Freedomland poster & wallpaper

Anthony Mackie, Aunjanue Ellis, Domenick Lombardozzi

A bloodied woman staggers mute and dazed into the emergency room at the Dempsy Medical Center. After treatment for shock and hysteria, Brenda Martin recounts to Dempsy police detective Lorenzo Council...( read more  read more... ) a horrific tale of being carjacked on the isolated strip of undeveloped land that divides Dempsy's urban housing projects from the blue collar town of Gannon, where she lives. She claims she was forced out of her car by a black man, but during the interrogation Council senses he's not getting the whole story. Only after hours of questioning does Brenda finally break down and confess that her four-year-old son, Cody, was asleep in the back seat of the stolen car. Led by activist Karen Collucci, members of the communities of Dempsy and Gannon unite in a search for the missing child, but the criminal investigation into the alleged kidnapping by a suspect who is presumed to be a local from the projects soon ignites long-simmering racial tensions between the two towns.

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33% liked it

96,468 ratings

Critics

23% liked it

146 critics

R, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Joe Roth

Release Date: February 17, 2006

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DVD Release Date: May 30, 2006

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Stats: 1,912 reviews

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Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council, Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin and Edie Falco as Karen Collucci in Freedomland (2006) Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin with Edie Falco as Karen Collucci in Freedomland (2006) Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council with Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin in Freedomland (2006) Freedomland (2006) Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council in Freedomland (2006) Freedomland (2006) Movie wallpaper - Council Director Joe Roth and Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin on the set of Freedomland (2006) Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin in Freedomland (2006) Freedomland (2006) Movie wallpaper - Brenda Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council, Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin in Freedomland (2006) Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council in Freedomland (2006) Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council in Freedomland (2006) Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council with Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin in Freedomland (2006) Director Joe Roth, Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council and Julianne Moore as Brenda Martin on the set of Freedomland (2006) Freedomland (2006) Samuel L. Jackson as Lorenzo Council in Freedomland (2006)
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Flixster Reviews (1,912)

  • RiderOfTheStorms
    July 24, 2009
    RiderOfTheStorms
    Made me laugh, Can't explain why?
  • garyX
    February 26, 2009
    garyX
    A bloodied woman stumbles into an emergency room accusing an unknown black assailant of stealing her car with her 4 year old son still sleeping in the back. Detective Samuel L. Jackson investigates while trying to diffuse the ensuing racial friction in the local projects. Hollywo...( read more)od has another stab at a thriller that tackles race relations, and once again is found wanting. The level of subtlety on display here makes Crash look like a gritty documentary, and Julianne Moore sniffles and whines her way through the film as a completely one dimensional hysterical mother. Even SLJ struggles to keep this sentimental drivel afloat, but despite his usual commanding presence, the weak script and trite dialogue means that following a couple of unbelievable plot contrivances and meaningless platitudes on the level of "God moves in mysterious ways" even he is starting to look embarrassed to be there. This is one of those films that you watch because the star names make you think it deserves attention, but by the end their choice to become involved with such simplistic, melodramatic nonsense makes you feel a little betrayed by them. If you're hankering for some race related drama done right (and even featuring the man himself) I'd stick with Do The Right Thing.
  • TheMachinist
    June 22, 2008
    TheMachinist
    How bad can somebody act? I've liked Julianne Moore since Boogie Nights and she also has Magnolia on her credits. But her acting in this totally horrible film is so awful. How annoying can somebody be?

    The acting in overall was one of the worst I've seen in a while. None of the ...( read more)actors can say that they did a good job.

    The script was also a total underachievement. Some of the lamest monologues can be heard in this one.

    I've never fastforwarded in a movie or skipped a chapter, cuz I think a movie is meant to be seen from start to finish, but I was so close to do it for the first time in my life.

    If you're waiting for a boring 2 hours where annoyment is lurking just behind the dark corner... go for it.
  • StaisilD
    June 4, 2008
    StaisilD
    Brenda Martin (Julianne Moore, Far From Heaven) walks into an emergency room in a rough part of town with her hands covered in blood. She has just been carjacked and Detective Lorenzo Council (Samuel L. Jackson, Pulp Fiction) is the investigator assigned to her case. When Council...( read more) learns that her son was in the car and is now missing, the case explodes. The case intensifies once racial overtones are introduced. Martin reports that the carjacker is a black man. The predominantly black residents of the housing project where the crime occurred become more agitated as hours pass and the (mostly white) police presence increases. Just as in real life, a missing white kid is big news while missing children of color do not seem as important. For every Natalie Holloway or Elizabeth Smart that consumes cable news, there is a missing child of color whom you never hear about. This racial dichotomy is the most interesting aspect of the plot. Samuel L. Jackson can always be counted on to bring a forceful and riveting character to life. Jackson's performance alone raises the level of the material. Julianne Moore's near constant hysteria is hit-and-miss. Her hysteria certainly seems warranted by the situation, but her overlong monologues belie the fact that she is an actor swinging for the fences. The story has a "ripped from the headlines" feel and, indeed, strongly resembles an infamous case that made national headlines. In the film?s defense, a mystery is only as good as its ever unpeeling layers, and it?s here that Freedomland saves face with mixed results. In the final, overlong stretch, when the black community becomes more confrontational with a Gannon Police force ready for a rumble, Brenda begins to unravel the mystery for us all. There's a lot here to admire, and everyone who doesn't live it needs the refresher on American race relations that Freedomland offers, but it's hard to come away from a viewing with anything other than despair.
  • 76Majikat
    September 12, 2007
    76Majikat
    Most definitely my favourite performance by Julieanne Moore. There is more than one storyline here. Great performances also from Samuel L.Jackson and a smaller part from Edie Falco.

    VERDICT: Without a doubt, I recommend watching (however I'm not gonna send out recommendatio...( read more)ns for this film, in light of topical issues)
  • Yelverton
    November 20, 2009
    Yelverton
    Powerful film, and Julianne Moore gives the performance of a lifetime.
  • entirelytoomuch
    November 18, 2009
    entirelytoomuch
    Very sad but poignant picture of human frailty. And racial tension.
  • thepowerofthebunny
    October 29, 2009
    thepowerofthebunny
    I'd rather be drinking a Samual Jackson than this film!!!
  • jennyvanderspek
    August 3, 2009
    jennyvanderspek
    julianne moore was the actress who really managed to keep this movie going, by doing a wonderful job at the role of hysterical mother Brenda Martin. The film leans towards boredom. Although the plot is reasonable, it just is dragged out to much and could have been shortened by fa...( read more)r. Half an hour shorter and it would have been better. The suspense in relation to the outcome of the story (will the boy be found?? alive????) and the end ersult is both surprising and different. Pity it's so long.
  • davebiker
    August 1, 2009
    davebiker
    SAMUEL L JACKSON WAS GR8!
    EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS MOVIE JUST DIDNT WORK FOR ME!

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Critic Reviews

May 12, 2006
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Moviemakers who exploit the suffering and death of children to ratchet up the dramatic stakes belong in the innermost circle of hell, but Freedomland -- clumsy and overwrought as it is -- earns the ri... full review

February 17, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Freedomland is, at best, a noble failure, which leaves the charred aftertaste of a burned opportunity. full review

February 17, 2006
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Freedomland, -- is a jittery, overwrought drama that does all it can to vanquish the fine performances lurking within it. full review

February 17, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It tries hard and means well. And I couldn't hardly wait for it to end. Freedomland falls short as entertainment. full review

February 16, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

There are places where you can see a subtler, angrier picture trying to kick its way out of the one you're watching. full review

February 16, 2006
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Steer clear of Freedomland, the movie. Your time would be better spent reading Richard Price's much more compelling 1998 novel. full review

February 16, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Roth takes three powerhouse actors -- Julianne Moore as the mother, Samuel L. Jackson as the cop who interrogates her and Edie Falco as another woman who lost her son -- and reduces their talents to r... full review

February 16, 2006
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

A monumentally overwrought story of child endangerment, racial antagonism, mob violence and police brutality, it provides some of our finest actors the opportunity to behave like bug-eyed, tinfoil-hat... full review

February 16, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Freedomland assembles the elements for a superior thriller, but were the instructions lost when the box was opened? full review

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Freedomland Trivia

  • Freedomland is based on the Susan Smith case.  Answer »
  • Which actress has starred in all of the following:- - The Fugitive - Far From Heaven - The Big Lebowski - Freedomland - The Hours  Answer »
  • Which actor starred in all of the following:- - Goodfellas - Trees Lounge - The Negotiator - Basic - Freedomland  Answer »
  • In which movie does Samuel L. Jackson have Asthma in?  Answer »
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