Paid in Full (VHS)
Set in the early 1980s, this entry in the African-American urban gangster genre puts character development in the front seat for a change as it rolls through the Harlem streets on its usual rise-and-fall route. Ace (Wood Harris) starts out a laundry delivery guy, but thanks to a chance encounter with a Latin coke dealer (Esai Morales), he quickly works his way to the top of a drug empire. Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) is his more extroverted, colorful pal, the born hustler whose bravado hides a tragic family life. For a while the money just keeps rolling in and everyone`s happy, but then comes the inevitable turn to tragedy, heralded by the arrival of the brash, trigger-happy Rico (rapper Cam`ron in his screen debut). A sensitive script and moody direction by Charles Stone III allows PAID IN FULL to sidestep a lot of the cliched glamour of similar films. The violence is realistically depicted, and the ultimate emptiness and paranoia of the lifestyle is allowed to manifest slowly through a nice, low-key performance by Harris. Roc-a-Fella mogul Damon Dash produced, based on the true story of Harlem drug lords he remembers from his childhood, one of whom even served as a technical advisor.R"
Director: Charles Stone
ACTORS: Wood Harris, Cam`ron, Mekhi Phifer, Chi McBride, Esai Morales
Empire (DVD) Spanish Language Version EMPIRE, the debut film from director-writer Frank Reyes is a Latin GOODFELLAS, chronicling the rise and fall of Victor Rosa (John Leguizamo), a Puerto Rican drug-dealer working the violent streets of the South ...
EMPIRE, the debut film from director-writer Frank Reyes is a Latin GOODFELLAS, chronicling the rise and fall of Victor Rosa (John Leguizamo), a Puerto Rican drug-dealer working the violent streets of the South Bronx. With an eye for money and a head for business, Victor dreams of one day achieving the wealth and success of a legitimate businessman. When Victor discovers that his girlfriend Carmen (Delilah Cruz) is pregnant, he jumps at the chance to give up the dangerous drug trade and joins forces with two new friends, Jack (Peter Skarsgaard)--a flashy Wall Street Investment banker, and his girlfriend Trish (Denise Richards). Jack offers Victor a new way of life and promises him access to sure thing investments. Eager to go legit, Victor quickly embraces Jack`s standards of living. He gives up the streets of the Bronx for Jack`s slick Soho loft and moves into the fast-talking, money-driven world of Wall Street. However, Carmen misses the warmth and familiarity of her roots in the South Bronx and Victor is torn between his own ambition and his desire to please her. Ultimately, he realizes too late that Jack and Trish are not all who they seem to be, and his best-laid plans begin to falter as he is forced to accept the magnitude of their betrayal.
R"
Director: Frank Reyes
ACTORS: John Leguizamo, Denise Richards, Peter Sarsgaard, Ruben Blades, Isabella Rossellini
Treasure Island (DVD)
Jack Palance stars as Long John Silver in this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson`s classic novel of pirates, heroes and a young boy`s adventures on the high seas.PG-13"
Director: Peter Rowe
ACTORS: Jack Palance, Patrick Bergin, Kevin Zegers
Seven (DVD) Platinum 2-Disc Set Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust--these are the seven deadly sins that are being punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher`s bleak thriller SEVEN.
Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust--these are the seven deadly sins that are being punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher`s bleak thriller SEVEN. Set in a perpetually gloomy unnamed city, the film follows Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a retiring police detective, as he experiences his final week on the job, reluctantly working with assertive newcomer Mills (Brad Pitt). When an obese man is found brutally murdered in his home, the seasoned Somerset realizes this is no ordinary killing--someone tortured him because of his appetite. Slayings that reflect the sins of greed and sloth soon follow, leading Somerset and Mills on a desperate search to find the mysterious John Doe, who is responsible for these methodical murders. As the case builds to a startling conclusion, both Somerset and Mills become more involved than they ever could have imagined.
After a brief opening scene, SEVEN immediately cuts to a highly stylized title sequence. An intricate collage of books and photos, scissors and razors, and blood and skin eerily captures the dark, graphic tone of Fincher`s intriguing mystery. The film cleverly avoids depicting most acts of violence onscreen, focusing instead on the cryptic remains of the crimes, allowing viewers to investigate along with the detectives. An example of nearly flawless filmmaking, the movie features a meticulously crafted screenplay, brilliant photography and design, sure-handed direction, and excellent performances from the entire cast. All of these elements combine to amazing effect in the film`s unforgettably stunning finale.
R"
Director: David Fincher
ACTORS: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, John Cassini
Mystery Date (DVD) Widescreen and Full Frame After spending an entire summer obsessing over the beautiful girl housesitting next door, shy Tom allows his slick, more confident brother Craig to set him up on a date with her. The operation involves a Crai...
After spending an entire summer obsessing over the beautiful girl housesitting next door, shy Tom allows his slick, more confident brother Craig to set him up on a date with her. The operation involves a Craig makeover, the theft of Craig`s classic car, borrowed identification, and, unfortunately, three dead bodies, a psychotic florist, and lethal threats from a Chinatown mob boss. An above-average teen caper romance, with a few unusually grim plot points.
PG-13"
Director: Jonathan Wacks
ACTORS: Ethan Hawke, Teri Polo, Brian McNamara, Fisher Stevens, B.D. Wong
