8 Mile 2002 R, 118 min. Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Curtis Hanson Cast: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Eugene Byrd, Omar Benson Miller, Taryn Manning, De'Angelo Wilson, Chloe Greenfield, Larry Hudson, Evan Jones, Proof, Mike Bell, Michael Shannon
Eminem takes on the role of a total loser, Jimmy Smith Jr, who lives in the rundown Detroit neighborhood of 8 Mile. Better known as "Rabbit," Jimmy is determined to overcome his problems with stage fright and become a successful rapper. Eminem's song "Lose Yourself" won the Academy Award for Best Song.
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The Express 2008 PG, 129 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Gary Fleder Cast: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Omar Benson Miller, Nelsan Ellis, Charles S. Dutton, Justin Martin, Nicole Beharie, Aunjanue Ellis, Justin Jones, Clancy Brown, Elizabeth Shivers, Regina Hoyles, Chelcie Ross, Danny McCarthy
Young running back Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) is recruited by Syracuse University and its head football coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid). Davis excels at his sport, and in 1962, as a member of the Syracuse Orangemen, he becomes the first Black football player in college history to win the Heisman Trophy. Davis had accomplished his feat despite racism of teammates, officials, and the college football scene. But, tragedy lies ahead; Davis has leukemia and dies at age 23.
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Get Rich or Die Tryin' 2005 R, 117 min. Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Jim Sheridan Cast: 50 Cent, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Joy Bryant, Omar Benson Miller, Tory Kittles, Terrence Howard, Ashley Walters, Marc John Jefferies, Viola Davis, Bill Duke, Mpho Koaho, Russell Hornsby, Sullivan Walker, Serena Reeder, Joseph Pierre
In this loosely based biography on his own life, 50 Cent takes on the role of an inner-city drug dealer, Marcus, who later obtains success as a rapper. Beginning his life as an orphaned street kid and later sent to jail, Marcus aspires to making it in the music world. His girlfriend Charlene (Joy Bryant) supports Marcus, and he moves on and records a demo tape–but, this does not happen without complications from his former business associates.
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Miracle at St. Anna 2008 R, 160 min. Genre: Action / Drama / Thriller
Director: Spike Lee Cast: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alfonso, Omar Benson Miller, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valentina Cervi, Matteo Sciabordi, John Turturro, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Leguizamo, Kerry Washington, D.B. Sweeney, Omero Antonutti, Robert John Burke, Omari Hardwick
In the 1980s, postal worker Hector Negron (Laz Alfonso) unexpectedly shoots a customer, and now Daily News reporter Tim Boyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) searches for the story behind the shooting. Through flashbacks, the story is told about four World War II soldiers–Cpl. Negron, Sgt. Stamps (Derek Luke), Sgt. Cummings (Michael Ealy), and Pfc. Train (Omar Benson Miller)–from the all-Black "Buffalo Soldier" Division who are trapped behind enemy lines. Their fellow soldiers have been killed, and they are the sole survivors, but they find relative safety in an Italian village and relate to some of the residents. As the flashbacks progress, they reveal how Negron's shooting relates to an encounter in that village 40 years ago.
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Shall We Dance? 2004 PG-13, 106 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Peter Chelsom Cast: Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Bobby Cannavale, Lisa Ann Walter, Omar Benson Miller, Anita Gillette, Richard Jenkins, Nick Cannon, Mya, Tamara Hope
Attorney John Clark (Richard Gere) is bored with his life, which includes teenaged daughter Jenna (Tamara Hope) and busy wife Beverly (Susan Sarandon). But John is fascinated with beautiful, young Paulina (Jennifer Lopez) who is an instructor at a dance studio. On impulse, John signs up for dance lessons and meets new friends–but keeps the old.
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Things We Lost in the Fire 2007 R, 118 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Susanne Bier Cast: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alexis Llewellyn, Micah Berry, John Carroll Lynch, Alison Lohman, Robin Weigert, Omar Benson Miller, Paula Newsome, Sarah Dubrovsky, Maureen Thomas
Audrey's (Halle Berry) husband Steven (David Duchovny) is killed trying to protect a battered woman, and at his wake she turns to Steven's friend Jerry (Benicio Del Toro) who–through flashbacks–reveals that he and Steven were close friends. While Steven was a successful real-estate broker, Jerry is a loser and drug addict. Audrey needs someone to turn to and invites Jerry to move in with her and her children (Alexis Llewellyn and Micah Berry). Jerry bonds with the family, and, despite their differences, Jerry and Audrey develop a mutual dependency on each other.
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| 1. 8 Mile (2002)
2. The Express (2008)
3. Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005)
4. Miracle at St. Anna (2008)
5. Shall We Dance? (2004)
6. Things We Lost in the Fire (2007)
In The News
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