Cover

One of the year's funniest thrillers

By Geoff Berkshire

Metromix
February 21, 2008

Critic's Rating:
2 1/2

Cover
"Cover"
Cover
Running time:
98 minutes
Rated:
PG-13
Cast:
Aunjanue Ellis -
Vivica A. Fox -
Louis Gossett Jr. -
Raz Adoti -
Paula Jai Parker -
See full cast
Director:
Bill Duke
Genre:
Drama, Mystery
Overall User Rating:
0 (0 ratings)
Write a review
Deeply religious wife and mother Valerie (Aunjanue Ellis) narrates the story of her unfaithful husband (Raz Adoti) “Usual Suspects”-style to a detective (Louis Gossett Jr.) following her arrest for murder.

Big questions: Is it possible to really discuss this thriller without ruining its biggest twists? And would anyone really care to see it if they knew what it was about?

Skip it: Everything in “Cover” builds to a major third act revelation that will shock some viewers, but not anyone paying close attention. The puzzling decision to shroud the film’s hot topic in secrecy shortchanges much of the potential drama and prevents the very capable Ellis from fully realizing her character’s emotional journey.

Catch it: If you love to see singers who “act,” RnB stars Patti LaBelle and Mya both have superfluous supporting roles here. And co-star Leon (“Cool Runnings”) also does double duty as a recording artist.

Bottom line: Poorly made on a severely low budget, “Cover” takes justifiable anger over marital betrayal and turns it into laughably overwrought melodrama—it’s entertaining in a way the filmmakers probably weren’t intending. The provocative concept and cast of semi-familiar faces will earn more attention on home video shelves and cable television than in theaters.

Bonus: Director Bill Duke might be best known for his acting work in films like “Predator” and “American Gigolo.” He also directed a better film with “Cover” in the title—1992’s corrupt cop drama “Deep Cover” with Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum.

SHOWTIME LISTINGS

Movie theaters and showtimes for Cover in Orlando.

Narrow search by zipcode:

No Results for Cover

Movie reviews

Movie reviews

You're slow, cheap, whatever. Regardless, you missed these recent film reviews the first time around and now you want to know what's up.

Recent User Playlists

Btn_mknewpl_sm