Vanessa A. Williams Movies

Vanessa Williams guest stars as a college drama student named Jade, who inveigles Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) into helping her rehearse a love scene. Accused of lacking the proper emotions, Theo responds by passionately kissing Jade--just as his girlfriend Justine (Michelle Thomas) enters the scene! Refusing to believe Theo's protestations of innocence, Justine walks out on him, whereupon our hero turns to his dad Cliff (Bill Cosby) for advice on winning her back. Cliff responds with one simple command: "Beg!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The ruthless leader of a New York City drug syndicate battles to maintain his power and avoid imprisonment in this fast-moving action drama. While the film's heroes are Scotty (Ice-T) and Nick (Judd Nelson), a pair of tough, streetwise cops, the main focus is their target, drug lord Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes). A criminal businessman with no room for pity or emotion, the flashy but severe Brown has built an empire and transformed an abandoned Harlem apartment building into a well-defended fortress. He begins to consider himself invincible, but his lust for power and the unpredictable actions of a former client turned police informer threaten to bring about his potential downfall. First-time director Mario Van Peebles keeps the traditional plot moving at an appropriately rapid pace, with stylish action sequences and energetic performances. The film's violence was somewhat controversial on its initial release, especially after shooting incidents marred showings in several theaters. However, the film's moral message is clearly anti-drug and anti-crime, its main intent to provide a high-powered, modern take on the gangster movie. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

With his parents' guarded permission, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) arranges to have a dinner date with Cheryl (Vanessa Williams) in the Huxtable home. Just before the big event, in walks Ellen (Troy Beyer), the girl friend of Theo's pal Denny (Troy Winbush), who wants to discuss Denny's upcoming birthday party with Theo. Inadvertently mixing wines with her antihistamines, Ellen ends up falling asleep in Cliff and Clair's bedroom. As a nervous Theo tries to hide the unconscious Clair from both his parents and Denny, Cheryl finally shows up--and she's no mood for explanations! Previously slated to air on two separate occasions in the fall of 1990, this episode marks the last regular appearance of Joseph C. Phillips as Martin Kendall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bernard Rose followed his moody fantasy-thriller Paperhouse (1988) with this modern horror tale, based on Clive Barker's short story "The Forbidden". Compiling a thesis on urban legends, University of Illinois in Chicago graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) becomes aware of the prevalent superstition surrounding the legend of "Candyman" (Tony Todd)--a hook-wielding phantom who will appear if his name is recited five times into a mirror--among the tenants of Chicago's Cabrini Green project. A senior professor, hearing of Helen's research, explains the historical basis for the legend, detailing how Candyman is believed to be the vengeful spirit of a former slave who, though initially respected in academia, was set upon and mutilated by an angry mob when accused of taking a white mistress. When the clinically-detached Helen flaunts her intellectual confidence by reciting Candyman's name five times, she sets in motion an inevitable series of supernatural events -- culminating in a series of grisly killings, after which Helen is invariably found holding the bloody murder weapon. Though she is captured by the police, it becomes evident to Helen that Candyman is guiding her fate every step of the way. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

In this politically- and racially-themed satire, Bruford Jackson Jr. (Eriq LaSalle) is an African-American advertising man working for a major agency who has been assigned to campaigns selling Mumblin' Jack Malt Liquor and General Otis' Fried Chicken (complete with the Confederate flag on the bucket) to the black community. Bruford swallows his misgivings and goes along with his employer's wishes for the sake of his high-paying job. One day, Bruford is visited by the D.R.O.P. Squad (D.R.O.P. standing for "Deprogramming and Restoration Of Pride"). The Squad leader, Rocky Seavers (Vondie Curtis-Hall), uses extreme but non-violent psychological methods to teach African-Americans who are helping to destroy their community the error of their ways. However, his partner Garvey (Ving Rhames) has started to wonder if non-violence is really the best way to deal with the enemies of the Black community. Drop Squad was executive produced by Spike Lee, who also makes a cameo appearance endorsing the new "Gospel-Pak" of General Otis' Fried Chicken (complete with bible verses on the napkins). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Worf's much-needed vacation on the pleasure planet Risa quickly (and expectedly) goes awry. Actually, Worf is himself to blame for this, in as much as he willingly casts his lot with the Essentialists, a radical group of moralists determined to close down the hedonistic planet. Figuring prominently in the proceedings are guest stars Monte Markham as Pascal Fullerton, chairman of the Essentialists, and Vanessa Williams as Arandis, former lover of Dax's previous host Curzon Dax. Written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Ira Steven Behr, "Let He Who Is Without Sin" was originally broadcast November 11, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This program examines the history and traditions of the African-American family and takes a look at contemporary family life, considering stressful situations such as economic pressure, rising health care costs, divorce, and the complications of raising children in a culture where the effects of crime can be an everyday concern. Hosted by actor Danny Glover (star of the Lethal Weapon movies) and Academy Award-winning actress Esther Rolle of Driving Miss Daisy, the program features interviews with Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Vanessa Williams. This is one volume in the four-part series, Images & Realities, which examines contemporary concerns and issues faced by African-American people, and discusses how solutions can be found through nurturing, shared values, and a sense of community. ~ Alice Duncan, All Movie Guide

