Money Power Respect (2006 Video) User Reviews

Good job!

[botnfilms · 7/10 · 21 August 2006]

I am a filmmaker and I see quite a few films and read reviews. I rented this film despite some of the comments made by others on this site. After viewing the film I wondered whether or not people rent movies so they can trash them to feel better about themselves.

Truthfulness is important in story telling and I think this film is on the mark in that regard. This was written by someone who is obviously familiar with the world he writes about. The same cannot be said for films that many of us pay to see at the theater. The actors were inexperienced as indicated by the director in the commentary. The cinematography was good although some people may question why it was not "covered" a little more but if you watch the director's interview you learn that the shooting budget was 10,000 and they did not have control of all locations. Solid debut. I look forward to seeing more from this director.

Good Filming

[ramarg · 7/10 · 19 December 2006]

I was impressed by the film. It had realism and you were able to follow and understand the choices and consequences that surfaced in the the film. For a Low budget film (no disrespect) It was put together very well. I personally do not care for them. You can not honestly compare the flaws of and Indie film to a Major Motion Picture. Resources were limited and you basically make the best with what you have. Yes, Some of the acting was mediocre but you got the jilt of what was trying to be transposed. This film took you on a journey in the day and a life in the narcotics world. I grew up around such conditions and was able to relate to a lot of what was going on. If you were not exposed to this type of lifestyle, you will not understand the film and consider it poor or not fulfilling.

I would like to give Jamal Hill his props on this film. If he ever had any future projects in the works I would definitely work with him on it. Thats the vibes and self confidence I see in the production work. If you have not seen it yet, take time to check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Cool little movie

[mlkhil · 8/10 · 19 September 2006]

I don't care who says what, I like this movie. I'm from the inner-city and this story is a mirror reflection on my experience, not with all the killing but the same pressures. The acting was amateur, but it really kept my interest. I also listened to the director's commentary. It is the director's first film, he shot it trying with some friends in two weeks and got a distribution deal. That's cool. I'm almost jealous. It makes me want go out and do something with my movie ideas. I hope he keeps it up despite some of the "nay sayers". African-American film makers are a so few and far between, someone has to tell our stories. I thing there's a spot somewhere in Tinsel Town for him.

Another Scar Face ripoff

[bo-85 · 1/10 · 7 July 2006]

I watch a lot of low budget indie films. Sometimes you see a film that despite its modest budget is able to tell a story and entertain. This film however is not one of them. The film suffers from terrible sound, bad photography and bad editing. The sound is so poor that about a third of the film is incomprehensible. Many films shot on DV can display an adequate image. This film has every scene shown with a very high noise level; even the daylight shots! On the commentary track the DP brags that the night scenes were shot without lights. Well that explains why the actors look like moving shadows. At night you at least need to back-light actors to differentiate them from the background.

A competent director can work around technical issues and concentrate on acting blocking and coverage. The director appears to have given no thought on blocking. There are several scenes, such as when Levi visits his mother and little brother, where the actors are standing in front of one another and you can't see who is even talking! The acting is poor across the board and the director has decided to place the camera in a single position for an entire scene.

Absolute Garabge

[reddmonster4 · 3/10 · 11 August 2006]

Garbage pretty much sums the film up... The director seems to have put a lot of bad actors together in a bad script, (which is all one long bad cliché.) A lot of the dialogue is just not believable coming out of certain actors mouths. One example, after the drug dealer is robbed by Levi and Drew on their first job together he all of a sudden becomes a wise philosopher and utters "what goes up must come down..." before he gets stomped and shot by Drew. All said this a great movie for any aspiring filmmaker to watch. There is a lot to be gained from watching this as far as what not to when you have a DV camera and are shooting a film with mainly friends. The director, Jamal Hill seemed to be the only viable actor in the whole movie he's definitely better in front of the camera than behind it. His camera technique and shot selection were a bit lazy and uncourageous. Too much tripod and not enough hand-held. All in all the screenplay should've been re-written and edited a lot more and the director should've taken better care in the casting aspect of pre-production. It would have helped the film ten-fold. The story itself has been told a million times in films. From Scarface to every bad 'Hood'or 'ghetto' B movie ever created. In the commentary the director mentions he had a 10,000$ budget amazing how so much money could be wasted in such little time. It was amazing however how the director could push such bad material into an hour and forty minutes. Bottom-Line if you want to make movies and are young and inexperienced this is a very good bad film otherwise stay away, unless you like to watch garbage.

This movie has it all..

