Freedomland

 

Freedomland 2006

• Director: Joe Roth
• Based on the book: by Richard Price
• Cast: Samuel L Jackson, Julianne Moore, Edie Falco, Ron Eldard, William Forsythe, Aunjaune Ellis-Taylor, Anthony Mackie, Clarke Peters, Domenick Lombarozzi
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Samuel L Jackson – so many
• Julianne Moore – Dear Evan Hanson, Suburbicon, Wonderstruck, The Hunger Games, Crazy Stupid Love, The Kids Are All Right, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Children of Men, The Forgotten, The Hours, Far from Heaven, The Shipping News and others
• Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie, The Sopranos, Then She Found Me, Copland, Homicide Life on the Street
• Ron Eldard – A House of Sand and Fog, Ghost Ship, Deep Impact, Super 8
• William Forsythe – for example Raising Arizona
• Aunjaune Ellis-Taylor – Get on Up, The Help, Ray
• Anthony Mackie – Ant-Man, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, American Violet, 8 Mile
• Clark Peters – Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri, London Spy, John Wick, The Wire, Notting Hill, Mona Lisa
• Domenick Lombarozzi  - God’s Pocket, The Wire, Miami Vice·        
• Why? The cast
• Seen: 16 August 2023                     

       Brenda’s (Moore) car is hijacked with her little son in the back seat. Lorenzo (Jackson) is the detective assigned to the case.

       Otherwise it’s like an episode of Homicide Life on the Street and The Wire with half the same actors. Also racism, drugs, cop feuds. I’m in the process of re-watching Homicide so I keep expecting Bayliss or Pembleton or Howard to walk in.

       Then the story – not completely credible but never mind, it’s dramatic – and the acting take over. Moore is completely believable as the mentally unstable mother.

       Flawed, but strong. 

3 ½ * of 5