American Violet

Based on a factual account (chronicled in the documentary Tulia, Texas, reviewed in VL-9/09), director Tim Disney's (great-nephew of Walt) film tells the story of an African-American woman in a small Texas town who is wrongly rounded up in a drug raid orchestrated by a racist DA, but successfully battles the charge with the help of the ACLU and a principled local lawyer. Despite its tendency toward cliché, American Violet is surprisingly compelling, mainly due to the strong cast. Newcomer Nicole Beharie is excellent as Dee, the unjustly targeted woman, with strong support from veteran actress Alfre Woodard as Alma, her tough mother, who's not at all certain her daughter is doing the smart thing by fighting City Hall, and rapper Xzibit as Dee's estranged husband Darrell. Tim Blake Nelson plays nicely against type as the dedicated ACLU lawyer, and Will Patton puts his hesitant manner to good use as the honorable, but somewhat conflicted, local attorney. On the other hand, Michael O'Keefe as the publicity-seeking DA comes across too much like a standard-issue villain. Overall, however, American Violet will generate indignation over a system in which justice is blinded by bigotry. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Tim Disney, interviews from the Telluride Film Festival with star Nicole Beharie and real-life subject Regina Kelly (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a solid drama.] (F. Swietek)