Music & Performance

Charles Bronson at 63 or so, continues his vigilante persona in this run-of-the-mill crime drama about a Richard Speck-style killer who knifes young nurses to death. There is no doubt that the film exploits both the heinous, 1966 Speck murder of eight nurses in Chicago and an audience's willingness to go along with the Bronson character, Leo Kessler, when he uses illegal means to entrap criminals. The captured killer, Warren Stacey (Gene Davis) manages to go free because of red tape and the need to wait for the outcome of his insanity plea. When he returns to his murderous predilection, Kessler takes action to permanently stop him. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Born in 1895, Alberta Hunter first rose to fame as a blues singer in the early '20s; Louis Armstrong, Eubie Blake, and Sidney Bechet all played on her records, she headlined nightclubs in the United States and Europe, and starred with Paul Robeson in the British production of Showboat in 1928. In 1956, after almost 35 years in show business, Hunter decided to retire from performing, and took a job as a nurse. In 1977, the hospital where she worked, believing her to be 65 years old (they were off by 17 years), gave her mandatory retirement. With little to do, Hunter began performing at a night spot in New York's Greenwich Village called the Cookery; singing with even greater force and personality than she had in her youth, Hunter's shows wowed jazz critics, and she went on to record three successful albums for Columbia Records and score the film Remember My Name before she passed on in 1984. Alberta Hunter: My Castle's Rockin' is a warm and fascinating portrait of Hunter's personal and professional lives, featuring plenty of footage of the ageless diva performing for an enthusiastic audience. Billy Taylor narrates. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Singer, songwriter, pianist Alicia Keys emerged seemingly out of nowhere in 2001 with her debut album Songs In A Minor, which catapulted the twenty-year-old musician from obscurity to international stardom, topping the Billboard Pop charts and earning her five Grammy awards. Alicia Keys: From Star to Stardom is an unauthorized documentary on Keys life and career, exploring the hard work and years of preparation that went into her "sudden" success. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Noted photographer David LaChapelle makes his feature directorial debut with this documentary on a new facet of street culture in South Central Los Angeles. In 1992, after long-simmering racial tensions in Los Angeles erupted in riots following the verdicts in the Rodney King trial, a man named Tommy Johnson sought to spread a new message in a new way to the city's African-Americans. Creating a character called Tommy the Clown, Johnson developed an act that combined hip-hop-flavored comedy and dancing with an anti-gang and anti-violence message. Johnson's performances became wildly popular in South Central -- so much so that at one point, 50 different groups inspired by Johnson's example were performing in the area. In time, Johnson's loose-limbed dance style inspired a new wave of hip-hop street dancing called "krumping," a wildly athletic style in which arms, legs, and bodies fly with a frenzied abandon that moves at almost inhuman speeds. Rize follows the birth of clown dancing and krumping in South Central, and records how many young people have adopted the dance as a style of competition, offering a safer and healthier alternative to the gang culture that has long dominated Los Angeles. Rize premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

One of the biggest artists in hip-hop, rapper Jay-Z surprised fans in 2003 when he announced he would retire following the release of his hotly anticipated collection The Black Album. In November of 2003, not long after the album hit stores, Jay-Z staged a special show at New York City's Madison Square Garden, in which he performed alongside some of the most popular and influential acts in hip-hop and R&B, including R. Kelly, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, ?uestlove, Pharrell Williams, P. Diddy, and more. Billed as Jay-Z's final solo performance (though he would stage a collaborative tour with R. Kelly in the fall of 2004), Fade to Black is a concert documentary that captures both the action on-stage and the celebration behind the scenes; the film also features an inside look at the making of The Black Album. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Prophetess of comedy Ax'nt hosts this knee-slapping night of gospel stand-up featuring an impressive list of talent that includes Laurence Craig, TJ McGee, Rory Darvel, John Mitchell, and Vince D. Familiar faces to viewers of BET's Comic Views, these clean cut comics will have home viewers laughing so hard they'll think they stepped out for a night at the club. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Captured live at Nightstage, this 1989 performance by blues legend Junior Wells and special guest Buddy Guy find the revered musicians collaborating on such timeless songs as James Brown's "Super Bad" and Muddy Waters' "I Got My Mojo Workin'". An additional backstage interview with the two musicians offers candid insight into their longtime partnership. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Jump, jive, and bebop to some of the biggest hits of 1940s and 50s with this collection of musical shorts featuring such timeless talents as Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Fats Waller. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

One of the most unique personalities in hip-hop is profiled in this look at the career of innovative rapper Kool Keith. Born Keith Thornton, Kool Keith eschewed the stereotypical violent lyrics and imagery that have come to be so closely associated with the hip-hop genre to cultivate an outlandish public persona that truly sets him apart from the pack. From his early days as a member of Ultramagnetic MC's to such solo projects as Dr. Octagon, Black Elvis, and Dr. Doom, Keith's entire career comes into focus through interviews, music videos, performance clips, and behind-the-scenes footage. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The reggaeton hits just don't stop coming in this collection of music videos featuring Suelta, Nejo, and Indio Pancho. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Motown superstar Mary Wells performs at the Rock n' Roll Palace in Orlando, Florida, and now fans looking to relive that magical night of music can do so anytime they please with this release that brings that historical concert home. Featured songs include "Bye Bye Baby", "Two Lovers", "The One Who Really Loves You", and "My Guy". ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Rare performance footage of such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Louis Armstrong for the foundation of this collection of clips that is bound to offer something new for even the most ardent of jazz music enthusiasts. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide