Redemption Road (2010) User Reviews

You haven't heard of this film? It's been wining festival honour's!

[JohnRayPeterson · 7/10 · 7 February 2012]

After I watched the trailers, I knew I had to see this movie. I had not yet seen a Mario Van Peebles directed movie I liked until now. It helped that Michael Clarke Duncan, who has 90 movies under his belt, has a face and build that gets immediate recognition (Oscar nominated for supporting role in The Green Mile), was the co-star to Morgan Simpson. Duncan delivers a good performance. Also helpful was the supporting role by Tom Skerritt who has 150 movies under his belt and has equal face recognition. As for Morgan Simpson, who has the lead in this movie, he was completely unknown to me but I was sold on his performance. He wrote the story so he had the benefit of knowing exactly what his character was suppose to feel and why.

The story has a few weak spots but they don't deter the viewer from keeping focused on all the good points. To use the film's own expression, Duncan delivers some fortune cookie wisdom, but it is no less valuable wisdom as far as I'm concerned. Even the music delivers wisdom to those who pay attention. The four IMDb users who wrote reviews (there were only 4 before mine) gave the movie pretty good ratings and their reviews all have one thing in common which I wholeheartedly agree with: The music in the movie is really good, unless you hate the blues and country styles (especially the blues). The story has in the first 75% to 80% of the movie a well planned set-up for a surprise you don't see coming and which may bring tears to some viewers with kinder hearts; one other fellow reviewer admitted experiencing just that. Thankfully, Skerritt's character made a point in the movie that you need to cry sometimes to purge the sadness that will otherwise weigh you down…and it feels better after. We all know that to be true.

If you consider yourself a movie lover or one that has discriminating taste, I hesitate not in recommending it.

A very good movie with great music. Not really original but worth watching. I recommend this for the music. I say B.

[cosmo_tiger · 7/10 · 22 June 2012]

"Whatever he left me I don't want it and I sure as hell ain't gonna travel 900 miles to get it." Jefferson Bailey (Simpson) is a blues player who is in serious financial trouble. When a stranger (Duncan) shows up to let him know his grandfather has died and left him something he dismisses it. When someone come to collect on his debt Bailey catches up with the stranger and decides that a trip is better then the alternative. What starts off as an escape turns into a life changing experience for all involved. This is a very good movie but the music is what really make the movie what it is. If you are a fan of the blues then this movie is made for you. The plot isn't really that original but because of the music it keeps you interested and wanting to see what happens next. About half-way through the movie get very predictable but it is still interesting enough to keep you watching. While not quite at the level of "Almost Famous" or "August Rush" this is still a music movie that is worth watching. I liked it. Overall, a good movie with great music that deserves to be seen. I give it a B.

An after-school special for adults

[mbkfox · 5/10 · 8 March 2016]

The first hour was boreville. I only watched it because Luke Perry was in it and it was fun to see him in a Texan bad dude role. Things started picking up towards the end, and even though the film's tedious pace and low talking rhythm frustrated any enjoyment out of me, the movie managed to still jerk some metaphorical tears out of me, despite my protests at the notion of "giving in" to a movie who's life lesson was as overt as a special edition of Saved By The Bell. The film was so preachy, they literally ended with a church choir. The actors played their roles well, and it's no wonder how the movie managed to secure such talent for a excitement-less film: Actors love taking on pet projects once in a while to teach a lesson that is near and dear to their hearts and I'm sure they all have someone in their life that they know who are victims of alcohol abuse. So, the writer writes his script and it's an easy sell. But it didn't translate well because the message was way too obvious. It's a tough balance to strike, because if the lesson isn't too obvious, the lesson won't be received, but here the film strikes the opposite fate. I'd like my 90 minutes back, thank you. And I could use a drink.

Redemption Road delivers as per the title

[ckmfox · 7/10 · 11 August 2014]

I watched this movie yesterday not knowing anything about it. The lead actor was unknown to me but there was some great support from the late great Michael Clarke Duncan, Luke Perry, and the gorgeous Kiele Sanchez. The story follows a failed musician and his search for his confidence to perform live on stage again, however, his drinking is seriously hampering any chances. As a result of his struggles he gets into debt with Luke Perry, and to add insult to injury he also sleeps with Perry's wife. Just as things are getting really bad in walks MCD with hope of an inheritance. Thus the road to redemption begins in a blues heavy trip across America, visiting many clubs along the way and including many blues tunes too. Much of the movie is about the trip, but when they arrive at their destination the true redemption is achieved, and the last third of the movie is very enjoyable indeed. I think most rock and blues fans will enjoy this movie of one man's struggle with his own demons, and the lead actor, who I have never seen before really carried this role off well. Luke Perry and Kiele Sanchez both had good support roles in the movie too, and Perry was underused in my opinion.

