24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, Disturbing, Thought Provoking, March 3, 2004
I have to give this film 4 stars because the ending was too similar to films of the past, ala "Thelma & Louis," "Set It Off,' meaning the bad guys don't really win. The women are in jail because they are hardended criminals, yet the film is set up for us to feel compassion for these women. They are mothers, they have feelings and the are horribly abused by the prison captain.
The stand out roles in this film are not the obvious. Lisa Raye is a very beautiful woman who I support, but her acting is pretty much the same in every film, she pouts, she tries to look tough, i.e., she could have been Diamond from "Players Club."
Da Brat did some pretty good acting as the films narrator Sabrina. Lark Voorhies shined as little mama and N'Bushe Wright proved that she deserves more film roles. Monica Calhoun is in this film, Tichina Arnold and several other leading African-American women including MC Lyte who acted really well in her role. Not to mention Mos Def as a college going prison guard.
This film is well written in most parts, there were a few scenes that had me wondering, like why the women were doing sit ups in the hole, but other than that it was a good film.
I thought it would be like those cheesy prison movies in the 70's, but it is very thought provoking. It makes the viewer think about prison as a business and how when abuse takes place behind prison walls it is often hard to get word to the outside.
This film made me depressed at times because the women just faced so much tragedy. This movie is definitly worth watching, it just can be a downer.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bad Meaning Good, June 1, 2004
Civil Brand was a very good movie. When my fiance' picked it out, I was just like whatever, but I watched it anyway and was presently surprised.
It had an unexpected ending and the cast was great, Da Brat, Mos Def, LisaRaye, Nubush Wright, Lark Vorhees and many more. The acting was superb and very real. I was shocked at how they portrayed a female penitentiary.
This movie is worth watching.
Later!!!!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
deep, May 13, 2007
I LOVE THIS MOVEI I SAW IT ON BET AND HAD TO PURCHASE IT. IT IS SO AMAZING WHAT WOMEN GO THRU IN PRISON AND IM SAD TO SEE IT DIDNT GET A LOT OF RECOGNITION
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