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American Violet | 
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| Director: Tim Disney
Actors: Nicole Beharie, Will Patton, Alfre Woodard, Charles S. Dutton, Xzibit
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Category: DVD
List Price: $27.98
Buy Used: $1.07
You Save: $26.91 (96%)
New (32) Used (37) from $1.07
Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 7610
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: IMEDAIL2938D
UPC: 014381293821
EAN: 0014381293821
ASIN: B002FUIJ24
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: October 13, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
FALSELY ACCUSED OF SELLING NARCOTICS IN A SCHOOL ZONE, A SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR CHALLENGES THE LAWS OF TEXAS WHEN SHE SUES THE COUNTY D.A. FOR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THIS POWERFUL TRUE-LIFE STORY.
Amazon.com
American Violet may be based on the story of outrageous injustices committed against Regina Kelly of Hearne, Texas, but that does not make it a good film. It is, at best, a bad film with an important message. American Violet is about a single mother of four, Dee Roberts (Nicole Beharie), who is wrongly convicted of drug charges due to police racism and corruption. As she struggles to stay out of prison with the help of her mother, Alma (Alfre Woodard), Dee exemplifies a stalwart woman who refuses to plead guilty when offered a plea bargain. While names of characters and the town itself are changed, the story in American Violet is allegedly altered only slightly in hopes of maintaining its tragic truth, that a plea-bargain system in Texas forced, in this case, impoverished and sometimes innocent African Americans to accept guilty charges and their negative aftereffects. American Violet's melodramatic sensibility attempts to spark the same indignation that fuels ACLU lawyer David Cohen (Tim Blake Nelson) to embark on a lawsuit against the head racist, district attorney Calvin Beckett (Michael O'Keefe). Cohen, with the help of a former narcotics officer, Sam Conroy (Will Patton), discovers enough evidence to disturb any viewer. While it is crucial to have artful dialogue about this politically offensive topic, American Violet is not finely scripted or cinematically engaging enough to elevate it above second-hand documentary. Still, since the film does cover meaningful territory, there may be a place for it in classrooms, or it may inspire others to work on further exposing gross injustice for the benefit of our society. --Trinie Dalton
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 31
 An Outrageous Injustice. July 20, 2010
Sandra (Long Beach, California)
Love this movie. Even though it was not shown at many movie theatres across the country, I had to search and found one that was willing and showed this movie. I was glad I travelled to see it. I felt it was important for me to support this movie. I have now purchased this movie and have made this movie a part of my movie collection. This movie stirred many different emotions but I loved it. It displayed and showed the racism that still exists in this country. It is an awesome movie. I was amazed to learn that because of our unjust judicial system a great percentage of African-American take plea bargains. Astonishing but true. This film does cover meaningful territory and one that all African-American should watch. Great movie.
ABSOLUTELY A MUST BUY FOR ALL AFRICAN-AMERICANS!! July 13, 2010
MVP X-CLUSIVE STYLZ
THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME! DEFINATELY WANT TO WATCH A COMEDY AFTERWARD. HOWEVER IT IS AWAKENING AND EYEOPENING!!! I OWN A HAIR SALON AND MY CLIENTS LOOOVE IT! EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY OR PLAN TO... LOL THIS MOVIE WILL DEFINATELY BRING OUT THE "FIGHT FOR TRUE JUSTICE" IN YOU!
 Taking on the subtleties of modern discrimination July 5, 2010
Jean E. Pouliot (Newburyport, MA United States)
Taking on the subtleties of modern discrimination
I half expected a made-for-TV story with "American Violet," but found a surprisingly taut, nuanced and well-acted film about a biased justice system in Texas. Dee Dee Brown, single mother of 4 young girls, is caught up in a narcotics raid on her project. The local DA is more than willing to cut a deal with her. Her choice: plead guilty and go home, or risk 16-25 years in prison. Yet a guilty plea would destroy her chance to vote, get housing or find a job. The film pits the ACLU and a reluctant local lawyer against the powerful cabal of the DA, law-and-order judges and a good-old-boy network. Dee Dee's home life is shown in its emotional complexity, with a supportive mother and church and a vindictive ex-husband and his new girlfriend. "American Violet" is complex and moving portrayal of a woman desperate to save her children in the midst of a system bent to destroy her spirit.
Nicole Beharie, as Dee Dee Brown, stole the show in every scene. She acted with passion and fierce determination to proclaim her innocence. Will Patton, as attorney Sam Conroy, did a great job portraying a man conflicted between the desire to keep his place within his a local community and the need to satisfy his conscience. Xhibit was suitably brutish as Dee Dee's ex. Only Michael O'Keefe, as DA Calvin Beckett tilted toward caricature.
All told, a fine movie that didn't make the villains too evil , the heroes too pure or the victories too sweet.
Let History Prevail July 1, 2010
C. Gray (Houston, TX USA)
The movie showed well and I was pleased to finally see a representation of a piece of history because no one else seemed to be interested in seeing it at the movies
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Lookie Entertainer
arlinda's review June 22, 2010
Arlinda Johnson (houston, tx United States)
this movie made me cry but it is an awesome movie.nicole baharie, alfre woodard and xhibit did an awesome job acting and she's like millions of other mothers who would fight tooth and nail to keep her kids together and safe and make the sacrifices they would have to make.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 31
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