MOVIE PREVIEWS
TULSA
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: 09/18/2020
Production Company: Envalent Entertainment

Cast:
Scott Pryor, Livi Birch, John Schneider, B.J. Arnett, Cameron Arnett, Cedric Greenway, Kristin Brokc and Nicole Marie Johnson.

Crew:
Directors: Scott Pryor and Gloria Stella. Producers: Gloria Stella, Robert Stella and Autumn Bailey. Executive Producers: Laura Pryor and Scott Pryor. Screenwriters: Scott Pryor and Ty DeMartino. Cinematographer: Denton Adkinson.
Plot:
By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

Faith-based movies traditionally have a loyal following. Over the last few years several religious films like ?War Room,? ?Breakthrough,? ?Miracles from Heaven,? Overcomer? and ?God?s Not Dead? among others, did considerably well at the box office.

The latest Christian movie generating some buzz is ?Tulsa.? The independent film was released Aug. 21 in limited Regal Cinemas and will open in additional California Regal Theaters starting Sept. 18. ?Tulsa? is also available On Demand.

?Tulsa? is loosely based on a true story about a former marine and biker named Tommy Colston (Scott Pryor, ?Blackbear?) who is struggling with a personal tragedy. Tommy finds solace in drinking and popping pills. He?s a motorcycle and auto mechanic who runs his own repair shop. He was living comfortably before tragedy struck and he got behind on bills and other things.

Just trying to keep afloat is Tommy?s biggest concern.

It was anyway until he?s thrown for another loop by a local social worker (Nicole Marie Johnson, ?Little?). Jaylene (Johnson) tells Tommy that there?s a 9-year-old orphan girl named Tulsa (Livi Birch, ?Redeeming Love? and TV?s ?Lovecraft Country?) whose foster mother was arrested. The little girl has a picture of Tommy and her now deceased mother. Tulsa believes Tommy is her long-lost dad and wants to come live with him.

Jaylene even knows Tommy and admits her hands are tied and Tulsa has nowhere else to go. Until they get the paperwork finalized, Tulsa needs to stay with him.

Initially it seems like a horrible idea since Tommy?s apartment is not suitable for a little girl and because he doesn?t know how to take care of kids. Plus, he?s not even sure if this is really his daughter.

He doesn?t have much of a choice. So, just like that little Tulsa is on board and happy to be reunited with her ?father.? Tommy is far from thrilled. Tulsa is bossy and demands Tommy clean up the place and more importantly clean up his act. She even goes so far to dump his alcohol, pills, and cigarettes.

While Tommy tries extremely hard to keep Tulsa out of his way, her bubbly personality wears him down and eventually warms his cold and empty heart. Tulsa recites bible verses, sings?Birch?s music is featured in the film along with Christian singer/songwriter Josh Garrels.

The cute 11-year-old pulls out all the stops to get Tommy to go to church and make him realize he can kick his addictions if he?d just get out of his own way. Once Tommy comes around, he sees how much this little girl changed his life and he decides to be a true father to her for as long as he can.

In addition to starring in ?Tulsa,? Scott Pryor directed and co-wrote the film with Gloria Stella (?Blackbear?) and Ty DeMartino (?A Christmas Tree Miracle?).

?Tulsa? boasts solid performances from familiar faces like John Schneider (TV?s ?The Have And The Have Nots? and ?The Dukes of Hazzard?), Cameron Arnett (?Overcomer? and ?I Still Believe?), Cedric Greenway, (TV?s ?Black Lightning?), B.J. Arnett, (?The Challenger Disaster?). It?s a real heart warmer filled with faith, hope and love.

Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.

Look At This Trailer For "TULSA"

Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.

OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH

<b>MAHOGANY</b> Title: MAHOGANY
Year Released: 1975
Running Time: 109
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Berry Gordy, Tony Richardson and Jack Wormser
Director of Photography: David Watkin
Screenwriter: John Byrum and Toni Amber
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

REVIEW: DIANA ROSS AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS DAZZLE IN "MAHOGANY"

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open doors. What are you hoping for? Do you know? "Theme from Mahogany...
  MOVIE TRIVIA
 
The "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" was sung by Diana Ross in the 1975 movie "Mahogany." But, who initially recorded the song in 1973?
"Roberta Flack"
"Natalie Cole"
"Deniece Williams"
"Thelma Houston"