Antwone Fisher 2002  PG-13, 117 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Denzel Washington
Cast: Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Earl Billings, Kevin Connolly, Viola Davis, Rainoldo Gooding, Novella Nelson, Yolonda Ross, Malcolm David Kelley, Cory Hodges, Leonard Earl Howze, Kente Scott, Leo Nepomuceno
U.S. Navy psychiatrist Jerome Davenport (Denzel Washington) gets to the root of 25-year-old sailor Antwone Fisher's (Derek Luke) anger. Jerome becomes Antwone's surrogate father, encouraging him to search for his biological relatives in order to confront his painful past and, in the process, move forward with his life.
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Birth 2004  R, 100 min.
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Romance
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Cameron Bright, Danny Huston, Lauren Bacall, Alison Elliott, Arliss Howard, Michael Desautels, Anne Heche, Peter Stormare, Ted Levine, Cara Seymour, Novella Nelson, Zoe Caldwell, Charles Goff, Joe M. Chalmers
Ten-year-old Sean (Cameron Bright) comes to a family gathering and informs Anna (Nicole Kidman) that he is the reincarnation of Anna's deceased husband. The family is shocked at the details Sean relates, but Anna is in awe and begins to re-evaluate her upcoming marriage to Joseph (Danny Huston).
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The Cotton Club 1984 R, 127 min.
Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane, Lonette McKee, Nicolas Cage, James Remar, Allen Garfield, Bob Hoskins, Fred Gwynne, Gwen Verdon, Lisa Jane Persky, Maurice Hines, Julian Beck, Novella Nelson, Laurence Fishburne
Set in Harlem during the 1920s' Jazz Age, this film involves intertwining stories set in the midst of music, gangsters, murder, and romance. One of the stories involves Harlem's Cotton Club coronet player Dixie Dwyer (Richard Gere) who saves the life of gangster Dutch Schultz (James Remar), and Dutch returns the favor by inviting Dixie into his life. After going through an uneasy romance with Dutch's girlfriend Vera Cicero (Diane Lane), Dixie moves on to Hollywood and stars in gangster films. Lots of big names add to the fun.
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Dear Wendy 2005  N/R, 100 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Cast: Jamie Bell, Bill Pullman, Michael Angarano, Danso Gordon, Novella Nelson, Chris Owen, Alison Pill, Mark Webber, Trevor Cooper, William Hootkins, Thomas Bo Larsen
Young Dick (Jamie Bell) forms a secret club, The Dandies, whose members are misfits, but pacifists. Even though they own guns, they profess never to draw them. But, an armed group–whether or not they shoot–is asking for problems, and it isn't long before the shooting begins.
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Judy Berlin 2000 N/R, 95 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Eric Mendelsohn
Cast: Barbara Barrie, Bob Dishy, Edie Falco, Julie Kavner, Madeline Kahn, Carlin Glynn, Aaron Harnick, Bette Henritze, Anne Meara, Novella Nelson
Babylon is a NYC suburb and a total eclipse is on the way at noon. Thus the stage is set for a slice of life centering on schoolteacher Sue (Barbara Barrie); her daughter, Judy (Edie Falco); the school principal, Arthur (Bob Dishy); his wife, Alice (Madeline Kahn); and their son, David (Aaron Harnick). David has just returned from a failed effort as a movie director in Hollywood and meets an old high-school classmate, Judy, an aspiring actress about to leave town to make it big. Meanwhile, Sue and Arthur start an affair while depressed, whining Alice ponders life. Though all of the characters have problems, the film works well as a fine mood piece, much of which takes place in the semi-darkness of the eclipse. Remarkable black and white photography, and the last film appearance by the late Madeline Kahn.
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Mama Flora's Family 1998 TV, 240 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Peter Werner
Cast: Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, Queen Latifah, Erika Alexander, Mario Van Peebles, Novella Nelson, Preston Brant, Della Reese, Sharon Blackwood, DJ Qualls, Hill Harper, Wynton Yates, Sicily, Lou Myers, Elijah Kelley
This TV miniseries is based on Alex Haley's book and is the saga of a large family during a 50-year span (the 1920s-1950s) with Mama Flora (Cicely Tyson) at the center during a time of great change in the United States for Black families. Mama Flora believes in God and that with God's help her family members will do well in their lives.
