Courtney Vance Movies
Although he had been appearing in both film and television productions since the mid-'80s, it took nearly two decades for actor Courtney B. Vance to finally receive recognition. The Detroit native was bitten by the acting bug while a student at Harvard, and though he had originally intended to study history, he felt the lure of the stage and was soon appearing in productions at Harvard before eventually joining the Boston Shakespeare Company. After graduation, Vance continued his acting career at the Yale School of Drama, and it was there that he first gained notice for his role opposite James Earl Jones in the August Wilson drama Fences. In 1987, Vance made his film debut in the war drama Hamburger Hill, and though he remained true to his stage roots in the ensuing years, screen roles kept rolling in. The actor climbed the credits throughout the 1990s with a series of supporting roles in The Hunt for Red October (1990), Beyond the Law (1992), and The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993). 1995 proved something of a breakthrough year for the rising star, with roles in Panther, Dangerous Minds, and The Last Supper offering him more screen time than ever. In 1996, Vance held his own as a minister opposite Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston in The Preacher's Wife. Drawing from his own faith -- which had recently been reawakened by the suicide of his father -- for the role, Vance also had memorable performances in Cookie's Fortune in 1999 and Space Cowboys the following year. He portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the dramatic miniseries Parting the Waters (2000) and made another solid impression on television viewers the next year with a role in the popular series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In 2002, Vance took the lead for the made-for-TV feature Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2003
This 60-minute entry in the PBS American Experience anthology chronicles the unorthodox medical partnership between Alfred Blalock, chief of surgery at Johns Hopkins, and Vivien Thomas, a black man with little more than a high school education. When Thomas applied for a janitorial post at Johns Hopkins in the early '40s, Blalock was impressed by the man's medical knowledge and took him on as a technician. Ultimately, it was Thomas who, in 1944, designed the surgical procedure to correct what was then known as "blue baby syndrome." But racial barriers being what they were at the time, his contributions went ignored, and Blalock reluctantly accepted all the credit. It was not until 1976 that the medical profession formally recognized Thomas with an honorary doctorate. Partners of the Heart combines straight newsreel footage and still pictures with dramatized recreations of the events. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beau James, Chris Haley, (more)
Following up his 2000 Academy Award-nominated Scottsboro: An American Tragedy, documentary filmmaker Barak Goodman helmed this film, exploring boxing's heavyweight championship match of June 22, 1938. The match, between African-American Joe Louis and Nazi Germany's Max Schmeling, gained world-wide attention and garnered the largest radio audience in history, as the fighters became unwitting representatives for each of their respective homelands and races. Narrated by actor Courtney B. Vance, Goodman's film uses archival footage of the fight and the events leading up to it to examine the men and the weighty meaning attached to their face-off. The Fight screened in competition at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2002
- Add American Experience: War Letters - Stories of Courage, Longing and Sacrifice to QueueAdd American Experience: War Letters - Stories of Courage, Longing and Sacrifice to top of Queue
One commonality that seems to link every modern war is that soldiers almost invariably write their families and loved ones on a regular basis and their correspondence covers a broad range of human emotions -- funny camp stories, reassurances to worried folks at home, confessions of fear, anxieties about the dangers of the battlefield, and prescient goodbyes from fighting men and women who know they may never return. American Experience: War Letters -- Stories of Courage, Longing and Sacrifice is a documentary produced for PBS which follows America's history in armed conflict through the letters written home by men and women in uniform. American Experience: War Letters features readings from a cast of distinguished performers, including Joan Allen, Edward Norton, Bill Paxton, Giovanni Ribisi, David Hyde Pierce, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2002
In 1980, Clarence Brandley was an African-American janitor who was convicted of the murder of a 16-year-old white high school student in the city of Conroe, TX. James Keeshan, a powerful local prosecutor, handled the case and was able to obtain a death sentence against Brandley, even though the practical evidence against him was slim. Don Boney, a human rights activist from Houston, was convinced something was not quite right about the Brandley case, and persuaded young attorney Mike De Geurin to look into the matter. As De Geurin spent more time looking into the particulars of the case and Brandley's trial, he became convinced that an innocent man was on death row, and De Geurin and Boney began a campaign to uncover the truth behind the murder (and the plot to railroad Brandley) before Brandley faced the executioner. Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story is a made-for-cable movie based on Brandley's true story. Courtney Vance stars as Brandley, with Eamon Walker as Don Boney, and Gil Bellows as Mike De Geurin. The film premiered on the Showtime premium cable network on April 21, 2002. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Courtney Vance, Erik Walker, (more)
