Neema Barnette Movies
The direct-to-video comedy Super Sweet 16: The Movie concerns two best friends who share their birthdays. When they end up mad at each other, they engage in an outrageous battle to throw the most ostentatious 16th birthday party ever. This movie is based on the popular MTV reality program My Super Sweet 16. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Two Southern California volleyball teams determined to prove their superiority on the court find out that they're not as different as they previously thought after tragedy strikes close to home in director Neema Barnette's affectionate sports drama. The Madonnas and the Phantoms are two volleyball teams with a longstanding grudge. With a bitter rivalry that frequently spills off of the court and into the streets, the Madonnas and the Phantoms appear to have nothing in common until fate forces them to break down the social and cultural barriers that bind them. Now determined to keep it together on the court as they make their way to the championships, these former rivals are about to find out what true sportsmanship is really all about. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ciara, Faizon Love, (more)
Miracle's Boys tells the tale of African-American brothers who must survive many daily stresses by trusting, relying on, and loving each other. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Nelson, Pooch Hall, (more)
- 2003
Lorelei (Lauren Graham) is none too thrilled to find out that her interior decorator was previously hired by Emily (Kelly Bishop). Luke (Scott Patterson) adjusts himself to the rules of the Gilmores' "movie night" (Casablanca is the main attraction, as indicated by the episode's title), even as Lorelei tussles with Luke's cell-phone policy. Meanwhile at Yale, Paris (Liza Weil) squares off against her highly antisocial roomie Janet (Katie Walder); and, still unable to get over her breakup with Jess, Rory (Alexis Bledel) impulsively decides to date a guy who doesn't appeal to her at all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Television director Neema Barnette directs the forceful drama Civil Brand, based on a story by Preston A. Whitmore II. Shot with a micro-budget of 500,000 dollars, the film stars confrontational rap and hip-hop artists Mos Def, MC Lyte, and Da Brat. The story concerns a women's prison that exploits its largely African-American inmate population as cheap labor to manufacture products for a corporation. Mostly incarcerated due to domestic violence situations, the inmates also face sexual abuse as the hands of the prison staff, headed by Captain Deese (Clifton Powell) and Warden Nelson (Reed McCants). Accused of murder, Frances Shepard (Lisa Rae) joins forces with inmates Little Momma (Lark Voorhies), Wet (Monica Calhoun), and Nikki Barnes (N'Bushe Wright), as well as law student Michael (Mos Def), in order to start an uprising. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
In this spooky horror movie, a painter and his pregnant wife buy a beautiful island home without realizing that it is haunted by the lovely and terribly lonely ghost of a sea captain's lover. Anxious for a new lover to join her, this sexy she-ghost does all she can to simultaneously seduce the husband and frighten away his wife. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon, Regina Taylor, (more)
- 1997
Recovering from a disastrous romance, graduate student Jennifer Cole (Lisa Rinna) is attracted to the brilliant, charismatic and unpredictable aspiring author Adam (Rob Estes), whose manuscript she has been hired to type. Adam's proposed novel concerns a serial killer who has systematically targeted eight women for death--and as the work progresses, Jennifer cannot help but worry that Adam intends to convert fiction into fact! Unable to convince her parents, her professors or even the police that Adam may be a dangerous killer in the making, Jennifer takes matters in her own hands, offering to be Adam's "accomplice" in hopes of preventing a bloodbath. A definite change of pace for its stars (both of whom had also worked together on Melrose Place), the made-for-TV Close to Danger originally aired January 13, 1997 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In 1988, Gail Devers was one of the best female sprinters in America, and seemed assured of a place on the United States Olympic Team to compete in the 100-meter hurdles in that year's games in Seoul, South Korea. However, tragedy struck Devers in the form of Grave's Disease, a rare ailment that causes swelling and bleeding in the feet. Devers' illness not only prevented her from competing in the Seoul Olympics, it also continued to spread and nearly forced her to have her feet amputated, until a new form of therapy led her to a miraculous recovery -- and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 1992 games in Atlanta. Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story is a made-for-TV drama based on Devers' remarkable true story; Charlayne Woodard stars as Gail Devers, with Louis Gossett Jr. co-starring as her coach, Bob Kersee. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlayne Woodard, Louis Gossett, Jr., (more)
- 1994
A mother's happiness is shattered when she learns an awful truth about the man she married shortly after she had been brutally raped and left pregnant by a stranger. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cynthia Gibb, Richard Grieco, (more)
- 1993
Mare Winningham stars in this made-for-cable TV movie about a woman who, after a lifetime of bad luck, ends up on death row -- where she insists the sentence be carried out promptly. Film was co-produced by author and noted feminist Gloria Steinem. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1993
This powerful fact-based made-for-TV drama follows a poor, illiterate woman as she bravely takes on the government child protective services in hopes that they will return her three children. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) are worn to a frazzle by the disruptive behavior of their twin grandkids Nelson (Gary Gray) and Winnie (Jessica Vaughn). Even more annoying is the unwillingness of the twins' parents Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf) and Elvin (Geoffrey Owens) to curb the kids' antics--and since the couple won't be able to move into their own house for another sixty days, it looks as though things will get worse before they get better. In desperation, Cliff constructs a makeshift "fort" in his living room to keep the twins at bay--and when this fails, he tries to palm the youngsters off on his own parents! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
