Chapter & Verse

Chapter & Verse revolves around ex-con Lance Ingram (co-writer Daniel Beaty), who lives in a Harlem halfway house. Looking for work for weeks, Lance is in no position to decline when his parole officer arranges an interview with a soup kitchen, even though he would rather work with computers. Soon, Lance is making deliveries to needy New Yorkers, most of whom are grateful—except for Ms. Maddy (Loretta Devine), who explodes when he delivers the wrong meal. Once he fixes the error, however, the pair become fast friends and Lance even constructs a computer for Maddy out of spare parts. While they enjoy a comfortable rapport, Lance is wary of Maddy's grandson, Ty (Khadim Diop), who has the makings of a hoodlum. When Lance witnesses Ty fleeing a robbery, he lets him know that he's watching him, but declines to tell his grandmother. While getting back into the swing of the straight life, Lance also has a not-entirely-convincing fling with his boss and he reconnects with Jomo (Omari Hardwick), a reformed criminal who manages a barbershop and brings Lance computer repair work for a cut of the profits. By film's end, Lance has lost someone and saved another, and while it's unfortunate that violence is used to solve a problem, co-writer/director Jamal Joseph's story doesn't provide any viable alternatives. Beaty isn't the most expressive actor, but Devine and Hardwick punch up the scenes when they play opposite him. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)