Civil Brand

Name: Civil Brand
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: August 29, 2003
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 29
Cast: LisaRaye, Mos Def, N'Bushe Wright

2003

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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5.3	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Civil Brand

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: August 29, 2003 | R

Starring: LisaRaye, Mos Def, N'Bushe Wright

Summary: Forced to work under slave-like conditions in a "prison for profit" program, the inmates of a mostly African-American female prison try to take over the institution.

Director: Neema Barnette

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas

A compelling, highly charged film that brings a contemporary perspective to classic prison picture elements. Read full review

Walter Dawkins

Film explores the abuses rampant in woman's prisons and the powerlessness of the inmates, while telling the uplifting story of one inmate, Frances (LisaRae). Read full review

Sheri Linden

Although the film loses its way in the late going with a preponderance of melodramatic elements that dilute the more compelling social message, for much of its running time it packs a visceral punch, thanks in large part to a strong cast headed by LisaRaye, N'Bushe Wright and Mos Def. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Exploitation shamelessly posing as empowerment, Neema Barnette's self-congratulatory drama about women in prison promises to reveal shocking truths. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Before Civil Brand erupts into over-the-top melodrama (which is pretty early), it shows some interest in its characters, and in its less screechy moments the dialogue has the rough, bantering ring of actual speech. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

Civil Brand's aesthetic is pure mid-'70s blaxploitation, and not in an ironic or reverent sense. Even the heavy-handed political rhetoric is in keeping with the neo-blaxploitation vibe, since even bad blaxploitation movies often had revolutionary undercurrents. Read full review

J.R. Jones

Corrupt warden, sadistic guards, new inmate debauched by her surroundings, prison-break hostage drama--could have come straight from an old George Raft vehicle. Read full review

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