This movie rating is 8.7. Don't believe the hype. My guess is the people associated with making this film gave it all 10s. I gave it 2 stars. The film has no plot or story line at all. None of the characters were worth rooting for or caring about. I guess one of the characters trying to be a rapper is what the writer "thought" is a plot, but no. A stereotypical over used stable in a lot urban films. I've seen low budget films that turn out to be gems, this isn't one of them. The acting was atrocious.
4 Reviews
Great tribute to Menace to Society
angiequidim3 June 2015
Set Me Free is the story of freeing oneself from the bonds of social, verbal and physical oppression. Four young African American men have aspirations to "get out of the hood" and elevate themselves into a "better place". Each of these men all endure hardships, but they are not all of the same flavor. They all represent different types of people that the audience can relate to. All of them do have one thing: determination. If you like movies like Menace To Society and New Jack City, you will be able to relate to this type of hardship drama. The environment in which the story is set hits an inner city crowd but the struggle of the underdog is real in this movie.
Most of the credit has to be given to the director/writer who really captured the dialog of the streets. Each of the characters' voices are distinct and the actors have translated the script well. Keith is a rapper who uses his music to escape his current situation. Kevin sells drugs to help him get out of his situation. Both Keith and Kevin are complete opposites; one wants to get out in an honest way and the other doesn't care how he does it. Marcus Spencer plays Kenny; the young man who seeks education and knowledge to help him get out ot the ghetto. Korey is the last character who seems to be the person everyone takes their frustrations out on.
This movie is worth the watch and a modern look at an age old problem. It will be released on DVD in July so don't miss it.
Most of the credit has to be given to the director/writer who really captured the dialog of the streets. Each of the characters' voices are distinct and the actors have translated the script well. Keith is a rapper who uses his music to escape his current situation. Kevin sells drugs to help him get out of his situation. Both Keith and Kevin are complete opposites; one wants to get out in an honest way and the other doesn't care how he does it. Marcus Spencer plays Kenny; the young man who seeks education and knowledge to help him get out ot the ghetto. Korey is the last character who seems to be the person everyone takes their frustrations out on.
This movie is worth the watch and a modern look at an age old problem. It will be released on DVD in July so don't miss it.
Working for a better life
isaaccsweeney21 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Set Me Free is one of those movies that's going to be hard for many to review. On the surface, it's about an experience in "the hood" that not many of us who've never lived in a poor, urban environment will relate to. Yet, there's an underlying theme of escape (which is where the title comes from, I presume) that many will be able to relate to. We make choices in hopes of a better life. Sometimes we make the wrong choices. Sometimes, those wrong choices, no matter how many times we try to get away from them, catch up to us.
It's important to remember that this is low-budget fare. There's low budget, then there's low budget. This seems like the latter. IMDb says the budget was $20,000. So you're just not going to have the production value of movies with money. What the filmmakers have to rely on, then, is writing, acting, directing, and all those other things that a movie needs. Again, some of those things are hard to come by with a low budget. With money, you can afford tried and true actors and hi-tech equipment. Without it, you use your connections, hope to get lucky, or work really hard making your movie.
Writer/Director Big Spence (his real name is Marcus D. Spencer) has somehow found powerful actors to bring his authentic words to life. Some of the acting is dry or forced, especially in some of the supporting roles, but overall the acting is good, the direction is solid, and the writing is solid as well.
On to the movie: It's about four young African-American friends who deal with the hardships of their socioeconomic upbringing, all looking for ways to escape. One of the nice things about this movie is that all four of these men are very different, yet it's not hard to believe that they are friends. The characterization is commendable. Keith is a talented musician who wants rap to be his escape. He's played by Skipper Elekwachi and he gives a powerful performance, and we may be looking at an up-and-coming star. Kevin, played by Alphonso Thompson, is the one who does whatever he can to make a dime, mostly by selling drugs. He's the "bad" one of the group, but I use that term loosely. And Thompson's performance is strong as well. Keith and Kevin are often at odds; one wants to get out in an honest way and one wants to get by via less honest means. Writer/director Big Spence plays Kenny, who wants college to be his out. He's a good father and might one day be a good provider, but he's also broke and has relationship troubles. Korey, played by Alan "A Wal" Walker, is perhaps the least interesting of the bunch. He is Keith's cousin and Kevin's best friend (and Kevin's punching bag).