Realistic look at alcoholism

[bev-12-635025 · 8/10 · 27 March 2011]

The gritty parts didn't pull any punches...this would be a good movie for recovering addicts. Many movies show the characters drinking heavily, but few show the consequences as vividly as in the beginning scenes. The character of Jefferson Bailey was flawed and almost disgusting, but his end of the road status was necessary to propel the plot forward. Maybe the story was too neatly tied together(finding someone and something important at the pawn shop)but I liked the characters enough to go along with the plot. I cried at the end. I cared about the characters, wanted them to overcome their pain and grow. The music was great, sets seemed like places I've been and it was good to see Michael Clarke Duncan, along with Tom Skerritt and the large cast of newer or unknown actors.

A Movie with Heart and Soul

[lillycatherine04 · 10/10 · 3 September 2011]

I really enjoyed this movie!! A great story with twist and turns, great blues and country music,characters with depth and great cinematography!!!The chemistry between all the characters including Michael Clarke Duncan,Morgan Simpson,Tom Skerritt and Kiele Sanchez was amazing too!!! Mario Van Peebles' directing lead this film through a journey that will inspire you and cause you to take a piece of it home with you. Luke Perry and Taryn Manning also put in great performances. The movie moves along at a pace that grabs your attention and you will not let go or want to look away. A must see for great entertainment,yet a story that will stick with you too!!!!

Redemption Road Has Its Qualities ***

[edwagreen · 8/10 · 19 August 2012]

Yes, this is definitely a story of redemption among several people in this 2010 film.

A bitter drifter, a drunk, gets a visit from Michael Clarke Duncan, the latter harboring a terrible secret. Duncan tells our loser that his grandfather has died and that he should go back to Huntsville, Alabama.

Not wanting to go, he has a sudden change of heart when a guy, whose wife he has fooled around with, discovers this and comes after him as well for the money he owes him. The guy is a terror and you know by picture's end he will be back to create mayhem.

The film becomes one of self-introspection as the two guys travel back to Alabama. We see that they learn about life from each other.

When Duncan's dark secret is revealed, our hero character controls himself from taking revenge. The men have forged a relationship.

This is basically a good film with a tragic end bringing understanding and faith in the human spirit.

Great acting, screen writing and directing: great production

[moderniste · 10/10 · 10 August 2012]

My dad is a huge blues fan, and when I was a very affected mod/new wave teenager in the 1980s, he would sneak me into his favorite haunts to see what I now know was some pretty legendary stuff. So when I ran across the opening credits whilst cruising Showtime, I was immediately hooked by the first of many searingly authentic blues club scenes. Obviously, the key people attached to this movie really gave a shite about this hard-to-pin-down genre of music.

All throughout the film, it was the excellence of those key people that really made the movie so great. Morgan Simpson, co-writer, producer, and central actor brings a lot to this movie, and he managed to attract some heavy hitters like just about every other actor, especially Tom Skerritt and Michael Clark Duncan, and the criminally undersung Mario Van Peebles as director. There must have been a huge amount of synergy between Van Peebles and Simpson, because their movie is very fully realized, artfully shot, and brings alive the characters with amazing depth of emotion. Yes, I too cried.

My favorite movies are made by guys like Polanski, Scorcese and P.T. Anderson, who totally commit to every aspect of their project, and this movie has that passion. I can see where some might find the storyline and ending, and some of the "fortune cookie" platitudes a bit trite, but I understand: this is an unabashedly sentimental film refreshingly absent of the jadedness/irony/ennui in which many indie directors overindulge.

I read a review in an Austin paper in which the reviewer really savages Morgan Simpson's acting performance. She could not be more wrong. I had never seen this actor before, but after being very affected by the depth of his performance, I looked up the movie on IMDb, and saw that he was very key to the overall production of the film, which impressed me even more. And after looking at his fresh-faced photo on his bio page, I got the sense that he really inhabited his character, because he was quite physically transformed into a rather crusty, shady guy whom you really don't want to like, but end up shedding tears for.

All in all, a surprising big film that also feels very dark horse. Love it.

Outstanding!

[flickski · 10/10 · 30 August 2011]

I saw this film when it had a showing at the Hollywood Film Festival. The cinematography and acting is wonderful. Especially the performances of Michael Clarke Duncan and Morgan Simpson. But, I was blown away by the story itself. It kept me guessing until the end. I totally got lost in the journey. It is visually a treat.

Simpson takes us on an arc from the depths of what life can give you. This film was solid from beginning to end.

I would highly recommend this film. I heard it is in limited release. I hope it comes back to Southern California. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Plus the soundtrack is amazing!

A Sleeper Movie with a good message

[vulcanx-26306 · 8/10 · 14 July 2023]

I first saw this film on a DVD. It was a pleasant surprise, a road trip through the rural agricultural American South and small town folks with vivid scenery. As a troubled and irresponsible man reconnects with himself and reflects on lost relationships through grief, blues music, and accidentally discovers his long lost family. Mario Van Peebles does an excellent job directing on a low budget. I really like how Van Peebles sneaks in a glimpse of Augy, played by Michael Clarke Duncan, as Bailey walks into the pawn store to bum a harmonica from a friend. Long before Augy's character is introduced.