Our America (TV 2002)

The true story of two African-American teen radio reporters and their documentary investigation of a notorious child murder.

Director:

Ernest R. Dickerson

Writers:

LeAlan Jones (book), Lloyd Newman (book),

Stars:

Josh Charles, Brandon Hammond, Serena Lee

5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Josh Charles	...	Dave Isay
Brandon Hammond	...	Lloyd "Boo" Newman
Serena Lee	...	Janelle Jones
Roderick Pannell	...	LeAlan Jones
Irma P. Hall	...	June Jones
Peter Paige	...	Gary Covino
Vanessa Williams	...	Sandra Williams (as Vanessa A. Williams)
Mykelti Williamson	...	Graham Ellis
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rukiya Bernard	...	Sophie Newman
K.C. Collins	...	James (as Chris Collins)
Neil Crone	...	Paxton Wade
Jordan Duncan	...	Eric Morris
Jordan Francis	...	Derrick Morris
Maxine Guess	...	Mrs. Shaw
Gene Mack	...	Stick Newman

Storyline

Our America is the true story of two bright and ambitious Chicago teenagers who, living in one of the worst inner-city neighborhoods in the country, get a chance to become reporters for NPR. Their reporting becomes more compelling when they gather the courage to tell the truth about witnessing two of their peers throw a four-year-old out of a 14th story window.

---

Plot Keywords:

radio | reporter | murder | ghetto | radio reporter | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violent content

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 2003 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Nuestra propia historia

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Come Sunday Productions, Paramount Pictures, Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

LeAlan Jones: I live in the ghetto. I'm supposed to be a loser. I'm supposed to be snatching a purse and shooting your head off. I'm a person that doesn't vote. I'm the motherfucker that's supposed to fill your jails. I'm not supposed to be intelligent; I'm not supposed to know what I know, but I do. I've got an uncle and a cousin that are career criminals, no father, a mother who was pronounced mentally ill, and a grandmother that raised him and twenty kids, but I'll still make it. I know you don't want to ...

User Reviews

Quality, inspirational film

I don't agree with the first reviewer at all. The movie does show illegal activities on the part of the main characters as he pointed out, but that reality needs to be shown for the movie to be the least bit credible. The vandalizing of private property is not, unfortunately, and uncommon occurrence for young people. The movie shows that if you can reach these young people before random acts of vandalism grow into more serious criminal acts, you can save lives and improve society. The movie does have a unique message because it depicts, in a powerful way, the negative "world" that many similarly situated inner-city youths face. And.. it is inspiring because it reminds us of the untapped potential that may be festering beneath the surface, just waiting for inspiration and guidance. As I usually find with these kinds of movies, it takes both an intellectual thirst, and intellectual maturity, to truly appreciate the film in the way it was intended.