- 2002
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Among the tasks undertaken by the WPA's Federal Writers' Project in the 1930s was to transcribe the memories of those former African-American slaves who were still living. The result was a massive collection of notes, documents, and recordings, all of which found their way into the Library of Congress. Co-produced by the Library and the HBO cable channel, Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives features a truly impressive array of black actors and actresses verbally recreating the reminiscences of those who lived under the yoke of slavery. The performers themselves appeared in modern dress, standing before a neutral background as they read from the transcripts, while directors Ed Bell and Thomas Lennon complemented the words with vivid and disturbing images culled from contemporary photographs of the years 1850-1935. Tied in with a traveling museum exhibit of photos and recordings, Unchained Memories was telecast during Black History Month, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
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When crimes make the headlines, the NYPD Major Case Squad goes to work in ensuring that the worst offenders on the streets are securely held under lock and key. Homicide Investigator Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) is the best in the Big Apple, and along with his partner Detective Alexandra James (Kathryn Erbe), the crimefighting duo are ready to tackle any case that Captain James Deakons (Jamey Sheridan) assigns them. As Investigator Goren and Detective James attempt to look into the minds of the city's toughest criminals, District Attorney Rom Carver (Courtney Vance) is always willing to lend a hand. When a scheming thief and his girlfriend enlist the aid of three master criminals in pulling off a major jewelry heist, the resourceful detectives will need every trick in the book to crack the case and bring the devious diamond thieves to justice. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, (more)
- 2000
Produced by the prolific David E. Kelly, the Fox network comedy-drama series Boston Public is as quirky, volatile and overpopulated with colorful and eccentric characters as any other Kelly effort. Set within the walls of Boston Public High School, the series is told from the viewpoint of the dedicated but harried principal Steven Harper (Chi McBride). The challenges facing Harper include aging teacher Harvey Lipshultz (Fyvush Finkel), whose often nonsensical rambling indicates that senility is quickly settling in; ongoing clashes between faculty and the students' parents, who are convinced that not enough/too much is being done for/to their youngsters; various student cliques, ranging from a girls' group that rates the potential sexual prowess of the teachers to a bunch of bullying punks; and such one-day-at-a-time crises as the teacher who decides to counter potential student violence by bringing a gun to class and firing it over his charges' heads. In addition to McBride and Finkel, the huge ensemble cast includes Loretta Devine as Marla Hendricks, Jessalyn Gilsig as Lauren Davis, Anthony Heald as Scott Guber, Rashida Jones as Louisa, Nicky Katt as Harry Senate, Sharon Leal as Marilyn, Thomas McCarthy as Kevin Riley, Joey Slotnick as Milton Buttle, and Sarah Thompson as Dana Poole. Boston Public first aired on October 23, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jessalyn Gilsig, Chi McBride, (more)
- 1999
Courtney B. Vance stars in this screwball romantic comedy as Eddie Jones, a devout Catholic who is committed celibacy. He is also a trained killer for the Eliminator Corp; a shadowy government organization dedicated to wasting society's undesirables. He reconciles his beliefs and his career by telling himself that he has been empowered by God to rid the country of sinners and scum. Sensing that her underling could use some fun, Eddie's boss -- known only as the Middleman (Kathleen Turner) -- sets him up on a blind date with the radiate Lois Newtorn (Regina King). The tenacious Lois is struck by the gloomy loner and sets about trying to break Eddie's vow of chastity and his homicidal line of work. In the process, Eddie begins to rethink his life, much to the dismay of his boss. Jason Alexander and Ed Asner also appear in this debut effort by writer-director Dwayne Johnson-Cochran. Love and Action in Chicago was screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Courtney Vance, Regina King, (more)
- 1998
This TV drama, Lifetime's first original dramatic series, explores the relationship of white Mary Elizabeth O'Brian (Annie Potts) and black Rene Jackson (Lorraine Toussaint) who grew up together as good friends in segregated Alabama of the early '60s -- with Mae Middleton portraying Mary Elizabeth as a girl and Shari Dyon Perry in the role of the young Rene. After Mary Elizabeth became pregnant at 19 by her childhood sweetheart Collier Sims (Chris Mulkey), she and Rene drifted apart. With the death of Rene's civil-rights lawyer father, James (Courtney B. Vance), Mary Elizabeth attends the funeral, and their friendship begins anew, even though the two women followed divergent paths: Attorney Rene chose a career over a family, while Mary Elizabeth has several children from her beer-swilling hubby. Intercutting past and present, the series advances on a dual track, contrasting present-day progress with Alabama attitudes during the Civil Rights era. With music by Bob Hilliard, Burt Bacharach, the Temptations, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the series premiered August 18, 1998 on Lifetime. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annie Potts, Lorraine Toussaint, (more)
