Customer Reviews

Woman Thou Art Loosed [VHS]

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED is an amazingly successful film. Based on and book and subsequent play by the Dallas Bishop T.D. Jakes (who portrays himself in this film demonstrating quality acting skills), WOMAN is based on a composite of women for whom Jakes has provided counseling in his ministry. He is committed to the abused women not only of his congregation but now to all abuse women.

Michelle (Kimberly Elise is a staggeringly perfect performance) is introduced to us on Death Row with the Bishop TD Jakes making a visit to minister to her. Through a finely wrought series of flashbacks and onscreen commentary by many of the characters in the story we learn that Michelle was raped by Reggie (Clifton Powell), one of her mother Cassey's (Loretta Divine, another praiseworthy performance) boyfriends, transient and live-in, whom Michelle is required to address as 'Uncle'. When Michelle tries to tell her mother of the rape, Cassey refuses to believe her, fearing that if she confronts Reggie that he will leave her - a woman at whose age and 'family' status makes keeping a man difficult.

Michelle escapes her home and takes to the streets with her friend Nicole (Idalis DeLeon) and soon finds herself at eh mercy of a drug dealer Pervis (Sean Blakeman) who requires her to be a stripper and prostitute. She is eventually imprisoned for various reasons and it is with all of this in the past that the movie opens.

Once TD Jakes arranges for Michelle to be out of prison she reconnects with Cassey who is still living with the worthless Reggie, and refuses to take Michelle under her roof. Michelle finds comfort with Twana (Debbie Morgan) who helps her improve her appearance, sets her up with a fine childhood friend Todd (Michael Boatman) and Michelle attends TD Jakes revivals with the hope of making something different with her life. But she is shadowed by her past with Pervis and her loathing for Reggie and ultimately shoots Reggie during one of Jakes' revival meetings. For this she is arrested, imprisoned, and sentenced to Death Row. It is here in her cell that the story begins and ends, but it is the impact of TD Jakes on her spiritual life that makes for a very touching ending that would be unfair to reveal.

This is first rate movie making and Director Michael Schultz has done a splendid job creating the atmosphere of the African American massive revivals, the agony of abused children and women, and the sensitivity of the clergy to those without hope. This film does not preach: this film speaks softly, as in a prayer. The actors are sensationally fine and the emotional ride is well worth your investment of time. Grady Harp, March 2005

Cassey Jordan (Loretta Devine)is a single mother that doubts that good men really exist. Especially who want to be saddled in a relationship with baggage. As luck would have it, there is a guy Reggie. Thanks to good old "Uncle" Reggie, Cassey now feels LOVE! Sure he has his faults! But guess what? He wants Cassey, and she's thanking GOD for him!

In flashbacks we go into the story of Michelle Jordan (Kimberly Elise), Cassey's daughter, who has just been released from jail.

In a desperate search for solace. The very cynical, Michelle still longs for the understanding from her "extremely simple" mother. Thankfully, she does have the support of Twana (Debbie Morgan) along, with her friend Nicole, who has issues of her own.

Michelle is attending revival, keeping herself free of those street elements. She has even captured the eye of her childhood friend Todd (Michael Boatman) who speaks of their "innocence".

Isn't it just like the darkness to cover you when you're trying so hard to be the best that you can be? No matter how you try to forget, the loathing encases your mind, heart, and your spirit. So much so that all you can feel is the overwhelming pain, that is steadily G R O W I N G!
C O N T R O L L I N G,
G U I D I N G,
W I L L I N G Y O U!

Can these little girls who've suffered so deeply live amidst that destructive path?

Unfortunately due to silence, fear, and shame generations of women are molested! It is not an easy topic to discuss. Since no one talks about what happened, the PROBLEM then becomes "looked over" which helps it fester into a full blown epidemic! Countless women in abusive, destructive, lives and relationships all stemmed from being closed off with this horrible secret.

SOMEDAY THINGS WILL GET BRIGHTER!

I was scared that I wouldn't be able to handle the frankness of what this heartrending film version of the bestselling book by T.D. Jakes represented. My heart is so full and I'm grateful that I was able to cross that fear out. Woman Thou Art Loose is not a preachy "brothers/sisters you better get yourself together!" type of movie. It COMMANDS all of your attention as well as your compassion for the abused women of this world.

PEOPLE I BEG YOU, DON'T LET THIS MOVIE BE YOUR ONLY CRUSADE!

The depiction of child sexual abuse in the movie is a powerful and truthful account of the devastating effects child abuse has on a person. I plan to show it to my students in social studies lesson as we are studying the issue violence against women. The movie I hope will give a face and a voice to one of humans' sufferings that cuts across ethnicity, religion, nationality etc.

This movie got inside my soul and spirit. I cannot explain, it stayed with me for days and even my husband. It is one of those movies that when you finish watching it you don't have to say anything, because you are on the same page with the person who watched it with you. This movie is about a woman on deathrow who requests the presence of a preacher (TD Jakes) and from there she reveals her story. A story of pain, anger, suffering, and freedom. This movie tells one woman's story but it is a story about many many women today. It needs to be told. And I am not going to reveal the storyline because I don't like telling a story. Just know you will be shaken, crying, angry, and pensive through this story.

One thing I will say is that you get glimpse of reality so close to home. Even if you're not a survivor- you will walk away feeling that there is something you need to let go. I recommend watching this movie with someone if you are a survivor of abuse because you WILL be triggered. It may call for a counseling session or prayer or the need to hold someone. Because it will speak to your heart and soul. Please see this movie.

This movie should ESPECIALLY be seen by men. Married men, single men, gay men...just men period. They need to know and then you need to share with your love one or partner.

