'American Violet' review

Small-town mom vs. smarmy politician in a racially fueled smackdown

By Alexis L. Loinaz

Posted April 16, 2009

Metromix

When young black single mother Dee Roberts (newcomer Nicole Beharie) is wrongfully accused of drug trafficking in small-town Texas circa the 2000 presidential elections, she sets into motion a contentious investigation into corrupt, racially motivated practices at the local D.A.'s office, headed by powerful D.A. Calvin Beckett (Michael O'Keefe). Also featuring Alfre Woodard as Roberts' mother and Xzibit as Roberts' baby daddy.

The buzz: Based on a true story, "American Violet" has the earmarks of an "Erin Brockovich"–type tale: man versus the system, curtailed civil liberties, a struggling but principled single mom, powerful people up to no good.

The verdict: Unfortunately, this run-of-the-mill, been-there-done-that flick recycles every legal-thriller trick in the book, from the mother's victimized backstory to the idealistic lawyers (played by Tim Blake Nelson and Will Patton) trying to save her to the evil politician out to destroy her. The clichés don't make this a bad film, but they don't win any points for freshness either. "American Violet" bombards moviegoers with so many sermons about the injustices of the world that you half expect Sally Field's Norma Rae to show up waving a placard that reads "Message movie!" As the D.A., O'Keefe plays a trite, cardboard cutout of a villain who seems to have purchased all of his evil sneers and tics wholesale from the Evil Guy aisle at Costco. Or, maybe he just watched Jack Nicholson one too many times in "A Few Good Men." He practically screams "You can't handle the truth!" Uh, more like "We can't handle bad caricatures of corrupt politicians!"

Did you know?: Check out the website of the film's real-life heroine, Regina Kelly, listing details of the case, as well as a schedule of her personal appearances including stops in Atlanta, Philadelphia and San Francisco.