Lift (2001)

Niecy lives in inner-city Boston snd works at an upscale mall. Ambitious, intelligent, stylish, and a proficient shoplifter of clothes & credit cards, she's lured into a diamond heist. She'll find that crime pays - 'til the payback.

Directors:

DeMane Davis, Khari Streeter

Writers:

DeMane Davis (screenplay), DeMane Davis (story)

Stars:

Kerry Washington, Lonette McKee, Eugene Byrd

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Kerry Washington	...	Niecy
Lonette McKee	...	Elaine
Eugene Byrd	...	Angelo
Barbara Montgomery	...	France
Samantha Brown	...	Camille
Sticky Fingaz	...	Quik
Todd Williams	...	Christian
Jacqui Parker	...	Aunt Lily
Naheem Allah	...	Uncle Michael
Susan Alger	...	Shelly
Annette Miller	...	Miss Kearns
Sean Conant	...	Mac
Georgia Lyman	...	Kira
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matty Blake	...	Police Officer
Bo Cleary	...	Police officer

Storyline

This feature takes us into the world of "boosters" or shoplifters where a charismatic, intelligent young female booster from a dysfunctional family, notably her mother and grandmother, engages in the illegal occupation of shoplifting. A non-stereotypical view of how problematic family relations fed her foray into a criminal profession.

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Plot Keywords:

shoplifting | f rated | mother daughter relationship | african american | independent film | 

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Taglines:

Crime pays... 'til the payback.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and drug content

Did You Know?

Goofs

Following the funeral when Niecy is arguing with her mother at France's, the bag on the table is up, down, and up from cut to cut.

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Soundtracks

All M.C.'s
Written and Performed by Dujeous

User Reviews

Family Problems and Larceny

I saw this at the Chicago International Film Festival. The co-directors and screenwriters have to be applauded for mixing the age old plot about mother-daughter conflict with fresh crime drama. I found it intriguing that one of the reasons the main character was stealing was to gain attention and affection from her mercenary mom (the fabulous Lonette McKee). The detail that was put into presenting the world of boosting was excellent. The people responsible for the film explained that they have a hard time marketing it because of plot elements, having an African-American female lead (who's not Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox or Halle Berry), and not having a typical neat Hollywood ending. This is a good film, however; don't miss it if it comes by you.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

BET Pictures, Hart Sharp Entertainment, Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color