Redemption - The Stan "Tookie" Williams Story

by 20th Century Fox

$14.98
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Average Rating: * * * * -
Sales Rank:14735 (lower is better)
Price Used:$1.56
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Director:Vondie Curtis-Hall
Release Date:2004-08-17
Label:20th Century Fox
UPC:024543131908
Binding:DVD
Published By:20th Century Fox
ASIN:B0002B14UC
Category:DVD

Actors and Actresses

Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions

Description

Jamie Foxx gives a ?career defining? performance (DAILY VARIETY) as Stan ?Tookie? Williams, founder of the notorious Crips street gang in this riveting true story. Awaiting execution on death row, Tookie is now determined to stop the violence he helped create. When he begins a crusade to steer children away from gangs by writing a series of powerful anti-gang books, he earns worldwide critical acclaim, as well as four Nobel Peace Prize nominations.
Amazon.com

In the annals of acting, 2004 will be remembered as a banner year for Jamie Foxx. Before his acclaimed turns in Collateral, alongside Tom Cruise, and Ray, the Ray Charles biopic, he produced and starred in this made-for-cable movie about former gangbanger Stan "Tookie" Williams. Directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Vondie Curtis Hall (Gridlock'd), Redemption tracks Tookie's rise as co-founder of L.A.’s notorious Crips, fall to death-row inmate, and rise again to Nobel Prize Nominee. Tookie’s reminiscences to journalist Barbara Becnel (Lynn Whitfield), while he is on death row, frame the story. Virtually unrecognizable from his days on In Living Color, a buffed-up, dreadlocked Foxx gives an effectively low-key performance, while Whitfield also shines in a less rewarding role. Redemption may not have the grandeur of Malcolm X or The Hurricane--and Tookie's transformation from man of violence to man of peace happens too quickly--but his story is just as inspirational. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Hard hitting reality drama - Reviewed on 2008-12-16
* * * * *

Excellent movie showing the hardship of people and how they can affect an entire community and country. Problems within inner city life must be addressed or more individuals will end up in gangs and prison life. There is hope for those who find "redemption" as Stan "Tookie" Williams. Very thought provoking movie! Job well done!
Didn't meet my expectations - Reviewed on 2007-09-11
* * *

2.5 stars. Nice try, but I wasn't buying Jamie as Tookie. I know the filmmakers are trying to convince the audience that Mr. Williams had paid his debt to society or that he had redeemed himself through his movement to reverse what he'd created. And I believe he did-in a way. But there must be justice for the dead. That's as far as I'm gonna go with that since the point is moot now that Mr. Williams has been executed. As for production, this film felt a little choppy as far as direction and editing. And frankly, there were times when things came across as corny or campy. Overall, I wasn't all that impressed.
Stanley - death row inmate - Reviewed on 2007-07-23
* * * *

I've watch this movie redemption about Stanley Tookie Williams, and I must say the movie isn't half interesting as his book Blue rage black redemptions, this movie dosn't tell half of what happen while incarserated and they use Jamie Foxx voice in the movie to doub his (Stanley Williams) voice from the movie to a actual interview with Amy in an CNN interview shortly before his death. I don't think that was fair regardless of what he did, he did the timing behind bars and he deserve to be heard with his natrual voice, not Jamie Foxx, please buy the book it move touching and natural.
IT WAS O.K.!!!!! - Reviewed on 2007-07-03
* * *
1 customer found this review not to be helpful.
THIS MOVIE WAS O.K. SO MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME TO GET THIS MOVIE. SO I DECIDED TO GET IT AND WATCH THIS MOVIE. I WAS EXPECTING A LITTLE BIT MORE. U KNOW SHOWIN WHEN HE WAS ON THE STREETS AND WHEN THE POLICE CAME TO HIS HOUSE TO ARREST HIM, JUST MORE OF WHAT HE WAS DOING BEFORE HE GOT PUT ON DEATHROW. BUT IT WAS GOOD HE REALLY DID CHANGE WHEN HE WAS IN PRISON. BUT ONCE AGAIN I WANTED MORE. AND I DIDNT LIKE THE WAY IT ENDED. COULD HAVE ENDED A LITTLE BIT BETTER........UR GIRL JENN*****
Fantastic docu-drama - Reviewed on 2007-01-24
* * * * *
1 customer found this review helpful, 1 did not.

This is a fantastic "docu-drama" which captures the essence of the life of Stan "Tookie" Williams, executed by the State of California on December 22, 2005. Williams co-founded the notoriously violent Crips street gang in Los Angeles before eventually being sent to death row over the murders of four people in 1979 (a charge he always denied).

The film, starring Jamie Foxx as Williams, focuses on Tookie's death row experience where he begins to take stock of his negative achievements in life. From there, Tookie embarks on an ambitious project of writing children's books aimed at steering youth clear of gangs. By banking on his street credentials as the world's toughest gangster he catches the attention of youth in a way that parents, teachers and police officers cannot and even brings Crips and Bloods together at peace rallies.

This is a well-acted drama that closely follows real-life events in its study of Tookie's transformation. The film also raises serious questions about Tookie's subsequent execution despite his valiant efforts to right his earlier wrongs, his claim to innocence and his multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. If California would execute this man despite his activism (or because of it...), then who can ever claim to have truly achieved redemption?
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