7.6

The Great Debaters

2006, USA

• Actors: Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Forest Whitaker, Gina Ravera, John Heard, Kimberly Elise, Devyn A. Tyler, Trenton McClain Boyd, Ritchie Montgomery, Jackson Walker, Tim Parati, Robert X. Golphin, Justice Leak, Glen Powell, Brad Watkins, Brian Smiar, Damien Leake, Voltaire Rico Sterling, Stephen Rider, Gordon Danniels, Donny Boaz, Samuel Elliott Whisnant, Bonnie Johnson, Charissa Allen, Michael Beasley, Gary Mathis, George Wilson
• Genre: Biography, Drama
• Director(s): Denzel Washington
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience.

  6.8

Gridiron Gang

2005, USA

• Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, Leon Rippy, Kevin Dunn, Jade Yorker, David V. Thomas, Setu Taase, Mo, James Earl, Trever O'Brien, Brandon Smith, Jurnee Smollett, Michael J. Pagan, Jamal Mixon, Danny Martinez, Artie Baxter, Joe Seo, Joseph Raymond Lucero, Robert Zepeda, Omari Hardwick, Six Reasons, Omari Hughes, Adam Clark, Dan Martin, Michael Jace, Brett Cullen, Garrett M. Brown, Mary Mara, Nafeesa Monroe
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Sport
• Director(s): Phil Joanou
• Available languages:
  • English English.

In the Kilpatrick juvenile detention center, the supervisor and former football player Sean Porter sees the lack of discipline, self-esteem, union and perspective in the teenage interns and proposes to prepare a football team to play in one league. He is supported by his superiors and his successful experience changes the lives of many young kids.

  5.4

Roll Bounce

2005, USA

• Actors: Bow Wow, Chi McBride, Meagan Good, Wesley Jonathan, Marcus T. Paulk, Rick Gonzalez, Jurnee Smollett, Brandon T. Jackson, Khleo Thomas, Kellita Smith, Mike Epps, Charles Q. Murphy, Nick Cannon, Paul Wesley, Daniel Yabut, Wayne Brady, Tina Au, Tai'isha Davis, Todd Donoho, Tammy Fey, Samirah Garnett, Joseph Hansa, Busisiwe Irvin, Kelly Jenkins, Tim Kazurinsky, Mikey Kelley, Cassandra Lewis, Booker T. Mattison, Darryl McDaniels, Heather O'Brien
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
• Director(s): Malcolm D. Lee
• Available languages:
  • English English.

1970s roller-skate jams fuel this coming-of-age comedy, as X and his friends, who rule their local rink, are shocked when their home base goes out of business. Heading over to the Sweetwater Roller Rink, they find their modest talents are, at first, no competition for their trick skaters and pretty girls who follow their every move.

  5.6

Beautiful Joe

2000, USA, UK

• Actors: Sharon Stone, Billy Connolly, Gil Bellows, Jurnee Smollett, Dillon Moen, Jaimz Woolvett, Alan C. Peterson, Dann Florek, Ian Holm, Sheila Paterson, Frank C. Turner, Gina Chiarelli, Ben Johnson, Connor Widdows, Norman Armour, Barbara Tyson, Ben Derrick, Ken Pogue, Jonathan McMurtry, Dean Paul Gibson, Karen Elizabeth Austin, Shelley Adam, Michael Rawlins, Hiro Kanagawa, Kenji Shimizu, Kenji Koyama, Katrina Matthews, Ella, Carla Boudreau, Jane Sowerby
• Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
• Director(s): Stephen Metcalfe
• Available languages:
  • English English.

In the Bronx, Joe, an Irish good guy, gets bad news twice the same day: he has a brain tumor and his wife wants a divorce, saying he's dull and lacks adventure. With her father's blessing, Joe takes off for adventures in the weeks before risky surgery. In Louisville, he's latched onto by Hush, a talkative belle with two kids, big debts to a nasty bookie, and few prospects. Even after she steals his wallet, Joe offers temporary help, bonds with her kids, and faces down the bookie. Soon Hush, Joe, and the kids are on the run toward Vegas. The bookie's on their tail, so are some Bronx bad guys, cancer lurks, Hush has her gambling jones, and the kids want stability. Can this work out?

  5.4

Jack

1996, USA

• Actors: Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin, Jennifer Lopez, Bill Cosby, Fran Drescher, Adam Zolotin, Todd Bosley, Seth Smith, Mario Yedidia, Jeremy Lelliott, Jurnee Smollett, Dani Faith, Hugo Hernandez, Rickey D'Shon Collins, Michael McKean, Edward Lynch, Don Novello, Allan Rich, Keone Young, Irwin Corey, Al Nalbandian, Dwight Hicks, Allison Whitbeck, Sam Ritzenberg, Terry Ricardo Jefferson II, Studio Gutierrez, Joe Akins, Kendra Sutherland, Ashlee Lauren
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
• Director(s): Francis Ford Coppola
• Available languages:
  • English English.

The movie is about a boy with a unique aging disorder: one that makes him age 4 times faster than normal. It picks up when Jack (Robin Williams) is 10 years old, but looks 40. He tries to go to public school for the first time, and to become friends with kids his own age. His physical appearance causes him lots of problems, however.