As this year's Valentine's Day project, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) is doing a "Men of Hillman" calendar. Naturally, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) wants to participate, but Whitley rejects him on the grounds that he isn't "buff" enough. Elsewhere, Ron (Darryl M. Bell) lands in hot water when he makes three dates for the same night; Jaleesa's (Dawnn Lewis) Valentine celebration with Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman) ends abruptly and painfully; and Freddie (Cree Summer) is dismayed when she learns the identity of her secret admirer. and And yes, that girl playing "Jaclyn" is a young, pre-Academy Award Halle Berry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Will Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) go on to graduate school, or will he accept a fabulous job from the Kinishewa company? Dwayne allows Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Ron (Darryl M. Bell) to sway his decision, but he is ultimately forced to rely on his own judgement thanks to a crisis involving Col.Taylor's son Terrence (Cory Tyler). And Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis) is visited by her married sister Danielle (Vanessa Bell Calloway), who is fed up with being "just a housewife." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Apprenticing as an art buyer for E.H. Wright, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) purchases some paintings by a promising but unknown artist--thereby going against the specific instructions of her new boss. It looks like Whitley's career is over before it has even begun, until an unexpected development occurs. Elsewhere, Freddie (Cree Summer) tries to draw listeners to her new radio call-in show by adopting the alternate personality of a Jamaican philosopher "Mother Eartha". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
A grim-visaged Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) puts his social life on hold in order to study for an economics exam that could very well place him on the Dean's List. Unfortunately, he is sidetracked by a pretty exchange student from Barbados, whom he impulsively invites to the party that he had previously turned down in order to cram for the exam. Vanessa Williams plays the girl who unwittingly throws temptation in poor Theo's path. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Leslie Uggams guest stars as Kris Temple, beloved high school chum of Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad). As Clair and Kris gigglingly recreate their salad days by swapping gossip, wearing wigs and bursting into song, their husbands Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Herb (Ron Foster) take advantage of their wives' preoccupation to gorge themselves on a scrumptious dessert menu. Elsewhere, Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) tries to get around her parents' "no dates until you're thirteen" rule by claiming that she is going on a "group outing" with two girls and three boys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) have something REALLY special in mind for their 27th wedding anniversary: a meticulously detailed reenactment of their first honeymoon meal. Cliff has gone so far as to replicate the atmosphere of the Carribean restaurant where it all took place, replete with decorations, calypso music and even the original chef, Mr. Atkins (Clebert Ford). Trouble is, Atkins has moved upward in his profession and now considers the Huxtables' first meal to be beneath his talents -- and accordingly, he insists upon "improving" the menu to the point that Cliff completely loses his appetite! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A PBS "American Playhouse" production, this is an amusing TV outing revealing the life of Zora Neale Hurston, a black writer known for her folklore and stories from the rural South of the 1930s and 1940s. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ruby Dee, Louis Gossett, Jr., (more)
- 1990
Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) is visited by his highly opinionated friend Milt (Wren T. Brown), who immediately launches into a devastating criticism of Dwayne's college and his choice of friends--especially Ron (Darryl M. Bell). Elsewhere, Col. Taylor attends a serviceman's reunion, hoping to be reunited with former girlfriend Carol Garrison (Denise Nicholas), with whom he served in Vietnam. But alas, there are some things best left to memory. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In an effort to keep Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) from pining over her, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) arranges a date for him with gorgeous coed Megan Lewis (Torri Whitehead). But when Dwayne and Megan show signs of hitting it off, Whitley becomes terrifyingly jealous. Elsewhere, Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis) and Walter (Sinbad) wager over whether they can teach poker to those clueless "greenhorns" Freddie (Cree Summer) and Kobie (Abner Mariri). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Returning from a relaxing vacation in Vermont, Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) find their household in complete disarray--and even more vexing, all of the kids are making impassioned financial demands upon their long-suffering parents. Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) has been methodically "borrowing" his family's furniture for his own apartment; Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) needs 200 dollars for ice-skating lessons; Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) has been involved in a car accident; and little Olivia (Raven-Symone) has busted the washing machine. Holding an emergency family seminar, Cliff chastizes the children about their money problems and other misdeeds, whereupon they respond in kind by rattling off all of Cliff's shortcomings--including driving their friends crazy with his long-winded childhood yarns! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Whitley (Jasmine Guy) faces the challenge of a lifetime when Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) bets her that she can't go an entire day without flirting. Elsewhere, a nervous Ron (Darryl M. Bell) organizes a roast for Colonel Taylor (Glynn Turman), inviting the Colonel's former Vietnam comrade Frank Benning (Obba Babatunde) as the surprise guest speaker. But Taylor is less than thrilled at this turn of events: Benning had lost a leg in the war, and the guilt-ridden Colonel has always held himself responsible for this tragedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Strapped for cash, Kim (Charnele Brown) takes a night job at funeral parlor in addition to her regular job at The Pit. Distressed by this news, the gang contrives to "stuff" the Pit's tip box--but instead of being grateful, Kim is outraged. Elsewhere, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Ron (Darryl M. Bell) prepare to appear in a TV commercial in which they will show off their basketball skills, little imagining that their opponents are former NBA stars Rick Barry and Walt Hazzard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