The acting was superub and powerful even now I can feel the movie and it has been 3 days since I've seen it. I hope you find peace and healing!

I really enjoyed this film. I was so impressed with Kimberlys' acting (as always!!) but I really feel like she brought this character to life. The story was sadly so realistic. I think this movie has been a long time coming, meaning it speaks on subject matter that the african america community is sometimes very hesitant to address. The effects of such circumstances can really place the indivual on a firey path of self-distance and set them up for failure. Self-distance may not be present in the dictionary but it is very present in the hearts, minds, and souls of anyone who experiences this films trials in their own life. Once you become accustom to distancing your self from your 'self' meaning hiding your pain, your fears, your emotions, pretending to be ok when you're hurting inside... you create this distance inside of yourself that becomes miles and miles wide within the body. You build up this wall of protection that is so very difficult to break down. And God forbid the time comes to break it down and you've had it up for so long, that you just can't... and then u miss out, u end up doing the same thing to yourself that your abusers did... Anyway, I digress, but the point is.. This film is very touching, very emotional, and sadly, again, so very realistic. 5 Stars just isn't enough.

This movie was disappointing in many ways. I wish I could give it 5 stars but then I would not be honest.

The acting was superb. Kimberly Elise is awesome as always. She is one of the best talents in Hollywood.

Clifton Powell played a villian who was terrifying.

And Loretta Devine, made me believe and even feel sorry for the mother as wrong as I thought she was.

However I feel this movie focused too much on Bishop Jakes and his ministry. There were too many scenes of him preaching and his choir singing.

Especially considering none of it had a positive affect on the outcome of the story.

Here is a prime example of a person which does not take care of their responsibilities which destroys a childs life. One thing we as people don't understand is that once a child is involved, it is not about us anymore because a child will demand so much of your time so it is not wise to bring a person into the situation which puts a burden on you. Then you should never believe anyone else over your child but you must get the facts from everyone involved. This movie really shows what happens when it is all about me instead of my responsibilities. Many people need to see this movie and get the big picture so they don't make the same mistake which was made here. This situation could have been avoided if the mother would have made better choices where her child was involved. Even though the child didn't ask to come here we as parents still have a responsibility to our children to love them, nurture them, mold them and prepare them for life in general. This is also another example of a child lost and its not the childs fault.

I get really irritated at people who call themselves Christian and think that the whole world is raised watching Mr. Rogers and going to Sunday school in their pretty little dresses and suits. I am a disciple of Y'shua and have been reborn, but I also know that the world isn't a 'happy place'. The Church is not going to truly make a difference until she gets her head out of the sand and faces these realities. I applaud Bishop Jakes for keepin' it real and having the courage to address the issue of sexual abuse. I had to confront the issue with my wife's family because my wife was abused by her brother for 9 years. This is a very real problem that needs to be addressed without any sort of buffering to those who are not victims. As in the movie where the main character's mother does not believe her, my wife's family sided with her brother and looked at me with contempt as if I'd done something wrong. There's never anything wrong with standing up for the Truth.

I really enjoyed this film and it had moved me a lot. T.D. Jakes had put together a great cast to bring such a moving and powerful story. Kimberly Elise did a superb job as abuse victim Michelle Jordan whose life went spiraling down a black hole after her "innocence was stolen," and also dealing with trust issues from her standpoint as well as others. Loretta Divine, as the mother, done a great job showing us her emotional struggles between her daughter and her boyfriend. Debbie Morgan showed us how humorous, comforting, and a good adviser she is to her family friends and of course Clifton Powell couldn't be anymore convincing as the snake-in-the grass boyfriend.

There are so many lessons taught in this movie as well as learned. The movie not only captured several issues, including sexual abuse, verbal abuse, abandonment, low self-esteem etc. It also demonstrated the negative effects of covering up the issues through lies, misplaced aggression and denial. I liked the way the movie displayed the effect that the revival incident had on each character that was involved. I was also touched by the positive and encouraging words offered by the minister who ultimately had an effect on the main character.

Viewers who decide to see or buy this movie must understand that it does not milk-toast the church or sugar coat those who are True Believers, but shows us for what we truly are; real sinners saved continually by real Amazing GRACE. For those who think you have to be Lilly white to be accepted by God, I highly recommend this movie as a big dose of reality. But for those who just see the church as full of hypocrites, you'll come away with an appreciation for how much God loves us imperfect beings and why the Church is full of us!

Being a white man, I'm ashamed that this movie has gone virtually ignored in my predominately white church. This is the most realistic, yet most hopeful, modern Christian movie I've seen to date.

The story starts with a shooting at the altar of a large church. From there, it follows the deeply troubled past of Michelle, a beautiful young black woman bound by the sins of the past--sins committed by her and against her. As the tale unfolds, it is impossible to remain emotionally uninvolved. Her story is representative of many women. It's one that needs to be heard.

From a moviemaking standpoint, "Woman Thou Art Loosed" succeeds on a number of levels. The acting is superb. The dialogue is poignant and humorous and gritty, while remaining generally unoffensive for a church-going audience. The occasional documentary style inserts, in which certain characters provide monologues, seemed distracting at first; yet as it went on, these monologues gave us the insight we needed into each character's heartbreaking decisions. The music, though overblown at a few points, is effective.

Perhaps my primary complaint is T.D. Jakes status of near-sainthood here. We are forced, through the story, to become part of his audience. On the other hand, his willingness to show the hypocrisy and deceptions within his own congregation are admirable and absolutely realistic. Some of the scenes might be too much for children, but they are necessary to maintain the story's believability.

This movie provides moments of horror, humor, and honesty that are rarely seen or heard in church circles. With such films, Christians might actually show once again that they can be relevant to the struggles of modern culture. Well done!