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In Prison My Whole Life

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In Prison My Whole Life (2007)

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43 %
Tomatometer

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Reviews Counted: 7

Fresh: 3

Rotten:4

Average Rating: 5/10

Consensus: A disappointing and unfocussed death row documentary that deals with many worthy issues, but struggles to find its voice.

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

Synopsis: On December 9, 1981, Mumia Abu-Jamal was arrested for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner. That was also the day that William Francome was born. Twenty-five years later, Abu-Jamal is still... On December 9, 1981, Mumia Abu-Jamal was arrested for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner. That was also the day that William Francome was born. Twenty-five years later, Abu-Jamal is still on death row, despite seemingly overwhelming new evidence that should, at the very least, garner him a new trial. Francome goes on a journey to try to understand what happened to Abu-Jamal's case and expose the truth about racial justice in America.

Francome’s youthful perspective provides the ideal viewpoint to examine issues of racism and criminal injustice, illuminating how contemporary they still are. He travels around the United States getting energetic, poetic, and deeply moving interviews with Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Noam Chomsky, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, and Steve Earle, among others. Along the way, he raises questions about the repercussions and damages of racial injustice, not only to those targeted but to the American culture.

Intricately going through the details of Abu-Jamal's case, In Prison My Whole Life works on a number of levels and grows beyond what happened to one man, becoming a critique of the judicial system, capital punishment, and racism in the United States. Marc Evans (House of America) returns to the Sundance Film Festival with an inventive and stylish documentary that stresses urgency--Abu-Jamal’s life hangs in the balance, but his voice still rings true and loud. --© Sundance Film Festival
[More]

Starring: Mumia Abu-Jamal, Boots Riley, Noam Chomsky, Mos Def

Starring: Mumia Abu-Jamal, Boots Riley, Noam Chomsky, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Steve Earle, William Francome, Russell Simmons, Alice Walker, Howard Zinn

Director: Marc Evans

Director: Marc Evans
Producer: Livia Giuggioli, Nick Goodwin Self

[See More Credits]

Reviews for In Prison My Whole Life

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1 - 9 (sorted by date)
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Ratings Image

This subjective approach subsumes the film’s powerful subject, making ‘In Prison My Whole Life’ just another self absorbed agit-prop documentary.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
10/24/08
Tom Huddlestone
Time Out
Ratings Image

A worthy film, highlighting what seems to be a rank injustice, but one that is irritating and poorly put together.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
10/24/08
Sam Jordison
Channel 4 Film
Ratings Image

Essentially a Trojan-horse documentary that purports to deal with the crime, it is actually a discussion on race, politics and the American psyche.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
10/24/08
Kevin Maher
Times [UK]
Ratings Image

A well-meaning but unfocused documentary.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/24/08
Andrew Pulver
Guardian [UK]
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
10/24/08
Times [UK]
Ratings Image

It’s something you need to see if you don’t know anything about Mumia or if, somehow, you missed the notion that bigotry is rampant on the police force.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
01/29/08
Jessica Baxter
Film Threat
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
11/17/07
Screen International
Ratings Image

The legitimate case for death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal's retrial gets another airing in British helmer Marc Evans' unfocused, oddly naive In Prison My Whole Life.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
11/17/07
Jay Weissberg
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

Despite the complex subject matter the film retains a hopeful tone.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
11/13/07
Caroline Henshaw
Boxoffice Magazine
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