Lou Rawls Movies

Premiering at the 2000 New York Independent Film and Video Festival, this low-budget thriller involves a software company's attempts to create the perfect anti-piracy code -- one that ends up coming under suspicion from the U.S. government, in large part because an Israeli programmer helped them devise the technology. Maria Conchita Alonso and David Warner co-star. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Intended primarily for African-American audiences, this animated retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears uses modern hip-hop and jazz references to spice up an otherwise timeless children's story. The HBO series was known for its celebrity voices; vocal talents in this episode include the likes of Ben Vereen, David Alan Grier, Alfre Woodard, and Lou Rawls. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Christopher Coppola directs this droll re-working both of Sunset Boulevard (1950) and Paul Morrissey's Heat (1972). Washed up child actor and pizza delivery guy Curson Beeley (Marc Coppola) is taken in by retired TV executive Agnes Fuchs (Barbara Bain). In her estate, Beeley lives a pampered life of luxury while Fuchs quietly tries to resurrect his career. As his television comeback seems more and more likely to happen, Beeley's life becomes complicated on other fronts -- his ex-girlfriend continues to harass him, Fuchs becomes increasingly demanding in bed, and he is plagued by a bizarre outbreak of boils. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Dan Aykroyd and John Landis teamed to script this sequel to The Blues Brothers (1980), which they also co-scripted. With Landis once again at the helm as director, Aykroyd re-creates his role of rhythm-and-blues man Elwood Blues, and the film's numerous R&B performances and production numbers include Aretha Franklin singing her classic "Respect". Released from prison after serving 18 years for the havoc depicted in the first film, Elwood learns that while he was serving time, his pal Jake Blues (John Belushi) has died, as did their hi-de-ho music mentor Curtis (Cab Calloway). Times have changed, but the blues beat goes on. Elwood visits Mother Mary Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman), who runs the orphanage where Elwood and Jake were raised, and she puts 10-year-old Buster (J. Evan Bonifant) in Elwood's care. Seeking a loan, Elwood visits Curtis' son, Cabel Chamberlain (Joe Morton), and Buster picks Cabel's pocket. Now, 18 years after the original "mission from God," Elwood attempts to reorganize the Blues Brothers Band, beginning with bartender Mighty Mack McTeer (John Goodman) as a replacement for Jake. With the Russian Mafia in hot pursuit, Elwood, Mack, and Buster head cross-country, locating band members as they travel pell-mell toward a scheduled battle of the bands in Louisiana where the Blues Brothers Band competes with the Lousiana Gator Boys Band (Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Dr. John, Travis Tritt, Steve Winwood, Clarence Clemmons, Isaac Hayes). Filmed in Toronto and Chicago, this movie reunited Aykroyd and Goodman, who were seen previously in the 1996 video, The Return of the Blues Brothers, a performance taped January 24, 1995 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Elsewhere, the Blues Brothers are kept alive in a half-dozen or so websites, such as the House of Blues, and live stage productions. In England, the stage show A Tribute to the Blues Brothers began in 1991. At the request of Aykroyd and Judy Belushi, the title of that production was changed to The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers. With various cast members in the roles of Jake and Elwood (Con O'Neill, Warwick Evans, Brad Henshaw, Simon Foster), the show toured Britain throughout the 1990s. The "original Blues Brother" (who coached John Belushi and originated some of the blues raps used by Belushi) is Curtis Salgado (of the Robert Cray Band). One cast member of Blues Brothers 2000, bluesman Junior Wells, the last of the great Chicago harmonica players, died in January 1998, only days before the film was released. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

This 2004 concert release features some of the top vocal groups in gospel music coming together on the same stage. Living Legends of Gospel: Quartets, Vol. 1 includes a total of fifteen songs, such as "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" by The Fairfield Four, "Somebody Touched Me" by The Racy Brothers, and "Doctor Jesus" by The Swanee Quintet. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

This romantic fantasy from writer, director, and producer James F. Robinson, stars Brendan Fraser as Fletcher McBracken, a starry-eyed San Antonio puppeteer who, like his father and grandfather before him, has a mystical vision of the woman he's fated to marry. Believing that she'll be found in "Formosa" (the one-time name of Taiwan), Fletcher books a flight. During a stopover in L.A., however, he learns of a trendy bar called Formosa and decides to check it out. Sure enough, Fletcher sees his dream girl, Rosalyn Willoughby (Joanna Going), a con artist on the lookout for a new mark, a millionaire from Texas. Assuming that Fletcher is the man she's supposed to bilk, Rosalyn accompanies him to San Antonio, where she meets his tuba-playing grandmother (Celeste Holm) and his eccentric friends, including the Tree Man (Lou Rawls). Charmed against her will by Fletcher, Rosalyn considers a real romance with the daffy artist, but each of them has some revelations to make before a real relationship can begin. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Four 20-somethings try to unravel the tangled mess of their love lives in this modern romantic drama. Larry (Leon) runs a nightclub, but he would rather be onstage singing than booking the talent. Larry used to be involved with his friend Renee (P. Pauley), an aspiring poet, but lately he's become infatuated with Annette (Nicole Eggert), who also works at the club. Meanwhile, Billy (Jon Seda) has fallen in love with Renee, unaware that she still carries a torch for Larry (or even that they were ever involved). With so much romantic confusion, nearly everyone can use all the advice they can get, and neighborhood spiritualist Jackee (Loretta Devine) and street singer Ben (Lou Rawls) try to pass along what wisdom they have to spare. The Price of Kissing was the first dramatic feature film for writer and director Vince Di Persio, whose previous background was in documentaries and television films. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Directed by first-time filmmaker Michael Paradies Shoob, the independent drama Driven tells the story of four L.A. cab drivers working for the Red Star cab company during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Darius Pelton (Tony Todd) wants to reunite with his son, who lives with his ex-wife (Lee Garlington). Dale Schneider (Daniel Roebuck) has a second job working for a bookie named Hal (Eric Pierpoint). Jason Schuyler (Whip Hubley) is haunted by his past and shares an evening with passenger Rachel (Diane DiLascio). Legrand (Chad Lowe) brings them all together with his big talk and money-making abilities. Lou Rawls appears in a cameo as the radio dispatcher, Charlie. Driven premiered at the 1996 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Fans of the Friends television series' co-star Matt LeBlanc may be particularly interested in this film, one of the amiable hunk's first cinematic efforts. In the story, he plays the nephew of Vinny Pallazzo (Jay Acovone), a man who has retired from the mob and changed coasts, from New York to L.A. Now his Vinny works as a clerk in a bookshop and spends a lot of time praying for his sins. When he's not doing that, he tries to give Anthony Manetti (LeBlanc) some advice which will keep him out of trouble with the gangs. Under the rubric of "you can run, but you can't hide," it becomes clear that both men will have to face Vinny's dark past before they can move ahead with their lives. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This program brings together some of the great names in soul and R&B for a performance of some of the greatest songs ever to come out of that musical genre. Dionne Warwick, Smokey Robinson, and Billy Preston are among the stars in this musical aggregation. They give soulful renditions of all-time favorites, such as "Walk on By," and "The Tracks of My Tears." ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi