Down in the Delta

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Down in the Delta

PG-13

1998

1h 51m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

76%

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71 Reviews

71%

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1,000+ Ratings

Sinclair family matriarch Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice) raises enough money to help her two grandchildren and drug-addicted adult daughter, Loretta (Alfre Woodard), move to a small Mississippi town in order to escape the dangers of inner-city Chicago. There, Loretta and her kids are taken in by her gruff uncle, Earl (Al Freeman Jr.), who attempts to instill a work ethic and sense of history in his niece. With the help of Earl's tough love, Loretta does her best to put her past demons behind her.

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Critics Consensus

Although director Maya Angelou is done few favors by a screenplay drawn in broad strokes, Down in the Delta offers some fine performances and a heartfelt message.

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Veronica Chambers

Newsweek

01/09/2023

Angelou manages to make the South a character with the ability to heal and mature.

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

01/09/2023

Maya Angelou's very deliberate blocking of the actors charges each movement and line of dialogue with emotion, and the expressive combinations of colors and textures in the settings convey a palpable sense of the environments.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

01/09/2023

3.5/4

Director Maya Angelou, the celebrated author, makes an impressive filmmaking debut by pacing her story slowly enough to make Woodard's transformation credible.

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Katherine Monk

Vancouver Sun

01/09/2023

3/5

For a first feature, however, Down on the Delta serves as a good screen introduction to an important American presence.

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Deirdre Dolan

National Post

01/09/2023

Even though it's free of stunts and sentimentality, the slow pace and loud, unambiguous morality, has a subtle, disappointing preachiness.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

01/06/2023

Down in the Delta demonstrates that those who talk less, say more. [Full review in Spanish]

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08/18/2021

The movie exceptionally good, a black american treasure. Alfre Woodards acting power is in her body language and unspoken words. As well as Mpho Koaho performance. I really don't expect white institution like rotten tomato to give this a true score.

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adam b

10/21/2019

A well done feel-good film that is well acted but could of been made better

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02/24/2013

This was such a beautiful movie

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02/11/2013

One of those feel good transformational movies.

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09/21/2012

This is a STRONG movie. It touches on the bond of family like no other movie really has in a long time. I started watching this movie to put me to sleep but It drug me in and I couldnt stop watching.

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04/29/2012

Nice positive movie, but felt a little "afternoon special" like at times.

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Maya Angelou

Director

Alfre Woodard

Loretta Sinclair

Al Freeman Jr.

Earl Sinclair

Mary Alice

Rosa Lynn Sinclair

Esther Rolle

Annie Sinclair

Loretta Devine

Zenia

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79%

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Synopsis

Sinclair family matriarch Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice) raises enough money to help her two grandchildren and drug-addicted adult daughter, Loretta (Alfre Woodard), move to a small Mississippi town in order to escape the dangers of inner-city Chicago. There, Loretta and her kids are taken in by her gruff uncle, Earl (Al Freeman Jr.), who attempts to instill a work ethic and sense of history in his niece. With the help of Earl's tough love, Loretta does her best to put her past demons behind her.

Director: Maya Angelou
Producer: Reuben Cannon, Robert W. Christiansen, Victor McGauley, Rick Rosenberg, Wesley Snipes
Screenwriter: Myron Goble
Distributor: Miramax Films, Showtime Entertainment
Production Co: Chris/Rose Productions, Amen Ra Films, Showtime Networks Inc., C & A Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital