In the annals of acting, 2004 will be remembered as a banner year for Jamie Foxx. Before his acclaimed turns in Collateral, alongside Tom Cruise, and Ray, the Ray Charles biopic, he produced and starr...( read more  read more... )ed in this made-for-cable movie about former gangbanger Stan "Tookie" Williams. Directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Vondie Curtis Hall (Gridlock'd), Redemption tracks Tookie's rise as co-founder of L.A.’s notorious Crips, fall to death-row inmate, and rise again to Nobel Prize Nominee. Tookie’s reminiscences to journalist Barbara Becnel (Lynn Whitfield), while he is on death row, frame the story. Virtually unrecognizable from his days on In Living Color, a buffed-up, dreadlocked Foxx gives an effectively low-key performance, while Whitfield also shines in a less rewarding role. Redemption may not have the grandeur of Malcolm X or The Hurricane--and Tookie's transformation from man of violence to man of peace happens too quickly--but his story is just as inspirational. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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85% liked it

2,334 ratings

Unrated, 93 min.

Directed by: Vondie Curtis-Hall

Release Date: March 3, 2004

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DVD Release Date: August 17, 2004

Stats: 194 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (194)


  • August 21, 2009
    Jamie's performance in this is fantastic
  • July 23, 2009
    A very good biopic, most of us woulnt have heard about it. Most of you probably wouldnt have heard about Stanley "Tookie" Williams.

    Take a trip into California State Supermax and meet the man responsible for the gang wars and bloodshed which has taken over South Central LA for t...( read more)he last 30 years... but you are not going to meet a crazy, drug dealing , psychotic gang banger with a grudge against society. Instead you'll meet an intelligent, clear minded and philosophical death row inmate who changed the world... by writing children's help books. Tookie Williams has decided to seek redemption for his crimes and his legacy by choosing to help the young kids by educating them on the right path in life, before his death sentence is carried out.

    With the help of a sympathetic journalist, Tookie manages to change his legacy from hate and violence to a message of peace, which brings the attention of the world to him... and in turn recieving a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

    Foxx's performance is the key here - as the blurb states, 2004 was his golden year and this was no exception for displaying his acting talents. The movie is obviously one sided a bit, and a lot Tookie's past life is hidden. But of course, the movie is focused on the man's transformation in prison and his effect on the world.


    Enjoy it if you like bio pics... just dont expect big budget greatness, its a movie which is pulled by raw talent alone. And does it very well.
  • June 8, 2009
    Extremely under rated, yet this was an excellent movie and performance by Jamie Foxx
  • June 5, 2009
    Not the best jail movie but its a true story about the creator of the crips worth watching for sure.
  • May 12, 2009
    wow, foxx and whitfield!! what a story.
  • June 27, 2008
    Sad sad movie goddamn. Screw Arnold, what a sucker.
  • March 16, 2008
    An alright movie. Jamie Foxx's role surprised me a bit.
  • January 29, 2008
    Foxx is 2 overrated....
  • January 18, 2008
    About Stanley Tookie Williams the CriP gang leader & his journey 2 redemption while on death row

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  • ADOG2DAGIZZLE
    September 4, 2007
    U kan be a Blood or a Crip, the suffering in our eternal struggle iz da same, there iz a khanke 4 peake.

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Redemption - The Stan "Tookie" Williams Story Trivia

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  • he was in 4 movies in the year of 2004:"Ray","Collateral" , " Breahin'All the Rules" and "Redemption:The Stan Tookie Williams Story".he is...?  Answer »

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