Gradation

Lynne Newton Stars as 'Faustina Jaxx' , a Black Wanna-be-Rapper from Los Angeles with one-foot on Wall Street & Her Heart Torn Between Her Homies & 'Lucrative Street' , a Hugely Successful Wall Street Mogul , Portrayed by Mike Breyer . As Preposterous as this may seem , these two Fabulous Actors work together like an Old Vaudeville Team , with Perfect Timing & Precision Preciseness . They Practically Finish Each Others Sentences . Faustina's Homies are Lovely Blaise Brooks as the Level-Headed Psychic 'ImUnique Jenkins' & Super-Shapely Erica McLean as the Stripper & possible Coke-Dealer 'Ione Stone' . Ms. Jaxx's Recording Management Crew is more than ably manned by DH Lewis as 'Jayden Storm' , Jacqueline Murphy as 'Scarlett Powers' , & David Terrell as 'Trombonz' . Faustina's Back-up Singers are lead by that Amazingly Talented Red-Haired Beauty Adra Janean Fenstermaker as the Coke-Snortin' , Street-Tough , Money-Hungry but Angel-Voiced 'Ventique' ! Next there's Jorge Preciado as 'Curious Judas' , Jenny Koh as that Malaysian Rapper 'Sisash' , & those two Persian Sistas , Maggie Parto as 'Udyssey' & Shari Vasseghi as 'Prekascious' . Now I'm not at all into Rap Music ; But I LOVE "Pay Day Loan" , Performed by this Totally Talented Crew ! The Wall Street Crew Consists of Paul Hamel as 'Affluent Street' , the Top-Dawg & Father of Lucrative , & Wonnie Short as 'Wonnie' . Now , Who would Name their Kid Wonnie ? Dwight Turner gives a Remarkable Performance as 'Alexander Sly' , who is Impossible to Describe in a Short Review , so You better Watch for YourSelf . There's even an Embittered Gangster here , named 'Sammy Crate' Played Viciously by Craig Zucchero ; But No Nudity or Sex except possibly a Breast-Feeding Piñata ! Now Don't Delay ! Don't Miss "PAY DAY ! Just Watch that Hit "GRADATION" !

When I saw the title Gradation, I immediately thought of coloration from light to dark. I looked the word up in the dictionary and discovered that it means "a scale or a series of successive changes, stages, or degrees." That's what happens in the film.

Faustina changes from a life in the hood to a double career in entertainment and Wall Street. Lucrative changes from a selfish businessman to a caring partner. The film takes the audience through the stages and degrees of their commitments to their careers and relationship. Gradation is a story about an interracial couple. Faustina Jaxx is a strong, street smart, and ambitious African American woman. Lucrative Street is a Wall Street businessman whose journey takes him from greedy to a giving heart, from insensitivity to tenderness.

It's has serious moments as well as the humorous ones. For a low budget film, the sets and costumes are stunning, and the characters are believable. One of my favorite scenes is Faustina's hilarious rap video. I chuckled at the dream and the rap cast get together scenes, too. Gradation is a love story that mixes two worlds and makes them gel. If you want a dramatic comedy that drums to its own beat, then this is a film you will enjoy.

If you want a fun, light, colorful, off the beaten path dramedy to watch this is the film for you! Gradation is bold and delivers the goods!

This movie builds as it goes along just like the characters do and especially the dynamic between Lucrative and Faustina. The supporting cast should not be missed either. There are definitely some surprises sprinkled in as well and the ending will leave you wanting a sequel. Gradation is surely not just black and white, but the colors in between.