Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

American Violet (2008)

Director: Tim Disney

3
Average user rating
1 review

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 2009-04-14 18:01:15

Time Out New York Issue 707: April 16 - 22, 2009


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

User reviews of this film

  • Marco said...
    Posted on May 24 2009 18:54 Is this film even in London yet? I must have called 20 cinema around town and nobody has heard of American Violet. Can somebody let me know when and where I can see this film in London, as far as I'm concerned; this is what you call a must see film. Ra ta tat tat amen to that!
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.

London Children's Film Festival

London Children's Film Festival

Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations