Alicia Keys Movies
A wunderkind to end all, multi-talented singer/songwriter Alicia Keys burst onto the scene in 2001 with her debut album, Songs in A Minor, recorded for Clive Davis' J Records and released at the tender age of 20. In the process, Keys impacted the music world indelibly -- offering a defiantly individualistic co-mingling of soul, funk, jazz, blues, and rock topped off by her signature confessional ballad, "Fallin'." Songs sold over 50,000 copies in its first day; a follow-up, the 2003 Diary of Alicia Keys, performed equally well and wowed critics. For the two efforts, Keys won a total of nine Grammy awards.Born in Harlem, Keys was reportedly tagged as a musical genius from the age of five, and attended Manhattan's Professional Performance Arts School. She graduated from high school early, at age 16, but a brief stint at Columbia University left her dissatisfied, and she soon hearkened off to greener pastures, offered a prestigious record contract by Davis.
In terms of acting roles, it may surprise fans to discover that Keys' on-camera appearances date back to the age of five, when she appeared as a guest star on a 1985 episode of The Cosby Show. In the early years of the diva's music stardom, her filmed work, of course, consisted almost exclusively of performance footage, such as her 2001 appearance on Saturday Night Live and the concert films America: A Tribute to Heroes (2001) and Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast (2005) -- both reflecting Keys' interest in humanitarian causes. In time, however, the superstar branched out into dramatic efforts, with small roles in such A-list features as Glory Road (2006), Smokin' Aces (2007), The Nanny Diaries (2007), and the Secret Life of Bees. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 2013
Two youths from the Brooklyn projects attempt to fend for themselves on the streets after their parents are arrested in this urban drama from director George Tillman, Jr. (Notorious, Faster). It's summer in New York City, and 14-year-old Mister (Skylan Brooks) is hungry. His irresponsible mother unable to hold down a job, Mister's situation goes from bad to worse when she is taken into custody, and child protective services attempts to track him down. Meanwhile, nine-year-old friend Pete finds himself in the same sinking boat. Together, Mister and Pete search for sustenance while attempting to avoid the violence that plagues their neighborhood. All the while Mister grows to feel invincible, never realizing that it's his vulnerability - not his youthful bravado - that's truly his saving grace. Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Mackie, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Five brilliant artists join forces against breast cancer as each directs a short segment of this groundbreaking movie. Charlotte depicts a woman (Ginnifer Goodwin) struggling to say goodbye to her young daughter. The story of Mia (Patricia Clarkson) is conveyed through a series of flashbacks. Cheyanne (Lyndsy Fonseca) is a gorgeous stripper whose new marriage is shaken by her disease. Lili follows an overachiever (Rosario Dawson) who turns to her sister for help telling their mother of her diagnosis. And, finally, Pearl, an oncologist (Jeanne Tripplehorn) suddenly finds herself in the patient's seat. Also starring Annie Potts, Bob Newhart and Tony Shalhoub, Five is an unforgettable inspiration.
- 2007
Produced by the rocker himself, this documentary from director Gillian Grisman presents a warts-and-all look at Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas. The film follows Thomas as he navigates the showbiz landscape, attempting to create a solo record while maintaining artistic integrity. The process yields mixed results for the musician, who also must tend to his sick wife, Marisol. My Secret Record, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying & Love the Biz screened at the 2007 Nashville Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- 2005
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After the Gulf Coast was ravaged by a barrage of tropical storms, six television networks simultaneously broadcast this one hour fundraising concert in order to benefit those who lost their homes, lives, and families during the natural disaster. Some of the artists who participated in the hopes of both assisting and paying tribute to those who had survived, include Neil Young singing When God Made Me and U2 collaborating with Mary J. Blige for the song One. Entertainers such as Jack Black and Chris Rock also appear in the program to provide both introductions and comic relief. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
Warp-speed Chicago rapper Twista invites a camera crew along for the ride as he hits the road for a concert tour in this video from the Street Heat series. Street Heat Live: Twista captures a red-hot stage show from the hip-hop legend, as well as the backstage parties and life on the road. Includes guest appearances from Alicia Keys, Too Short, David Banner, Lil' Flip, and more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Directed by Hoop Dreams producer Peter Gilbert, With All Deliberate Speed is a reflection on the state of civil rights in America 50 years after the May 17, 1954, unanimous Supreme Court ruling stating that the doctrine of "separate but equal" was inconsistent with the constitution of the United States. This documentary offers a glance into the lives of the unsung heroes in the struggle for America's desegregation. A series of intimate interviews, eyewitness accounts, and unique original footage helps to illustrate the stories of the teachers, students, lawyers, and judges whose commitment would have a profound effect on African-Americans for decades to come. Among the film's participants are the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall's son, Thurgood Marshall Jr., as well as the Reverend Joe Delaine, Barbara Johns, Vernon Jordan, and Julian Bond. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- 2003
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Singer, songwriter, pianist Alicia Keys emerged seemingly out of nowhere in 2001 with her debut album Songs In A Minor, which catapulted the twenty-year-old musician from obscurity to international stardom, topping the Billboard Pop charts and earning her five Grammy awards. Alicia Keys: From Star to Stardom is an unauthorized documentary on Keys life and career, exploring the hard work and years of preparation that went into her "sudden" success. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2001
This 2001 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Reese Witherspoon and features musical guest Alicia Keys. ~ Skyler Miller, Rovi
- Starring:
- Reese Witherspoon, Alicia Keys, (more)
- 1985
When Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) announces that she feels left out of all the Huxtable family fun, Cliff allows his five-year-old daughter to hold a slumber party for her friends, never dreaming that he'd be forced to supervise in Clair's absence. During the festivities, Cliff is dumbfounded by the inscrutability of Rudy's doggedly nonverbal friend Peter Chiara (Peter Costa, in his first series appearance). Meanwhile, Cliff's dad Russell sits on the sidelines watching how effectively his son handles an unruly group of pre-schoolers--with a heavy wager riding on the outcome of the evening. Watch for an early appearance by Alicia Keys, here billed as Alicia Cook. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
When a shifty magician turns state's evidence against a Las Vegas underworld heavy, the high price placed on his head sparks a fevered race to rub the snitch out and collect a tidy paycheck in Narc director Joe Carnahan's dark action comedy. Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) is a small-time scammer who has somehow managed to get the goods on big-time mobster Primo Sparazza. Upon discovering that Buddy is about to deliver the evidence needed to get him thrown in jail for life, Primo takes out a sizable contract on Buddy that entices every two-bit thug, grizzled bounty hunter, deadly vixen, skilled assassin, and ladder-climbing Mafioso within a hundred-mile radius into taking a shot at the prize. Now holed up in his luxurious Lake Tahoe hideout with only two FBI agents (Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta) standing between him from a virtual army of money-hungry rogues, Buddy is about to find out just how far this motley crew of killers is willing to go in order to take him out and hit the jackpot. Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, and Martin Henderson co-star in a bullet-strewn, ensemble crime comedy that never stops to reload. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, (more)
Gina Prince-Bythewood's adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's novel The Secret Life of Bees stars Dakota Fanning as Lily, a 14-year-old growing up in a small Southern town in 1964. She is haunted by memories of shooting her mother when she was a young girl. Lily lives with her emotionally distant father, and her best friend is their African-American housekeeper Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). After locals beat Rosaleen for attempting to register as a voter, and Lily's dad goes one step too far during an argument with his daughter, Lily and Rosaleen set out to find the place where the only picture Lily has of her mother was taken. That place turns out to be the home of the independent Boatwright sisters, a trio -- Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alicia Keys -- who make a very successful living producing honey. Lily and her friend move in with them, and soon the girl learns about both beekeeping and life. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, (more)
Adapted from the best-selling novel, the whimsical, heartwarming comedy The Nanny Diaries concerns Annie Braddock (Scarlett Johansson), a recent college graduate from New Jersey whose nurse mother makes an unsuccessful bid to pressure her into a white-collared business career. Sidetracking this path for more colorful pursuits, Annie accepts a position as nanny and domestic servant for a wealthy couple on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, known only as "The Xs" (Paul Giamatti and a heavily coiffed and accoutred Laura Linney). Annie has her first real taste of servant life when she arrives at the family's residence and promptly sinks into Mrs. X's luxury tub, but is soon shuttled off to her own bare-bones room. Face to face, for the first time in her life, with the vast socioeconomic differences between herself and others, Annie must spend her days catering to Mrs. X's every whim, navigating the emotional land mines set by the domineering Mr. X, and tending to the demands of the couple's mischievous and bratty son, Grayer (Nicholas Art). The situation grows a bit more awkward and sticky when Annie begins to fall for a young man who lives near the Xs, whom she's nicknamed Harvard Hottie (Chris Evans), leading her to seriously reevaluate her career goals and priorities. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, (more)
- 2007
- PG
As the AIDS epidemic ravages Africa, the ones who succumb to the disease are not the only victims. When tens of thousands of parents die, their children are left to fend for themselves, and the Agape Orphanage in South Africa has become a home for a growing number of children who have lost their mothers and fathers. While the children of Agape have all been touched by tragedy, they've also adopted a unique means to cope -- music. As South African singing star Zwai Bala puts it, "We, South Africans, sing before we eat. We sing when we're happy, sing when we're sad. It's a healing thing." Music has become a balm for the Agape orphans, and they've formed a choral group whose music has attracted international acclaim. Documentary filmmaker Paul Taylor explores the tragic lives of the residents of the Agape Orphanage as well as the music that gives them strength in We Are Together (Thina Simunye), which profiles a handful of children who sing with the Agape group, and follows them as they use their growing reputation to help others like themselves. Featuring cameo appearances by Paul Simon and Alicia Keys, We Are Together (Thina Simunye) received its North American premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
A true-life story of a basketball team who broke down barriers while racking up victories is the basis for this sports drama. Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) was a high school and college basketball star who, after six years of working with high school teams, became the head coach at Texas Western University in 1962. At that time, Texas Western's basketball program was not well respected, but Haskins was determined to change that, and in 1966 Haskins assembled what he was certain was a winning team. However, Haskins' starting lineup was comprised entirely of African-American athletes at a time when racially integrated teams were still a novelty in the South and West. Despite generating a firestorm of controversy, Haskins and his players showed they could succeed where it counted -- on the court. In post-season play Haskins and the Texas Western team found themselves competing for the NCAA championship against the University of Kentucky's all-white team, lead by legendary coach Adolph Rupp (Jon Voight). Glory Road also stars Derek Luke, Alphonso McAuley, Mehcad Brooks, Al Shearer, Damaine Radcliff, Sam Jones III, and Schin S. Kerr as members of Haskins' winning team. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, (more)
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