Review of Redemption (2002) by Ryan J — 30 Mar 2008

Now this was a good film, worthy of at least one Oscar nomination. Redemption is based on a true story and stars north Texasâ?? own Jamie Foxx, with Lynn Whitfield. I havenâ??t seen this one at blockbuster yet, but it should be out by now, cause the â??screenerâ?? I watched was dated 2004. Iâ??m guessing he didd this right after â??Jarheadâ??

Foxx is outstanding as Stanley â??Tookieâ?? Wilson, the founder of the infamous Crips. This dude rose up from the infamous South-Central LA streets to become the most feared gang banger of modern times. He united his west-side Crips with their East-Side counterparts. Wilson also initiated the war between the Crips and the Bloods. It was during this time that gang violence escalated from being fists and baseball bats to guns.

After being convicted on 4 counts of murder and sentenced to death row. This man is a something else. After being incarcerated for just a short period of time, he has control o f everything in San Quentin--all the money and drugs changing hands; he gets a piece of every kick-back, he owns the guards, and he even ends the gang violence inside the prison. Wilson has sort of an enlightenment and reforms himself. He stops smoking, drinking, cursing, and becomes more religious. Enter Ms. Whitfield.

She plays a journalist who decides to write about Wilsonâ??s rise to power and ultimately, his fall. After a few awkward meetings, the two begin a professional relationship. Wilson begins to preach against gang violence, through taped speeches, his message for peace is broadcasted throughout the world, starting in South-Central. His words basically put an end to the war between the Bloods and Crips, at least in LA. He also help ended gang violence across the globe. One dude sitting on Death Row. Crazy, right? Yeah, well the world took notice and Wilson was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Peace. Heavy, real heavy.

During this time Wilson decides to write his own book and Whitfield agrees to â??polishâ?? up his writing and use her agent to push the book. One book becomes a series. This series of childrenâ??s books attempts to steer young folk, mainly blacks, away from gang life.

I remember seeing these books at RIF (reading is fundamental) fairs at school--you remember? Yeah. Well one year later, these childrenâ??s books earned Wilson a nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Things were looking up. Then we learn Wilsonâ??s appeal was denied. And he was sad. And thatâ??s where the movie ended. It built up to something great and all of a sudden it was over.

Totally left it all open-ended. There was a little bit of info at the end, saying Wilson is still on Death Row and continues to write. Yeah, at the time they finished filming. Flash-forward to last year, Gov. Terminator denies a pardon and Wilson gets iced by the state. Sucks, but I kinda say it coming. I had heard about the execution, but never knew about the man behind it all until I saw this film.

It was well acted, well written, and had excellent production values. I felt it faltered on a emotional level. It was strong, but not strong enough to make you cry or even make you feel sorry for the dude. Maybe if they had waited to see how the real Wilsonâ??s appeal/pardon worked out and ended with his death, â??Redemptionâ?? might have had a greater emotional impact on me and would have been a more poignant film. â??Redemptionâ?? was one of the better â??mainstreamâ?? Hollywood dramas I saw this year and I think is worth renting.