[refsp · 4/10 · 13 July 2006]

Oh yeah. It has bad actors, bad porn scenes, bad shoot ups, bad drug exchanges, bad everything. I don't know why I saw the whole thing, but I guess I needed to kill some time while cooking dinner. Either they're all crack heads trying to change course in life, or they're actors not worthy of they're titles. Drew is acting OK, but the main character should be expelled from further acting duty. The story is OK, but it seems like they have taken the common Italian Mob film, made a black ghetto version of it with minimized budget and low budget actors. I mean, even the "bling" looks cheap in this movie ! Naw, films like these just can't make it without Ice-T he he. Or, throw in Andre 3000 and make a decent comedy out of it, but please, don't do it like this. 'These clowns wouldn't last a day in Brandbergen', to quote a certain genius.

Great for the budget

[philavision · 9/10 · 24 August 2006]

One thing is for sure, two things are for certain, making films is a BIT-- and let me tell you, with no money and no time it's a SON of A BIT--. I'm not even talking about getting distribution or studio funding for your next script (Universal's $$$$$), but that's a new whole new topic. This isn't a job it's a life style. Your first film and your tenth will be worlds apart, if you make it to ten from all the discouragement you'll get form the "side lines". If you don't know try it. It's much harder then commenting on films all day. This movie is the beginning of one's journey, watch the conclusion, see how it all plays out. Best wishes. Big up to all indie filmmakers! U can do it, TRUST ME, I KNOW!!!!!

Money Power Respect Fan

[msentertain · 6/10 · 1 November 2009]

I know this movie came out a few years ago, but I just got a copy from my local video store..I thought I would be disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised. Yeah it was a low budget movie, that had no special effects (so what), no big movie star names, just new actors, and kinda the same old story as we have seen before, but at least the production value was pretty good, the cinematography (lighting) was pretty good and creative at times, and there are hot new faces in this film (which is a plus), considering what they had to work with... I loved the girls... they were beautiful and realistic to watch, - it had a good concept and was told with dignity.... the best part for me was the listening to the commentary by all the filmmakers... keep up the good work guys!!!

money power respect

[chellereene · 9/10 · 5 November 2006]

This movie was a great hood movie that started off slow, but then took you right in.The actors played their roles well and it made you feel like you knew them personally.My DVD of this movie is crystal clear and the audio is good it's not too low or jumpy, it's smooth all the way threw.Also the story line was great,I mean it's the story line of a lot of movies but so what every one has it's own unique turns and twist and that's what makes every movie different and when you live in that life like me or it's around you then you can really related and if you don't money power and respect will still grab you in and you will understand the life. Not only me but everybody that I let see the movie want's me to get them one and everybody in Detroit loves the movie,that's real so keep up the good work and Jamal if you make part two cause you can the way it ended let a sista know maybe you can give a fly chick a part in it. Keep shooting for the stars you'll make it

Michelle mcmurray

Solid Low Budget Debut Film

[dozyprats · 7/10 · 11 July 2006]

LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE PROJECTS FROM THIS WRITER/DIRECTOR!!!

I'm an AD, Camera Operator and Editor who has worked on many independent low budget productions from NYC to LA. Let me tell you, it is HARD to make things happen if you are just starting out! I was in Philly visiting a friend when I heard about the P.U.M.P. festival, where Money Power and Respect won Best Feature. I gotta say I was not looking forward to sitting through yet another low budget DV film. Generally speaking, the casts are amateur, the scripts are terrible and the shooting is really awful. They're often just made for a quick buck.

I saw Money Power and Respect and was very happy I stayed. It was not a 'ghetto mess' as I expected. What shines the brightest, I think, is the writing. The characters come across as real people, the young thugs on the rise to 'Scarface-esque' success have their own personalities and outlooks, rather than being one dimensional as they are in many low budget scripts. Also, hats off to the director, J. Hill, who wrote, directed, produced and co-starred as the sophisticated drug dealer Juan. It must have been a ridiculous challenge to wear all of those hats and get the project off the ground.

If you are a filmmaker or a writer who has dealt with the frustration of trying to make a SHORT FILM, let alone a FEATURE get off the ground in a minor city (i.e. not LA or NYC), you will appreciate this film.

Hell, you'll be inspired to write and locally produce your own scripts, or friends scripts -- because this film was made cheap and has been DISTRIBUTED in Best Buy and Tower and other outlets.

The bottom line is, before you can caught up in what the haters have to say -- keep a close eye on young talent like J. Hill. The buzz in Philly is that he has a new project with Lil Zane and Sundy Carter that will be coming out soon, and that will certainly catch the eye of other industry folks who will be looking to throw in some serious loot for future projects. In my experience, having seen many folks come and go, this is a solid debut from a writer/director who has a future in the business.

I'm rating this film 7 out of 10 NOT because I think it stands up next to big budget films that I think are 7s out of 10 (like Con Air, Fast and the Furious or, in a different genre, the recent The Breakup with Vince Vaughn) but because it is a very solid debut DV film that outshines many of it's competitors.