Allan Louis
- 2008
A Yale-educated journalist goes from working at a tabloid to living the good life in Palm Beach after losing her job and landing a gig as live in tutor for the teenage granddaughters of a wealthy cosmetics mogul all in the course of one whirlwind day. Megan Smith (JoAnna Garcia) is in the early stages of her plan to conquer the world of journalism when she is suddenly informed that she no longer has a job. Shortly after getting fired, however, Megan meets cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges (Anne Archer), who is currently seeking to hire a tutor for her teenage granddaughters Rose (Lucy Kate Hale) and Sage (Ashley Newbrough). Beautiful, rebellions, and completely abhorred by their optimistic new tutor, Rose and Sage discover just how determined Megan is to succeed in her new job when she attempts to lay down the law and see that the haughty young socialites receive a proper education. Of course the fact that Megan now lives in a breathtaking suite, drives an expensive convertible, and has her own private chef (Allan Louis) is enough to offset the constant scorn she receives from her two young charges, but what of handsome and wealthy next door dilettante Will (Brian Hallisay), who obviously has eyes for Megan despite the fact that he's dating her estranged sister Lily (Kristina Apgar)? Meanwhile, Megan's best friend Charlie (Michael Cassidy) pines for her in silence while attempting to summon the courage to express his true feelings. Staying afloat in the treacherous waters of high society in Palm Beach is no simple task, though perhaps if Megan can make a real difference in the lives of her willful young charges she can somehow get back on the path to living her dream. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna Garcia, Anne Archer, (more)
A young man finds that the moves he learned on the street may help him make a better life for himself in this youth-oriented musical drama. DJ Williams (Columbus Short) is a 19-year-old growing up in Los Angeles; while DJ is at heart a good kid and a gifted street dancer, he runs with a dangerous crowd, and one night an underground dance competition turns into a brawl and DJ ends up in jail. DJ's younger brother has already died a violent death, and his mother, hoping to put him back on the straight and narrow, sends DJ off to Truth University, a historically African-American college in Atlanta. At first, DJ feels like a misfit at Truth, but when he gets a chance to show off his dancing skills, he attracts the attention of two campus fraternities. Greek life is a major presence at Truth, and each year the fraternities take part in a "stepping" competition, in which the members show off their synchronized dance moves. DJ joins the ONO house, and is eager to help them take the championship away from their campus rivals, but in time he also comes to understand the brotherhood and community service that's a key part of his fraternity's background. DJ also has more on his mind than dancing and studying when he meets April (Meagan Good), a beautiful coed. Produced under the title Steppin', Stomp the Yard also stars Ne-Yo, Brian J. White, and Jermaine Williams. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Columbus Short, Meagan Good, (more)
A handful of budding queer activists are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore in this comedy drama from filmmaker Everett Lewis. India (Joe Lia) is a handsome young runaway who has arrived in Los Angeles after fleeing the small Colorado town where he was born and raised. India is hoping that L.A. will be a more tolerant environment after anti-gay attitudes drove him away from his hometown, but he discovers that's not the case when he is soon forced to square off against a pair of homophobic goons. But India is fortunate enough to be rescued by Destiny (Allan Louis), a drag queen determined to make the world safe for sexual outsiders of all stripes. Traveling with a crew of men and women determined to live and love as they please, Destiny invites India to join him as they take on uptight and violent straights wherever they find them, eager to express affection as they wish without accepting the role of victim that many are eager to hang on them. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Having suffered mightily from the obsessive jealousy of her husband, Don Harrison (Stan Cahill), Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors) finds out that Don has been cheating on her. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) takes time off to nail the crooked business manager (John Vickery) of dear old Mrs. Hornby (Elmarie Wendel). Several witnesses to a homicide seem to be willing to harm themselves rather than testify against a much-feared gang leader. And Valerie (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) upsets both Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) and Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) when she announces her pregnancy and takes a leave of absence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
