Prison Song (2001) User Reviews (13)

Q-Tip Tries To Plug Some Tunes . Not The film I Expected

[Theo Robertson · 5/10 · 13 July 2013]

The name Darnell Martin attracted me to this movie . Martin was a director of season one of the prison drama OZ which is my all time favourite drama show to have come out of America . Martin was in my humble opinion the best director of the show and made the stand out episodes of the series including the debut episode that gripped me tighter than a vice . The synopsis of PRISON SONG led me to believe I'd be watching more of the same . Did I ? Well yes and no

The story is the well worn one of a ghetto kid called Elijah who struggling against the crushing adversity of his environment finds he has a special talent for photography and as he grows up he gets a place at college . What could possibly go wrong ? Destiny apparently because Elijah finds himself facing some hard time

If Martin had concentrated on this we'd get a tough prison movie which while seeing it all before would have been a tough gritty film . You have to take in to account as to who the cast are Q-Tip and Mary J Blige which means we get a pumping soundtrack which will prejudice your opinion . If you enjoy hearing a thump thump thump rap track involving I think the word is " mother figures " then this will enhance your feelings for the movie . If like me you don't then you'll be constantly irritated by the soundtrack

This is a pity because PRISON SONG does just about works as a tough prison drama but only intermittently . The film starts by giving out some sociological figures by pointing out crime stats involving African American men but then quickly gives up the pretence of any social comment and concentrates on the music . At the end of the day PRISON SONG suffers from too much song and not enough prison

Clean out your ears

[lastliberal · 6/10 · 11 April 2007]

The opening of this movie3 reminds me of a time in this country when the standard for porn was "socially redeeming value." They would have some doctor appear at the beginning or show some scrolling information to justify the movie to follow. In the same way, prison Song starts with a recap of the number of black in prison and the wasted youth. That is tragic, but no more tragic than this movie.

Yes, there is a story of a promising artist who ended up in prison for being at the wrong place at the wrong time and getting a bum lawyer in a system that just doesn't care about minorities. But, basically, this is a vehicle for the rapper Q-tip. Not being familiar with his work, I cannot comment on the music, just the boring story.

Really Opens Your Eyes

[anthonymichaelbangert · 6/10 · 6 February 2015]

This movie was better than I thought. Elijah was a young kid when he experienced the man who was his father figure go to jail for the rest of his life because of some cop. From there his life was cursed. His mother first became addicted to alcohol, but when he ended up in jail over something small his mother went crazy and ended up drugged in a mental institution. From there Elijah moved around from group home to group home with nothing but his camera to keep him company. Flash forward to his senior year, and Elijah gets accepted to college for art. Right before he goes in however, he ends up in a fight with some jerk on the subway, and accidentally kills him on the third rail. He is charged with murder, and must go to a corrupt medium security prison. There he deals with the feelings that he doesn't belong, and the daily struggles of prison life. He discovers a talent for painting and drawing, and uses it as an outlet until the prison's budget is cut to make room for the prisoners to work for barely anything on an asbestos riddled construction job. This movie shows how terrible the system is, especially to those of minority groups. It really opens your eyes to the abuses, and is hopefully able to change people's lives. The only flaw in this movie seems to be that it tried to be a Hip Hop and R&B musical, but also tried not to do so. Still, it's easy to get past the weird music video type scenes, and enjoy this film. I recommend it to everyone for its ability to make someone think, and perhaps shed a tear.

Soundtrack: 1- I am a HUG fan of hip hop, but the movie put random songs that did not enhance the story in any way. And three songs were inexplicably sung by the actors for no reason, as this was not a musical. Those moments took me out of the film a little.

Script: 9- The story was well thought out, and very important. Every line in this movie resonates in some way, and it was beautifully written.

Originality: 10- This is how you put a spin on a story that has been told before. Very original piece of cinema.

Cinematography: 7- Nothing special about the cinematography but it wasn't bad. There were certain sequences I really liked.

Casting: 5- Some people fit their roles. Some did not. I had to split this one down the middle.

