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Poster for Civil Brand

Civil Brand

Never underestimate the power of a woman... behind bars.

2003 · 1h 35m · R Crime, Drama, Thriller
Directed by Neema Barnette

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Overview

Forced to work under slave-like conditions in a "prison for profit" program, the inmates of a mostly-African-American female prison, Whitehead Correctional, try to take over the institution.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
16%
Tomatometer
Rotten

It's impossible to ignore the strain of misogyny that taints the movie.

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Rotten

It's guilty of gross B-movie meltdown, but mitigating circumstances include honest anger and a scattering of vivid scenes.

Bob Campbell, Newark Star-Ledger
Rotten

Barnette, a veteran TV director, means this as an expose of prison abuse and exploitation, but the film is too simplistic and derivative to succeed.

V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Rotten

Artistically, its heavy-handed clumsiness undercuts its goals.

Tom Long, Detroit News
Rotten

It presents a heated-up, awkward blend of earnest outrage and down-and-dirty exploitation.

A.O. Scott, New York Times

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