Quincy Jones Movies

Interviews with Wyclef Jean, Quincy Jones, and Andy Garcia offer insight into the rich legacy of legendary Cuban vocalist Celia Cruz in this documentary exploring how one woman's voice shattered the barriers of racism and sexism across the globe. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

As originally screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, at the Cannes Film Festival, and on Turner Classic Movies, the mammoth, epic-length documentary Brando chronicles in encyclopedic detail (and with a consistently reverent overtone) the life and career of the man widely regarded as the most formidable American actor of the 20th century - famous for not only reshaping, but reinventing the craft of film acting and teaching audiences how to view a motion picture performance. Divided into chronological, thematically-unified segments, the film first treats Marlon Brando's dysfunctional upbringing - his alcoholic mother, his abusive father, his stint at a military academy - before charting his acting tutelage at the behest of Stella Adler and his early cinematic and theatrical roles, including work for Elia Kazan, who famously made many aggressive (and unsuccessful) attempts to discipline the headstrong actor onscreen. Throughout this segment, many Hollywood A-list actors appear - among them, Al Pacino, Johnny Depp and Robert Duvall - expostulating at length on Brando's influence over their approaches to performance, and attempting with great effort to define the elusive style known as "method acting" that Brando helped to create. The second half of the documentary moves into Brando's career during the '70s, '80s and '90s, covering the production of The Godfather, the actor's noteworthy political activism, and his tumultuous personal life. Francis Ford Coppola, who of course teamed with Brando for the first Godfather installment and for Apocalypse Now, is noticeably absent from the proceedings. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

A coproduction of the BET network and filmmaker-musical producer QDIII (aka Quincy Jones III, Beef: The Series offered insight and intimate detail vis-à-vis the many "celebrity conflicts" which permeated showbiz in general and the Hip Hop field in particular. Amoong those featured were the well-publicized (and sometimes not so well-publicized) feuds between Kobe and Shaq, 50 Cent and Ja Rule, R. Kelly and Jay Z, Li'l Romeo and Bow Wow, former Dogg Pound colleagues Daz and Kurupt, and--perhaps inevitably, since this was a cable series--the battle between Dave Chapelle and Comedy Central. Though viewers tuned in to watch the sparks (and insults) fly, producer QD3 insisted that it was not his purpose to "promote negativity", and went out of his way to bring many of the cobatants together on neutral ground to air their differences in a mature, level-headed fashion. Beef: The Series premiered on October 4, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this release offering highlights from three seasons of the popular weekly sketch comedy series Mad TV, the whole cast comes together to offer some of the funniest sketches from seasons Eight through Ten. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The biggest names in show business come together to offer their opinions on one of the most inflammatory words in the English language in filmmaker Todd Williams' revealing and thought-provoking documentary. In its long and complex history, the word "nigger" has gone from a cutting and derogatory racial slur to a term of endearment frequently used by African-American youth culture. Though the word has in a sense been "taken back" by the very people that it targeted, it still has the power to anger and enrage when taken out of its new context. As a variety of celebrities including Quincy Jones, Russell Simmons, George Carlin, Damon Dash, and Bryant Gumbel offer their opinions on this polarizing word, the taboo of language is broken to reveal an ever-changing society that is constantly attempting to make sense of a dark past while simultaneously attempting to build a brighter future. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Documentary filmmaker Thomas Gibson directed this investigation into the rise of the Republican right wing in America, and how this has impacted the African-American community. Letter to the President explores the different way in which the policies Reagan and Bush administrations have damaged the lives of black youth, from the government-approved distribution of crack cocaine in inner-city neighborhoods to economic policies that have widened the divide between the rich and the poor. Gibson's film also parallels this phenomenon with the rise of rap and hip-hop music, and how these styles have provided a voice for disenfranchised youth. Letter to the President includes interviews with KRS-One, 50 Cent, Damon Dash, Ghostface Killah, Dick Gregory, Amiri Baraka, and many more; Snoop Dogg narrates. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Christina Peters directs this wacky comedy about a trio of evil teens. Based at Wisconsin's Lindenhurst Academy, Jefferson (Dominique Swain), Karen (Busy Phillips), and Lisa (Keri Lynn Pratt) like to smoke pot and rape men at gunpoint. Thora Birch appears as Jefferson's drug-addled sister. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Volume Seven of this 10-part series has interviews and profiles of such greats as Hendrix, Page, Townsend, and Van Halen; guys so big you only need to know their last names to know you're in the presence of masters. Make way for the ax masters! Lots of history and gritty low-down about the average Guitar God's life, including the crude and not-so-pretty bits. They tell it like it is. ~ Leslie Birdwell, All Movie Guide

The History of Rock 'n' Roll, Volume Eight: The 70's is part of the ten-volume Time-Warner History of Rock 'n' Roll set. Each of the ten volumes covers a specific aspect of the exciting cultural phenomenon of rock music, documenting everything from Elvis "the Pelvis" Presley to the MTV revolution. Volume Eight: The 70's, Have a Nice Decade looks at musical innovations such as metal, glam, disco, reggae, and funk. The program also discusses the work of vintage superstars Elton John, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Peter Frampton, and Bruce Springsteen. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide

The biggest surprise surrounding The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's obligatory "It's a Wonderful Life" parody is that the episode was NOT originally telecast at Christmastime. Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) is shocked when Will (Will Smith) is accepted at Princeton University--and he himself is not! Actually, it has nothing to do with Carlton's qualifications, but with his misguided effort to imitate Will in front of the Princeton recruiter. Even so, Carlton is angry, so much so that he ends up getting suspended from high school. Convinced that the world would be better off if he'd never been born, Carleton is convinced otherwise by the timely arrival of his guardian angel---played by singer Tom Jones (Another "Jones", Quincy by name, appears as himself). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An informative presentation that includes a guide to recycling. Includes an information booklet and stars a large group of celebrities. Bugs Bunny, B.B. King, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler and many others are here to spread the word. ~ All Movie Guide