Don’t let the F-bomb drops deter you though - this is a top-notch documentary with an ensemble of noteworthy talking heads and a mighty arcing narrative to seal the deal. Buckle up for this profanity-laced tell-all: It’s a raw and honest portrait of an essential entertainment figurehead. A record label founder, concert curator, political activist, and a cherished mentor to several other executives that were inspired by his quiet but esteemed reign over the arts, Clarence truly did it all. The Black Godfather is a riveting documentary about Black music legend Clarence Avant. Watch on Netflix The Black Godfather (2019) Stars: Anthony Anderson, Khalil Everage, Uzo Aduba, Dave East With a fairly by-the-book narrative, Beats truly shines through the onscreen chemistry between Anthony Anderson and Khalil Everage. As a friendship begins forming between the two, Romelo and August discover that their fraternal bond is the meaningful relationship that both men have been searching for their entire lives. Tasked with encouraging August to return to school, Romelo discovers that the teenager is a talented musician. When school principal Vanessa runs up against personnel cuts if her school’s attendance doesn’t improve, she hires her soon-to-be ex, Romelo (Anthony Anderson), as a security guard. Vance, Niecy NashĮighteen months after a devastating tragedy, Chicago youth August (Khalil Everage), afflicted by PTSD, struggles to find a meaningful life outside of his bedroom. An energetic Black comedy-drama with familiar but elevated family undertones, Uncorked looks and feels like a number of other films in the “stay-or-go” subgenre, but its performances and relatable narrative push it above the rest of its counterparts. When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself, the young man must choose between a life of tradition and family ties or a new world filled with major personal opportunities. In writer-director Prentice Penny’s Uncorked, Mamoudou Athie stars as Elijah, an aspiring sommelier with dreams of leaving the family barbecue business behind in pursuit of his wine connoisseur dreams.
Stars: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Carter Wilson, the lead butler at the White House - Lee Daniels’ The Butler is a powerful film with respectable intentions. Commanded by a strong lead performance from Whitaker along with an ensemble of other noteworthy talents - including Oprah Winfrey as Cecil’s wife, Gloria, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Attempting to balance family life with his professional duties, Cecil watches a nation unravel before his very eyes, challenging the country’s long-held racial boundaries. Inspired by Wil Haygood’s Washington Post article “A Butler Well Served by This Election,” Lee Daniels’ The Butler chronicles three decades of White House inner workings through the eyes of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), a cherished butler hired during the Eisenhower administration and serving through the pinnacle years of the American civil rights movement. Watch on Netflix Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013) Stars: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah, Kurt Egyiawan Securing several awards and nominations when first released, Beasts of No Nation is a tremendous piece of cinema with bold visuals, deep performances, and an impressive narrative.
Leaving his family behind, Agu begins an immense coming-of-age journey through his militaristic training. As civil war breaks out, a young boy named Agu is recruited by Commandment to join his battalion after attacks on the boy’s settlement are initiated by rebel forces. With a commanding lead performance from indie stalwart Harrison, Jr., Monster follows a traditional dramatic formula, delivering rich results.Īdapted from the 2005 novel of the same name, Beasts of No Nation stars Idris Elba as Commandment, a towering West African guerilla warfare leader. Shining a light on the teen’s journey from a bright and promising future through a bevy of legal proceedings and the possibility of jail time, the Harlem youth must rise against the odds to clear his name. as Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old charged with murder. Fitbit Versa 3īased on the Walter Dean Mayers novel of the same name, Monster stars Kelvin Harrison Jr.