Faith & Film

In 1940, Thurgood Marshall is a young lawyer for the NAACP who  criss-crosses the country defending innocent African-Americans from  unjust indictments in court. His latest case is in Bridgeport,  Connecticut where an African-American chauffeur is accused of rape of a  wealthy white society woman. To admit Marshall into the local Bar,  insurance lawyer Sam Friedman is picked over his objections to do  introductions in court. However, Friedman's commitment changes  drastically when the racist judge forbids Marshall to speak in court,  forcing Friedman to act as lead counsel. Now in an intolerable situation  for the pair, Marshall must guide his new compatriot through this  criminal trial even as Friedman endures not only this unfamiliar area of  law, but also the bigoted pressure he now must share. However, the case  proves more complex than either anticipates with unexpected twists and  turns even as it becomes a vital one that would define two careers as  well as the fight for justice in America. 

 On route to the stage, singer James Brown recalls a life with a  turbulent childhood where music was his only constructive release for  his passions. A chance demonstration of that in prison led to a new  friend who helped get him out and into a musical career. With his fire  and creative daring, Brown became a star who defiantly created new  possibilities in show business both on and behind the stage in face of  racism and conventional thinking. Along the way, James would also become  a peacemaker who redefined and raised the African-American community's  feeling of self-worth when it was needed most. However, those same  domineering passions would lead James Brown alienating everyone around  him as his appetites became ever more self-destructive. Only after he  hit rock bottom with a serious mistake does Brown realize what he needs  to do make his life as the Godfather of Soul truly worthwhile. 

  After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Prince T'Challa returns  home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of  Wakanda to serve as his country's new king. However, T'Challa soon finds  that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own  country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as  Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members  of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from  being dragged into a world war.  

   Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording  session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing  performer, the legendary "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey (Academy  Award® winner Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma  engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over  control of her music. As the band waits in the studio's claustrophobic  rehearsal room, ambitious trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman) - who has  an eye for Ma's girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on  the music industry - spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of  stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their  lives. Adapted from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play,  MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM celebrates the transformative power of the  blues and the artists who refuse to let society's prejudices dictate  their worth. Directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted for the screen by  Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the film is produced by Fences Oscar® nominees  Denzel Washington and Todd Black. Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael  Potts, Taylour Paige and Dusan Brown co-star alongside Grammy® winner  Branford Marsalis' score.