Braxton Pope Movies
Based on writer/director Buddy Giovinazzo's novel of the same name, Life Is Hot in Cracktown explores how crack cocaine infiltrated the streets of urban America by following the journeys of four people whose lives are on a tragic collision course. Pre-op transsexual Marybeth (Kerry Washington) is working as a prostitute in order to save enough money to make her transformation complete. She lives with her lover, Benny, a small-time burglar, whom she hopes to marry after her final operation. Meanwhile, Manny (Victor Rasuk) is busy pulling double shifts while his wife, Concetta (Shannyn Sossamon), cares for their sickly infant son in their run-down apartment. By night Manny works at a 24-hour bodega frequented by junkies, drug dealers, and prostitutes, and by day keeps the peace as a security guard at a welfare hotel. One of the residents at that hotel is Willy, a ten-year-old boy who lives with his mother (Illeana Douglas) and her abusive boyfriend. Willy begs for money on the street so he and Susie can get some fast food. But it's dangerous out there, because volatile gangster Romeo (Evan Ross) is still searching the streets for his brother's killer, and he won't hesitate to terrorize anyone unfortunate enough to cross his warpath. Lara Flynn Boyle, Brandon Routh, Desmond Harrington, and RZA co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kerry Washington, Victor Rasuk, (more)
A jaded psychiatrist takes on a pro bono case that puts his professionalism to the ultimate test in director Jonas Pate's knowing exposé of the "other" Hollywood. Between sorting through the insecurities of a fading film starlet (Saffron Burrows), a struggling writer (Mark Webber), and an obsessive-compulsive talent agent (Dallas Roberts), A-list psychiatrist Henry Carter (Kevin Spacey) barely has the time to deal with his own problems. Suddenly, into the middle of Henry's malaise wanders a troubled teen who's never even set foot in the Hollywood Hills. This is Henry's first pro bono client, and considering his current state, he's not sure that now is the best time to be taking on more work. While Henry is jaded by Hollywood, his newest patient is obsessed with it. Faced with the challenge of helping a young girl through a particularly difficult time in her life, Henry does his best to remain professional despite harboring some rather serious misgivings during their first few sessions. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Spacey
A young Spring Break reveler runs a man down on a dark country road, only to find that the man she left for dead is still very much alive, and starving for revenge. Mary Murdock (Laura Breckenridge) was heading home from a night of hard partying when she hit a big bump on the back roads. Pulling over to investigate, Mary is horrified to discover a man grotesquely affixed to her front bumper. Panicked, she beats him furiously, buries him in the forest, and carries on as if nothing ever happened. But Mary's nightmare is only getting started, because the man she thought she killed has tracked her down, and he's eager to return the favor. It wasn't long ago that Mary was more concerned with covering up the evidence than wondering if she'll live to see another day, but when her victim returns with revenge on the brain, she is quickly drawn into a bloody game of kill or be killed. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Breckenridge, Kevin Corrigan, (more)
Music video director Brad Furman teams with Josh and Jonas Pate, the creators of the NBC series Surface, for this independent drama tracing an armored truck driver's efforts to track down the thief who shot him during a heist, changing his life forever. John Leguizamo stars as the driver who must endure months of rehabilitation before setting out to track down the gunman, and Tyrese Gibson plays the man responsible for pulling the trigger. Rosie Perez and Bobby Cannavale co-star in a thriller that was shot guerrilla-style in the Latino neighborhoods of Los Angeles. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Leguizamo, Rosie Perez, (more)
