Mike Epps has been getting consistent work. He might be the Kevin Hart of the older generation. His latest project is the spoof film, Meet the Blacks, a parody of films like The Purge. Take an adventure with the Black family as they try to survive their new neighborhood.

Synopsis:

The Black family is getting out of Chicago in hopes of a better life. After Carl Black recently came into some unexpected fund$. Carl takes his family and leaves the hustling lifestyle behind for something better. Carl, his wife Lorena, son Carl Jr., daughter Allie Black, and cousin Cronut pack up and move to Beverly Hills.

Turns out, Carl couldn’t have picked a worse time to move. They arrive right around the time of the annual purge, when all crime is legal for twelve hours.

Cast:

• Mike Epps – Carl Black
• Gary Owen – Stranger
• Zulay Henao – Lorena
• Lil Duval – Cronut
• Bresha Webb – Allie
• Charlie Murphy – Key Flo
• DeRay Davis – Tyrone
• Lavell Crawford – Parole Officer

Crew:

• Director/Writer/Producer – Deon Taylor
• Writer – Nicole DeMasi

Meet the Blacks is in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Meet the Blacks’ in Theaters appeared first on Films of Color.

I try to keep this a space of positivity, so I haven’t brought up Nina starring Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone. But the trailer and poster came out and I can’t hold my tongue anymore.

Nina should be a precautionary tale about producing biopics. I’m not one of those people who thinks that an actor has to have a strong resemblance to their subject, but if you’re going to go that route, at least make it tasteful.

The poster is atrocious. Zoe Saldana looks like she’s in blackface. It’s painfully obvious that’s she in a lot of makeup. They tried to hard to make her look like Nina, and it just ended in disaster. If the producers wanted someone who looked like Nina, they should’ve gotten someone else.

The trailer is no better. Zoe looks bad in the trailer. The trailer was badly edited. At least I hope it was badly edited. I hope it’s not indicative of the film. It’s hard to discern what happens in the film except for a lot of drinking, smoking, and psychotic episodes.

I don’t know. It’s hard to have high hopes for this film, but it may surprise us. Maybe Zoe gives a masterful performance. What do you think of the poster and trailer?

Nina will be released in theaters April 22. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Nina’ Trailer – Nina Simone Deserves Better appeared first on Films of Color.

Synopsis:

The movie follows the singer’s journey from her discovery by mega producers L.A. Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, to her battle with Lupus. The movie also delves into how she made it through her public divorce all while navigating her son’s autism and family struggles. “Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart” chronicles the untold measures the wildly talented artist took to make herself and her family whole again, becoming a global inspiration.

Cast:

• Lex Scott Davis – Toni Braxton
• Debbi Morgan – Evelyn Braxton
• Skye P. Marshall – Towanda Braxton
• Tiffany Hines – Tamar Braxton
• Cortney Scott Wright – Traci Braxton
• LaToya Franklyn – Trina Braxton
• Andre Hall – Keri Lewis
• Gavin Houston – Kenny “Babyface” Edmunds
• Greg Davis Jr. – LA Reid
• Doron Bell – Scott Rhodes
• Celeste Rhodes – Pebbles

Crew:

• Director – Vondie Curtis-Hall
• Writer – Susan McMartin
• Production Company – Link Entertainment

Check out the trailer below.

Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart airs January 23, 2016 on Lifetime at 8/7c. Film photos (credit to Betina Strauss) are below.

The post ‘Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart’ Trailer and Photos appeared first on Films of Color.

Synopsis:

As his wedding day approaches, Ben heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James to bring down a drug dealer who’s supplying the dealers of Atlanta with product.

Cast:

• Ice Cube – James Payton
• Kevin Hart – Ben Barber
• Tika Sumpter – Angela Payton-Barber
• Benjamin Bratt – Antonio Pope
• Olivia Munn – Maya Cruz
• Sherri Shepherd – Cori
• T.I. – Tony David
• Tyrese Gibson – Mayfield

Crew:

• Director – Tim Story
• Writer – Phil Hay
• Writer – Matt Manfredi

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Ride Along 2 opens in theaters January 15, 2016.

The post ‘Ride Along 2’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

You may know Tristan Wilds from 90210 or more recently as Adele’s love interest in the “Hello” video. He took some time to focus on his music, and now his acting career and his music career collides with VH1’s The Breaks, based on Dan Charnas’s book, The Big Payback. The Breaks will explore the lives of three friends intertwined by their love of hip hop as they try to break their way into the music industry. If the film does well, it has the possibility of turning into a series.

Synopsis:

VH1’s newest original movie, The Breaks, will chronicle the journey of Nikki, David, and Deevee, three friends united by their love of hip-hop, as they work to make their big mark in the music industry. The film will travel viewers back to the Summer of 1990 in New York City where the music industry’s artists and hustlers intersect in the dance clubs and the street corners of the still crime-ridden city.

