Felon 2008  R, 104 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Cast: Val Kilmer, Stephen Dorff, Harold Perrineau, Sam Shepard, Marisol Nichols, Anne Archer, Nick Chinlund, Nate Parker, Greg Serano, Brittany Perrineau, Johnny Lewis, Chris Browning
Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) hears an intruder in his home one night, and, because he chases him outside before he accidentally kills him, Wade is arrested. He takes a deal and is sentenced to three years in the state prison where he shares a cell with mass murderer John Smith (Val Kilmer). Sadistic prison guard Lt. Jackson (Harold Perrineau) detests Wade and vents his wrath on him, but Wade's cellmate John teaches him the ropes, and Wade learns how to make prison politics work to his advantage.
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The Great Debaters 2007 PG-13, 123 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Denzel Washington
Cast: Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Forest Whitaker, Gina Ravera, John Heard, Kimberly Elise, Devyn A. Tyler, Trenton McClain Boyde, Ritchie Montgomery, Tim Parati
This film is loosely based on the true story of Wiley College professor Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) who, in 1935, led his small, Black, Texas college team of debaters against Harvard University's team of renown. Tolson's team–Henry Lowe (Nate Parker) and Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams) are joined by alternates Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett) and James Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). They undergo vigorous training by Tolson as he helps them improve their speaking skills. Conflicts concerning Tolson's efforts to help migrant farm workers rise to the fore, but, in the end, lessons are learned, and the debate team members learn to believe in themselves.
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Pride 2007  PG, 104 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Sunu Gonera
Cast: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Kimberly Elise, Tom Arnold, Brandon Fobbs, Alphonso McAuley, Regine Nehy, Nate Parker, Kevin Phillips, Scott Reeves, Evan Ross, Gary Anthony Sturgis
Based on the life of 1970s' school teacher Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard), this is the story of how lives were changed for the better when Jim founded an African-American swim team. As Jim was preparing the Marcus Foster Recreation Center swimming pool for demolition, he cleaned the pool, filled it, and opened it up for the North Philly neighborhood kids. With Jim's help, their lives changed for the better, and the swim team was formed.
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The Secret Life of Bees 2008  PG-13, 110 min.
Genre: Adventure / Drama
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, Alicia Keys, Paul Bettany, Tristan Wilds, Hilarie Burton, Nate Parker, Renee Clark, Shondrella Avery, Sharon Morris, Nicky Buggs, Jasmine Burke, Emma Sage Bowman
This story is set in South Carolina during the summer following the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Fourteen-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning), who is haunted by her late mother's memory and upset with her abusive father (Paul Bettany), goes off with her Black maid Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) who was beaten after trying to register to vote. They arrive in a small town in South Carolina where Lily is taken in by the Boatwright sisters–August (Queen Latifah), May (Sophie Okonedo), and June (Alicia Keys)–who run a beekeeping farm. Lily finds solace while learning many lessons including how to make honey, racial tolerance, and what love is really about.
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| 1. Felon (2008)
2. The Great Debaters (2007)
3. Pride (2007)
4. The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
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