Lift (I) (2001) User Reviews

Slightly above par Afro-Am indie drama

[=G= · 6/10 · 7 July 2002]

"Lift", an African-America drama, is a slice-of-life flick about a middle-class young black woman and professional shoplifter (Washington) who has issues with her underworld competition, the police, and, most of all, her family. A slick shoot, "Lift" lacks focus and purpose, fails to engage, and plays out like an on-screen litany of the problems which can beset an attractive young female "booster". Nonetheless, there's enough going on hold viewer interest and make up for the lack of empathy we feel for the comely criminal protagonist. Worth a look on Showtime. C+

Not foe the casual viewer

[russel-lance-mendenhall · 7/10 · 11 July 2005]

I actually saw this show at the Sundance Film Festival and met Kery Washington. This movie was well done and Washington was exceptional in her role. She will excel as an actress if given the chance to do so. However, this is a difficult movie to mass market and appeal to a wide audience. This movie is not for the casual viewer. The challenge faced by Washingtons character is vividly seen and makes you feel for her. Yet in the end it's hard to feel bad for her because of her choices. The frustration lies with the people she surrounds herself with. At times she has the chance to chose a better life but does not due to her environment. Her potential is precluded with her bad habit.

Not My Cup of Tea

[view_and_review · 5/10 · 8 January 2021]

If shoplifting was an art, then Niecy (Kerry Washington) would be the Van Gogh of shoplifting. She had the look, the swagger, and the skills to pull off boosting in even the most chic retail stores of Boston. Too bad the movie was more about her personal drama than the drama surrounding her larceny.

Based upon a synopsis I read I thought that Niecy was going to be in trouble with a local theft ring. She did one job with the boosting gang, there was trouble, and that pretty much ended her dealings with the gang of thieves. More focus was placed upon her contentious relationship with her mother (Lonette McKee) and her fire and ice relationship with her boyfriend Angelo (Eugene Byrd). Relationship drama is not my cup of tea.

Family Problems and Larceny

[hillari · 18 October 2001]

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.

Noble effort, but still a miss

[turkam · 4/10 · 26 May 2003]

I must say give the filmmakers and cast credit for making a sincere effort to bring a relevant social drama to the screen. It is also good to see such films that would otherwise be overlooked get made with limited funding. Nevertheless, "LIft" is proof that an adequate screenplay, a capable cast and a worthy subject manner do not always turn into good movies. Much of the action is stilted, and the dramatic scenes are ruined by amateur directing and theatrical acting. The film feels forced and there are plot twists which seem to come straight from "Guiding Light." I think, however, films like this need to be viewed and studied for those of us who are chasing the unicorn that is filmmaking. On paper, and perhaps even in the editting room, this may have well appeared to be a good film. Alas, a good recipe and the right ingredients do not always guarantee a good pie. Just as there are films which would have seemed awful in a board room but turned out quite good, this one simply falls short but a worthy effort nonetheless.

lyrical, slick, tense and real

[feverdeang · 8/10 · 29 January 2001]

A popular hit at this years Sundance Film Fest, Lift showed how love and money, family and friends can become confused in the search for status. Niecy works at a ritzy department store which covers for her real job as a steal to order shoplifter. All her friends love her as long as she delivers the goods. Even her mother pressures her for extravagant presents. Her boyfriend smokes pot, dreams of being a rap producer and looks down on her shoplifting "business" while hypocritically Nicey looks down on him for smoking pot! When she has to join forces with a gang leader to lift an especially expensive gift for her mother the pressure and fate conspire and her world crumbles. Filmed in Boston with an almost completely African- American cast, Lift doesn't take the easy cliched way out, but explores the well drawn characters emotions and their limitations. A solid, well crafted drama.

Inspired and remarkable. Put simply--this film is breathtaking.

[bwilliams-1 · 9/10 · 9 February 2001]

If I never see another film, my thirst for sincere and captivating performances will be quenched by the shining Ms. Washington and the amazing Barbara Montgomery. This film, despite its rather gloomy setting, is eventually all about redemption and hope. The stories of those in Lift are noble, real narratives about love, courage, and transformations. This powerful film makes a fitting and powerful commentary about the dangers of materialism and about internalizing mainstream (read: white) notions of beauty and worth, especially for those in the African American community.

The story of Greed...

[AppleAsylum · 8 May 2003]

I watched LIFT last night on Sundance. This film was a story of a girl who works as a display artist at an upscale department store. However, on the side she has a part-time job... she steals high priced items (clothes, jewelry, etc.) and sells them to locals around the urban neighborhood. Kerry Washington is an excellent actress that pulled the part off! The movie touches on emotional past issues with family that may hit close to home for some. The movie itself is kind runs kind of bland with no real climax except for the "final job" that Neicy wants to pull in order to please her mother(who needs therapy.) Greed gets the best of everyone & she pays the price through Karma. 6 out of 10