Blue Hill Avenue (2001)

Synopsis: Blue Hill Avenue is inspired by the true story of four neighborhood friends; a story of redemption of Shakespearean proportions. Tristan’s (Allen Payne) Uncle Rob (Richard Lawson) has benefited... Blue Hill Avenue is inspired by the true story of four neighborhood friends; a story of redemption of Shakespearean proportions. Tristan’s (Allen Payne) Uncle Rob (Richard Lawson) has benefited quite nicely from Tristan’s illegal practices. In the early years of his “membership,” it was teenage Tristan who carried the business financially until it prospered. Now Uncle Rob tells him, “crime is killing this neighborhood ... and you’re the biggest influence in the South End ... it’s time to give it up, Tristan.” Nicole (Latamra Smith) is Tristan’s wife; they were junior high sweethearts and have stuck together through the good times and the bad times. But now an event has occurred that has caused Nicole to re-think hers and Tristan’s values: she’s pregnant. “I want you to quit, Tristan,” she pleads. But things are heating up in Tristan’s business, which he runs with his childhood friends E-Bone (William Johnson), Simon (Michael “Bear” Taliferro) and Money (Aaron D. Spears). Benny “Batman” Bateman (Clarence Williams III), who is the reigning kingpin of South End and Tristan’s supplier, wants Tristan’s crew out of the way. They are just getting too big. It’s a crucial time in the history of their friendship. How can Tristan leave his friends when they need him the most? Two plainclothes detectives turn up the heat even further. Tyler (Andrew Divoff) and Torrance (William Forsythe) have tape-recorded a conversation between Tristan and his friends that all but incriminates them. The question is, how did the cops get the tape? The cops let each of the four friends know that one of them is informing on the others. For the first time there is doubt among the foursome, and an awkward and potentially deadly tension builds between them. Tristan’s life has suddenly turned into a ticking time bomb. Wrong or right, the choices they make will haunt them forever...and the world may be the better for it. Blue Hill Avenue is written, directed and edited by Craig Ross, Jr. and produced by Brian “Killa B” Hinds, Mike Erwin and J. Max Kirishima. Holdom International, Jim Hogan, James McDermont and Robert Brown are associate producers, Ronn Roberts is a co-producer and the film is executive produced by Rand Chortkoff and Craig Ross, Jr. Blue Hill Avenue made its world premiere at the 2001 Acapulco Black Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for the Best American Film. It went on to win the Best Director Award at the 2001 Urbanworld Film Festival, the Audience Award for Best Film at the 2001 Roxbury Film Festival, and the Best Film and Best Director Awards at the 2001 Jamerican Film Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica. [More]

Starring: Allen Payne, Andrew Divoff, Clarence Williams

Starring: Allen Payne, Andrew Divoff, Clarence Williams

Director: Craig Ross

Director: Craig Ross
Studio: Artisan Entertainment

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