Opal Alladin Movies
- 2009
An experienced lothario schools a clueless collection of would-be Romeos in the art of seducing women who typically wouldn't give them the time of day. Smooth-talking Philippe knows all the right words to talk a woman straight into the bedroom, and he's ready to share his secrets of seduction with the world. Though his students may seem hopeless, Philippe is confident he can shape them into seasoned ladykillers. But is Philippe truly the master womanizer he presents himself to be? As Philippe relays his wisdom to his rapt male students while discovering that all women aren't created equal, real-life N.Y.C. street interviews reveal just how frustrating and complex modern romance can truly be. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis-Dominique de Lencquesaing, Stephanie Szostak, (more)
Bloody Sunday director Paul Greengrass marks the five-year anniversary on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States with this speculative meditation on the events that took place onboard the fourth hijacked plane, and the actions of the passengers who gave their lives to ensure the safety of others. Told in real time and acted out by a cast of unknowns who were provided with detailed studies of their real-life counterparts, United 93 attempts to reconstruct the airborne tragedy from the view of the ground and flight controllers, the passengers, and their nervous families awaiting word on the fate of their loved ones. As the terrified travelers and crew gradually become aware of the historical events taking place on the ground so far beneath them, the 90 minutes in which a random collection of strangers realized their fate and came together to confront an unthinkable threat are re-created. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Alan Basche, Richard Bekins, (more)
- 2005
Michael Ealy (Barbershop) stars as a young bipolar Brooklynite in Jellysmoke, the first feature from writer/director Mark Banning. When Jacob (Ealy) is found throwing rocks at the side of a building in Times Square, he is remanded to a psychiatric facility for treatment. Returning to his Brooklyn home following a successful stay, Jacob has clearly stabilized, but only with the help of a prescribed regimen of anti-depressants. At home, Jacob is met with varying degrees of denial by his mother (Angela Nirvana) and brother (Harvey Moore) -- the former handling him with kid gloves, the latter wanting to shake him. Jacob's devoted childhood friend Paul (Andre Royo) is his one true champion willing to stick by him despite his unpredictable nature. Jacob finds his new anesthetized routine more palatable when he meets Cindy (Opal Alladin), a single mother of a young boy, Joshua (Joshua Asante). Although Cindy is immediately attracted to Jacob, on their first date she comments that he seems sluggish. Having kept his diagnosis a secret, Jacob can't explain his behavior, so he stops taking his pills in the hopes that he'll become more alert and social. However, when he shows up in the middle of the night bearing gifts for Joshua, Cindy starts to sense that there's something not quite right about her new love interest. Jellysmoke received the Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2005 Los Angeles Film Festival, and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best feature made for under 500,000 dollars. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Ealy, Opal Alladin, (more)
- 2002
Once again, a real-life tragedy proved to be grist for the Law & Order story mill. The detectives investigate the bizarre death of an 11-year-old girl. All clues lead to an unorthodox, and highly dangerous, "rebirthing" procedure recommended by a child therapist. This episode provides some choice acting moments for such recurring characters as Medical Examiner Rodgers (Leslie Hendrix) and police psychologist Dr. Emil Skoda (J.K. Simmons). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
A corrections officer is murdered, exposing a case involving sex in a woman's prison. A.D.A. Carmichael (Angie Harmon) soon discovers that among the players in this drama is a female inmate whom she'd previously jailed on a drug charge. As the D.A.'s office squares off against aggressive defense lawyer Danielle Melnick (Tovah Feldshuh), a disturbing secret looms ominously over one of the prosecuting attorneys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
