Black History November 2007-February 2008

Upcoming titles being released November 2007-February 2008 for Black History.

NEWS

Marleys unite for a common goal
Bob Marley had a vision for Africa to become a unified entity. In the feature documentary Africa Unite, his family, led by wife Rita, furthers that vision by traveling to Ethiopia in 2005 for a landmark concert performance. The concert served as the starting point for annual Africa Unite events, the next of which will be held in Jamaica during Black History Month this February. Full story

UPCOMING TITLES

Allumination
Heavens Fall Timothy Hutton stars as New York attorney Samuel Leibowitz, who defends nine black men wrongly sentenced to death for raping two white women on a train in 1931, in this film based on a true story. Street Nov. 6, prebook now; DVD $29.98

Camp
Rerun’s in the Hood/Comedy Jam Featuring ’70s pop icon Fred “Rerun” Berry as an arms dealer, drug kingpin and owner of a strip club, this title showcases some of the hottest urban stand-up comics in the business. Street Feb. 5, prebook Jan. 8; DVD $14.98

Cinema Libre
Desert Bayou In their own words, evacuees of Hurricane Katrina tell how they survived and ended up at a military installation in the deserts of Utah; includes an interview, original rap video and CD from Master P in the limited-edition sell-through version. Street Jan. 29, prebook Dec. 18; rental DVD or limited-edition sell-through DVD $24.98

Angels in the Dust In this documentary, a university-trained therapist, along with her husband and two daughters, walks away from a privileged life in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb to establish a village and school that provide shelter, food and education to more than 550 South African children. Street Feb. 19, prebook Jan. 8; DVD $24.95

Codeblack/Vivendi Visual
Sinbad: Nothing But the Funk Shot on location in Aruba, this 1998 stand-up performance of the veteran comedian was made to amuse the whole family. Street Nov. 6, prebook now; DVD $12.99

Echo Bridge
Antonia Four women who live on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil, form a rap group to escape their poverty-stricken lives but encounter sexism, racism and violence. Street Dec. 4, prebook now; DVD $26.99

First Look
Redrum When a timid married couple decides to cut loose and take revenge on the people who have taken advantage of them, they turn to murder ... and like it. Available now; DVD $19.98

The Cosby Show: Season 5 and 6 The love and laughter of the Emmy-winning family show starring Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad as Heathcliff and Claire Huxtable continues. Both street Nov. 6, prebook now; three-disc sets $24.98 each

Only the Ball was White Narrated by Paul Winfield, this documentary pays tribute to the many topflight players from the Negro Leagues who were denied access to the majors before Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1946. Street Jan. 29, prebook Dec. 18; DVD $9.98

First Run
Senator Obama Goes to Africa Part personal odyssey and part diplomatic journey, this program travels with Sen. Barack Obama to the land of his ancestry. Street Dec. 11, prebook Nov. 20; DVD $19.95

Fox
Amazing Grace This film tells the inspiring true story of how William Wilberforce struggled to end the slave trade in the late 18th century. Street Nov. 13, prebook now; DVD $29.98

Image
R. Kelly Live! The Light It Up Tour This title features the artist in his first live concert release, filmed at the famous Paramount Theater in Oakland, Calif. Street Dec. 18, prebook Nov. 6; HD DVD $24.99

Mystery of the Nile This IMAX film follows a team of explorers that sets off to become the first to navigate the Blue Nile in Africa. Street Jan. 8, prebook Dec. 11; HD DVD $24.99

Indican
Cut ‘N It Up: Chicago Eight up-and-coming comics from the windy city rock the house in the first volume of this series. Street Jan. 29, prebook Dec. 28; DVD $21.99

A Simple Promise A struggling artist finds romance with an aspiring singer and they make a pact to help each other’s careers, but when one gets a lucky break, they must face some hard truths for their love to survive. Street Feb. 26, prebook Jan. 25; DVD $21.99

Kultur
Paul Robeson: Speak of Me As I Am (DVD $19.99) Tells the story of one of America’s foremost African-American citizens, whose courageous stance against oppression was a forerunner to the ’60s civil rights movement; Creole Giselle: The Dance Theater of Harlem (DVD $29.99) The classic ballet is set in 1841 Louisiana, a time when social status among freed blacks was measured by how far from slavery one’s family was removed. Both street Nov. 27, prebook now

Lionsgate
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne: Vol. One (three-disc set $39.98) Twenty episodes of this comedy series show how a multi-generational family tries to coexist under one roof, including the featurette “The House That Tyler Perry Built”; Tyler Perry: The Plays (seven-disc set $79.98) This box set contains seven of Perry’s best-loved plays: Madea’s Family Reunion, Why Did I Get Married?, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Class Reunion, Madea Goes to Jail, I Can Do Bad All By Myself and Meet the Browns. Both street Dec. 4, prebook Nov. 7

