Cover (2007)

When someone is murdered on New Year's Eve, the prime suspect is Valerie Maas, a church-going home-maker whose life unravels when she discovers that her husband of many years has been ... See full summary »

Director:

Bill Duke

Writers:

Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (screenplay), Aliya Jackson (earlier screenplay)

Stars:

Aunjanue Ellis, Razaaq Adoti, Vivica A. Fox

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aunjanue Ellis	...	Valerie Mass
Razaaq Adoti	...	Dutch Mass (as Raz Adoti)
Vivica A. Fox	...	Zahara Milton
Leon	...	Ryan Chambers
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Detective Hicks (as Lou Gossett Jr.)
Paula Jai Parker	...	Monica Wilson
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Kevin Wilson
Richard Gant	...	Robert Mass
Mya	...	Cynda (as Mya Harrison)
Obba Babatundé	...	Attorney Miller (as Obba Babatunde)
Victoria Gabrielle Platt	...	Charlotte (as Victoria Platt Tilford)
Clifton Davis	...	D.A. Simmons
Patti LaBelle	...	Mrs. Persons
Clayton Prince	...	Greg
Tomorrow Baldwin Montgomery	...	Nicole Mass (as Tomorrow Montgomery)

Storyline

When someone is murdered on New Year's Eve, the prime suspect is Valerie Maas, a church-going home-maker whose life unravels when she discovers that her husband of many years has been leading a double life. Her strength of character and faith keep her going as the revelation of her husband's betrayal threatens to destroy all that they have known.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | homophobia | christian | african american | murder | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual situations and language, violence and some drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Invisible

Filming Locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,600,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$30,000 (USA) (22 February 2008)

Gross:

$62,217 (USA) (29 February 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Duke Media, Redmond Enterprises, Redwood Palms Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Valerie is taking portraits during the photo shoot she consistently holds the camera wrong. It is held in 'landscape' mode meaning almost all of the photos taken would have been useless.

User Reviews

well meaning but too contrived to be truly convincing

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.