As mentioned, the directing is well-done, but it's Big Spence's writing that's really on key. The dialogue seems authentic and the characters can never be confused for one another. The value of the script really comes in the interesting characters. Of the four, none are all good or all bad. Keith tries to be honest and do the right thing, but he also steals some equipment he needs to cut his demo. Kevin seems horrible most of the time, but he is also the sole caregiver for his ailing father. Korey is a follower and unsure of himself, but finds a bit of a path at the end of the movie. Kenny is a good dad and loves his girlfriend, but he's a little bit of a player with bad taste in women. Still in many ways, he's the glue of the group, although Keith wants to be.
Things go right and wrong for each of them, but it's the interaction between these lifelong friends that's at the heart of the movie. As one character says, "there's supposed to be a creed" between the friends.
Not everyone will relate to this movie right away, that's true. It has some language that many are only familiar with from popular hip hop, and the n-word will make many uncomfortable. But the theme of escaping a bad situation for a better life is a universal one. This move captures just how important and difficult escaping can be.
It's important to remember that this is low-budget fare. There's low budget, then there's low budget. This seems like the latter. IMDb says the budget was $20,000. So you're just not going to have the production value of movies with money. What the filmmakers have to rely on, then, is writing, acting, directing, and all those other things that a movie needs. Again, some of those things are hard to come by with a low budget. With money, you can afford tried and true actors and hi-tech equipment. Without it, you use your connections, hope to get lucky, or work really hard making your movie.
Writer/Director Big Spence (his real name is Marcus D. Spencer) has somehow found powerful actors to bring his authentic words to life. Some of the acting is dry or forced, especially in some of the supporting roles, but overall the acting is good, the direction is solid, and the writing is solid as well.
On to the movie: It's about four young African-American friends who deal with the hardships of their socioeconomic upbringing, all looking for ways to escape. One of the nice things about this movie is that all four of these men are very different, yet it's not hard to believe that they are friends. The characterization is commendable. Keith is a talented musician who wants rap to be his escape. He's played by Skipper Elekwachi and he gives a powerful performance, and we may be looking at an up-and-coming star. Kevin, played by Alphonso Thompson, is the one who does whatever he can to make a dime, mostly by selling drugs. He's the "bad" one of the group, but I use that term loosely. And Thompson's performance is strong as well. Keith and Kevin are often at odds; one wants to get out in an honest way and one wants to get by via less honest means. Writer/director Big Spence plays Kenny, who wants college to be his out. He's a good father and might one day be a good provider, but he's also broke and has relationship troubles. Korey, played by Alan "A Wal" Walker, is perhaps the least interesting of the bunch. He is Keith's cousin and Kevin's best friend (and Kevin's punching bag).
As mentioned, the directing is well-done, but it's Big Spence's writing that's really on key. The dialogue seems authentic and the characters can never be confused for one another. The value of the script really comes in the interesting characters. Of the four, none are all good or all bad. Keith tries to be honest and do the right thing, but he also steals some equipment he needs to cut his demo. Kevin seems horrible most of the time, but he is also the sole caregiver for his ailing father. Korey is a follower and unsure of himself, but finds a bit of a path at the end of the movie. Kenny is a good dad and loves his girlfriend, but he's a little bit of a player with bad taste in women. Still in many ways, he's the glue of the group, although Keith wants to be.
Things go right and wrong for each of them, but it's the interaction between these lifelong friends that's at the heart of the movie. As one character says, "there's supposed to be a creed" between the friends.
Not everyone will relate to this movie right away, that's true. It has some language that many are only familiar with from popular hip hop, and the n-word will make many uncomfortable. But the theme of escaping a bad situation for a better life is a universal one. This move captures just how important and difficult escaping can be.
It makes think..
miryamcan-169076 June 2015
I think that this film is brilliant because, behind the irony and comedy of character's adventures, it reveals an important consideration about the necessity of being free and fulfilled. There are four men living in the same neighborhood, a real hood, where life can't be quiet so they must fight every day to survive in this place. I think is important for us to stop for a moment and think about the difficulty of living in a hood, with racism and prejudices. I also liked the way the characters face difficulties and obstacles, making certain situations really funny (personally, I've laughed out loud in some moments). So I highly recommend this film for a lot of reasons, but especially because it makes think.
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