SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

rdoyle29 DuVernay's documentary does an extremely good job of drawing a line from slavery to Jim Crow to the mass incarceration of black men in America, tying incarceration to the rider in the 13th Amendment that allows the enslavement of those convicted of a crime. The War on Drugs started by the Nixon administration (DuVernay includes an incredible quote from John Erlichman admitting that the "War on Drugs" was a ploy to persecute anti-war protesters and African Americans) is shown to have been a tool to exploit the public's fear of black men and push agendas to get people elected and to allow corporations to profit from the prison system. A superb documentary that perhaps attempts to make few tenuous connections here or there, but is generally spot on ... and amazingly infuriating as a result.

psychd-18722 This documentary was truly poignant and inspiring. I have no issue with the motivation or the legitimacy of the increase in prison population or the fact that minorities make up more of the population than social majorities. I also acknowledge and appreciate the patterns throughout history that may have contributed to this problem. I do, however, have an issue with the fact that many "facts" were exaggerated for the purpose of sensationalism. The ratios of population demographics, the prison population numbers, and the skewed political views made it very difficult to appreciate or trust the documentary's information. There are real numbers and statistics that support the basis of this film, however, they are not the ones presented in the documentary. For example, the population numbers are inclusive of local jail inhabitants despite being labeled "prison" population, increasing the numbers by hundreds of thousands for dramatic effect. Also, the documentary stats are that African-American males make up 6.5% of the US population, which is true. The documentary also states that African-American males make up 40.2% of the prison population. In reality, African-American Inmates of both genders make up 34.8% according to the Department of Justice's 2014 report. Hispanic/Latino inmates of both genders make up 34.9% while Caucasian inmates of both genders make up 27%. These numbers are accurate but not as dramatic as the ones presented in the documentary. They are still disturbing since they are not proportioned with the US population, showing minorities at a gross disadvantage since Hispanic/Latino and African-American races make up roughly 70% of the prison population despite only making up roughly 30% of the United States Population based on the 2010 Census. The problem is legitimate. The documentary's statistics are not. They also did not address the serious economic failings of our last president that contributed to poverty which contributes to crime, unemployment, and drug rates, however they did address failings in every other administration. The documentary was also politically skewed, using propaganda and voice overs out of context to disparage a certain political party or individual. Therefore, their political views could not be seen as objective either. Individuals presenting an issue of such grave importance should not allow themselves to be discounted by giving into the temptation for sensationalism, dramatics, and petty propaganda. Let the true facts speak for themselves to make known that the issue is real and must be addressed.

Edward Potter I am white, but not from the U.S. and years goes by, my hate I would describe it, to those whites or other racists gets stronger and stronger. I feel like those people are the real vampires that kill or see black people as their dinner blood. Back in my country we have black people but, there is no such a thing as racist or seeing them different than ourselves. Nobody would understand if you say they are black, should be treated different, NOBODY! And then America talks about human rights in the other countries, if you really care first fix it in your country. I have friends here black, white, Latinos and more, and I see no color. THOSE racist people should be evils that live with us. "Hell is empty, all devils are here", William Shakespeare, must meant those white, cruel racists. I watch lots of movies, especially these kind, and every time I see movies like that I wish I were a superhero or someone who could do whatever he or she wishes, and feel what people are thinking and kill those racists. I am white, but not from the U.S. and I am 100 % with "BlackLivesMatter". I am white, and I care about black People!

Michael_Elliott 13th (2016) *** (out of 4)Extremely well-made, if one-sided, documentary that takes a look at the 13th Amendment and the mass incarceration that many claims is haunting this country. The documentary takes a look at the prison system in America and we see how the populations in prison have gone up through each of the last five decades. We see the political punches that were thrown by Reagan, Bush and Clinton and how people hope things can be changed.In today's day and age it's hard to find a documentary that is fair or balanced because filmmakers have a cause when they make movies and they want to throw all of their opinions and facts into what they're trying to push. 13 is an extremely well-made movie and for the first hour it's an extremely balanced movie. With that said, the final half hour goes completely off the mark but we'll get to that in a bit.As far as the film goes, it does a terrific job at showing the prison system and how so many more people are now behind bars. The documentary did a great job at going decade to decade showing the various laws that opened the prison doors including the "Three Strikes and You're Out" policy and why many people are serving life sentences for minor crimes. All of this is brilliantly told and the way the evidence is laid out was wonderfully done.With that said, the final portion of the film turns into a more Liberal documentary where the likes of Michael Brown and others are brought up. We're told about how awful this country is and how people of color are being terrorized. Well, we know Michael Brown never had his hands up. Yet that is never mentioned here. We're constantly told about how crime rates are falling yet this documentary never talks about the locations where crimes rates are going sky high. There's no mention of Chicago. The film also fails to really make a point that if you didn't commit a crime to begin with then you won't have to worry about the system. It seems this documentary wants to take away any punishment for those who commit crimes.