Acting: 5- I felt for the characters. I understood their stories. But many times that was more because I heard the intention in the writing than actually saw great acting.

Overall: 6.2

fitting the description...

[whoTheFuqRyou · 19 June 2004]

Prison Song was a film that I unintentionally passed up since it was on BET all of the time, instead I waited until the DVD came out to watch. When I did I realized that this is a very powerful film about a young man who gets caught in the system the same way his parents did - only it's a bum conviction that sends the kid to jail for life. For me, it's a very bothersome subject as I do have many friends who've been in and out of jail and as I'm aware of the fact that black people make up majority of the jail's population...

The movie even gets surprisingly graphic sometimes and really depressing as it's hard to not feel for the main character who was robbed of his dreams and his life by an unfair "justice" system. I relate to the main character as it's hard to emotionally detach yourself from a situation as messed up as the one he's in...

9/10 - solid and rewarding movie

Almost a hood musical

[rigovega · 6/10 · 4 August 2020]

It is interesting to see a hood prison movie incorporate musical elements the way they did here. Unfortunately, this musical aspect is only seen in small instances, and as a consequence, it ends up not feeling so much of a hood drama musical all together. Now, I am not saying that the best thing the film has going is the musical take on the genre of films, but if it was not for the scenes where the actors rap, then this would be not much different than most of the other films that portray prison life.

Could have been Amazing.

[jftherd · 6/10 · 16 January 2022]

Musical segments don't always work that well. I think it's Amazing that SNOW of Informer is in this as a guard. He is very talented has like 5 Albums. He should've had a musical scene. Even if he did play a guard, it could've been a dream scene where qtip dream the guard sang his reggage rap.

I had it in DVD then sold it.

Don't try to make it out of the ghetto because you never will

[JavaJunkette · 3/10 · 26 March 2007]

This movie paints a grim picture of a group of people's lives destroyed by violence. I can't say that this movie is a statement on the realities of life because the characters' circumstances are so specific that many would have a hard time relating. Here's a list of the lessons taught in the movie.

1. Don't hit a cop, you'll get sent to prison. 2. Don't shine a laser pointer in a cop's face, you'll get sent to prison. 3. Don't stab a security officer in the neck, you'll get sent to prison. 4. Don't push anyone onto the 3rd rail of a subway station. They'll be electrocuted and you'll get sent to prison. 5. Don't try to escape from prison. You will either die trying or get sent back to prison.

I'm not really sure what the overall message of this movie is. Elijah does everything right by staying out of trouble, going to school, etc., and yet he still gets the shaft. 3 out of 10 only because I like Q Tip.

Familia Vertigo

[olgriffin · 10/10 · 11 July 2004]

As many of the other reviewers have stated, this movie presents to us a character with dreams of creating a "good life" for himself, who ends up falling into the prison system. Q-Tip and Darnell Martin do a great job in developing a script that embodies a trueness to the characters, which I am sure that the cast helped expand on. The silent moments of the film present the best moments (especially the last minutes where his works are displayed).

The movie takes ideas from many other prison films, however I have never seen a film present anything about asbestos and prisoners having to work in these conditions. After watching the DVD, I only wish that commentary were added and interviews at least with the director and writers. Worth a watch (or two). 8/10

A Musical Relief

[Magnum2G3 · 10/10 · 30 August 2002]

I was told about this movie by a friend. He said it was one of the best movies he had seen. Unfortunately he told me the ending, but I won't spoil that for you...

"Prison Song" is a film about a boy brought up in group homes with a gift of art. He does beautiful drawings and is an excellent photographer. He is accepted to college and at first his gets a full scholarship but then something changes and it is taken away. This is one of the many times our principle character is let down. He gives up on his dream and gets angry. He ends up picking a fight with one of the boys from the group home and kills him. He ends up in jail 15 years to life.

The movie to me is a Musical Relief. Actors do break out into song or rap throughout the movie but fortunately this break from spoken word to words of rhythm and melody has a smooth transition. Transitions are so smooth that it seems almost real, like it was something anyone would do when reflecting.

