Branford Marsalis Movies
- 2008
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Art Blakey and Mike Mainieri from Seventh Avenue South captures a 1982 New York City appearance by the famed jazz musicians. The Jazz Messengers are augmented in this appearance by Wynton and Branford Marsalis. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Art Blakey, Mike Mainieri, (more)
New York City may be the city that never sleeps, but that means some people have to stay awake all night to look after the folks whose days begin after the sun goes down; this made-for-premium-cable drama looks at a group of cabbies trying to get by while working the night shift. The Lady Luck Cab Company is a taxi service run by Box (Sarita Choudhury), who inherited the failing business from her late father and is struggling to keep it afloat against long economic odds as Lady Luck's drivers work long shifts in some of the Big Apple's less picturesque neighborhoods. Hershey (Danny Glover), one of Lady Luck's drivers, was once a professional boxer, but when his athletic career went south, so did his wife, and now he drives a hack while trying to romance George (Pam Grier), a good-looking waitress who likes Hershey, but is frustrated with his schedule, which rarely allows him a night off. This is bad news for Hershey, since Ralph (Paul Calderon), a regular at the diner where George works, has been making a play for her as well. Another driver, Salgado (Michelle Rodriguez), is a short-fused Latin American woman who is frequently the victim of sexual harassment from her customers, which makes her all the more difficult to be around. Jose (Bobby Cannavale) thinks he's hit the jackpot when he discovers a briefcase full of cash has been left in his cab, though he has reason to believe it's stolen. And Rasha (Sergej Trifunovic), a refugee from Bosnia, is still tormented by the violence that cost his family their lives, and has trouble concentrating on his driving, leading him into more than one auto accident. While the drivers deal with their individual dilemmas, all of them are suddenly wary of their customers, thanks to reports of a serial killer preying on New York's cab drivers. Produced for the Showtime premium cable network, 3 A.M. was screened at the Sundance Film Festival prior to its broadcast debut, where it earned an enthusiastic reception. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Glover, Pam Grier, (more)
Actor Laurence Fishburne makes his debut as a director in this urban drama adapted from his one-act stage play Riff Raff. 20/20 Mike (Fishburne) and his half-brother Torch (Titus Welliver) bump into each other under less than ideal circumstances -- both are in jail, Mike on parole violation and Torch for theft. Torch is a heroin addict who has trouble financing his habit, so when Mike says he has a plan to make some quick money, Torch is more than eager to help. Mike and Torch try to swindle Hector (Andres "Dres" Titus), who works with his uncle Freddie Nine Lives (Dominic Chianese Jr.) as a bagman for drug kingpin Manny Rivera (Paul Calderon). While Mike and Torch are able to grab a large cache of heroin that Hector is carrying for Manny, the plan soon goes haywire and Hector and his men suffer heavy casualties. Mike and Torch go on the lam, while Manny's henchmen find Freddie and beat a confession out of him -- in which he names Mike and Torch as the thieves. Manny wants his money back and hires an enforcer named Tony (Eamonn Walker) to find Mike and Torch and get the cash. To insure that Tony doesn't waste time, Manny holds Tony's wife (Annabella Sciorra) captive until the money is returned. Noted jazz artist Branford Marsalis composed the film's original music score. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne, Titus Welliver, (more)
- 1998
Diana Ross hosts this four-hour TV special tracing the rise of Berry Gordy's Detroit-based Motown record label during the '60s. Clips were compiled from a variety of sources, including such TV shows as Teen Town, Where the Action Is and It's What's Happening Baby. The history covers the label's leading acts (Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye) and explores the talents who created the Motown style -- songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland and Norman Whitfield, choreographer Cholly Atkins, finishing-school director Maxine Powell, arranger Maurice King, and the rhythm section (pianist Earl van Dyke, drummer Ben Benjamin, and bassist James Jamerson). With background on Gordy, the story moves forward into Motown's film/TV production, the solo career of Diana Ross, the Commodores, Teena Marie, Rick James, and many others. Interviews include Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Branford Marsalis, Clive Davis, Jesse Jackson, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, George Schlatter, Julian Bond, Diahann Carroll, RuPaul, and Rod Stewart. The special premiered as a two-parter (February 15th and 19th, 1998) on ABC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, (more)
- 1995
What ever will princess Ebony do without the friends she so desperately wants? Her father, the king, has given her everything he can, except for friends she can call her own. This modernized fable finds the African-American princess Ebony kissing frogs in hopes of finding friends her own age. You'll notice the tale focuses on the princess finding true friends rather than true love, teaching the value of friendship. In the end, the enchanted frog teaches Ebony the meaning of being a friend. Danny Glover and Sinbad lend a hand in telling this yarn. ~ Amy Lewis, All Movie Guide
- 1994
While on a double date with Will (Will Smith), Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali) begins to chafe at her cousin's overprotective, patronizing attitude. Finally, Ashley stands up and demands that Will stop treating her like a kid--and for good measure, she insists upon the same treatment from her astonished father. Meanwhile, Hilary (Karyn Parsons) makes a foredoomed effort to cook her own dinner. This Valentine's Day episode was one of several similarly-themed programs seen over NBC on February 14, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Having put off studying until the last possible moment, Will (Will Smith) pulls an "all-nighter" in order to pass his midterms. Alas, he finds it impossible to concentrate thanks to a myriad of distractions. Foremost among these is a noisy cricket which drives the entire household crazy (and sparks a bizarre nocturnal "safari" headed by Geoffrey [Joseph Marcel]), but a caffeine-crazed Hilary (Karyn Parsons) and a curfew-breaking Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali) also contribute to the cacophony. Musician-composer Branford Marsalis appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this tech-thriller from director Phil Alden Robinson, a group of five renegade computer hackers, led by Martin Bishop (Robert Redford), are hired by the government to steal a black box, containing a code-breaking machine, from the mathematician who invented the device. The government is able to persuade Martin to take the job by convincing him that they will drop a decades-old federal warrant for his involvement in computer fraud. Martin agrees and he takes his team on the mission, eventually taking the box. Shortly after the hackers have stolen the device, the mathematician turns up dead. Before long, the quintet realize that they've gotten themselves into more than they'd originally bargained for, as Bishop's old rival Cosmo (Ben Kingsley) enters into the fold. The eclectic ensemble also includes River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, and James Earl Jones. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, (more)
- 1992
By some inexplicable miracle, the eleven troubled inner-city black youths in this documentary were enabled to spend ten weeks on a working kibbutz in Israel. For those unfamiliar with what a kibbutz is, it is a communal living arrangement whose motto might be that of the Three Musketeers: "All for one, and one for all." At first, these five girls and six boys had difficulty with the long hours and hard work that was commonplace on the communally run factory and farm, but eventually the profound egalitarianism and cooperative spirit won them over. Likewise, the kibbutz dwellers were apprehensive of the kids at first, envisioning violent drug-obsessed malcontents. Instead, the freshness and enthusiasm of the youngsters won them over. Sadly, things were not so benign for the youths when their sojourn was over and they had to return to the hard streets of Brooklyn. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- R
In the mid-'80s, saxophonist Branford Marsalis emerged as one of the most acclaimed (and most popular) new artists in jazz. A member of a distinguished musical family and a stylistic innovator as comfortable working with pop and rock musicians as fellow jazz artists, Marsalis brought challenging contemporary jazz to a mass audience as the bandleader of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; he also toured and recorded with Sting and the Grateful Dead, as well as recording and performing with his own ensemble. Branford Marsalis: The Music Tells You is a 1992 documentary about Marsalis' life and career that explores the challenges and the realities of life as a jazz artist, as well as featuring Marsalis and his group performing several of their compositions. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Branford Marsalis, Robert Hurst, (more)
Spike Lee's 1990 directing effort is a jazz film, the story of a fictional trumpeter named Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington). He leads a quintet at the Beneath the Underground club with a flashy saxophonist named Shadow Henderson (Wesley Snipes). Though Shadow takes a few too many solos, everything seems fine in Bleek's life. Trouble soon arises, however, and he is forced to make decisions regarding both his best friend Giant (Spike Lee), and his relationships with two women. Giant, his manager and old pal, is addicted to gambling and often gets roughed up by thugs looking for pay back. Bleek is the only member of the quintet who wants to keep him as manager. The trumpeter's woman problems concern trying to decide between two girlfriends who both love him: a schoolteacher (Joie Lee) and a singer (Cynda Williams). Spike's father Bill Lee scored the film, with contributions from Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Abbey Lincoln and Ruben Blades (who plays Giant's bookie). ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, (more)
