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) |
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. Written by Anonymous
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.