Lift (2001/I)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Directors:

DeMane Davis
Khari Streeter

Writers:

DeMane Davis (screenplay)
DeMane Davis (story)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

This feature takes us into the world of "boosters" or shoplifters where a charismatic, intelligent young female booster from a dysfunctional family...

Plot Keywords:

Shoplifting | African American | Mother Daughter Conflict | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

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:
Bo Cleary	...	Police officer
John Fiore	...	Pearce
Pooch Hall	...	Derek
George Michael Jones	...	Security Guard at Kennedy's
Daniel Laurent	...	Jamal
Braun Philip	...	Dent
Manajhjanihe Royalle	...	Lisa's Customer
Kathryn Woods	...	Christian's Mother

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and drug content.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

BET Pictures

Soundtrack:

All M.C.'s

Noble effort, but still a miss

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.