Cover

"Cover" directed by Bill Duke is a poignant film that highlights the cause and effects of infidelity, betrayal and deception. Aunjanue Ellis does very well as the religious devoted mother and housewife who soon becomes distraught after discovering her husband's double life. Not to mention, the radiant and beautiful Vivica A. Fox as the supportive, best friend. The directing is more than suitable for the film as Bill Duke keeps the viewer guessing with his intelligent and crafty use of mystery and suspense. In addition, the film has a clever storyline that's strong enough to keep one glued to their seat. Most importantly, the storyline is well thought out ,unpredictable and original. "Cover also includes performances by Leon as the seductive and charismatic Ryan Chambers, Roger Guenveur Smith("Do The Right Thing"), Paula Jai Parker("Friday"), Louis Gossett Jr, and Clifton Davis from the 1970s TV sitcom "That's My Mama". I highly recommend this film. 8/10.

Bill Duke's "Cover" is like an urbanized, African-American version of "Brokeback Mountain" - only this time told from the viewpoint of the initially clueless spouse rather than the two male lovers. Aunjanue Ellis plays a deeply religious woman whose life and marriage fall apart when she discovers that her husband (Razaaq Adoti) is actually a closeted homosexual. This leads to a great deal of emotional trauma for both the wife and the husband - as well as to a patently absurd and wholly unnecessary murder subplot that's used to frame the story.

There's no question that this is a well-meaning and well-intentioned film, but its attempt to deal honestly with a serious social issue all too often falls victim to slickery and overwrought melodramatics. Many a scene will have you rolling your eyes in incredulity and disbelief, even while conceding that some of the points the movie is making are indeed insightful and valid. And, commendably, the movie does give a fair hearing to each of its genuinely torn and conflicted characters. But an overall air of amateurishness - both in the performances (even from such acting stalwarts as Louis Gossett Jr. and "Amen"'s Clifton Davis) and in the direction - keeps it from having the impact it clearly wishes to have.

All in all, a missed opportunity.

I lost 2 important things watching this crap time and money and i don't like losing either. Bad actors bad plot and very predictable

Cover is a little known treat that is surprisingly suspenseful and enlightening. It tackles the highly pervasive yet equally controversial materials like homosexuality and "down-low" in the Black American community. Few movies have dared venture there and make a case for acceptance amongst Christians.

When her husband gets promoted, Valerie Mass's life begins to fall apart. Aunjanue Ellis plays Valerie Mass, an unassuming "God-fearing" church woman, who relocates to a new city with her husband. Razaaq Adoti is Dutch, Valerie's husband. Dutch's social life goes on the fast lane. He soon befriends Ryan Chambers (Leon from the movie Capers), a known womanizer, and starts acting more aloof. Neglected by her husband, Valerie turns to a church prayer group where she meets a sickly woman. The truth she will uncover is worse than anything she could have imagined. When Ryan turns up dead on New Year's Eve, she becomes the most likely suspect.

Aside for Vivica Fox and Leon, the cast is low on the mainstream acting radar. Nevertheless, it delivers decent performances. Black American movies are not without the religious idiosyncrasies but none of that detract from the serious subject matter or a solid plot.

Producers Bill Duke and Kenneth Dixon teamed up to create a complex tale of faith and redemption. The plot is quite simple but, somehow, they manage to keep a tight leash on it, keeping you guessing until the very end.

Leon delivers sex and edge without fail. Few actors in Hollywood command the screen the way this man can. Leon brings charisma and magneticism in every role he plays. Vivica Fox plays her "trademark hood" affectation, which I find annoying. Her role, essentially, brings nothing to this movie. This is a movie with a lot of twists. So, don't expect action.

This is a new recipe for Black films and I look forward to seeing more like it. I definitely recommending renting the DVD and watching it on a girls' night-in.

What this movie shows is that whatever is done in the dark will truly come to the light. This "down low" life is REAL. What is so troubling is that many of these men don't inform their partners (as shown in the movie) and needlessly subject their spouses/girlfriends to unnecessary hurt, pain and sometimes STD's.

Though this movie has some really good actors, it was sloppily written and directed. Actors can only work with what their given.