Nikki Jones is a brilliant recent grad who abandoned a scholarship to law school to pursue her dream of becoming a record exec. Her boyfriend, David Aaron, is the scrappy son of a legendary music producer who is unwilling to rest on his father’s laurels and notorious reputation. DeeVee is an aspiring producer on the hunt to find the next big rapper on the come-up.

Nikki fast talks her way into an internship at the premier hip-hop company, Fouray Entertainment, and catches the eye of the label’s infamous founder, while David struggles at the city’s top R&B radio station whose celebrity DJ refuses to program real hip-hop. Meanwhile, DeeVee returns to his roots in the Fort Greene projects to scout for talent and runs into Ahm, a drug dealer with a lyrical gift whose talent could bring them all to the next level. However, they will soon discover lives can be broken as fast as legends can be born.

Cast:

• Afton Williamson – Nikki
• David Call – David
• Tristan “Mack” Wilds – DeeVee

Crew:

• Director/Writer – Seith Mann

The Breaks premieres January 4, 2016 at 9/8c on VH1.

The post ‘The Breaks’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

It’s been over a decade since the last Barbershop film was released, but it’s time to jump back in the chair with Barbershop: The Next Cut. Some new faces join the regulars, and the film is helmed by Malcolm D. Lee. Is another visit in the chair what we need, or has the time passed. Check out the trailer below and share your thoughts.

Synopsis:

It’s been more than 10 years since our last appointment at Calvin’s Barbershop. Calvin and his longtime crew are still there, but the shop has undergone some major changes. Most noticeably, our once male-dominated sanctuary is now co-ed. The ladies bring their own flavor, drama, and gossip to the shop challenging the fellas at every turn. Despite the good times and camaraderie within the shop, the surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, forcing Calvin and our crew to come together not only to save the shop, but their neighborhood.

Cast:

• Ice Cube – Calvin Palmer, Jr.
• Cedric the Entertainer – Eddie
• Regina Hall – Angie
• Anthony Anderson – J.D.
• Eve – Terri
• Lamorne Morris – Jerrod
• Sean Patrick Thomas – Jimmy
• Tyga – Whack MC
• Deon Cole – Dante
• Common – Jabari
• Nicki Minaj – Draya

Crew:

• Director – Malcolm D. Lee
• Writer – Kenya Barris
• Writer – Tracy Oliver

Barbershop: The Next Cut is scheduled to be released April 15, 2016. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

The king of film spoofs, Marlon Wayans, is at it again. This time he’s taking on the erotic romance film, Fifty Shades of Grey, with his not so subtly titled Fifty Shades of Black. Spoof films always being hit or miss, but if anyone can make it a hit, it’s Wayans. The Take a look at the trailer and see what you think. Is it your cup of tea?

Cast:

• Marlon Wayans – Christian Black
• Kali Hawk – Hannah
• Mike Epps
• Affion Crockett

Crew:

• Director – Michael Tiddes
• Writer/Producer – Marlon Wayans
• Writer/Producer – Rick Alverez

Fifty Shades of Black is scheduled to be released January 29, 2015. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Fifty Shades of Black’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

Chi-Raq is the latest Spike Lee joint. The film was met with controversy from the title to the content. Based on Aristophanes’s Lysistrata, the film explores gang violence in the south side of Chicago. Take a look at the trailer and let us know what you think of it.

Synopsis:

Chi-Raq is a modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes. After the murder of a child by a stray bullet, a group of women led by Lysistrata organize against the on-going violence in Chicago’s Southside creating a movement that challenges the nature of race, sex and violence in America and around the world.

Cast:

• Teyonah Parris – Lysistrata
• Nick Cannon – Chi-raq
• John Cusack – Fr. Mike Corridan
• Samuel L. Jackson – Dolmedes
• Wesley Snipes – Cyclops
• Angela Bassett – Miss Helen
• Jennifer Hudson – Irene
• Harry Lennix – Commissioner Blades
• La La Anthony – Hecuba

Crew:

• Director/Producer/Writer – Spike Lee
• Writer – Kevin Willmott
• Cinematographer – Matthew Libatique

Chi-Raq is scheduled for a limited release in theaters on December 4, 2015. Tickets are available here. Afterward it will be available on Amazon Instant Video.

The post First ‘Chi-Raq’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

Creed is scheduled to be released in theaters November 25th, 2015. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Creed’ Second Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

Football season is upon us, and no season is truly complete without a football film being released. Concussion is the latest film to shine a light into the complex, entertaining, and at times dangerous world of the sport. Billed as a film that will have the NFL on edge, Concussion explores the dark side of football, where injuries can have lasting effects.

Synopsis:

Will Smith stars in Concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.

Cast:

• Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Prema Mutiso
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Dave Duerson
• Richard T. Jones as Andre Waters
• Hill Harper as Christopher Jones
• Albert Brooks as Cyril H. Wecht, MD, JD
• Alec Baldwin as Dr. Julian Bailes
• Luke Wilson as Roger Goodell
• Mike O’Malley as Daniel Sullivan

Concussion is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 25, 2015. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Concussion’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.