- 1988
Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Chuck Mangione are the stars in this performance at the historic Storyville club in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Once part of the infamous red-light district of the city, Storyville has hosted many of the great names in music. To the delight of the live audience, Ms. Vaughan sings some of her sultriest tunes, while Mangione and Gillespie perform some bebop classics, including "Take the "A" Train" and "Watermelon Man." ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Cherry, Maynard Ferguson, (more)
Fraternity and sorority members clash with the other students at a historically black university in this politically charged musical, which marked the sophomore feature from director Spike Lee. Dap (Laurence Fishburne) is a politically conscious brother who leads anti-apartheid demonstrations and eschews the social climbing of the Greek system. But Half-Pint (Lee), his craven young cousin, is willing to endure any humiliation to join the manly Gamma fraternity. As Half-Pint tries unsuccessfully to impress the Gammas with his inept womanizing, Dap engages in philosophical debates with Rachel (Kyme), his girlfriend. Meanwhile, the light-skinned, straight-haired sisters of the Gamma Ray sorority battle it out in a beauty parlor with their darker-skinned, Afro-headed fellow co-eds. Eventually, Half-Pint gets the chance to join the frat, but only after a degrading episode with Jane (Tisha Campbell), the soon-to-be ex-girlfriend of his house president, causes Dap to lose all respect for him. Based in part on the director's experiences at Atlanta's Morehouse College, School Daze was also written and produced by Lee. Despite production numbers that included "Straight and Nappy", a dis-fest between the "wannabes" and "jigaboos" on campus, the biggest hit on the film's soundtrack was the go-go anthem "Da Butt", E.U.'s ode to shaking one's backside. Supporting players Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy also co-starred on the TV comedy A Different World, another look at life on a primarily African-American campus. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
The "exchange murders" plot gambit, played with utter solemnity in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, is used as the launching pad for raucous laughter in Throw Momma From the Train. Director/star Danny DeVito plays Owen Lift, a middle-aged bachelor, totally dominated by his gorgon mother, played with hilarious ferocity by Anne Ramsey. Billy Crystal co-stars as Larry Donner, a creative-writing professor, saddled with a vituperative, thoroughly despicable ex-wife, Margaret (Kate Mulgrew). Signing up for Larry's writing course, Owen has trouble at first with character development and construction in his stories. Larry recommends that Owen watch a screening of Strangers on a Train, which he considered a model of tight, concise storytelling. Owen is so entranced by the film that he decides to emulate Strangers star Robert Walker. That is, Owen wants Larry to bump off his mother, in exchange for Owen's murder of Margaret. Without being asked, Owen does away with Margaret (or so it seems), then hounds Larry to the point of killing "Momma." This being a comedy, the actual consequences of the swap-murder plot aren't nearly as calamitous as in the Hitchcock film. Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld would apply the "black humor" lessons learned in Throw Momma From the Train for his own directorial debut, The Addams Family (1991). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny DeVito, Billy Crystal, (more)
This is an enjoyable and often humorous documentary on the formation of Sting's new band and their first live performance in 1985. Filmed over a nine-day period, the musicians in the band are shown bantering in their usual repartee and quick come-backs as they rehearse for the big opening night. Interviews bring out their thoughts on music and performing, and there is even an impromptu appearance by Sting's son Jake, who was born on the second night of their opening concert. Both the music and the musicians are entertaining. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sting, Omar Hakim, (more)
- 1982
Each year, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, sponsors a number of special cultural events for the public. This six-part video series showcases the diverse musical talents of a group of artists who have performed at the Institute. Art Blakey, Benny Carter, Alberta Hunter, Art Farmer, Joe Williams, and Mel Lewis take the stage and delight audiences in each videotaped performance. This volume highlights the special talents of drummer Art Blakey, who performed with the Jazz Messengers from the 1940s through the 1990s. Blakey's desire to always work with the most talented younger musicians brought him into contact with Wynton Marsalis. Both Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis join Blakey for several songs. Wynton Marsalis also performs a solo trumpet rendition of Kurt Weill's song "My Ship." ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
