Watching "Black Listed", you might think that this was a project by a first-time, inexperienced director. But this was actually made by Robert Townsend, who has had plenty of film experience since his breakthrough feature "Hollywood Shuffle" in the '80s. You'd never guess it, because this is a real amateurish production. The fact that it was filmed in widescreen but presented fullscreen on the DVD (meaning that people's heads are cut off at the sides), may be not Townsend's fault, but everything else is. The movie is badly shot, looking very grainy and like a fourth-generation bootleg. The screenplay is bad, taking no time to set up the characters and the situation at the beginning of the movie, and being vague on details throughout. The acting by everyone is remarkably bad. And Townsend brings in no production values. There are even goofs like seeing the squib cables in a scene where someone gets shot. Again, it's hard to believe a professional like Townsend could make such a terrible movie like this. I'd really like to see a documentary about the making of this movie - it would surely be more entertaining than the movie itself.

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

Disillusioned lawyers band together to dispense their own brand of justice on the city's worst criminals.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Esai Morales, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, and Robert Townsend in Playin' for Love (2013)

Charles S. Dutton, Mario Van Peebles, and Andre Braugher in 10,000 Black Men Named George (2002)

Anne-Marie Johnson and Robert Townsend in Hollywood Shuffle (1987)

James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, Marla Gibbs, Sinbad, Luther Vandross, Eddie Griffin, Robert Guillaume, Big Daddy Kane, Robert Townsend, and Another Bad Creation in The Meteor Man (1993)

Ving Rhames, Alfre Woodard, and Jesika Reynolds in Holiday Heart (2000)

Harry Lennix in Making the Five Heartbeats (2018)

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