Paper Gods

Status:  Optioned

Genre:  Drama

Director:  TBA

Cast:  Nia Long (Victoria Dobbs)

Story:  Paper Gods spotlights the struggles and battles professionally and personally for Atlanta Mayor Victoria Dobb, who will be portrayed by Nia Long in the series. The third novel by ex-political strategist and now Daily Beast editor-at-large Goldie Taylor, Paper Gods peels back the layers on the assassination of Dobb’s mentor, a much-venerated congressman, to reveal a greater deception.

Details:  According to an August 10, 2020 report in Deadline, John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co. is teaming with Sony Pictures TV to bring  the 2018 novel to ABC. Long and Taylor are set to produce the small-screen adaptation.  Source:  Deadline; BET.com.  Photo Source:  IMDB.

Fatal Affair

Release Date:  7/16/2020; Netflix
Genre:   Drama
Rating:   NR
Director:  Peter Sullivan
Studio(s):   Hybrid, Netflix

Cast:   Nia Long (Ellie), Omar Epps (David), Stephen Bishop (Michael), Aubrey Cleland (Brittany), Maya Stojan (Courtney), Kj Smith (Deborah), Jason-Shane Scott (Travis), Carolyn Hennesy (Janice), Fredella Calloway (Dr. Beverly), Estelle (Linda).

Story:   Ellie (Nia Long) tries to mend her marriage with her husband Marcus (Stephen Bishop) after a brief encounter with an old friend David (Omar Epps) only to find that David is more dangerous and unstable than she’d realized.  Source:  Black Film.

Trailer:

Boyz N The Hood

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Release Date:   2/4/20; Blu-Ray (Original Release Date:  7/12/91)
Genre:   Drama
Rating:  R
Director:  John Singleton
Studio(s):   Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Running Time:  112 mins.

Cast:  Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Tre Styles), Desi Arnez Hine,s II (Tre, age 10), Angela Bassett (Reva Styles), Laurence Fishburne (Jason “Furious” Styles, Jr.), Ice Cube (Darrin “Doughboy” Baker), Baha Jackson (Doughboy, age 10), Morris Chestnut (Ricky Baker), Donovan McCrary (Ricky, age 10), Nia Long (Brandi), Nicole Brown (Brandi, age 10), Tyra Ferrell (Brenda Baker), Redge Green (Chris), Kenneth A. Brown (Chris, age 10), Dedrick D. Gobert (Dooky), Baldwin C. Sykes  (Monster), Tracey Lewis-Sinclair (Shaniqua), Alysia Rogers (Shanice), Regina King (Shalika), Lexie Bigham (Mad Dog), Raymond Turner (Ferris), Lloyd Avery, II (Ferris’ Triggerman), Jessie Lawrence Ferguson (Officer Coffey).

Story:   1984:  Ten year-old Tre Styles lives with his single mother, Reva, in Inglewood, CA. After Tre gets into a fight at school, his teacher informs Reva that Tre is highly intelligent but has a volatile temper and lacks respect for authority. Worried about Tre’s future, Reva sends him to live in Crenshaw with his father, Jason “Furious” Styles, from whom she hopes Tre will learn valuable life lessons.

Tre soon reunites with his friends, Darrin “Doughboy” Baker, Doughboy’s maternal half-brother Ricky, and Chris, their mutual friend.T hat night, Tre hears his father shooting at a burglar. They wait for the police, with two officers arriving an hour later. A white officer is civil and professional, while the black officer is hostile and displays a contempt towards black men.

The next day, Tre and his friends go out to the railroad tracks to view a dead body. While there, a group of older boys in who are part of the Crips gang steal Ricky’s football and Doughboy tries to retrieve it, but is beaten and kicked. While the older boys walk away, one of them gives Ricky his ball back. Later in the day, Furious goes fishing with Tre, telling him of his military experience in the Vietnam War.  When Tre and Furious return home, they see Doughboy and Chris being arrested for shoplifting.

1991:  At a barbecue, Doughboy is now a Crip gang member and is celebrating his recent release from jail, along with most of his friends, including Chris, who is now paralyzed and uses a wheelchair as a result of a gunshot wound. Ricky, who is now a star running back for Crenshaw High School, lives with his single mother Brenda, his girlfriend Shanice, and their infant son.  Ricky hopes to win a scholarship from University of Southern California.  Tre has grown into a mature and responsible teenager, who works at a clothing shop, and aspires to attend college with his girlfriend, Brandi. His relationship with her is strained over Tre’s desire to have sex, while Brandi wishes to wait until after marriage.

