Motives (2004)

Just perfect...

For having a relatively low budget, the film's style and overall art direction are immensely impressive.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

One of the outcomes of the struggle Black actors in Hollywood obviously face (judging from their relative absence on the screen) is that one can afford to have an entire cast of actors who can actually act. Much that comes out of the mainstream film industry is that a star or two leads of relatively unseasoned, mediocre cast of pretty faces. Films such as this, with a notably soap-operaish plot, brighten the screen and captivate out interests because of the talent of so many talented actors on one screen, in one film. It's was an experience to see seasoned actors play off one another, feeding viewers desire to see what would happen next. And Vivica Fox is just fierce. Shemar Moore and most of the others are fine, too!

Wait! Let me catch my breath! Honey Chile! Here I am in 2006 just finding out about this movie? This movie was not nominated for a Golden Globe? Oscar? NO ONE from this movie was nominated? Well now I am really angered by that! I am of the firm persuasion that this movie should have been acknowledged in some way. I see so many good films that are not nominated that I don't even watch the Oscars any more. Well as I say "let me tell you what I saw while you were sleeping." My goodness! The breathtaking acting, the smoother than smooth love scenes (never seen the way the editor fixed this movie scene) -- it was sooo soo juicy to say the least. I do not know the actor who was the mistress but I say this -- wooo weee can she act sensuously -- her and her girlfriend and how they just ravished this man so much sexually -- they had a mat truck up that man's nose. Just the like the president C -- he did it because he could and when he did -- the consequences had devastating effects -- it brought his lovely world down -- one thing that did anger me to no end - he could have given more than 5% to his wife's charities! The wonderful city of Atlanta was the backdrop for this movie and the city was shown in all of it's loveliness. The restaurant scenes were good as well - all the opulence of high society were displayed in this movie. I would have liked to have known a bit more background into the characters as it would have given a bit of light to Mr. Moore's personality in the film. A jovial, happy-go-lucky guy with dark corners all around. The entire town of Atlanta was in the palm of his hands. Yeah right. Dirty hands that is - who would have thought he was so dirty. His wife knew about it and asked him to quit whatever it was he was doing. He did not do it for he was the boss of it all. He thought he had it all. Yes, but he did not appreciate it. In a movie this intense I hardly had time to eat my popcorn as I was ever on the edge of my seat.I enjoyed great acting by the all Black cast. Additionally, the actors showed they could grok their parts. You know, I really enjoy good deep acting (Like in Crash and Hotel Rwanda). Speaking of acting - I knew Vivica Fox could act - I never knew Shamar Moore could act as well. Well forgive me! I - let's face it - I never have seen him in a movie - just young and the restless! So give me a break -- I am a bit late -- I been working and have just retired -- when ya work sometimes ya don't see all the movies -- know what I mean? Again I digress - so sorry. Vivica - what can I say? She was outstanding and held the movie up along with Moore. I wish they could pair again - the entire cast would do well to perform in a Motives II -- I could do with a sequel. After you see this - you will also. I want to know what happened next? Will we ever know? I tell you everything in this movie was so - so clean and tight and moved so flawless. The rhythm of the movie was so magical and believable. I loved the way they showed the human side of black people. I saw how black people really are - not animated - no black faced acting here. Real raw energy acting and it puts to rest that Black people can;'t act. This movie taught me how to revision an old theme of betrayal and it kept me in suspense and anger and, as I mentioned earlier - on the edge of my seat! The movie evoked lots of emotions as I cried for the main character as never I have (but then again - I am always crying about something!). Emotionally, it was a roller coaster of emotions -- sooooo delicious one moment then suspense the next and then sooo sad -- cause where he ended up -- he will have lots of time -- time think. I don't know if the movie was real or not - based on someone's life I mean. If so -- that man needs to be released today. The body of circumstances that surrounded the story was crucial to the story such that the sex scenes had to be intense in order to understand what drove the man to do what he did. He was getting truly laid in a very unorthodox way. Kudos to the director who kept the vision true and crisp. On another level -- this movie was about ego and not taking care of self. How the character did not value his friends, wife, nor his life - his lovely life. Yeah right. A life of smoke and mirror held together by tattered threads of jealousy, envy, greed and lust -- honey too much lust is not good for the loins. The one thing missing from this movie was comedy -- there was not a comedic scene in the show and it was not needed for this character was a on a speedboat to a crash. Remember, once when a person thinks he or she is invincible -- life comes and puts some obstacles in the way to test us all - and then the everlasting fall. This character fell and hit rock bottom. From heaven to hell is quite a fall - a deep fall of motives, betrayals, and the everlasting question: just who do you trust? In this movie, it certainly was not Spirit.

i enjoyed the film motives. it lulled a bit in the middle but picked up towards the end when shamar moore's character got deep in it. boy, was it hard to see such a good-looking man in prison garb. i must say i almost lost it.but on to the matter at hand. WHERE, OH, WHERE IS THE SOUNDTRACK? i own the film and NEED to own the soundtrack. WHERE IS IT? the music is so good.it's 2004. this film just came out. grant it, it could have been on the big screen. why wasn't it? nevertheless, a soundtrack SHOULD be created for its fans like me. we own the film and would like the wonderful music to accompany it. someone please email me and let me know WHEN the soundtrack will come out. SOMEONE HELP ME, PLEASE. THE SOUNDTRACK THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IS BANGIN'!!! if it doesn't exist, then create it!tanya

MOTIVES is mysterious, suspenseful, exciting and very sexy!!! No one is who or what they appear to be on the outside and the one character that is exactly what he appears to be...the very attractive, very wealthy, very confident, very self-absorbed, very greedy, main character Emery Simms played by Shemar Moore, carries you through his world of mindless acts of greed,excess and violence performed without the slightest care as to who will be affected by his actions, knowing fully well that money will always ensure his flaws never come to the light and that he will never have to face the consequences of his actions. However, his loving wife Constance, played by Vivica A. Fox, is made to smile and bare it as her efforts to help community children is hampered by the long shadow that Emery's unsavory business dealings casts. Not to mention the shame of finding out about his extra-marital exploits with the alluring Allanah, who brings a whole new dynamic to the idea of a love "triangle".But everything comes to a head when all of the areas of Emery's life start to come apart one by one as all of his skeleton's are exposed and he stands the chance of losing his wife, his fortune and his freedom.But how much of this mayhem is of his own doing? Check it out for yourself and see if you can figure out who is friend and who is foe. If you like: Wild Things (Neve Campbell & Matt Dillon), Pandora's Box ( Michael Jai White & Monica Calhoun), Disclosure (Michael Douglas & Demi Moore)then you will love this film. Just make sure that you put the kiddies to bed...this one is definitely for the grown ups.