Down in the Delta

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Down in the Delta

PG-13

1998

1h 51m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

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71 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

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.

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

Crooklyn

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