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Manny & Lo 1996  R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lisa Krueger
Cast: Mary Kay Place, Scarlett Johansson, Aleksa Palladino, Paul(2) Guilfoyle, Glenn Fitzgerald, Cameron Boyd, Novella Nelson, Angie Phillips, Monica Smith, Dean Silvers
Sixteen-year-old Lo (Aleska Palladino) and her 11-year-old sister, Manny (Scarlett Johansson), try to make it on their own. But, when Lo becomes pregnant, the problems become overwhelming. Their solution is to kidnap Elaine (Mary Kay Place) who they think can offer expertise for their dire circumstances.
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Mercy 1996 R, 85 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Richard Shepard
Cast: John Rubinstein, Amber Kain, Sam Rockwell, Jane Lanier, Novella Nelson, Phil Brock, Rhea Silver-Smith, Christopher J. Quinn, Kevin Joseph, Maura Tierney, Robert Shepard, Rick Gomez
The daughter of successful, arrogant lawyer Frank Kramer (John Rubinstein) is kidnapped–not just for the ransom but to take revenge for Frank's treatment of people. As he is sent around NYC, in out-of-the-way places he had never seen, he begins to understand more about the 'little" people who he had stepped on all of his career.
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A Perfect Murder 1998 R, 107 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance / Thriller
Director: Andrew Davis
Cast: Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, Sarita Choudhury, Michael P. Moran, David Suchet, Constance Towers, Novella Nelson, Will Lyman, Maeve McGuire, Laurinda Barrett, Reed Birney, Stephen Singer, Aideen O'Kelly, Vincent Smith
Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) is an international investor, but he is in trouble financially. His wife Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow) is having an affair with David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen) who has entered into more than one scam directed at wealthy women. Emily is due to inherit a $1,000,000 trust fund, and Steven offers David $500,000 to murder Emily. Steven believes this will be the perfect murder, and all goes as scheduled–until Detective Mohamed Karaman (David Suchet) enters the picture.
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Stephanie Daley 2007 R, 91 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Hilary Brougher
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Amber Tamblyn, Timothy Hutton, Denis O'Hare, Jim Gaffigan, Deirdre O'Connell, Melissa Leo, Halley Feiffer, Kel O'Neill, Neal Huff, John Ellison Conlee, Vincent Piazza, Marceline Hugot, Kaiulani Lee, Novella Nelson
Sixteen-year-old Stephanie Daley (Amber Tamblyn) gives birth in the ladies' room during a school ski trip. Later, when the fetus is discovered dead, and, although she claims the baby was stillborn, Stephanie faces murder charges. Forensic psychologist Lydie Crane (Tilda Swinton) is assigned to meet with Stephanie to determine whether or not she is telling the truth. During their sessions Lydie, who is pregnant, deals with her own guilt about a previous pregnancy that ended in a stillbirth as well as her confused feelings about the baby she is now carrying.
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An Unmarried Woman 1978 R, 124 min.
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Director: Paul Mazursky
Cast: Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, Lisa Lucas, Cliff Gorman, Patricia(2) Quinn, Kelly Bishop, Andrew Duncan, Raymond J. Barry, Jill Eikenberry, Linda Miller, Daniel Seltzer, Matthew Arkin, Penelope Russianoff, Novella Nelson
Erica (Jill Clayburgh) works to find new meaning and purpose in her life after her husband, Martin (Michael Murphy), walks out on her and their daughter Patti (Lisa Lucas) after 17 years of marriage. First, Erica begins to take control of her life by bonding with her group of women friends and seeking therapy. Then, she begins life anew through her job at an art gallery and a romantic relationship with an understanding artist, Saul (Alan Bates). The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Actress (Clayburgh), and Screenplay.
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Weekend at Bernie's II 1993  PG, 97 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Robert Klane
Cast: Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Terry Kiser, Troy Beyer, Barry Bostwick, Tom Wright, Steve(2) James, Novella Nelson, Gary Dourdan, Stack Pierce
We didn't really need a sequel, but there may be some appeal to a follow-up of a loser, and this film fills the bill. As the story continues, Larry and Richard (Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman), who are suspected of fraud, set out to clear their names. However, they will need Bernie, but he is dead.
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| 1. Antwone Fisher (2002)
2. Birth (2004)
3. The Cotton Club (1984)
4. Dear Wendy (2005)
5. Judy Berlin (2000)
6. Mama Flora's Family (1998)
7. Manny & Lo (1996)
8. Mercy (1996)
9. A Perfect Murder (1998)
10. Stephanie Daley (2007)
11. An Unmarried Woman (1978)
12. Weekend at Bernie's II (1993)
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