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American Violet (2008)
Director: Tim Disney
Movie review
From Time Out New York
Pretrial depositions don’t have quite the dramatic heft of a courtroom showdown, which is perhaps why Tim Disney’s legal thriller lacks tension overall. But the true-life tale upon which the movie is based is indeed extraordinary: Dee Roberts (Beharie), an African-American single mom, is wrongly arrested for drug dealing and, rightly miffed, sues an odious district attorney (Patton) for racial discrimination. Throughout, the director adds in ominous TV footage of Gore winning, then conceding, the 2000 election; this counterpoint of idiotic legal rulings, along with scenes of the incarcerated Roberts talking to her children, practically guarantees moist tear ducts.Author: Anna King
Time Out New York Issue 707: April 16 - 22, 2009
Cast & crew
Director: Tim Disney
Cast: Nicole Beharie, Will Patton, Alfre Woodard, Michael O'Keefe, Tim Blake Nelson full cast
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 103 mins
US Release: Apr 17 2009
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