Motives (Video 2004)

Motive is an edgy thriller that centers around Emery Simms, a highly educated and successful business tycoon who happens to be married to the quintessential wife Constance. Things go ... See full summary »

Director:

Craig Ross Jr.

Writer:

Kelsey Scott

Stars:

Vivica A. Fox, Shemar Moore, Golden Brooks

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vivica A. Fox	...	Constance Simms
Shemar Moore	...	Emery Simms
Golden Brooks	...	Allannah James
Sean Blakemore	...	Brandon
Joe Torry	...	Derrick Woods
Victoria Rowell	...	Detective Pierce
Mel Jackson	...	Detective Morgan
William L. Johnson	...	RAy
Caryn Ward	...	Gwendolyn
Keshia Knight Pulliam	...	Letrice
Brian Hite	...	Kenneth Stroud
David Collier	...	Reyes
Candice Carbo	...	Anna
Antwan Mills	...	Stan
Mike Pniewski	...	Simon (as Mike Piniewski)

Storyline

Motive is an edgy thriller that centers around Emery Simms, a highly educated and successful business tycoon who happens to be married to the quintessential wife Constance. Things go dangerously awry when the thrill seeking Emery engages in an adulterous fling with the wildly free-spirited and exotic Allanah. Timing couldn't be any worse when the politics of high society, shady business deals, bad press, and a violent murder collide, they threaten to destroy more than just his shaky marriage. As police probe into his situation, they uncover a labyrinth of deception, agendas and motives, where the stakes are enormous and nothing is what it seems.

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Plot Keywords:

shower | sex in a convertible | helium balloon | watching friend have sex | throat cut | 

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Taglines:

There is only loyalty or betrayal. Nothing in between.

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Genres:

Thriller | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, language and some violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Motive

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Motive Productions, Rainforest Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Emery goes home after being punched, and while speaking to his wife, the blood on his chin changes from shot to shot.

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Connections

Followed by Motives 2 (2007)

User Reviews

Pride comes before a fall

The plot: An arrogant businessman tries to hold on to his charmed life, after an ill-advised affair threatens to bring down everything.

Motives is a low budget, direct-to-video erotic thriller. Erotic thrillers often end up being half gritty noir and half soft-core porn, and Motives wasn't any different. The noir element was fairly straightforward, if a bit derivative, with a pretty decent twist at the end. However, the sex scenes were so unconvincing and amateurish that I almost laughed. I've seen better sex scenes in made-for-cable movies, back in the 1980s, when there was nothing else to watch after midnight.

Motives has an all Black cast, which could be either viewed as a gimmick or an attempt to break out of the stereotypical "Black" movie. I think it's a bit of both, really. It's also got a soundtrack chock full of R&B ballads, which really didn't do anything for me. I prefer heavy metal or classical music. Given the movie's demographics, however, this is probably a better choice than Iron Maiden or Judas Priest.

Though it sometimes degenerates into soap opera melodrama, it always comes back to thriller territory eventually. If you're looking for an original, slick, and sexy thriller, Motives might not be the best choice. If you just want something to pass the time, it'll do.