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When Redemption originally aired on
FX, my interest was piqued, but I didn’t have the time to catch it. So with the release
of the DVD, I made the commitment to sit down and review it—and I’m certainly glad that I
did.
Jamie Foxx and Lynn Whitfield gave excellent performances in this
film based on the true story of Stanley “Tookie” Williams (played by Foxx). Williams was
the leader and co-founder of the South L.A. street gang known as The Crips. He was a bad
dude who’s currently a resident of San Quentin’s death row. It was a man also locked up
in solitary confinement who guided Williams to the light of salvation. That light
included learning how to read and educate himself in a way that school had not. Williams
became a well-spoken and well-written man who realized that his own redemption would be
to save children from following in his destructive past patterns. As best he could, he
worked to give back to his community in a positive manner.
When Williams
met and formed a bond of trust with journalist Barbara Becnel (Whitfield), he discovered
the way to truly reach the largest audience possible. Together they produced a series of
children’s books, speaking out against gangs and gang violence. Once a publisher was
found, the series proved to be well received on a global platform. Williams has even been
twice nominated for a Nobel Prize.
Redemption is a powerful film
that doesn’t sugar coat or glorify Williams’s past. It presents a subtle and
well-produced script. And when you hear Williams’s message delivered as the only special
feature on the DVD, you’ll be even more moved by the
experience.
GRADE: A (movie), B (DVD) (Because there’s only one
feature, but it has a big impact.)
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