Rapper, Q-tip, place the principle character and plays it well. Though he is quiet most of the time, the viewer will feel almost every emotion he does, even when his face is plain as a blank piece of paper. Through the film you grow to love the character and feel bad that things worked out the way they did. He is like many Black men, like many men period, talented but locked in jail.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see a prison movie with a lot of heart in it. Characters are deep and the story line is rich.

Very good movie

[DunnDeeDaGreat · 13 April 2002]

Prison Song is a very good movie about broken dreams and injustices in the prsion system. The direction by Darnell Martin is better than her last film I Like It Like That. The screenplay by lead actor Q-Tip is also very good for first time out. Look for cameo's by Mary J. Blighe, Noreaga and Fta Joe.

That kid cannot catch a break.....

[MikeK-7 · 9/10 · 18 April 2004]

The first time I saw this movie I missed the first 30 minutes or so; I saw it fully last night and I didn't know the kid's uncle went to prison for 25+ years and the same with his mom! He could've been an artist and put his talents to good use. Q-Tip adds such sensitivity, you can't help but sympathize with his character. Absolutely uncompromising and downbeat; it's no surprise that the director also did several OZ series episodes. For those with taste in real-drama it's a good watch. The ending is heart-wrenching. R.I.P. Elijah

CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK, CLICK CLICK

Oft-told Tale Told Well Again

[rcrsnichols · 10/10 · 1 July 2006]

. August Spies, the socialist activist, warned his contemporaries - and we today who read his works - how excesses of a hyper-capitalist society eventually develop one focus: criminalise non-conformist behaviours as its method to control the citizenry.

We are there - this film is a wake-up call for us to stand tall and repel our corrupt political and social 'leaders' who only seek personal greed for themselves - the rest be damned. They claim to be 'Christian', yet they deny what their own Bible teaches them.

Thus you see in 'Prison Song' how every act our protagonists make invites further retaliation by 'the system' - a corrupt 'system' at that.

• The cops were corrupt the way they criminalised young Elijah for doing what all kids do - for being a kid.

• The 'juvie' and foster care 'system' was corrupt - right from the beginning as well as bouncing our 'hero' from one decrepit environment to the next.

• The 'justice' system was corrupt for 'criminalising' Elijah.

• The cops extended their corruption the way they 'criminalised' his mother during her time of desperation wanting her son returned to her home. Only the cruel 'system' lacked the heart to cry for her.

• The mental health care 'system' was corrupt drugging his mother (reminiscent of '... Cuckoo's Nest'). Mass druggings persist today.

• The corrupt private prison was the expected final nail on our 'hero's' coffin. In-mates meant only one thing to the corrupted administrator: his profit margin - his bottom line. Note how he bragged he was cutting expences: no water - no toilet paper. Eventually, the administrator ordered that no human dignity be graced upon his charges.

• The construction operator who only cared about his profit greed - he, too, saw cheap prison labour as his windfall.

• The prison guard who sold out his own soul in desperation to support his family - losing his construction job to slave-wage in-mates because the operator chose to squeeze more greed to line his pockets.

We saw our 'hero' maintain his decency among these environments of societal corruption.

Knowing his fate was sealed inside the gate, he could easily have slain his captive guard. Our 'hero' proved he was above their corruption - no matter what they imposed upon him. His final act defines what it means to be a hero.

Meanwhile, the guards proved their corruption and cruelty knew no boundaries - they totally lost their souls - perpetuating their own corrupt environment. They sealed their own fate.

RKO Pictures produced several movies during the early 'Depression' era (1929 - 1932) using similar themes and story lines. All worth the search.

'Prison Song' is important for all audience - all ethnic backgrounds.

That said, repetition in contemporary form reminds us those themes remain with us - that we have much work to do to overcome the cruelties portrayed in this version.

Sadly, with our current American political climate as it is, our 'hero's' demise was the only ending this production could have presented without making the movie a waste of time.

You can either participate continuing this losing society, or you can work building a future that would make your children proud.

The choice is yours. .

Good

[mikepurp · 10/10 · 19 April 2019]

Young people with talent. It's a good movie. You have to watch it in order to know how life go.