Magnolia
Mr. Untouchable This documentary tells the true story of the rise and fall of Harlem’s notorious Nicky Barnes, a junkie turned multimillionaire drug lord in the ’70s. Street Jan. 29, prebook Jan. 1; DVD $26.98

MGM/Fox
In the Heat of the Night: 40th Anniversary Edition Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger star in the Academy Award-winning film about murder and racism in the deep South; She’s Gotta Have It Spike Lee’s hit comes to DVD for the first time, starring Tracy Camilla Johns as a young, sexually independent Brooklyn woman who juggles three suitors. Both street Jan. 15, prebook Dec. 19; DVDs $19.98 each

Milestone/New Yorker
Killer of Sheep: The Charles Burnett Collection Chosen for the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the lead title in this collection of Burnett’s work follows the life of Stan, a sensitive dreamer from the Los Angeles community of Watts. Street Nov. 13, prebook now; two-disc set $39.95

MVD
The Edwin Starr Story This music rockumentary weaves the tale of Starr’s life from his early Motown days to the U.K. disco and Northern Soul scene. Available now; DVD $19.95

Deep Roots Music 2: Bunny Lee Story/Black Ark This release is from the six-part series on the history of reggae. Street Jan. 22, prebook Dec. 18; DVD $19.95

Method Man: Live From the Sunset Strip This high-energy performance by the Wu Tang emcee is captured in high-definition, with songs including “Da Rockwilder,” “Ice Cream,” “Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing Ta F’ Wit” and more. Street Dec. 11, prebook Nov. 6; HD DVD $19.95

Salient/Vivendi Visual
Katt Williams: American Hustle In this comedy, Williams sets out to be a Hollywood player but discovers it will require him to be in a musical penguin movie, so he takes his act and crew on a wild cross-country tour instead. Street Nov. 20, prebook now; DVD $24.99

Starlight
A Moment in Time: Conversations With Legendary Women This program includes profiles of cultural icons Barbara Jordan, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. Street Jan. 29, prebook Dec. 11; DVD $9.99

Taseis/Ryko
The Ultimate Weekend Features gospel greats Brent Jones & The T.P. Mobb. Street Feb. 12, prebook Jan. 18; DVD $19.97

ThinkFilm
Gangsta Rap: The Glockumentary This mockumentary is about ’80s group Gangsta Rap, which fell into obscurity after several run-ins with the law, shady business management and countless child custody cases, but now, they’re back with a vengeance. Street Feb. 5, prebook Jan. 10; DVD $27.98

Poor Boy’s Game Released from prison after serving time for the brutal beating of a black teen, Donnie Rose must face the wrath of the boy’s father and make some difficult life choices. Street Feb. 19, prebook Jan. 24; DVD $27.98

Warner
Alex Haley’s Queen (two-disc set $24.98) This acclaimed miniseries tells the story of Haley’s grandmother, Queen, daughter of a black slave and white plantation owner, whose mixed heritage creates problems as she struggles with her place in life; Murder in Mississippi (DVD $14.97) This film recounts the infamous 1964 murders of three civil rights activists by the Ku Klux Klan, as fictionalized in Mississippi Burning; The Marva Collins Story (DVD $14.97) Originally aired as a Hallmark Hall of Fame special, this critically acclaimed program recounts the story of an inspirational teacher who faced the disapproval of her colleagues and used her own retirement money to establish the Westside Preparatory School in Chicago’s inner city. All street Jan. 15, prebook Dec. 11

Black August Gary Dourdan (CSI) stars as inmate and activist George Lester Jackson, who became a flashpoint for revolution and ignited the bloodiest riot in San Quentin’s history; Show Stoppers This film follows a group of young college girls as they compete in the vibrant discipline known as “stepping.” Both street Feb. 5, prebook Jan. 2; DVDs $19.97 each

Weinstein/Genius
Who’s Your Caddy? When an Atlanta rap mogul tries to join a conservative Carolina country club, sparks fly as he leaps every hurdle to force his way in. Street Nov. 27, prebook now; DVD $28.95

Xenon/Vivendi Visual
The L.A. Mass Choir Features the choir nominated for multiple awards for their unique mix of traditional and contemporary gospel sounds; Commissioned in Concert This celebrated pop-gospel group has been nominated for four Grammy Awards and six Stellar Awards; The New Jersey Mass Choir: I’ll Tell It This choir is renowned among both gospel and mainstream music fans. All street Nov. 13, prebook now; DVDs $14.99 each —Compiled by Cheryl Biggs