Redemption (2004)
Chain Gang!
Starring: |
Jamie Foxx
|
Released In: |
2004 |
Rated: |
R |
Reviewed By: |
Adam Mast |
Grade: |
B- |
Redemption is a perfect example of how few films are truly as powerful and noble as their subject matter.
In this well intentioned true story, Jamie Foxx stars as Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the founder of famed street gang the Crips. Tookie spends his days locked behind bars at San Quentin for a crime he may or may not have committed. One thing is for certain. He did create the Crips, and he assumes full responsibility for that. He would eventually go on to educate youth and
create a series of children's books.
Professor Barbara Becnel (Lynn Whitfield) is a historian, but is compelled to write a book on gang culture when she discovers that her son is
interested in the subject himself. She hopes to enlist the help of Tookie, but before she can do that, she must earn his trust.
Vondie Curtis Hall is an actor by trade (you can see his work in movies such as Die Hard 2 and Passion Fish). He got his big start in directing with Gridlock'd, but he looked as if he would forever be remembered as the man that brought us Glitter. Thankfully, Redemption is proof that there is life after a Mariah Carey bio-pic, and while his Redemption is by no means absolution for his sins, it is worlds better than his last picture. Much of the movie does have an ABC movie of the week feel to it, and that's fine because this film was made to educate people. It isn't so much interested in violence itself as it is the impact it has on our youth.
Jamie Foxx has matured into a fine actor. Any Given Sunday was a turning point in his career, and while he continues to search for that perfect role (the early buzz suggests that he may have found it in the form of a Ray Charles bio-pic), he continues to grow. In Redemption, he's very subtle and intelligent, but gives hints of that sense of humor that made him a star on In Living Color. Lynn Whitfield is strong as a scholar trying to make a difference in the world. While all of her scenes with Foxx don't necessarily ring true, her conviction is completely apparent.
Redemption is heavy-handed in many ways, particularly when it comes to it's anti-death penalty stance, but this is a real life story, so I don't know that it's entirely fair to criticize it for that. The movie also felt a tad rushed. We don't even see Tookie's transformation unfold. We see flashbacks of his youth and current glimpses into who he is at present, but we never see that transition from thug to reformed crusader. In movies like Malcom X, we see it. Here, we're expected to take it for what it is. I would have preferred another act, so that we would have witnessed this transformation. And for those of you wondering if Tookie is actually guilty of the crimes that put him behind bars, he maintains his innocence. The movie isn't really interested in delving into that. There is, however, a book on the subject, so I suppose I'll pick it up.
Redemption's screenplay certainly could have been polished. While it's presenting important and powerful subject matter, it does so in a
pretentious, preachy fashion that should have been dialed down a notch. I do think that this is important material, but perhaps it would have been more compelling had it been done as a documentary.
In the end, everyone involved in this project had good intentions. They're clearly interested in educating our youth about the negative effects of gang culture, but sadly the movie tends to lose it's focus (I mean, really, what does Tookie winning an award have to do with anything). What's most important is Tookie's ability to educate. Like I said, a documentary would
have been more powerful. As it stands, Redemption is an okay movie when it should have been a great one.
On a side-note, if anyone is interested in this subject matter, log on to www.tookie.com.
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