunt), Ebony Obsidian (Adrienne Hunt).
Story: If Beale Street Could Talk follows a pregnant woman from Harlem named Tish (Kiki Layne), whose lover (Stephan James) is falsely accused of rape. When Tish finds out she is pregnant while James’ character Fonny is in prison, she races against the clock with help from her family and her lawyer to find evidence to exonerate Fonny. Based on the novel by James Baldwin Source: Variety.
Story: Violet Jones (Sanaa Lathan) has a seemingly perfect life — a high-powered job, an eligible doctor boyfriend and a meticulously maintained, flawless coiffure. But after a life-changing event doesn’t go according to her plan, and a hair-raising incident at the hairdresser, her life begins to unravel. Eventually, Violet realizes that she was living the life she thought she was supposed to live, not the one she really wanted. Source: Blackfilm.
Release Date: 2/21/2020 (In Theaters) Genre:Drama/Thriller Rating:NR Director: Josh Webber Studio(s):Shakir Entertainment Management, Unmanned Media, Webber Films
Cast: Parker McKenna Posey (Shiloh), Jo Marie Payton (Mrs. Dumas), Paula Jai Parker (Victoria), Mariann Gavelo (Reese Garcia), Gary LeRoi Gray (Joshua), Kristinia DeBarge (Jasmine). Tyler Abron (Taylor), Vincent, Booker Anderson (Darrin)
Story: Longtime friends Taylor, Reese, Mateo, Victoria, Darrin, and Marshawn have known one another for several years, as they all met in college. Taylor, who was a college cheerleader, met her boyfriend, Marshawn, when he played football for the University. Reese and Mateo dated throughout college, got married three years ago, and have two children. Darrin was the friend who always had jokes and was the life of the party. Victoria is a true Southern belle and has her friends’ and family’s best interests at heart.
All have been doing well since college with careers in the NFL and the TV/film industry, on Wall Street, and in the legal profession. When they embark on a weekend getaway to a beach house in the Hamptons, all hell will break loose as there are secrets even in friendship… Source: Dread Central.
Release Date: 10/16/18; DVD
Black Cinema Connection 