Dirty Laundry (I) (2006)

A modern-day prodigal son story with a twist. It follows Patrick, a magazine writer, who seems to have the "perfect life," until one day, there is a knock at the door. On the other side stands a secret that brings him face to face with the traditional southern family he hasn't seen in over 10 years.

Director:

Maurice Jamal

Writer:

Maurice Jamal

Stars:

Rockmond Dunbar, Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rockmond Dunbar	...	Patrick / Sheldon
Loretta Devine	...	Evelyn
Jenifer Lewis	...	Aunt Lettuce
Terri J. Vaughn	...	Jackie
Maurice Jamal	...	Eugene
Sommore	...	Abby
Joey Costello	...	Ryan
Aaron Grady Shaw	...	Gabriel (as Aaron Shaw)
Rainey Matthews	...	Pudge
Bobby Jones	...	Pastor James (as Dr. Bobby Jones)
Gregory Alan Williams	...	Percy (as Greg Alan Williams)
Alec Mapa	...	Daniel
Veronica Webb	...	Susan
Erica Watson	...	Clarine
Tony Vaughn	...	Uncle Jimmy

Storyline

After ten years, Sheldon returns from New York City to Paris, Georgia. His mother Evelyn, a laundress who is stubborn, ornery, opinionated, mean-spirited, insulting, and inflexible, has sent a ten-year-old boy who says he's Sheldon's son up to see Sheldon. Sheldon comes home to straighten things out. Old arguments flare up - between mother and son and between brothers. Sheldon wants no part of fatherhood or family. Then, someone else from New York shows up at Evelyn's door, bringing a new set of challenges. Will this family ever stop airing its dirty laundry? And what of Sheldon: where is his pride? Can he, in the words of James Baldwin, go where his blood beats and live the life he has?

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Plot Keywords:

new york | secret | laundry | pride | boy | 

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 July 2006 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$15,841 (USA) (7 December 2007)

Gross:

$20,138 (USA) (14 December 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

MoJAM Entertainment, iN-Hale Entertainment, Brandino Catering

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

User Reviews

In the South, they smile at you and spit in your lemonade.

Patrick (Rockmond Dunbar) has created a whole new back-story after leaving his Southern family. Back home after being told to take a leave of absence by his boss, Sheldon (Rockmond Dunbar) finds he has a son and his family is jumping all over him for his Northern elitism.

Things get really interesting when Ryan (Joey Costello) shows up, and the family finds out why Sheldon is now Patrick. But, it is still the elitism that bothers them more than his sexual identity.

I was having computer problems and tuned into this while I tried to fix them. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed Dunbar's performance. Costello was also good, and they both managed to help out members of the family, while they united with the family.

Loretta Devine was great as his momma, Terri J. Vaughn enjoyable as his sister, and Maurice Jamal did a really good job as his brother.

It was funny, sweet, and what I really imagine as an accurate portrayal of Black Southern life.