- 1998
Lawyer John Williams (Courtney B. Vance) looks back in flashback to 1957 when he began as a lawyer while living in the Bronx with his older brother, Charles (Charles S. Dutton). Married to Carol (Lonette McKee), Charles is the NYPD's first African-American sergeant, and he plans a police exam for his oldest son, Charlie (Garland Whitt), who would rather study art. After a call that Charlie is under arrest for the murder of a white boy, John suspects he was beaten and forced to confess by the cops, but Charlie claims he did indeed kill an Irish-American youth. John takes on the case, feeling that Charlie is hiding something -- while the courts, police, and the public are all ready to see Charlie electrocuted. Director Ernest Dickerson (Juice) filmed in Toronto. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles S. Dutton, Courtney Vance, (more)
- 1998
When a serial killer threatens to destroy the spirit of Christmas in New York, a pair of gumshoes set off to stop him. To keep holiday shoppers from panicking, the two cops try to keep their investigation low-key. Unfortunately, a pushy television reporter is equally determined to break the story wide open. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Glenn, Courtney Vance, (more)
- 1997
A jury argues a case in a stuffy room on a hot summer's day. Eleven say "guilty!" But one holdout (Jack Lemmon) is convinced of the defendant's innocence and stubbornly argues "reasonable doubt." This tense courtroom drama is a remake of Sidney Lumet's 1957 favorite and was produced for the Showtime cable network. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Lemmon, Courtney Vance, (more)
- 1996
This made-for-television Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation is based on the play of the same name by Tom Griffin. Nathan Lane, Robert Sean Leonard, Michael Jeter, and Courtney P. Vance star as four men with various mental challenges who try to carve out lives for themselves as they share a home under the guidance of a social worker (Tony Goldwyn). Mare Winningham was nominated for an Emmy Award for her co-starring role. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Courtney B. Vance guest stars as Benjamin "Bud" Greer, a highly successful African-American Wall Street broker. The detectives and the D.A.'s office swoop down on Greer when he is suspected of murdering his white mentor. The Defense argues that Greer should be acquitted, using the controversial (and sometimes extremely effective) argument of "black rage." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
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Coproduced by two cable-TV servies-The Family Channel and the Black Entertainment Network--Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad uses historical fact as background for a fictional adventure tale. Courtney Vance and Janet Bailey star as slaves on a brutal antebellum North Carolina plantation. Together with two other slaves, Vance and Bailey make a daring escape, travelling northward by means of the eponymous railroad. Though the film isn't as suspenseful as it should be, it provides a valuable educational service in detailing the history of the Underground Railroad, the people responsible for its maintenance, and its modus operandi. Race to Freedom was first telecast on the Family Channel February 19, 1994, in tandem with an encore presentation of Roots (1977). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Janet Bailey, Courtney Vance, (more)
This eighth adaptation of the timeless Mark Twain novel casts Elijah Wood as Huckleberry Finn, the half-literate son of a drunk who runs away from home and follows the Mississippi River with an escaped slave named Jim (Courtney S. Vance). Along the way, the duo encounter adventures with colorful characters like The King (Jason Robards) and the Duke (Robbie Coltrane), two con men who impersonate British visitors in order to swindle two sisters out of their fortune, and Susan Wilks (Laura Bundy), the spunky 12-year-old girl who gives Huck his first kiss. Jim also re-educates Huck away from the racist views that he has grown up with. Not the most in-depth version of Twain's tale, The Adventures Of Huck Finn is a solid retelling of the classic story. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elijah Wood, Courtney Vance, (more)
- 1993
An ex-championship boxer (James Earl Jones) sees a chance at recapturing a taste of his former glory after discovering that Thunder (Courtney B. Vance), one of the amateurs he trains, has real potential. Unfortunately, Thunder has entangled himself with crooked, gang-connected manager Ralph Tate (Billy Dee Williams), and he is not to let the young fighter go without a fight. This drama was made for cable and was aired as part of Steven Spielberg's "Screenworks" project. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1992
After his partner is killed, a police officer's vow of vengeance threatens to expose a cocaine dynasty. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Van Peebles
