Desperation drives four inner-city women to bank robbery in Los Angeles, then they start mistrusting each other.Desperation drives four inner-city women to bank robbery in Los Angeles, then they start mistrusting each other.Desperation drives four inner-city women to bank robbery in Los Angeles, then they start mistrusting each other.
- Awards
- 5 wins & 6 nominations total
Jada Pinkett Smith
- Stony
- (as Jada Pinkett)
Chaz Lamar Shepherd
- Stevie
- (as Chaz Lamar Shepard)
Thomas Jefferson Byrd
- Luther
- (as Thom Byrd)
Charles Robinson
- Nate
- (as Charlie Robinson)
Edmund L. Shaff
- Mr. Zachery
- (as Edmund Shaff)
Natalie Desselle Reid
- Tanika
- (as Natalie Desselle)
Featured reviews
A great movie for those peoples that like to empathize with a movie.
If you let yourself have the same feelings as the characters in the
movie have you might have strong emotions like: despair, feeling
trapped and injustice.
You might even find, that choices you can't comprehend are suddenly
very logical.
For peoples that don't let their feelings participate in watching the
movie. I imagine this movie is less appealing.
If you let yourself have the same feelings as the characters in the
movie have you might have strong emotions like: despair, feeling
trapped and injustice.
You might even find, that choices you can't comprehend are suddenly
very logical.
For peoples that don't let their feelings participate in watching the
movie. I imagine this movie is less appealing.
"Set it Off" is another brilliant little B sleeper by the talented F. Gary Gray. What sets this film apart from your routine crime caper/heist flick is that it features some very impressive and strong performances by Jada Pinkett-Smith (one of her very best roles) and Quen Latifah. Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise and the underrated John C. McGinty were also quite effective in supporting roles. Blair Underwood, who I lilke, was sort of wasted as reverse eye candy. The love story sub plot was a bit if a distraction, only in a minor way. But at the core of this film was the bond between these ladies, all driven to rob banks for various reasons. What they all shared was their desperation. Instead of cliched cardboard characters, we are served pretty well fleshed out characters with as much depth as time allows. Some have mentioned they didn't like the ending, but I rather did. Queen Latifah was outstanding as a hardened career criminal. There is one scene where Jada's character stands up to her and it's tasty.
All in all, a pretty dang good thriller film that should be seen. The performances are what elevates it above the norm for this genre.
All in all, a pretty dang good thriller film that should be seen. The performances are what elevates it above the norm for this genre.
I rented this movie expecting to see just another average gang related film about the Ghetto, but I was proved wrong. It ended with my eyes wide opened and my mouth to the floor. Set It Off is a very Dramatic film and the performances by the four women were done perfectly. Set It Off reached my heart and all my emotions. It starts off light, but ends deep and touching. There is no possible way you could leave from watching this movie without your eyes being flooded. -A heart-filled film that deserved more publicity than it received.
Being a Queen Latifah fan and also Jada Pinkett Smith , this movie was good, not all that great because of the typical sterotype saga of blacks robbing banks. I think one of the best scenes was when they were at work around the big round table portraying and imitating the Godfather, and of course when Queen Latifah met her dome in the hail of bullets after she rode past the bridge.
It's being along time since I've seen a film that really took my breath away, but this shook me to my bones. What seems to start off as a stereotypical film about racial injustice, ends as a story of the highest calibre. The 4 leading ladies act to perfection, making the tragedy and heartbreak so real. If you don't cry at the end of this, I suggest you get out in the sunshine and thaw!
Did you know
- TriviaQueen Latifah's first leading role in a feature film and also her favorite role of all time.
- GoofsWhile having dinner with Keith, Stony says she's never been to New York. Later when the women meeting the Godfather parody scene it's said that Stony is from the Bronx, this is because in true fashion of the mob each of the women are given nicknames. T.T is "T.T. from Detorit", Stony is "Stony from the Bronx", Cleo is "Cleomensa" and Frankie is the Don.
- Quotes
Lida 'Stony' Newsom: [singing on the roof] Frankie wanna blow-up a bank, UH! Frankie wanna rob a bank, UH!
- Alternate versionsIn the Directors Cut, after Stoney attacks Detective Strode, a scene is inserted where Cleo, Frankie & Tisean comfort a grieving Stoney in her house.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: Days of Our Livez (1996)
- SoundtracksFlashlight
Performed by Parliament
Written by George Clinton (as Clinton)/Bernie Worrell (as Worrell)/Bootsy Collins (as Collins)
Courtesy of Casablanca/Mercury Records
By arrangement with PolyGram Film and TV Licensing
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $9,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $36,461,139
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $8,812,105
- Nov 10, 1996
- Gross worldwide
- $41,590,886
- Runtime
- 2h 3m(123 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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