Susan K. Lewis Movies

Director Jonathan Lynn followed up the surprise hit The Whole Nine Yards with this musical comedy starring Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. Gooding plays Darrin, a shallow New York advertising executive, who travels to a small town in the deep south upon receiving word that his aunt has passed away and left him a sizable inheritance. But once Darrin gets into town, he is informed that he will only receive the money if he successfully leads a local gospel group to victory at an upcoming competition. Reluctant but strapped for cash, Darrin takes on the task of finding the best singers in town and shaping the group up. Along the way, he becomes acclimated to the town with the help of his cousin Lucius (Mike Epps) and meets Lilly (Beyoncé Knowles), a single mother who not only possesses an incredible voice but also the ability to warm Darrin's cold heart. Along with Knowles, the supporting cast features a number of other real musicians, including Faith Evans, Melba Moore, Angie Stone, Montell Jordan, and The O'Jays. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Killer Disease on Campus is a documentary about the deadly illness known as meningitis. Most commonly suffered by children under the age of five and young adults, meningitis is one of the deadliest diseases. This film explains how a bacteria called meningococcus causes the disease, and details how doctors have fought to learn more about this illness in order to prevent it from taking additional lives. This is a fine film for those with an interest in the topic. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

This is the first episode in a seven-part PBS series that provides viewers with an overview of the theory of evolution: how the theory was conceived, how it has broadly influenced science, how it is commonly misunderstood, and how the theory affects everyday life. Written and directed by David Espar and Susan K. Lewis, this segment of the documentary introduces the key tenets of the theory, discusses current evolutionary scientific research, and includes biographical docudrama sequences produced by Linda Garmon and written by Allan Cubitt. Highlights include animation sequences illustrating evolution and interviews with various experts, including Kenneth Miller, who is both a Darwinian scientist and a Catholic. He authored the book Finding Darwin's God. Narrated by acclaimed actor Liam Neeson, this program stars Christopher Larkin as Charles Darwin. Also utilized throughout this episode is archival footage from a variety of sources, including Atmosphere Pictures, BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc., National Geographic Film Library, and Royal Geographic Society London. Included among the distinguished advisors for the series are Jane Goodall, Stephen Jay Gould, and William H. Calvin, of Washington University. The series was originally televised September 24-27, 2001. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide

This television documentary investigates the encounters with UFOs and alien life forms that people claim to have experienced. It begins with Betty Hill and a tape of her late husband John under hypnosis, describing their encounter with a UFO in 1961. Budd Hopkins, who holds support groups for people who believe they have been abducted, says that thousands of people have had similar experiences and most have the same themes. Described in detail are the testing that the aliens performed on their bodies. Drawings and descriptions of frail-bodied aliens with large black eyes are shown. Scientists such as Carl Sagan question the validity of the stories due to a lack of physical evidence and scientific implausibility. Finally, the show follows Hopkins as he investigates whether there are earthly explanations for the extraterrestrial encounters. However, Sagan again questions whether these incidents occur in outer space or inner space. ~ Thomas Carpenter, All Movie Guide