Michael Martin Movies
Originally aired on The Discovery Channel, director Stuart Taylor's true crime documentary details the grisly exploits of serial killers Charles Ng and Leonard Lakes, who are together suspected of torturing and murdering as many as 25 people at Lake's Calaveras County, California cabin. In 1985 Lake was arrested for shoplifting at a California hardware store. When he committed suicide in police custody, suspicious detectives decided to search the cabin that the two men shared. Few could have foreseen that this simple arrest would quickly lead authorities to one of the most horrific crime scenes homicide detectives had ever encountered. Upon discovering human remains in the driveway leading to the ranch, the police prepared to charge Ng with 12 counts of murder. Shortly thereafter, Ng was arrested in Canada on shoplifting charges. He was extradited to the U.S. in September of 1991, and sentenced to death. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Farik (Oded Fehr) convinces the owner of a chemical plant to use Xpert Security (Farik's cover job) to do background checks on all of his employees. He uses that information to target an unhappy worker, Ernest Jefferson, who might be amenable to procuring some phosgene, which turns into a toxic gas at room temperature. Darwyn (Michael Ealy) befriends Jefferson, and eventually convinces him to sell him the phosgene, which he claims he needs for a home remodeling job. Darwyn also pays a visit to his mother. He also visits Marcus's (Jake Soldera) school, to be the boy's special guest for show and tell. But later he gets some surprising information about Gayle (Melissa Sagemiller) from Ray (James LeGros). It turns out that Gayle's husband is not dead, but in San Quentin on a drug charge. Again, Ray tries to convince Darwyn to end the relationship. Tommy (Blake Shields) gets an unwelcome surprise visit from his mother, Lynn (Ally Walker), who is in town for a symposium. He snubs her, sending her into the surprisingly sympathetic arms of Christian (Alex Nesic). Farik performs a little experiment at Dodger Stadium, and later, tests out his chemical weapon on the dogs that his crew procured. "The dogs we'll target next," he tells them, "have two legs instead of four." ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2002
- PG
- Add Standing in the Shadows of Motown to QueueAdd Standing in the Shadows of Motown to top of Queue
Based on the book of the same name by Allan Slutsky, Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a historical tribute to the unsung heroes responsible for some of the greatest hits of pop music. Part documentary and part concert performance, this film is an introduction to the intriguing personas of the Hitsville studio band originally assembled by Berry Gordy in 1959. Over 40 years later, the remaining members reunited in their home base of Detroit, MI, to tell their stories, remember their departed bandmates, and put on a concert. The creation of the Motown sound is told through in-depth interviews, archival footage, and reenactments. Personal stories are intercut with live tracks from the concert performance featuring the Funk Brothers live on-stage along with popular vocalists interpreting some of their biggest hits. Some of the guest singers stick around for conversation with the musicians and offer a contemporary perspective, including Joan Osborne, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, and Ben Harper. The film follows the group's contributions through the '60s up until Gordy moved the label to Los Angeles in 1972. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard "Pistol" Allen, Jack "Black Jack" Ashford, (more)
Three lifelong friends from East L.A. reach significant turning points in their lives that challenge their unshakable loyalty to one another. Danny (Jacob Vargas) desires to impress his handicapped father by taking a difficult, low-paying job at a bakery; Raymo (Clifton Collins Jr.) turns to selling drugs for a brutal local kingpin, Gramps (Lobo Sebastian); and ladies' man Alfonso (Greg Serano) meets his match in Lucy (Priscilla Garita), who is pregnant. When Raymo is robbed of 1,500 dollars of Gramps' profits, the friends come together to defend Raymo, with ugly consequences. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clifton Collins, Jr., Greg Serano, (more)
Recording star and rapper Master P is the executive producer, screenwriter, and co-star (with A.J. Johnson of The Players Club) of this comedy about two South Central Los Angeles scam artists operating a business in a vacant lot. Working out of their van, Black (Master P) and Blue (Johnson) deal in TV sets and boomboxes, but when a driver mistakenly drops off a cell phone shipment, Black and Blue are ready to dial "C" for cash, bringing in both a local hacker (Anthony Boswell) and sexy Sweet Lorraine (Gretchen Palmer). Business is on the upswing, but then a hood (Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.) has a deal go sour and blames Black and Blue. A phone security man (Frantz Turner) and the FBI are also closing in. Rapper Ice Cube does a cameo. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Master P, A.J. Johnson, (more)
Rap music star and No Limit Records impresario Master P sparked a small revolution in hip-hop filmmaking with his independent, straight-to-video hit I'm Bout It. He returns to the screen in this crime drama as Nino Corleone, the son of a mob boss who is forced into a life of crime when he must avenge the death of his father at the hands of the Cuban mob. Master P co-wrote and co-directed the film in addition to playing the lead and performing much of the music. Da Last Don also features appearances by several other No Limit artists, including Silkk the Shocker, C-Murder, Mia X, and a special appearance by Snoop Dogg. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Master P
