Amy Pope

(2013-05-14 18:47:10)

On The 7th Day Thrills Audiences!

This Friday, April 13th, 2012, T.D Jakes welcomes a new installmentfrom the Woman Thou Art Loosed series.  This one goes above and beyondits predecessor in quality and message.  Directed by trailblazer andaward-winning filmmaker Neema Barnette, WTAL: On The Seventh Day boastsan amazing ensemble of talented actors including Blair Underwood,Sharon Leal, and Pam Grier.  With notable performances by Nicoye Banks,Nicole Beharie, and Reed R. McCants. Each serves the audience true tolife suspense, and emotion.  When David and Kari Ames's daughterMikayla goes missing, this who-done-it masterfully unfolds and keepsthe audience on the edge of their seats! WTAL: On the Seventh Day isnot only a testament of faith, but a balanced examination of the humanspirit, as well as the complexities of perception, and self-imposedcondemnation. The biblical scripture, "Let he has not sinned cast thefirst stone" is absolutely fitting.  However, this is not preachy film.Director Barnette orchestrates this drama/thriller with vigor andeloquence.  She delves into the role power plays in searching for themissing, the true grit of relationships, and the wickedness ofdeception, against a Louisiana backdrop beautifully captured byCinematographer Keith L. Smith.  This film is a must see!  You willleave the theater full, yet wanting more!  Sitting in the sold-outaudience at the Museum of Moving Image on March 29th, that was theconsensus!  As the credits rolled the audience stood and cheered forthe cast, crew, TD Jakes, and Neema Barnette - who took the series to awhole new level, and who's accolades are long over due.  

Sherazade

(2013-05-14 07:04:40)

Pandora's Box

First things first, it was made on a low-budget but for what in lackedin special-effects and exotic locations it made up for with content andfine acting. An affluent young couple's daughter is kidnapped fromtheir home with no signs of violence or a struggle and theinvestigation into her disappearance unleashes a can of worms of epiccatastrophic proportions that shakes the very foundation of theirmarriage. I thoroughly enjoyed this film because of its unpredictabletwists and turns and of course Pam Grier's scene-stealing antics as abounty-killer style New Orleans detective. Sharon Leal and BlairUnderwood sharing amazing chemistry and screen presence as theafore-mentioned couple and both give riveting performances. It's amust-see in my opinion, especially for couples with children.

rcoss2001

(2013-05-13 22:22:33)

A Damned Good Movie On Many Levels

This is a really good movie that won't be seen by as many people thatwould like it, because they are of the Caucasian persuasion and it's an"African-American" movie. My wife and I see a lot of movies. We judge amovie by many things, but skin color doesn't play into it. This movieis a story of a troubled marriage, a commentary on the meaning and needfor faith, and a helluva good mystery/detective story. Blair Underwoodplays David Ames, history professor and upper middle class mover andshaker, who has the ear of the mayor. He carries the role off on justthe right note. Sharon Leal plays his wife Kari, beautiful partner,stay-at-home mom of nearly 7 year old daughter Mikayla , and perfecthostess/ homemaker. There seem to be some secrets however, and thenMikayla is kidnapped. Who took her? Why? Does it have to do with thesecret past of Kari, that threatens to tear apart their marriage andcost them their daughter? Leal plays Kari as she starts todisintegrate, with notes of despair, anger, fear that are veryconvincing. Pam Grier plays Detective Barrick who is in charge of theinvestigation. She has one of the best lines in any movie I've seenrecently, "That's Detective Bitch to you!" Nicoye Banks plays an FBIagent with an old connection to Kari. T.D. Jakes is there as the man offaith. Watch Nichole Behair as Beth, and Patrick Weathers in a role youwon't forget. Wrap this all in shots and sets that take you into NewOrleans upscale and down, and beautiful cinematography. This is a damngood movie most people won't see. I'ts only in one theater in all ofthe Cleveland area.

melcaudle

(2013-05-13 16:53:19)

A Sleeper for the Academy Awards

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day, directed by Neema Barnette, is apowerful movie that compels audience members to rethink the view othersbefore looking at themselves. From the onset, this film grabs yourattention with the heartfelt performances of Blair Underwood, SharonLeal, Pamela Grier, Reed McCants. Having been filmed in New Orleans, apowerful cast of locals were tapped into including Nicoya Banks,Jaqueline Fleming, Zoe Carter, and Jamie Alyson Uribe to name just afew of the outstanding performances from the talent pool. Make the timeto see this film while it is on the big screen. It's worth watchingmore than once as I look forward to the DVD release. I just hope thatNeema, Blair, and Sharon aren't overlooked when it is time for theAcademy Awards to nominate.

Shamontiel Vaughn

(2013-05-12 21:24:57)

What should a couple do when they find out their daughter has been kidnapped and the secrets about their background made it more difficult to find her?

I read about this movie in L.A. Times and then on the Chicago Tribune'swebsite, and I wanted to make sure I supported it. From the trailer, itdoesn't look like the typical black film full of stereotypes and a plotthat leaves much to be desired. I've been a Blair Underwood fan since Iwas a kid and think Sharon Leal is a great actress. The movie is abouta married couple whose daughter is kidnapped but in order to find outwho the criminal is who did it, they are forced to deal with their owndeeply hidden secrets. I had my own opinions on who the kidnapper wasand I was surprised I was right because I kept second-guessing myself,which is a good thing because a predictable plot is no fun. But thesecrets the wife was hiding were definitely unexpected. I wasn't soldon Pam Grier playing the tough cop or her New Orleans accent ("thatthere" seemed like a stretch), but it was good to see her in a newfilm. I'll definitely buy the film when it releases and hope thatHollywood will let it show up in more theaters.

jdmaci

(2013-05-12 10:03:02)

Was Hoping for Better

The acting for the leads Blair Underwood and Sharon Leal was prettygood although at times he was not so great as I would think there wouldbe more sympathy for his wife. The police officer from her home townwas believable. But the rest of the actors were really not very good,often over the top. The female detective was just too much.And I thought it would have more of a Christian theme but frankly Idon't see how that contributed very much at all to the plot.Unfortunately it seemed to just be tacked on, was very superficial. Iwatch lots of movies that aren't specifically Christian but to seem tobe Christian but not really have anything to do with true faith wasdisappointing.