Akili Prince Movies
- 1998
- R
- Add Went to Coney Island On a Mission From God...Be Back By Five to QueueAdd Went to Coney Island On a Mission From God...Be Back By Five to top of Queue
Richard Schenkman, who debuted with the disappointing The Pompatus of Love (1996), returned with this comedy-drama, set on the streets of Brooklyn. When young Richie (Rafael Baez) vanishes, rumor has it that he went insane at Coney Island, so pizza guy Stan (Rick Stear) and pawnshop clerk Daniel (Jon Cryer, who co-scripted with Schenkman) spend a winter's day searching for their childhood friend through the deserted amusement park. They encounter a variety of locals in their wanderings, while flashbacks fill in the story of past events, including Stan's alcoholic escapades which ended his relationship with Gabby (Ione Skye). Shown at the 1998 L.A. Independent Film Fest. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Cryer, Rick Stear, (more)
- 1996
Both Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Kellerman (Reed Diamond) have been exiled to desk duty -- Pembleton because he has not fully recovered from his stroke, and Kellerman because he is one of the targets of a federal grand jury's investigation of corruption in the arson unit. In other developments, Lewis (Clark Johnson) ends up being teamed with "downtown" narcotics detective Terri Stivers (Toni Lewis, in her first series appearance) while trailing a suspect in a series of homicides. A seemingly airtight case against elusive drug kingpin Luther Mahoney (Erik Todd Dellums) is dashed to bits. And the temporarily homeless Brodie (Max Perlich) moves in with Bayliss (Kyle Secor). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, (more)
- 1991
Asked to teach a "For Men Only" course at Theo's community center, Cliff (Bill Cosby) precipitates a heated discourse, as the inner-city teens complain about being blamed for all the trouble in the community. Among the biggest complainers is a fellow named Cal (Akili Prince), who seems to be a textbook example of the phrase "absentee father." In his efforts to straighten out Cal and the rest of the teens, Cliff delivers a stirring (and surprisingly joke-free) monologue on the subject of personal responsibility. And back at home, Cliff's dad Russell (Earle Hyman) succumbs to the lure of his granddaughter's new video game! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In a fictionalized replay of the Bernhard Goetz incident, former dancer Laura di Biasi (Cynthia Nixon), a white woman, is arrested after shooting two black youths on a subway. Di Biasi claims that she was acting in self defense, but Assistant D.A. Robinette (Richard Brooks), himself an African-American, suspects that the woman had a hidden agenda. This not only leads to a racially charged murder trial, but also considerable friction between Robinette and his partner Stone (Michael Moriarty). (Trivia note: Guest star Cynthia Nixon and Law & Order regular Chris Noth later starred together on the HBO sitcom Sex and the City.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Halloween proves to be a most eventful occasion for the Huxtable family. For starters, Cliff (Bill Cosby) reluctantly agrees to wear a costume to take Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) trick-or-treating. And then, Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) invites Robert Foreman (Dondre T. Whitfield in his series debut), the "coolest seventh-grader" in her school, to her Halloween party. Though Cliff manages to survive his ordeal, Vanessa is so overwhelmed by Robert's presence that she ends up embarrassing herself in front of all her friends (well, ALMOST all). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
