Buddy Lewis Movies

The city streets explode into violence when "The Man" kills Black Dynamite's (Michael Jai White) brother in this seamless recreation of the blaxploitation classics of the 1970s. He was the best agent that the CIA ever had, but these days Black Dynamite only answers to one boss -- himself. When "The Man" ices Black Dynamite's brother, starts pumping heroin into the local orphanage, and floods the ghetto with a secret weapon disguised as common malt liquor, the car chases, gunfights, and shirtless brawls that follow prove wild enough to make even Dolemite green with envy. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Milo Ventimiglia (of the blockbuster TV series Heroes), headlines this dark crime thriller, which marks the sophomore directorial outing of Marc Schoelermann, following the 2006 telemovie Hexxx. Ventimiglia portrays a young intern, newly arrived at the University Hospital in Philadelphia, who stumbles onto a psychopathic group of colleagues playing a vile game. They regularly select one of their members (on a rotational basis) to commit the "perfect murder," while the rest use forensic methods to try to determine exactly how the homicide was executed. Alyssa Milano (of TV's Who's the Boss? and Charmed) co-stars as Ventimiglia's fiancée, while thesps Johnny Whitworth and Lauren Lee Smith are among the perpetrators. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (of Crank fame) scripted. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Three couples crowded into a Philadelphia brownstone attempt to live together without losing their minds in this filmed performance of David E. Talbert's popular stage play. It seems that the romance in all three couples' relationships has hit the skids, and Monique Graham's (Deborah Cox) displeasure with her commitment-phobic boyfriend Anthony (Mel Jackson) is only the beginning of the romantic woes. Single mother Epiphany (Joi Campbell) is hard-pressed when forced to make a choice between her current boyfriend, Reggie (Chico Benymon), or her precocious six-year-old son, Man Man (Robbie Lewis Jr). And speaking of epiphanies, Ms. Willanetta's (Cassi Davis) recent religious experience has forced her to question her relationship with Renzo (Buddy Lewis), a man with whom she has been romantically involved with for over a decade. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A stellar roster of hip-hop performers star in this streetwise story about a pair of gang-bangers who want to channel their energies into music, but soon discover how hard it can be to leave their old lives behind. DJ (Mack 10) and Lonzo (Fat Joe) are members of rival street gangs in inner-city Los Angeles; both have an interest in rap music, and after DJ's equipment is destroyed in a fire and Lonzo gets shafted by a sleazy record company executive, they decide that they have more in common than they thought, and they join forces to bring their sounds to the people. Needing financing, they approach Gator (CJ Mac), a wealthy drug kingpin, who agrees to bankroll their projects; with Gator's capital, the record label is a success, but things start to go sour when the police discover who is financing the operation, and an escalating gang war drives a wedge between the partners. Meanwhile, DJ is juggling two girlfriends, Brandy (Kidada Jones) and Leyla (Tom'ya Bowden), and is being pressured by his mother to renew his ties with his father, who abandoned the family when DJ was a child. Thicker Than Water also stars Ice Cube as Slink, MC Eiht as Lil' Ant, and Big Pun as Punny, with Krayzie Bone and Flesh-N-Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and B-Real from Cypress Hill appearing in cameo roles. Snoop Doggy Dogg was originally cast in the role of Lonzo, but he dropped out shortly before shooting began; New York rapper Fat Joe then stepped in, which added a East Coast vs. West Coast flavor that mimicked the gang rivalry between DJ and Lonzo. Mack 10 served as executive producer and helped write the original story. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Gerald S. O'Loughlin makes a return visit to Mission: Impossible, this time in the role of Syndicate chieftan Frank Delaney. To break the mob's stranglehold on the waterfront, the IMF endeavor to terrify Delaney into providing evidence against himself and his cohorts. Phelps impersonates the skipper of a "haunted" freighter, while Casey poses as the daughter of one of Delaney's murder victims. Written by Ed Adamson and Norman Katkov, "Shape Up" first aired on October 16, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

John Abbott, a citizen of Ancient Rome, is transported against his will to the 20th Century. No sooner has he landed in Tinseltown than he's pounced upon by opportunists and sharpsters. Ad man Terry-Thomas exploits Abbott for marketing purposes, while gorgeous Lisa Seagram hopes to use the hapless Roman as a launching pad for her own showbiz career. There's a lot of comic talent in 2000 Years Later--in addition to Terry-Thomas, the film features Edward Everett Horton, Pat Harrington Jr. and Casey Kasem. In keeping with its title (in a manner of speaking), the film fares well as a 1960s time capsule, with cameo appearances by such icons of the decade as singer Monty Rock III and designer Rudi Gernreich. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

General Peterson (Barton MacLane) sends Tony (Larry Hagman) and Roger (Bill Daily) to Reno to celebrate their promotions to Major. Jeannie (Barbara Eden) was supposed to stay behind, but Roger is determined to win big-time at the gambling tables. As a result, Jeannie is smuggled to the Biggest Little City in a travelling bag, and before long Roger is practically a millionaire--at least, until Tony finds out what's what! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hurriedly assembled to capitalize on the Paramount feature of the same name, Magna Pictures' Harlow was shot in less than two weeks, utilizing a glorified TV-kinescope process called Electronovision. Carol Lynley is physically an excellent choice to play 1930s Hollywood "platinum blonde" Jean Harlow, though she has little of Harlow's casual charisma. Pushed into a movie career by Mama Jean (Ginger Rogers) in order to support her dysfunctional family, Jean rises from 2-reel comedies to big-budget features in the space of a year. Though one of the highest-priced stars at MGM, Jean's fortune is rapidly depleted by her high-living (and, it is hinted, incestuous) stepfather Marino Bello (Barry Sullivan). Seeking happiness and security, Jean marries producer Paul Bern (Hurd Hatfield), only to have him commit suicide due to his impotence. Just when her misery is about to be ended by her marriage to movie star William Mansfield (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.)--a thinly disguised William Powell, who refused to allow his name or likeness to be used--Jean dies of uremia at the age of 26. If you can get past those miserable Laurel & Hardy imitators at the beginning of Harlow, you might be able to survive the rest of the picture, which gives a whole new meaning to the word "cheap." Watch for boxing champ Sonny Liston in a one-scene bit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Beaver (Jerry Mathers) wins a 14-carat locket at a carnival. At first, he plans to give the prize to his mother, June (Barbara Billingsley). But at the prodding of his friend Gilbert (Stephen Talbot), Beaver ends up presenting the locket to pretty Donna Yeager (Christine Jordan). Not unexpectedly, the ramifications of Beaver's generosity are daunting indeed -- especially when Donna's parents find out. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Friday (Jack Webb) and Smith (Ben Alexander) must forsake their Christmas vacation when the body of a murdered woman is found in a church courtyard. The woman is subsequently identified as Maria Carselle, whom several witnesses had seen drinking heavily in the company of a variety of companions just before her murder. A newly-shined boot and a discarded key are the clues that lead the detectives to the most likely suspect--who turns out to be too drug to put up any resistance. This episode is based on the Dragnet radio broadcast of May 25, 1950. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A soldier is expected to never question the actions of his commanding officer, but when a Marine sees his CO breaking the law, he finds himself facing a difficult dilemma in this provocative war drama. The trouble begins when the officer kills another soldier during a battle. The Marine who witnesses it wants to report it, but fears that the other superior officers will not believe him. As the battles rage on, the officer and the Marine are frequently paired; the tension between the two mounts. Things get really sticky when the CO marries the Marine's sister and the Marine falls for the slain man's widow. Just before the Marine files formal charges, the CO ends up dying in battle. It seems to be a heroic death. As the story ends, a general, preparing to award the officer a posthumous Medal of Honor, asks the Marine about him. The Marine cryptically quips, "Nobody knows anybody...." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi