Our America (2002)

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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

60%

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Movie Info

Former Spike Lee cinematographer Ernest Dickerson directs this docudrama about boys, whose exposé of their lives rubbed some people the wrong way. Our America is based on an award-winning nonfiction book about a pair of African-American boys, Lloyd Newman (Brandon Hammond) and LeAlan Jones (Roderick Pannell), who gained fame after creating an award-winning series of National Public Radio pieces about their life in Chicago's Southside Ida B. Wells Housing Project. The drama amplifies when local community leaders object to the pieces and accuse the radio producer David Isay (Josh Charles) of racism. Vanessa Williams rounds out the cast as a school principal. This film was screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.
  • Rating:
    R (for language and some violent content)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Ernest R. Dickerson
  • Written By:
    Gordon Rayfield
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Showtime Networks Inc.

Cast

Josh Charles
as David Isay
Mykelti Williamson
as Graham Ellis
Roderick Pannell
as LeAlan Jones
Brandon Hammond
as Lloyd Newman
Peter Paige
as Gary Covino
Lee "Rod" Roderick
Irma P. Hall
as June Jones
Vanessa L. Williams
as Sandra
Rukiya Bernard
as Sophie Newman
Gene Mack
as Stick Newman
Mark Taylor
as Duane
Serena Lee
as Janell Jones
Djanet Sears
as Tootchie Jones
Justin Mitchell
as Lindell Newman
Daniel Farris
as Elvin
Jordan Francis
as Derrick Morse
Jordan Duncan
as Eric Morse
Lolo Molefe
as Lester
Maxine Guess
as Ms. Shaw
Camille Lawrence
as Anita
Leroy Allen
as A.C.
LeAlan Jones
as Rapper
Nathan Stephenson
as Rashan
Neil Crone
as Paxton Wade
Saskia Dunn
as Carla Boone
J.J. Fairweather
as Helen
Michie Mee
as Rita Grant
Edgar George
as Harold Stanley
Lloyd Newman
as Security Guard
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Critic Reviews for Our America

All Critics (3) | Top Critics (1)

[A] really strong work from start to finish.

Jul 22, 2002
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (3)

Audience Reviews for Our America

The movie is based on a true story of two boys growing up in the projects of Chicago. They get the opportunity to be reporters for NPR. They bring equipment with them to school and around the community to show what goes on in their daily lives. The documentaries they made were controversial and original. This movie gave an insightful look at the situation and the lack of future image the residents of the inner-city projects experience. One of the boys had no future and the other may have had a future, with help they both had a bright future. Anyone studying a career in Justice or Juvenile Justice should watch this. 3 Stars 7-23-13

Bruce Bruce
Bruce Bruce

Super Reviewer

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