Melissa DeSousa Movies
Amidst claims that the African-American family unit is slowly deteriorating, filmmaker Leslie Small sets out to explore how the role of black women in the family has evolved as the population of black males continues to diminish. Inspired by the musical stage play of the same name, Small's film follows three women as they battle temptation and contend with their personal demons while waging a valiant battle to maintain happy, healthy relationships. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Golden Brooks, Darrin Dewitt Henson, (more)
This horror film focuses on a rogue weapons research scientist who, after losing his project to a shut-down by the American military, sets up camp in the Belzan forest of Chechnya. A team of hardcore Deltas are making their way through the wilderness to find the doctor's lab before the Russians do, but they're confronted by unanticipated terror when they run up against the scientist's project: a massive cloud of bloodthirsty bats. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Chokachi, Michael Jace, (more)
Helmed by the gifted Randa Haines (Children of a Lesser God, The Doctor), the inspirational drama The Ron Clark Story tells the real-life tale of Clark (Matthew Perry), a teacher from upstate New York who moves to Manhattan and re-instills courage and hope into the lives of many down-and-out students. Via highly innovative teaching strategies and rule sets, and an ongoing, strenuous effort, Clark manages to turn several lives around and raises students' test scores to admirable levels. His star pupils include a young girl forced to both attend school and care for her siblings and a graffiti-prone young man who rechannels his energies into more traditional painting with Clark's encouragement. In the end, even when pneumonia threatens to keep Clark down, he refuses to let it. Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) and Hannah Hodson co-star; Granada America produced. Max Enscoe and Annie deYoung scripted. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Perry, Ernie Hudson, (more)
An estranged African-American family from the deep South is forced to confront their painful past when as they come together to celebrate the life and legacy of the woman whose death served as the catalyst for renewed family bonds in this redemptive family drama starring Hill Harper, Billy Dee Williams, and Lesley Ann Warren. Carmel Boxer (Gabrielle Union) has passed away, and her entire family has returned to Huntsville, Alabama to pay their final respects. Coming together isn't easy for the Boxer family though, and for family patriarch Helms (Williams) in particular, the painful memories of an unrequited interracial love affair are something that he would rather just forget. As the revelations about Carmel's past prompt each family member to take stock of their pent up emotions and reevaluate their feelings about one another, the changing racial fabric of both society and his family prompts the troubled Helms to confront the inner demons that have tormented him for decades. In the end it's the redemptive power of love and the honesty of family that will help to inspire healing in a group whose hearts had been held hostage to their turbulent history for far too long. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Dee Williams, Zoe Saldana, (more)
Two generations of radical bikers face off in this rubber-burning action drama. Manuel "Smoke" Galloway (Laurence Fishburne) is the leader of the Black Knights, an underground motorcycle club. Smoke, like most of his fellow Knights, is a successful white collar worker who can afford fancy leathers and top quality bikes, and Smoke has earned a reputation as the "King of Cali," willing take on anyone in a drag race, legal or no. Kid (Derek Luke) is a gifted young rider whose father was once Smoke's mechanic; when Kid's dad died after an accident, Kid set out to become the best biker he could be to carry on his father's name and reputation. Smoke, however, has no room in the Black Knights for Kid, and so he and several fellow outcast riders start their own club, the Biker Boyz, and challenge Smoke to prove once and for all who is the fastest rider on the scene. Biker Boyz also features appearances from Orlando Jones, Lisa Bonet, Djimon Hounsou, Larenz Tate, and Kid Rock. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, (more)
A handful of close friends, due to turn 30, discover that their dreams for the future are running headfirst into the realities of adulthood in this character-driven comedy-drama. Natalie (Melissa De Sousa) is a banker who is happy with her job, but is tired of being single, and her pursuit of a husband is taking her down several blind alleys in the world of dating. Joy (Erika Alexander) has developed a similar desire to settle down and get married, but while she has a long-term boyfriend, Leland (T.E. Russell), he isn't so sure he wants to make a lifetime commitment. Troy (Tracy Morgan) is a comic who has been on the verge of a career breakthrough for years, but he's started to wonder if his big break is ever going to arrive. Maleek (Allen Payne) is a white-collar executive who thinks life is passing him by, and is pondering giving up a stable career to start over as a male model. And Stephanie (Paula Jai Parker) is comfortable with her job in real estate, but she's not so comfortable with herself as she struggles with a weight problem she's had since childhood. 30 Years for Life marked the directorial debut for Vanessa Middleton, who previously distinguished herself as a television writer for such series as Cosby and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erika Alexander, Melissa DeSousa, (more)