Patrik-Ian Polk directs this ensemble film about a quartet of gay African-American men looking for love in all the wrong places. The film opens with a quartet of friends hanging out by the pool with cocktails discussing who would be better in bed, Ricky Martin or Busta Rhymes. Outside of their overheated imaginations, though, the four are not seeing much action. During his 30th birthday party, Hill (Dwight Ewell) discovered his French beau getting a little fresh with a guest, causing their long term relationship to split. Marcus (Seth Gilliam), a closet romantic longing for Mr. Right, has a habit of scaring off one-night stands with his AIDS paranoia. Drag queen Chris (Jazzmun) talks constantly about a boyfriend no one has ever met, and rich Latino kid Dante (Renoly Santiago) is merrily promiscuous. As the film progresses, Hill, who moves in with Marcus, secretly revels in the prospect of single life. At the same time, Marcus lusts for hunky music producer Darby (Rockmond Dunbar) who moves in next door, though he has a live-in girlfriend (Vanessa Williams). The enormity of Chris' ego breaks up his lip-synched drag revue of Sister Sledge hits. This film was screened at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival and features a soundtrack by Babyface and Janet Jackson. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Adapted from the acclaimed 1997 film of the same name, the Showtime series Soul Food revolves around the fortunes of the Joseph clan, a close-knit African-American family coping with the death of their beloved matriarch, Big Mama (Irma P. Hall, who also played the character on the big screen). Opening five months after Big Mama's death, the series begins with Big Mama's youngest daughter Bird (Malinda Williams), ready to give birth to her first child. After leaving the hospital, Bird returns home with her husband Lem (Darrin Dewitt Henson) and newborn son Jeremiah, and is dismayed to find her mother's household flooded and in disarray. She quickly finds herself arguing with her sisters Teri (Nicole Ari Parker) and Maxine (Vanessa Williams) over how to best handle the disaster. The series' first episode was directed by E.R.'s Eriq La Salle and executive produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and his wife, Tracey, who also produced the film version of Soul Food. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide

Our America is the story of LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman two inner-city Chicago teenagers who eloquently distilled their lives on the Mean Streets into an award-winning Public Radio documentary (and later, a book) titled Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago. When a local NPR broadcaster conducts a search for "two young, intelligent African Americans to be on the radio", Jones (played by Roderick Pannell) and Newman (Brandon Hammond) smooth-talk their way into the offices of radio producer David Isay (Josh Charles), and as a result both young men are hired as reporters. For the next week, LeAlan and Lloyd amble through the Projects, tape recorders in hand, the better to assemble a "sound portrait" of their 'hood. But with the resultant success and fame, Jones and Newman must suffer the admonitions and threats of their neighbors, who feel that the two have sold out to "Whitey" and are exploiting their own people. Things come to a startling climax when, in the course of their investigative reporting, LeAlan and Lloyd put their lives on the line to tell the whole story of a 4-year-old boy who was tossed from a 14th story window to his death by a rampaging gang. Our America made its Showtime cable network debut on July 28, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Pint-size rap music star Lil Bow Wow shows that he can play ball as well as he raps in this youth-oriented comedy about a young boy whose dream comes true in an unexpected way. Calvin Cambridge (Lil Bow Wow) is a 14-year-old boy, who, since the death of his parents, has been living in an orphanage run by the unpleasantly eccentric Stan Bittleman (Crispin Glover). While the tough but caring Sister Theresa (Anne Meara) tries to encourage the kids, Calvin knows that he and most of the other kids his age are poor prospects for adoption. Calvin loves basketball and idolizes Michael Jordan, but he's too short to be much of a challenge to the older kids when shooting hoop at the playground. One day, Calvin discovers a pair of old basketball sneakers with the initials "MJ" written on the inside. Calvin is convinced they once belonged to Michael Jordan, but he can hardly believe what happens when he puts them on -- suddenly he's able to make superhuman jump shots and dunks just like a miniature version of Air Jordan himself. Calvin's newly developed talent on the court comes to the attention of Frank Bernard (Eugene Levy), the manager of the Los Angeles Knights, an NBA team having a humiliating season. Bernard brings Calvin to the team as a novelty item, but with the help of Coach Wagner (Robert Forster) and the new kid's can-do attitude, the Knights start to climb out of the cellar and look like possible season champs. However, Tracey Reynolds (Morris Chestnut), who used to be the team's star player, isn't happy to have his thunder stolen by a 14-year-old boy -- especially when he's made Calvin's roommate and de-facto guardian on the road. Like Mike also features cameo appearances by a number of pro basketball stars, including Allen Iverson, Chris Webber, and Jason Kidd. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide