Clifton Powell Movies
Few actors possess the range required to craft some of the most colorful villains ever committed to celluloid before turning around to portray such a benevolent and beloved leader as Martin Luther King Jr., and it's a testament to Clifton Powell's skills as a performer that he could be equally believable doing both.It was during the early '90s that Powell first began to rise to prominence in television and film, with standout roles in Bill Duke's Deep Cover and In the Heat of the Night preceding a pair of memorable supporting roles for the Hughes Brothers in Menace II Society and Dead Presidents. Though Powell would continue to appear in features, it was on the small screen that he gained most of his exposure in the early years. After gradually climbing the credits on such shows as Murder, She Wrote, The Jamie Foxx Show, and NYPD Blue, Powell would leave an indelible mark on viewers with his thoughtful portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in director Charles Burnett's Selma, Lord, Selma.
With versatile, everyman looks that were something of a blessing and a curse, Powell quickly established himself as an actor capable of truly disappearing into his characters -- sometimes to a fault. While a slew of roles on screens big and small kept Powell a considerably busy man in the mid-'90s, later roles in such efforts as Lockdown, Civil Brand, and Never Die Alone proved that his persistence, talent, and dedication were beginning to pay off. In 2004, Powell and the cast of the wildly popular biopic Ray would be honored with a Screen Actor's Guild nomination, and though they didn't take home the prize it was obvious Powell was finally on the verge of breaking big.
His dark turn in the T.D. Jakes screen-adaptation Woman Thou Art Loosed was followed by a series of small-screen appearances in House, M.D., CSI, and Day Break, and in 2007 alone Powell's name would be attached to no less than eight films being prepared for the big screen . ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Gospel-minded playwright David E. Talbert produces, writes, and directs this urban crime comedy concerning a pair of criminals who take a group of church parishioners hostage while attempting to rob the holy house, only to find their captives slowly convincing them to repent and give up their lawless lifestyles. Durell (Ice Cube) and LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan) are two best friends with a special knack for petty crime. Upset at discovering that his ex-girlfriend is planning to move out of state with the couple's young son, Durell knows that the only way to keep his fractured family in close proximity to one another is to raise the 17,000 dollars needed to pay off her growing debt. In order to get the money before his ex decides to make the big move, the desperate Durell enlists the aid of his scheming best buddy to rob their neighborhood church. But someone has beaten Durell and LeeJohn to the punch, and if they ever hope to get their hands on that quick cash, this bumbling pair will first have to spend an entire night in the presence of not just the almighty lord, but some of his most fervent followers as well. Katt Williams, Keith David, Regina Hall, and Chi Mcbride co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ice Cube, Katt Williams, (more)
A naïve young professional is hoodwinked by her smooth-talking new boss in this musical comedy drama that proves just how easily we can fall prey to strangers. Starring Vivica A. Fox, Clifton Powell, and R&B singer Sam Salter. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
AJ and Trip hold out hope that the third time's a charm as the hit Block Party series continues in this sequel featuring appearances by Tommy "Tiny" Lister and Clifton Powell. For two years straight, AJ and Trip have schemed to throw the hottest block party of the summer, and this year they're determined to get it right. But planning the perfect party is never an easy task, especially when it begins to feel like everyone in the neighborhood is plotting against you. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
As the girls of Lambda sorority make their way towards the finals at this year's national stepping championships, dedicated team captain Destiny (Faune Chambers) attempts to keep her team focused on victory despite attempts by her scheming rival Pam (Angell Conwell) to prevent them from taking the top prize. Destiny is the kind of team captain whose enthusiasm is infectious, yet lately her spirits have been slightly dampened by her former friend and current nemesis Pam. Pam is intensely jealous of the Lambda girls' immense talent, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to undermine the team's confidence. As if keeping her team on the path to victory isn't job enough for the perpetually perky Destiny, she's also working overtime to win the heart of her longtime love interest Fabian (Bryce Wilson). Will Destiny endure and astound the judges at the national stepping championships while laying the groundwork for true romance, or will dark cloud Pam prove effective in preventing her old friend from dancing her way to greatness. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tamala Jones, Clifton Powell, (more)
Though they may spend many happy hours fantasizing about Mr. Right, actually finding him has a good chance of turning a woman's life upside down. Featuring Clifton Powell and Jackee Harry, this family drama explores the tears and joy that love can bring. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
A pimp in search of some serious payback prowls the streets in search of Memphis Slim in this gritty urban drama starring Mack 10, Clifton Powell, Michael Rapaport, and Kat Williams. Mack is a pimp of rare distinction: born the son of a certified hustler and a street-smart prostitute, he was honing his game from the moment he left the womb. As a child Mack learned to walk the fine line between life and death early on, a skill that made him virtually fearless when it came to working the streets. Now, as the summer heats up and his thirst for revenge grows, Mack prepares to confront the one player who isn't afraid to face him head on. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mack 10, Clifton Powell, (more)
This Christian-themed inspirational drama concerns Jordan (Craig Ellis), a young man at the very top of his game; a successful entrepreneur, he launched a business and developed it into a multimillion-dollar empire, thus providing himself, his best friend Myles (Earl Vernon) and his driver Spencer (Clifton Powell) with the most affluent of lifestyles. Then Jordan receives a shock involving an old haunt from his past, which forces him to look inside of himself and strive to be the man God wants him to be. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clifton Powell, Craig Ellis, (more)
An aspiring R&B singer finds her priorities suddenly shifting after becoming the target of an attempted rape. Sterling (Christina Johnson) was an ambitious Mississippi vocalist who packed her bags for Los Angeles with little more than a hope and a prayer. Upon arriving in the big city Sterling simply scrapes by living in her car, though fate deals her a kind hand in the form of a change meeting with talented young record producer Nate (Dylan Mooney). Over the course of the next few months, Sterling and Nate form a formidable team in the studio as the talented singer befriends Nate's beautiful girlfriend Freesia (Yvette Saunders) and becomes the toast of the town. Eventually, Sterling marries a handsome R&B singer and lands the record deal that she always dreamed about. Just when it seems as if her life couldn't get any better, however, tragedy strikes. One night, as Sterling and Nate are working in the studio together, the obsessed producer attempts to sexually assault his longtime partner. In the aftermath of the violent attack, Sterling suddenly realizes that she has been given a precious gift, and that she should use that gift to sing the praises of the almighty lord. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christina Johnson, Dylan Mooney, (more)
A meek and lovable milquetoast married to an overbearing, overweight tyrant finds his life turned upside down when he meets the woman of his dreams in this romantic comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Eddie Griffin. His entire life, Norbit (Murphy) has been picked on and put down, and after being bullied into marrying the most obnoxious woman in town (also Murphy) it appears as if that's the way things will remain until the day he dies. Upon meeting the one woman who seems to accept him for who he is, Norbit is instilled with a newfound sense of hope for the future. In order to find true happiness, however, Norbit will first have to gather the courage to stand up to his monstrous spouse once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy
- 2007
- R
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My Baby's Daddy co-screenwriter Damon "Coke" Daniels goes back to his hip-hop roots with this mockumentary detailing the fall and subsequent comeback attempt of fictional West Coast rap trio "Gangsta Rap." Murder Mike, Du Rag, and DJ Ballistics like to keep it old school. A shady threesome whose musical career has taken a back seat to constant run-ins with the law and multiple child custody cases in recent years, the self-proclaimed "godfathers of gangsta rap" scheme to save their fast slide into irrelevance by staging a triumphant return to the microphone. After bursting onto the scene with such tracks as "In My House Shoes" and "My Momma's a Bitch" in the mid-1980s, Gangsta Rap remained a sizable fixture on the West Coast rap scene for nearly a decade. Now, after years of setbacks and self-destructive in-fighting, Gangsta Rap is finally prepared to show the new school just what the original gangstas have to offer. With special appearances by Too Short, Howie Bell, Clifton Powell, Leslie, and Gerald Johnson, Gangsta Rap: A Glockumentary offers a seamless blend of hip-hop humor and street smart satire. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howie Bell, Slink Capone, (more)
- 2007
- R
A talented young jazz vocalist from the District of Columbia discovers that ambition comes at a price after impressing the crowd at an impromptu audition and quickly becoming the lead singer in the District Legend Band, the hottest act in town. Jasmine "Jazz" Morgan longs to become a successful jazz singer, though her terminally ill mother, Willow, implores her to stay in school and not rush a career behind the microphone. Defying her doctor father to spend an entire summer immersed in the D.C. music scene, young Jasmine navigates her strange new world with a little help from her manager, Gabe, and shady MC Flight, a local sensation who's seen it all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monique Cameron, Wood Harris, (more)
DMX, Clifton Powell, and Vivica A. Foxx star in director Phenomenon's inspirational tale of a well-meaning religious leader whose questionable business decision ignites a shocking scandal. Bishop Calvin Jacobs (Powell) is the kind of pastor who is relied on by the community and trusted by his loyal congregation. When Bishop Jacobs realizes during a board meeting that the church's funds have apparently been plundered, he rightly discerns that the church is in very real danger of having to closing its doors. Desperate, Bishop Jacobs subsequently accepts a substantial loan from an international tycoon involved in some seriously shady dealings. When in "innocent" loan ignites an international scandal and a beloved church leader loses his life, the same religious leader who once turned to the dark side in hopes of keeping his ministry alive must now repent and seek the forgiveness of a higher power if he hopes to set things right. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- DMX, Clifton Powell, (more)
Close friends become unexpected rivals as they struggle to keep their spiritual home alive in this musical drama from writer and director Rob Hardy. David (Michael J. Pagan) and Frank (Sean Nelson) are two close friends who are members of the same Baptist church in Atlanta. The teenagers have developed a deep and abiding faith in Christ, and both aspire to become ministers some day; David, who has also become a star vocalist with the choir, is thought to have a head start since his father is the congregation's pastor, Bishop Taylor (Clifton Powell). However, David's faith is shaken when his mother dies while giving birth to another child, and when Bishop Taylor fails to arrive at the hospital in time, David runs away from home, turning his back on his father and his church. Fifteen years later, aging Bishop Taylor has announced he's retiring, and Frank (Idris Elba), now a reverend, seems poised to take his place. However, the church is in dire financial shape, and no one is sure how long Rev. Frank's flock will have a church to call home. Meanwhile, David (Boris Kodjoe) has used his musical talents to become a top-selling R&B singer, and his latest hit record, "Let Me Undress You," suggests he's given up on the faith of his youth. But David has been undergoing a spiritual crisis, and when he learns his father is ailing and the church is in dire shape, he returns to Atlanta in hopes of finding himself and keeping the church afloat. Not everyone regards this as good news, though; Rev. Frank, who sees his position in the church as a stepping stone to bigger things in the gospel music business and establishing a high-profile ministry, is not eager to share the spotlight with David, especially when the prodigal star begins organizing a large-scale fundraiser for the church. The Gospel features musical contributions from a number of leading gospel artists, including Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, and Yolanda Adams. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Boris Kodjoe, Clifton Powell, (more)
Inspired by the true-life tale of a dedicated elementary-school teacher who inspired his inner-city students by teaching them the game of chess, Allen Hughes' uplifting made for television feature marks a noted departure from such previous efforts as From Hell and Menace II Society. Richard Mason (Ted Danson) was middle-aged and unemployed when he decided to take up teaching inner-city students, and though most of the kids in his classroom couldn't have cared less about their education in the beginning, something curious happened as time went on. Realizing that he wasn't getting very far with his students through conventional means, Richard realized that he would have to innovate in order to encourage critical thinking among the impressionable youngsters. By breaking the curriculum and instead teaching his pupils the finer points of chess, the man who had once lost all motivation in life suddenly realizes just what a difference one teacher can make if they simply become more attuned to the needs of their students. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Malcolm David Kelley, (more)
- 2005
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R&B superstar Usher shows off his sexy and soulful style in this home-video release. Usher: Rhythm City, Vol. 1 -- Caught Up features a 30-minute short film which expands on Usher's video for the song "Caught Up," as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the movie. Also included is the original "Caught Up" video and clips for the songs "Yeah," "Confessions," "Caught Up," "Burn," and more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Usher
Family Matters and Camp Cucamonga mainstay Jaleel White headlines the rollicking, direct-to-video urban comedy Who Made the Potatoe Salad?, helmed by Damon 'Coke' Daniels and co-starring Clifton Powell, Eddie Griffin (Undercover Brother) and Deray Davis (Barbershop 2: Back in Business). White stars as Michael, a San Diego police officer who travels to the L.A. home of his intended, Angela (Jennia Frederique), to meet her outrageous, eccentric family and officially announce their wedding plans. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jaleel White, Jennia Fredrique, (more)
This recording of a performance of David E. Talbert's The Fabric of a Man stars Tammy Townsend as Dominique Majors, a fashion designer torn between a rich stockbroker played by Clifton Powell and a poor tailor, played by Darrin Dewitt Henson, who understands her art. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2005
After discovering that his mother was not killed by a drunken driver as he had always been led to believe, Princeton student Carnell Hall (Vicellous Shannon) begins suffering a variety of mysterious maladies. Though he wants nothing to do with Carnell, House (Hugh Laurie) is forced to take the boy's case because he owes Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) money. Almost immediately, House concludes that Carnell has begun taking drugs--but as usual, the real reason for the boy's troubles lies elsewhere. "Elsewhere", by the way, is where House would rather be when his hyperjudgmental parents (Diane Baker, R. Lee Ermey) pay a visit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
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Sin, salvation, and song come together in this blend of comedy and drama from the pen of playwright David E. Talbert. Soul Theater Series: He Say...She Say...but What Does GOD Say? takes place in inner-city Detroit, where a small storefront church is located next to a nightclub that's a meeting place for local gangsters. Neither church member Deacon Witherspoon (Tommy Ford) nor mobster Satin Jones (Clifton Powell) is willing to give up their place in the neighborhood, and each leads their followers in an ongoing effort to drive their rivals away. Soul Theater Series: He Say She Say but What Does God Say? also features several songs from gospel vocalist Brent Jones. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
If you thought Kid and Play threw a mean party, wait until you see what happens when BJ (Troy Anders) decides to throw the ultimate party in this raucous hip-hop comedy from director Amir Valinia. Convinced that an unforgettable bash is the only way to truly preserve the memory of his deceased brother, BJ gathers the troops in hopes of throwing the biggest, baddest block party that the Big Easy has ever seen. His work certainly isn't cut out for him though, and as BJ attempts to escape the eye of a crooked cop bent on sabotaging the bash while avoiding the wrath of his jealous baby-momma, the odds seem stacked against him. Featuring appearances by such hip-hop superstars as Three Six Mafia and Juvenile, this is one party you don't want to miss! ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2004
- PG13
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Directed by Taylor Hackford, this biopic profiles the life of legendary musician Ray Charles. Despite humble beginnings and the loss of his eyesight due to glaucoma at the age of six, Charles, depicted by Jamie Foxx, would nonetheless become an icon in both the music industry and the civil rights era. While the film delves into his problems with drugs and women, the bulk of the story details his career; among the highlights of that career are 12 Grammy awards and 11 R&B chart-toppers, such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road, Jack," "Georgia," "Doin' the Mess Around," and "Hallelujah I Just Love Her So." Also among the cast are Larenz Tate as Quincy Jones, as well as Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Clifton Powell. Charles' son, Ray Charles Jr. helped produce the film. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, (more)
One woman's odyssey through a hellish life of sexual abuse, drug addiction, and crime is resolved in faith in this tough but inspiring drama based on a true story documented by evangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes. Michelle Jordan (Kimberly Elise) was raised by a single mother, Cassie (Loretta Devine), who became involved with a cruel and opportunistic man named Reggie (Clifton Powell). Reggie began displaying an inappropriate interest in Michelle when she was only eight, and at 12 he began violating her on a regular basis. Stung by her mother's denials of Reggie's wrongdoings, Michelle ran away from home and ended up on a dead-end road of drug abuse and prostitution, which led to a stretch in prison for murder. While behind bars, Michelle hears of the teachings of Bishop T.D. Jakes and his work with abused women, and writes the noted preacher in hopes of someday meeting him. To her surprise, Jakes (who plays himself) pays her a visit, and as she shares with him the story of her blighted life, she takes the first steps on the road to emotional and spiritual recovery. Jakes arranges for Michelle to have a three-day furlough from prison so she can attend a revival he's hosting in the area; opting to stay in a half-way house rather than see Cassie and Reggie, Michelle reconnects with many of her old friends during her three days of freedom, including former stripper Nicole (Idalis de Leon), childhood friend and hairdresser Twana (Debbi Morgan), and former boyfriend Todd (Michael Boatman). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, (more)
An incarcerated father is forced to stand by and watch as his two young sons struggle to survive on the streets in a gritty urban drama starring Clifton Powell and Sean Blakemore. Ali Dean is a failed father, and now he will bear witness as his failure threatens to turn into an endless cycle of violence and poor decision making. Though Ali's son Tariq shows much promise as an emerging pugilist, Cesar falls on the wrong side of the law after becoming involved with the local drug trade. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clifton Powell, Dominic Daniel, (more)
From a script from first-time scribe James Gibson comes this filmed adaptation of ex-gangster Donald Goines' 1974 novel Never Die Alone. Directed by Ernest R. Dickerson (Juice, Bones), the films stars David Arquette as Paul Pawlowski, a reporter who takes an interest in gang kingpin King David, played by rapper/actor DMX. When King David is killed, Pawlowski happens upon the criminal's journal and envelops himself in his story. From there, the rise and fall of King David is covered in flashbacks as Pawlowski makes his way through the diary. Aisha Tyler and Jennifer Sky co-star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- DMX, David Arquette, (more)