During a local street racing gathering, Ricky is provoked by Ferris, a member of the Crenshaw Mafia Gangsters. In response, Doughboy brandishes his handgun, leading to a brief confrontation between the two gangs. When the gangs are finished arguing, Ferris fires his submachine gun in the air, causing everyone to leave. Tre leaves with Ricky and notes his desire to leave Los Angeles, but they are eventually pulled over by the police. The cop is the same one who was disrespectful towards his father seven years earlier. He intimidates and threatens Tre with his gun. Tre visits Brandi’s house, and breaks down. After she consoles him, they have sex for the first time.

The next day, Ricky and Doughboy get into a fight. While Ricky and Tre walk to a nearby store, they see Ferris and his gang driving around the neighborhood and in an attempt to avoid them, the pair cut through back alleyways and split up. As Tre turns back to Ricky, Ferris’ car pulls up. Ricky turns to run but one of Ferris’ men shoots him twice with a double-barreled shotgun, killing him. Doughboy and his friends catch up with Tre too late. Devastated and helpless, the boys carry Ricky’s lifeless body back home. When Brenda and Shanice see Ricky’s corpse, they break down in tears and blame Doughboy, who unsuccessfully tries to comfort them and explain the truth. That night, a distraught Brenda reads Ricky’s SAT results, discovering he scored just enough to qualify for a college scholarship.

The boys want vengeance against Ferris and his crew. Furious finds Tre preparing to take his .357 Magnum, but convinces Tre to abandon his plans for revenge. Shortly after, Tre sneaks out to join Doughboy. That night, as the gang drives around looking for Ferris and his men, Tre asks to be let out of the car and returns home.  He realizes that his father was right to keep him from falling into an endless cycle of violence.  Meanwhile, Doughboy finds Ferris’ gang at a local fast-food restaurant.  The gang attempts to flee before Monster, one of Doughboy’s friends shoots all three, killing two (including Ricky’s killer) and mortally wounding Ferris.  Doughboy approaches Ferris.  Ferris insults him and Doughboy kills him.

The next day, Doughboy visits Tre, understanding his reasons for leaving. Doughboy knows that sooner or later he will face retaliation for Ferris’ death, and accepts the consequences of his crime-ridden lifestyle. He plaintively questions why America does not care about life in the ghetto, and sorrowfully notes he has no family after Ricky’s death and Brenda’s disowning of him. Tre embraces him, and tells Doughboy he has a brother in him.

Epilogue – Doughboy sees Ricky buried the next day and was himself murdered two weeks later.  Tre and Brandi go on to attend Morehouse and Spelman colleges in Atlanta, respectively.  Source(s):  IMDB; The Root; Wikipedia.

Trailer:

The Banker

Release Date:   3/6/2020 – Theatrical; 3/20/20 – Apple TV Plus
Genre:   Drama
Rating:   PG-13
Director:   George Nolfi
Studio(s):   Romulus Entertainment, Iam21 Entertainment, Apple TV+
Running Time:  120 mins.

Cast:  Samuel L. Jackson (Joe Morris), Anthony Mackie (Bernard Garrett), Nicholas Hoult (Matt Steiner), Nia Long (Eunice Garrett), Taylor Black (Susie), Jessie T. Usher (Tony Jackson).

Story  Based on a true story, The Banker centers on revolutionary businessmen Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson), who devise an audacious and risky plan to take on the racially oppressive establishment of the 1960’s by helping other African Americans pursue the American dream. Along with Garrett’s wife Eunice (Nia Long), they train a working class white man, Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult), to pose as the rich and privileged face of their burgeoning real estate and banking empire – while Garrett and Morris pose as a janitor and a chauffeur. Their success ultimately draws the attention of the federal government, which threatens everything the two have built.  Source:  filmstories.co.uk.

Update 11/24/19:  On 11/23/19 Fortune reported that weeks into the launch of its nascent streaming service, Apple TV+, the technology giant finds itself navigating potential scandal centering around its first major theatrical release.  The Banker was set to arrive in theaters next month ahead of its TV+ release.  But sexual abuse allegations leveled against the film’s co-producer, Bernard Garrett Jr. — son of the movie’s main subject — led Apple to delay the release indefinitely, as the filmmakers investigate the claims.

It raises questions about the potential impact on the film and it’s success with Apple. The Banker was scheduled to premiere and close out AFI Fest on Thursday ahead of a theatrical release on December 6, a prime calendar date for awards consideration. Early reports buzzed about the high-profile drama’s potential for Oscars gold. Even a nomination or two just months after Apple’s streaming launch would be a big statement and source of interest for on-the-fence consumers unsure about Apple TV+. Now, with a release date yet to be determined, it’s possible The Banker misses the Dec. 31 deadline to qualify for next year’s Academy Awards.

“We purchased The Banker earlier this year as we were moved by the film’s entertaining and educational story about social change and financial literacy,” Apple said in a statement to Deadline on Wednesday. “Last week some concerns surrounding the film were brought to our attention. We, along with the filmmakers, need some time to look into these matters and determine the best next steps. In light of this, we are no longer premiering The Banker at AFI Fest.”

The Banker was Apple’s first big narrative feature starring an A-list cast. Now, it’s not even clear if it will appear on Apple TV+. The company has not yet said anything about the fate of the film on its streaming service.  Assuming The Banker eventually does premiere on the service or in theaters, it risks having a cloud hang over it depending on the result of Apple’s investigation. “The outcome has to be positive. If not, [the film’s] just going to be buried,” said Jeff Bock, a senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations. “There’s no way around social media. The onslaught never ends if you’re found out on the negative end of that.”  Source:  Fortune.com.

Trailer:

 

Roxanne Roxanne

Release Date:  3/23/18; Netflix
(2017 – original release date)
Genre:  Drama/Biography
Rating:  NR
Running Time:  100 mins.
Director:  Michael Larnell
Studio(s):   Forest Whitaker’s Significant Productions, IamOTHER Entertainment, Neon.
Cast:  Chanté Adams (Roxanne Shanté), Mahershala Ali (Cross), Nia Long (Ms. Peggy Gooden), Elvis Nolasco (Ray), Jermel Howard (Roland), Eden Duncan-Smith (Latifa), Tonye Patano (Ms. Denise), Sean Ringgold (Keith), Taliyah Whitaker (Young Roxanne Shanté).

Story:   The film, set in the 1980s, tells the story of a 14-year-old rap prodigy from New York City’s Queensbridge Projects named Lolita Shante Gooden, who would go on to become the famed rapper hip hop fans know her as: Roxanne Shanté.

Shanté’s career kicked off after meeting fellow rapper Tyrone Williams, D.J. Mr. Magic and record producer Marley Marl outside the Queensbridge housing project, the same complex that produced rap legends like Nas and Mobb Deep.  She gained commercial success after teaming up with Marl to produce a response track to U.T.F.O.’s popular song “Roxanne, Roxanne.” Her version, which legend has it was free-styled in Marl’s apartment in between laundry loads, was titled “Roxanne’s Revenge” and became an instant hit.  Sources:  Black Film; Essence.  Photo Source:  Sundance.org.

Trailer:

Beaches

beachesRelease Date:   1/21/17; Lifetime
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  NR
Director:   Allison Anders
Studio(s):   A+E Studios, Lifetime Television.
Cast:   Nia Long (Hillary), Idina Menzel (CC Bloom), Colin Lawrence (Bryan), Grace Capeless (Young Hillary), Gabriella Pizzolo (Young CC), Sanai Victoria (Tory Whitney).

Story:  Friends are family that you choose to have for a lifetime.  In this contemporary remake, Beaches follows the serendipitous meeting of two young girls on the Venice Boardwalk, who, though worlds apart in lifestyle, embark on unexpected and lifelong friendship.  CC (Idina Menzel) is an aspiring singer trying to make it in Los Angeles until she is discovered by a director who gives her her first big shot.  Hillary (Nia Long) is the daughter of a prominent civil rights lawyer who struggles to find her own destiny.  Their friendship—even with its ups and downs—sustains them for decades.   Source:  Lifetime; IMDB.  Photo Source:  (TV Line).

Trailer: