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In Prison My Whole Life (2008)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.9/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 5

A disappointing and unfocussed death row documentary that deals with many worthy issues, but struggles to find its voice.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1

A disappointing and unfocussed death row documentary that deals with many worthy issues, but struggles to find its voice.

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 146

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Movie Info

Since his incarceration in 1982 for allegedly shooting a Philadelphia policeman to death, Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal has awaited execution on Death Row, vociferously protesting his innocence; he now qualifies as one of the most famous Death Row inmates in the world. Currently an author of five tomes and an on-air personality who broadcasts over the phone from prison, Abu-Jamal carries the support of no less than Nelson Mandela and the administrators of Amnesty International, who believe in

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Documentary, Special Interest

Directed By: Marc Evans

Written By: Marc Evans, William Francome

In Theaters: Jan 18, 2008 Wide

Cast

Critic Reviews for In Prison My Whole Life

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (5)

The legitimate case for death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal's retrial gets another airing in British helmer Marc Evans' unfocused, oddly naive In Prison My Whole Life.

November 17, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Jay Weissberg

Variety

Top Critic

This subjective approach subsumes the film's powerful subject, making 'In Prison My Whole Life' just another self absorbed agit-prop documentary.

October 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Tom Huddlestone

Time Out

A worthy film, highlighting what seems to be a rank injustice, but one that is irritating and poorly put together.

October 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Sam Jordison

Film4

Essentially a Trojan-horse documentary that purports to deal with the crime, it is actually a discussion on race, politics and the American psyche.

October 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Times [UK]

| Comment

Kevin Maher

Times [UK]

A well-meaning but unfocused documentary.

October 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]

| Comment

Andrew Pulver

Guardian [UK]

While some of the testimony, from the likes of Steve Earle and Mos Def is powerful, many of the parallels Francome and Evans attempt to draw feel slightly spurious and their conclusions lack sufficient back up.

June 13, 2008 Full Review Source: Eye for Film

| Comment

Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

It's something you need to see if you don't know anything about Mumia or if, somehow, you missed the notion that bigotry is rampant on the police force.

January 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Film Threat

| Comment

Jessica Baxter

Film Threat

Despite the complex subject matter the film retains a hopeful tone.

November 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine

| Comment

Caroline Henshaw

Boxoffice Magazine

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Audience Reviews for In Prison My Whole Life

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A passionate, unexpected documentary, exploring more than yourtypical mistrial case. For people in their 30s, it is a brand new, uncovered time in the American History that is explained here in a smart documentary work. Congrats.

March 4, 2011

Luc Martinon

An intriguing documentary, that questions equality of justice in 1980 in Philadelphia. I discovered some shocking piece of news, and if the tone can appear somehow naive, it cleaverly drives you to adress a moral issue. This film stays with you long time. A must have !

March 4, 2011

Lug Cinema

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