A prison drama centering on the travails of three friends unjustly imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit, Lockdown opens with Avery (Richard T. Jones), a talented young swimmer who desperately wants to free himself, his wife Krista (Melissa De Sousa), and their infant son from life in the projects of Albuquerque, NM. Avery's future seems bright when, after winning a regional swimming competition, he is approached by Charles Pierce (Bill Nunn), a talent scout who takes an interest in the young man's athletic promise. Unfortunately, Avery's dreams quickly disintegrate when he and his pals Cashmere (Gabriel Casseus) and Dre (De'Aundre Bonds) are pulled over by cops one night and framed for a robbery/murder they didn't commit. Faster than you can say "blatant miscarriage of justice," Avery, Cashmere, and Dre land in the slammer, where they are separated and forced to fend for themselves. Avery ends by getting a valuable prison education from his Ralph Ellison-quoting cellmate Malachi (Clifton Powell), while Cashmere quickly becomes part of the African-American gang network operating under the leadership of Clean Up (rapper Master P, whose No Limit Films produced the film). Dre, meanwhile, meets the worst fate of the three, resorting to heroin after he's gang-raped by a group of Nazi thugs. On the outside, Krista and Pierce work tirelessly to free the trio from prison. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard T. Jones, Gabriel Casseus, (more)
Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) is an FBI agent with a reputation for being aggressive and hard-nosed, who has long wanted to duplicate the career of her deceased mother, also an FBI agent, who died in the line of duty. Her cantankerous nature, though, has made her few friends, excepting her trusting, sensitive partner Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt). However, her true abilities are put to the test when she is called upon to infiltrate a Miss United States pageant after a terrorist threatens to bomb it. Gracie, who prides herself on her toughness, must now feminize her behavior to effectively participate in the pageant with the aid of Victor Melling (Michael Caine), a pompous consultant who dreams of whisking away Gracie's past self and creating "Gracie Lou Freebush" for an appreciative, all-American audience. After her arduous conversion, Gracie must play the role of beauty queen and FBI agent, and try not to blow her undercover outfit. Miss Congeniality, which was produced by star Bullock, features television stalwarts William Shatner and Candice Bergen in supporting roles. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, (more)
In this romantic comedy, a writer finds out the hard way about the consequences of walking a fine line between fiction and real life. Harper (Taye Diggs) is an author whose first novel is soon to be published, just as he's been asked to be Best Man at the wedding of his friends Lance (Morris Chestnut) and Mia (Monica Calhoun). Harper is suffering a worse case of publication-day jitters than most authors, and with good reason: much of his book has been drawn from real life, and he's afraid that his friends and family will spot the sometimes unflattering literary versions of themselves. What's worse, Mia and Harper had a fling years ago, and their affair made it into the book; Lance doesn't know, and Harper would just as soon he didn't find out before the wedding. But one of the bridesmaids, Jordan (Nia Long), has gotten hold of an advance copy of the book. Since Jordan works as a television journalist and devotes her life to digging up dirt on people, Harper is convinced that she'll spill the beans and spoil his friends' big day. The Best Man was the debut film for writer/director Malcolm D. Lee; Spike Lee served as producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Taye Diggs, Nia Long, (more)
In this road comedy, NYC film school grad Leta (Melissa De Sousa) gets a job assisting music-vid director Bleau Kelly (Downtown Julie Brown), and a group of rappers, singers, starlets, and showbiz wannabes sign on for a video to be shot in Florida. The gang gets acquainted on a decaying bus as they travel down the East Coast, encountering barroom fights and other problems en route to the vid gig. Cameo by Snoop Doggy Dogg. Not to be confused with another 1998 release titled The Ride. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malik Yoba, Melissa DeSousa, (more)
- 1996
In the first episode of a two-part story, Peg (Katey Sagal) and Marcy (Amanda Bearse) prepare to administer first aid when Al (Ed O'Neill) and Jefferson (Ted McGinley) head to the roof to install a satellite dish. Meanwhile, Bud (David Faustino) borrows money from a shady character named Vito Capone (Perry Anzilotti)--whose phone number is 1-500-HORSE-HEAD--to finance an exercise video starring Kelly (Christina Applegate) and her latest boyfriend Raphael (John Carlos Frey). Alas, the "stars" have a fight and cancel the video. . .whereupon Vito threatens to separate Bud from his life! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In the conclusion of a two-part story, mobster Vito Capone (Perry Anzilotti) threatens to bump off Bud (David Faustino) unless the exercise video starring Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Raphael (John Carlos Frey) is finished by 5 PM. Unfortunately, Kelly and Raphael aren't speaking to each other--and when they DO speak, they nearly get Married. . .With Children knocked off the network. Meanwhile, Peg and Marcy are can't understand why Al and Jefferson are taking so long installing a satellite dish...little realizing that every husband in the neighborhood is using the Bundy roof as a refuge from their wives!. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
An already crowded ER is besieged by a dozen very pregnant females, among them a 13-year-old who now regrets her promise to give her child to an adult couple, a nervous crack addict, and a mentally unbalanced woman who insists that she was impregnated by space aliens. Making a bad situation worse, the fourth-floor sprinkler system malfunctions at OB/GYN, meaning that the ER staff will have to deliver eight of the babies -- and an attending physician named Dr. Anna Castigliano (Lindsay Crouse) suddenly goes into labor herself. Amidst all this chaos, is it any wonder that desk attendant Jerry (Abraham Benrubi) can't convince anyone that basketball star Scottie Pippen (playing himself) has dropped into the ER for a visit? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
