Redemption Road

I saw this film when it had a showing at the Hollywood Film Festival. The cinematography and acting is wonderful. Especially the performances of Michael Clarke Duncan and Morgan Simpson. But, I was blown away by the story itself. It kept me guessing until the end. I totally got lost in the journey. It is visually a treat.

Simpson takes us on an arc from the depths of what life can give you. This film was solid from beginning to end.

I would highly recommend this film. I heard it is in limited release. I hope it comes back to Southern California. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Plus the soundtrack is amazing!

I really enjoyed this movie!! A great story with twist and turns, great blues and country music,characters with depth and great cinematography!!!The chemistry between all the characters including Michael Clarke Duncan,Morgan Simpson,Tom Skerritt and Kiele Sanchez was amazing too!!! Mario Van Peebles' directing lead this film through a journey that will inspire you and cause you to take a piece of it home with you. Luke Perry and Taryn Manning also put in great performances. The movie moves along at a pace that grabs your attention and you will not let go or want to look away. A must see for great entertainment,yet a story that will stick with you too!!!!

The gritty parts didn't pull any punches...this would be a good movie for recovering addicts. Many movies show the characters drinking heavily, but few show the consequences as vividly as in the beginning scenes. The character of Jefferson Bailey was flawed and almost disgusting, but his end of the road status was necessary to propel the plot forward. Maybe the story was too neatly tied together(finding someone and something important at the pawn shop)but I liked the characters enough to go along with the plot. I cried at the end. I cared about the characters, wanted them to overcome their pain and grow. The music was great, sets seemed like places I've been and it was good to see Michael Clarke Duncan, along with Tom Skerritt and the large cast of newer or unknown actors.

I first saw this film on a DVD. It was a pleasant surprise, a road trip through the rural agricultural American South and small town folks with vivid scenery. As a troubled and irresponsible man reconnects with himself and reflects on lost relationships through grief, blues music, and accidentally discovers his long lost family. Mario Van Peebles does an excellent job directing on a low budget. I really like how Van Peebles sneaks in a glimpse of Augy, played by Michael Clarke Duncan, as Bailey walks into the pawn store to bum a harmonica from a friend. Long before Augy's character is introduced.

The first hour was boreville. I only watched it because Luke Perry was in it and it was fun to see him in a Texan bad dude role. Things started picking up towards the end, and even though the film's tedious pace and low talking rhythm frustrated any enjoyment out of me, the movie managed to still jerk some metaphorical tears out of me, despite my protests at the notion of "giving in" to a movie who's life lesson was as overt as a special edition of Saved By The Bell. The film was so preachy, they literally ended with a church choir. The actors played their roles well, and it's no wonder how the movie managed to secure such talent for a excitement-less film: Actors love taking on pet projects once in a while to teach a lesson that is near and dear to their hearts and I'm sure they all have someone in their life that they know who are victims of alcohol abuse. So, the writer writes his script and it's an easy sell. But it didn't translate well because the message was way too obvious. It's a tough balance to strike, because if the lesson isn't too obvious, the lesson won't be received, but here the film strikes the opposite fate. I'd like my 90 minutes back, thank you. And I could use a drink.