Brian Anthony Wilson, Danny Hoch, Elvis Costello

Like Chicago, Prison Song is a musical set behind bars, but there's no dancing and minimal singing. Elijah is a talented 10-year-old photographer. His mother (R&B diva Mary J. Blige) wor...( read more  read more... )ks at a fast food joint and dreams of becoming a lawyer. The sky's the limit until Elijah, his mother, and his mother's boyfriend (Harold Perrineau) are all locked up for various offenses. The story picks up several years later as Elijah (now played by A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip) is accepted to college, but ends up in prison after accidentally killing another group home resident (rapper Fat Joe). Prison Song was cowritten and produced by Q-Tip and Darnell Martin (I Like It Like That) and plays like an extended episode of Oz (in which Perrineau played a key role). Blige's "Mom's Song" is the musical highlight, and Elvis Costello appears as Elijah's teacher and lawyer, but does not sing. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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93% liked it

4,299 ratings

R

Directed by: Darnell Martin

Release Date: April 27, 2001

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DVD Release Date: January 14, 2003

Stats: 211 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (211)


  • July 30, 2008
    i cried when i saw this movie its a clean mirror of the life of the black americans.
  • June 28, 2008
    i like this movie,as well,reason is mary j blige
  • June 22, 2008
    this film is really sad
  • May 12, 2008
    Oh oh! Is it the one that goes like this?:

    The lord said to Noah,
    there's gonna be a floody floody...
    something and something...
    it's going to be muddy muddy!!
    Get those animals,
    onto the arky arky,
    Children of the Lord!!

    Is it that one? I like that one so much. ^__^
  • March 31, 2008
    I've seen this movie being shown on the BET channel so many times. I actually, didn't care for it to much, but it does have its good moments.
  • February 11, 2008
    Th SADDEST...but loved it with all my heart
  • August 19, 2007
    Could be worth a viewing, would like to see it sometime in the future.
  • July 13, 2007
    i love this movie...yo is soo sad..n its all soo sick..i jus luv it soo much..like one of ma fav movies
  • July 9, 2007
    This is a good ass movie

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Prison Song Trivia


  • What Johnny Cash song can be heard in the background when Memphis first meets Otto, in Gone in 60 Seconds  Answer »
  • in "Walk The Line" What song did the character Johnny Cash make while he was in the air force?  Answer »
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