Civil Brand

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source: Civil Brand

I watched this movie twice. Once without any preview or knowledge of the plot. The second time listening to the commentary from the producer and the director. I do understand that the movie had a lot of problems with financing and script re-writes. I also understand that they had problems just getting all of the scenes that they needed to complete the picture. With that said, I really didn't feel that this movie was anything greater than a made for cable movie. I read about the glaring errors in other posts, but to me, the most obvious was the acting. I just felt that it wasn't realistic at times. We've all seen the formula girl prison movie before. This movie tacks on another issue not explored in other prison films. If this movie stayed on that issue more and tried not to tackle 4-5 other problems going on in prisons today, I think it would have been a better movie. I really hope they give the director a chance to really direct a picture so I can see what potential she has to offer with an all black female cast. I just wasn't stirred by this film and the disjointed acting and editing was probably the reason why.

It had some flaws but, over all it came in and it had you thinking about what was going to happen the whole time. I didn't the two women that stood at the end should have died. It was a great movie and I loved it but, a lot of stuff that happened shouldn't have happened. The one thing I saw in that movie was when Rose died, the blood that dripped off her face went away and when they put the jacket over her her stomach was moving the whole time. Another thing was when they punched the brat, the scar came back and the disappearing through the woman. ( Why would they make a woman scrape paint off the walls when the damn paint does not come off?) Overall it was a great movie and I think standing up for your rights is the moral of that story.

A new group of inmates arrive at the Whitehead Correctional Facility, including Frances Shepard (LisaRaye McCoy), who claims to be innocent. She meets the leaders Nikki Barnes (N'Bushe Wright) and Wet (Monica Calhoun) and shares the cell of the pregnant Lil' Momma (Lark Voorhies). Soon she learns that the corrupt Warden Nelson (Reed R. McCants) and Captain Alan Deese (Clifton Powell) explore the inmates with a slave labor for companies. In addition, Deese sexually abuses of the inmates and his favorite, Aisha (Tichina Arnold), snitches the other women. When Deese rapes Lil' Momma, who consequently dies with her baby, Nikki, Wet, Frances and Aisha revolt and their riot bring tragic consequences. "Civil Brand" is a conventional prison drama, showing women abused and explored by the leader of the guards inside the corrupt facility. The prisoners are pictured only as victims, despite the lack of respect and abuses of most of the guards. The cast has good performances and the plot is entertaining for fans of the genre. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): "Civil Brand - Lutando por Justiça" ("Civil Brand - Fighting for Justice")

This movie was the bomb. I like how all the characters came to life and how they all have their own story. I wanted to jump through the t.v. when captain Dee's raped and killed Lil mama. I couldn't believe he would do something like that. That cold hearted punk. That movie seemed so real like it was based on a true story. I hop it was all fictional because if something like that happened in real life then he deserved to die. Over all the movie was off the chain and they get many props from me. Great job. I like how they all got together and made a plan to take Dee's down. He was so corrupt. I hope that stuff really don't be happening in the prisons. Working for a dollar and fifty cent. That has got to be illegal. Anyways the movie was the bomb it was off the chain and i recommend that everybody goes to see it, rent it, or buy whatever you gotta do to watch it because it is worth it.

The movie tells the truth about the corruption in prisons against women. There are plenty of corrupt wardens who abuse female prisoners. I believe that those women would have suffered abuse and with no one to back them up. And I think its true alot of them are in there for minor offenses or self defense I am dissatisfied with the way the prisoners are stereotypically portrayed. I think those actresses deserve much better roles then to have to play prisoners. Those women are real actresses and deserve better roles. You wouldn't see the ugly ducklings of sex and the city playing in prison.

In one way, I hate to downgrade this film because it does have a message it is trying to get out, and there are so few films about African American women. I also understand the director is an African American woman. However, the truth is, this film is not very well done at all. What they wanted to convey was the conditions for women in prisons. What came across, however, was that only African American women are in prisons (the very few white women seen, had non-speaking roles and were just blurry extras in the background). They also wanted to indicate that the working conditions in prisons are terrible, again, they failed to truly show this--instead it came across as if the prisoners felt they shouldn't have to work at all, that they should just be allowed to loll about entertaining themselves all day. I never did get all the women characters straightened out as to who was who and who did what. We don't get enough time with each woman to get to know her that well. All the guards and the Warden are the mean, bad guys, except for the one new guard, Michael. The actor playing Michael was a very poor choice for the role. Michael is supposed to be a college student, studying to be a lawyer, the actor who played him, keeps his head down and mumbles his lines in a way that gives the impression he has no self-confidence at all. The plot, such as it is, concerns the women being ill-treated by the Captain of the guards who demands sexual favors of them while man-handling them brutally. Also the plot concerns them doing sewing in what is supposed to be sweat shop conditions for virtually no pay, while the man who re-sells the items is making a big profit. Can the women get the truth out there, is the plot question. Meanwhile we see some woman on woman fighting, some stabbing, and some time spent in solitary. All of the women have children and miss their children, and of course they have been imprisoned unfairly and that sort of thing. Unfortunately there are no love affairs or sex between the female prisoners, which would have added some realism and interest to the story. 3 stars out of 10

I'm pretty sure a lot of movies we watch contain errors that were honest mistakes. This movie may have a few major mistakes, but overall we understand where the author was trying to go. Last year I began writing a script myself and after proofreading several times I still may have over looked a few mistakes. The bottom line is Civil Brand was a good movie. I believe the director used the right actresses to star in the movie because they fit the characters easily. Acting is something you have to feel and I believe this is why the movie is considered to be one of our best. There's a major difference between Black Movies and movies with Black stars. Civil Brand is a black movie all the way through. It may be a beginning for us who knows, but most importantly it's something done by us. A $500.00 budget is nowhere near enough to make a movie without pressure, so I say please keep up the good work women. All of the women in this movie are setting the path for aspiring, actresses/ writers like myself.