"Cover" directed by Bill Duke is a poignant film that highlights the cause and effects of infidelity, betrayal and deception. Aunjanue Ellis does very well as the religious devoted mother and housewife who soon becomes distraught after discovering her husband's double life. Not to mention, the radiant and beautiful Vivica A. Fox as the supportive, best friend. The directing is more than suitable for the film as Bill Duke keeps the viewer guessing with his intelligent and crafty use of mystery and suspense. In addition, the film has a clever storyline that's strong enough to keep one glued to their seat. Most importantly, the storyline is well thought out ,unpredictable and original. "Cover also includes performances by Leon as the seductive and charismatic Ryan Chambers, Roger Guenveur Smith("Do The Right Thing"), Paula Jai Parker("Friday"), Louis Gossett Jr, and Clifton Davis from the 1970s TV sitcom "That's My Mama". I highly recommend this film. 8/10.

Cover is a little known treat that is surprisingly suspenseful and enlightening. It tackles the highly pervasive yet equally controversial materials like homosexuality and "down-low" in the Black American community. Few movies have dared venture there and make a case for acceptance amongst Christians.When her husband gets promoted, Valerie Mass's life begins to fall apart. Aunjanue Ellis plays Valerie Mass, an unassuming "God-fearing" church woman, who relocates to a new city with her husband. Razaaq Adoti is Dutch, Valerie's husband. Dutch's social life goes on the fast lane. He soon befriends Ryan Chambers (Leon from the movie Capers), a known womanizer, and starts acting more aloof. Neglected by her husband, Valerie turns to a church prayer group where she meets a sickly woman. The truth she will uncover is worse than anything she could have imagined. When Ryan turns up dead on New Year's Eve, she becomes the most likely suspect.Aside for Vivica Fox and Leon, the cast is low on the mainstream acting radar. Nevertheless, it delivers decent performances. Black American movies are not without the religious idiosyncrasies but none of that detract from the serious subject matter or a solid plot.Producers Bill Duke and Kenneth Dixon teamed up to create a complex tale of faith and redemption. The plot is quite simple but, somehow, they manage to keep a tight leash on it, keeping you guessing until the very end.Leon delivers sex and edge without fail. Few actors in Hollywood command the screen the way this man can. Leon brings charisma and magneticism in every role he plays. Vivica Fox plays her "trademark hood" affectation, which I find annoying. Her role, essentially, brings nothing to this movie. This is a movie with a lot of twists. So, don't expect action.This is a new recipe for Black films and I look forward to seeing more like it. I definitely recommending renting the DVD and watching it on a girls' night-in.

This film sheds light on things that even I as a gay man could not clearly see before. Sure you hear about it all but actually seeing it is another thing altogether. Whoever did the editing and/ or whoever approved of the film's editing needs to be seated in a dark room and made to watch this film repeatedly. It is rushed to say the least. Three things were lost on me competently until I began reading the comments here. Two are still a mystery. Someone here also commented on the make-up and I would have to agree. Halloween is the only day of the year that this film's make-up artist should be allowed access to a brush. The murder sub-plot was somewhat clever and might have worked better if played a little differently. I personally could have done without the whole Christian woman bit. And before I go off on a tangent about the storyline, I need to first remind myself that heterosexual men cheat on their mistresses every day. It's not enough that they have one on the side; they need two, three or perhaps more. Because this guy just so happens to sleep with men really should not add any weight but he goes for the non-acceptance card. So why 10 stars? That "scene" in the restaurant paired with the video confession scenes are worth 10 stars, I know that there are cruel, heartless, mentally unstable people out there but I think, not me. Why not me? And if everybody is clueless as to who is zooming who then it may not be the person that I am currently with but someone that they had been with days, weeks, months or years prior. Sure, the red and black posters hanging in the STD clinic reminds us of this. Sure, the counselors will reinforce what we read on these posters. There's just something about seeing it all go down that just hits home. And yes I know it is just a movie. I also know that in the 90 minutes it took to watch this movie, that kind of evil had to have happened at least 3x… in NYC alone.Before some white person gets on a soapbox here, I want to add that this is going on with white gay men as well. Unfortunately, I have been there. Try being naked in a white man's conjugal bed with wife out of town and him bidding her goodnight over the telephone. And this was nearly ten years ago… long before DL was glam. No one can be trusted!

Church going house wife is arrested and charged with murder. Things become complicated as her neat little life begins to unravel and when its clear the Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the case doesn't care if she's guilty since he's looking to win the up coming election. Weakest film directed by actor turned director Bill Duke. Feeling more like a Tyler Perry wannabe thriller then the realistic and often gritty films that Duke usually turns out, this film seems more intent on being about something other than the mystery at hand. The film has a weak script which has too many "dark secrets" that the good cast can't really turn into anything truly worth watching. It just misses...and whats worse you can see it going whizzing by...