Redemption (2003 Video) User Reviews

need redemption after this fail

[rambov · 1/10 · 26 March 2016]

Wow... Wow...I'm a good movie addict and I can say good movies consists of 50% visual 50% audio. Redemption is not a good movie. It was so bad it strangely made me mad. The music was probably free I also found it annoying, music Constantly plays throughout this movie I mean you don't need music for every scene I know it adds to the emotion but can also have the opposite effect specially when you have the wrong music playing like this movie did. The acting was spastic and terrible. The dialogue and the scenes were just too long. I.e. You know when you're telling a story to someone and in the middle of your story you realize there is no point or lesson to your story you're just rambling on, yeah that's the movie Reviews I've seen for this movie are all positive my guess is those positive reviews came from people who personally worked on the movie. Witch is spastic don't mislead the rest of us. Merely Show your family your work 1st and get their opinions before you release that into the world .!? CUZ THIS MOVIE WAS BAD... anyways if you took part in making this film thanks for A pile of examples of what not to do and good luck with the rest of your career: side note a lot of reviewers ask if you predicted the ending. My answer "no" (other then the forshadowing in the beginning) I mean I saw myself ending the movie short but I didn't see myself smashing the DVD and throwing it away while I mumbled

"you won't be hurting anyone anymore"

However I would recommend this movie to my grandma tho. She has bad eyesight and is hard of hearing. She enjoys background noise while she knits.

Overall a good film, but a bit preachy at parts.

[donegreg · 9/10 · 18 March 2004]

This is one of the best urban drama's I've seen (that didn't have Denzel Washington in the credits). A solid cast from top to bottom, where actually I found Brian White to be the weakest, despite a good performance.

I've seen lots of positive reviews on Tracey Stone and T.J. Storm's performances, and while I agree, I personally thought Scottie Tate stole all the scenes he was in.

But a good film is not without it's flaws.

The opening titles with the timecode, I found very distracting from the scene. The soundtrack gets a bit repetitive and at parts doesn't seem right for the mood. There were several scenes where characters seemed to step out and preach about society. This could have been handled a little more deftly.

I'm not sure if you'll want to own this one as it is a bit depressing, but if you get a chance this is a movie that you should see at least once.

Great Foray into Independent Filmmaking

[jagdpather · 10/10 · 12 December 2003]

This film hit the festival circuit but didn't quite make it into the theaters. The only reason I can think of for this is the lack of names in the cast. Amazing -- Hollywood kills us with garbage and films like this you have to search for.

Anyway... This is a top notch inde feature that is well-written, well-acted and well-shot. I was thoroughly impressed with the film and was stunned to discover that the budget was about one-tenth of what it looks like.

You'll enjoy this movie.

I highly recommend this film to audiences that enjoy films with depth, meaning and intelligence.

[higher_echelons · 9/10 · 9 March 2004]

Redemption holds great integrity in its film voice through its story and art. We are led through the vision of an former athlete's turbulent acting career in the Hollywood mayhem. With uniquely constructed scenes, we are instantly lured into this film.

Brian White as `Christian Rayne' gives us a great performance by showing the many sides of a young man struggling to find his 'truth' in a world that escapes him. He tries to find his way through an acting career after his promising Olympic track career has been halted by an injury. `Christian' connects with `Claire', played by Tracey Stone, at a friend's party. At that same party, `Christian' also meets a famed actor `Tony' who later influences `Christian's' drug use. Stone conveys beautiful and impacting scenes. We are entranced with `Christian' and `Claire's' chemistry as they both move seamlessly into a tepid then passionate relationship.

However, not all is bliss in the real world, nor on screen. Enter the antagonist, `Trent' - played by Dwayne Chattman. Chattman is great as the constant threatening force in the harmonic balance of the underdog. There are enough violent scenes in the film to make someone uncomfortable, but, the film is definitely not your typical gratuitous big-budget 'blood & guts' movie that you can get everywhere. (If that is what you are looking for, then go somewhere else.) Redemption has a deeper meaning and that is what this film is about. `Trent' has a clandestine relationship with `Claire' that we learn about in time and as it slowly unfolds, so does the story's intensity.

In addition, there are other pivotal roles and performances in the film. `Christian's' father, played by Darrow Igus, gives us a steady baseline for `Christian's' frame of mind throughout the film. Darrow Igus is key into the 'truth' with which `Christian' is constantly trying to attain. Their bond, which at first seems antiseptic, traverses to the heart by the great dialogue and performances.

Other roles to watch are `Tony', played by Doron Keenan, `Melique' played by T.J. Storm, `Marlon' played by Scottie Tate and `Veronica' played by Stacy Bellew.

The director has provided us with great insight into a personal story that will floor viewers until the very end of the film. If you pay attention, you will learn so much that you will have to watch the film again to absorb all of the information. Admittedly, some of the intense drug scenes are difficult to watch without looking away. For those not familiar with hard-core drug use, it is an eye-opener. The film is not always intense, as `Marlon' and `Melique' provide us with great scenes of humour and friendly situations. The script by Hunter Dennis, is well-rounded in its basis to cover all areas of human emotions. One thing to watch is that the director himself has a sense of humour since he has Thanked the 'Ducks of Echo Park' in the credits. .---- The 'R' rating is for strong language due to a discourse used by a few of the characters appropriately suited to their nature. The rating is also used for the drug use, sexuality - that is wonderfully mastered - and some violence. The writer of this film has great intelligence for making all of the dialogue deep and thought-provoking - it is not made just for the sixth-grade level. (Audiences have to pay constant attention.) I highly recommend this film to audiences that enjoy films with depth, meaning and heart. For a first-time film by Sean Reid, he certainly has shown great promise.