Nicole beharie the express, will patton entrapment, the postman, charles dutton tvs roc, mimic and alfre woodard tvs desperate housewives, primal fear. 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. After an overzealous district attorneys drug bust lands her in jail, single mother dee roberts nicole beharie must face an agonizing choice. I was honored to have the opportunity to catch a screening of american violets texas premiere at the paramount theatre during austins sxsw film festival. The acting is awfully good, although the movie sometimes plays like a television movie. American violet, which is based on real events that took place in late 2000, has the quasidocumentary feel of a wellmade television drama. The film is a fictional portrayal of events surrounding the successful revolt in 1839 by a group of africans headed for slavery in the americas. A drug wars collateral damage inspired by an npr story, writerproducer bill haney dramatizes the battle of an east texas woman to reclaim her reputation after a. Synopsis based on true events in the midst of the 2000 election, american violet tells the astonishing story of dee roberts, a 24 yearold african american single mother of four young girls living in a small texas town who is barely making ends meet on a waitress salary and government subsidies. The message comes before the medium in tim disneys american violet, a factbased melodrama that tackles the issue of institutional racism with maximum tvmovie earnestness.
This puppy is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of the movie to get the dialogue. Synopsis based on true events in the midst of the 2000 election, american violet tells the astonishing story of dee roberts critically hailed newcomer nicole beharie, a 24 yearold african american single mother. In american violet, a riveting drama based on a reallife case of racial profiling and malicious prosecution in a tiny texas town, she plays a singlemother of four falsely accused of dealing drugs. American violet script transcript from the screenplay. Nicole beharie and alfre woodard face injustice in small. She is small, vulnerable, fearful for her children, but damned if she will plead guilty to a crime she did not commit.
Plead guilty and go home a convicted felon, or fight. Rent american violet 2008 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Martin, nicole beharie, karimah westbrook, at turner classic movies. When making an issue film a movie with a broader political message straddling the line between entertainment and pedantry can be tricky. Directed by tim disney and written by bill haney, the film stars alfre woodard, will patton and tim blake nelson. In no way a disney extravaganza, though walt disney happens to be the great uncle of american violet director tim disney, this raw, heart wrenching investigative docudrama uncovers the sort of discomforting, concealed when not buried history that in an odd trend lately, is more likely to make its way to the big screen than the news headlines. The message comes before the medium in tim disneys american violet, a fact based melodrama that tackles the issue of institutional racism with maximum tv movie earnestness. Clearly told, the movie also asks questions about the criminal justice. A drama based on the life of college football hero ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. Though its politics are as obvious as its outcome, american violet is an earnest docudrama about the justice system with a powerful performance from nicole behairie. A powerful drama that will make your blood boil if you are sensitive to stories about injustice and racism. American violet 2009 stream and watch online moviefone.
A guilty plea helps the district attorney build up a record as a crime fighter, even though he is the one who has committed the crime. American violet analysis mr tab the 3rd 72414 introduction the film american violet presents a major issue that still exists in todays criminal justice system. If that isnt enough reason to go see this film, then go see it because it is an impressive and powerful piece of filmmaking that wont disappoint. Though its politics are as obvious as its outcome, american violet is an. Nicole beharie in american violet 2008 will patton and nicole beharie in american. American violet is a 2008 drama film directed by tim disney and starring nicole beharie. The play violet takes place in the mid1960s and focuses on a young woman in search for a miracle, and who bears a horrendous scar on her face from an accident when she was a child.
The film tells the important story of dee roberts drug arrest in melody, texas in 2000. American violet, a film based on the racially charged drug war scandal that rocked the town of. Read this essay on american violet critical analysis. Movie critics box office 3 stars out of 5 there is a realistically detailed atmosphere throughout the filmthe actors successfully personalize the struggle against an unscrupulous authority, building an emotional impact into american violet. It tells the story of a young disfigured woman who embarks on a journey by bus from her farm in spruce pine, north carolina, all the way to tulsa, oklahoma in order to be healed. On an early november morning while dee works a shift at the. 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. The actual event happened in hearne, texas, and stewart and kelly were arrested on november 2, 2000. Dee roberts is a 24yearold, africanamerican single mom.
The criminal justice system in america enforces the standard conduct our country finds necessary to protect all of its citizens and lower crime. The cops in a small texas town arrested 40 black people. The movies indictment of injustice and racial profiling in a small texas town leaves no doubt about. Inspired by an npr story, writerproducer bill haney dramatizes the battle of an east texas woman to reclaim her reputation after a bogus drug. American violet is a movie that demonstrates that one film can. In american violet, dee roberts nicole beharie, a single mother of four and a waitress in melody, tx, finds herself getting caught up in a police dragnet orchestrated by district attorney. An aclu attorney and a former narcotics officer help a single mother nicole beharie in her battle to prove that she was wrongly arrested on drugdealing charges. American violet stars nicole beharie, a recent juilliard graduate in her second role, as dee roberts. The musical opens with violet boarding a greyhound bus that is traveling to tulsa, oklahoma, where she hopes to. When cops arrest her in a drug sweep, she insists on her innocence. American violet 2009 is a film based on the true story of an american woman framed for selling drugs. Selected credits nonexhaustive directed by tim disney produced by bill haney screenwriter bill haney cast nicole beharie distributor samuel goldwyn films united states.
American violet 2009 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Based on real events and set in a small texas town in the midst of the 2000 bushgore presidential election, american violet tells the astonishing story of dee roberts, a 24 year old africanamerican single mother of four who is. As word begins to spread that similar incidents are occurring in poor communities all across the country, dee realizes. American violet, a film based on the racially charged drug war scandal that rocked the town of hearne, texas, several years ago, explores the devastating impact of americas war on drugs. The movie is based on the true story of two women who were accused of selling drugs. Arrested during a drug raid and accused of a crime she didnt commit, dee goes against the wishes of her mother, alma, and rejects the pleabargain that would free her from jail, but brand her as a felon for life. Based on true events in the midst of the 2000 election, american violet tells the astonishing story of dee roberts critically hailed newcomer nicole beharie, a 24 yearold african american single mother of four young girls living in a small texas town who is barely making ends meet on a waitress salary and government subsidies. Though it never surprises, much less transcends, in exposing the vile underbelly of texas justice, the film is more affecting than it ought to be, thanks to a loaded cast that includes alfre woodard, tim blake nelson. American violet dramatizes kellys case, and does so in a way that will leave audiences applauding in their seats and wondering how much of the film is true.
Directed by tim disney and starring alfre woodard, michael okeefe, tim blake nelson and will patton. A waitress and mother of four, she goes up against the powerful district attorney, the county governments top lawyer, to get the charges dropped a david and goliath story. The movie american violet does an excellent job of demonstrating both personal individual and institutional racism. Rent american violet 2008 starring nicole beharie and michael okeefe on dvd and bluray. Based on true events in the midst of the 2000 election, american violet tells the astonishing story of dee roberts critically hailed newcomer nicole beharie, a 24 yearold african american. But apart from that american violet is a moving film that will make you think, reel and believe that even though american democracy is flawed brave and admirable people will somehow bring the truth to the surface and it will stay there. Finally, the american violet script is here for all you fans of the alfre woodard and will patton movie. Get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more. In a texas town, a film premiere hits home the new film american violet is based on the true story of a misguided drug raid in hearne, texas, and the. She is known for her roles in american violet 2008, shame 2011, and 42 20. A young single mother of four living in a small texas town.
And paranoid park is pretty minimal by van sants own standards, so take that for what you will. But to be honest, violet is so glacially paced that it makes the van sant film look like an episode of murder, she wrote. Violet is a musical with music by jeanine tesori and libretto by brian crawley based on the short story the ugliest pilgrim by doris betts. Clay kane said that american violet is the first mustsee film for africanamericans in 2009. Come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays. Dee roberts is a 24yearold, africanamerican single mom struggling to make ends meet in a small texas town. A defendant who pleads guilty cannot continue to live in public housing and will always have a felony on the record. Where the movie really soars is in its pictorial quality. Here, the emerging ingenue reflects upon her work in the movie which co. American violet is a story of one woman fighting back against such a system, with the help of the aclu.
The musical premiered offbroadway in 1997 and won the drama critics circle. There is also plenty of foul language some of it strong that warrants extreme caution. Amistad, the new film by steven spielberg, is a masterpiece of film making providing a thoroughly rewarding entertainment and learning experience. American violet is an inspiring, moving story that sometimes focuses on the heroines christian faith, though it stays away from any actual evangelism. Analysis of the movie the fear of a little less than four thousand people the patriarch and a heavy alcoholic, has disappeared and eventually commits suicide, leaving behind his psychotic wife, violet, in the care of a newly hired caretaker, a native american named johnna.
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