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Woman Thou Art Loosed
Magnolia Pictures

Woman Thou Art Loosed reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 55 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.0 out of 10
based on 24 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 13 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Starring Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Michael Boatman, Clifton Powell, Idalis DeLeon, Sean Blakemore, and Ricky Harris

Based on the best-selling novel by Bishop T.D. Jakes, Woman Thou Art Loosed is a moving tale of survival, faith, and redemption in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and tragic personal histories. (Magnolia Pictures)


GENRE(S): Drama  
WRITTEN BY: Stan Foster
T.D. Jakes (novel)
 
DIRECTED BY: Michael Schultz  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: March 8, 2005 
Video: March 8, 2005 
Theatrical: October 1, 2004 
RUNNING TIME: 94 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: USA 

Best American Film, 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
LA Weekly David Chute
Startlingly raw and honest, playing at times like one of those blistering Donald Goines blaxploitation pulp novels, only with Jesus.
Read Full Review
80
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
There's a bedrock honesty in Woman, Thou Art Loosed in its grasp of human nature and behavior. This is one faith-based film that pulls no punches.
Read Full Review
80
The New York Times Dave Kehr
Never backing off from big, emotional moments, but also fleshing out the necessary transitions between them, he has realized his finest movie. It's a renaissance for Mr. Schultz, who seems to be speaking with his own voice after all these years.
Read Full Review
75
Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
The screenplay is overwrought at times, but the acting is superb by any standard.
Read Full Review
75
Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach
There's a power to Woman Thou Art Loosed that transcends its limitations, a determined, heartfelt belief in the possibility of redemption.
Read Full Review
70
The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck
An earnest drama about spiritual redemption that is likely to strike quite a chord with certain audiences.
Read Full Review
70
Dallas Observer Julie Lyons
The strength of Woman is its unflinching look at people trying to grab onto a little dignity in their lives.
Read Full Review
67
Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten
This movie that wails with the intensity of a revival chorus is something we can all say amen to.
Read Full Review
63
Boston Globe Wesley Morris
While the story couldn't be simpler and the filmmaking is crude, it forcefully addresses a reality.
Read Full Review
63
USA Today Claudia Puig
Offers a compelling portrait of human tragedy and the journey to redemption.
Read Full Review
60
Washington Post Desson Thomson
Ultimately, the movie's too uneven to be totally satisfying.
Read Full Review
60
TV Guide Maitland McDonagh
You may not care for the message, but there's nothing insidious about it.
Read Full Review
58
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker
For all the tough-minded talk and frank portraits of inner-city life, however, the film is not altogether convincing.
Read Full Review
50
New York Post Megan Lehmann
An earnest undertaking that unfortunately plays like a trite Lifetime movie.
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50
Variety Todd McCarthy
Notable for Kimberly Elise's ferocious lead performance and for the bigscreen exposure pic affords the charismatic Bishop T.D. Jakes, who plays himself and upon whose works the film is based.
Read Full Review
50
San Francisco Chronicle John McMurtrie
As a film it plays like a heavy-handed morality tale one might come across on a middling cable network.
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50
Portland Oregonian Marc Mohan
Could easily be seen as little more than a commercial for his (Jakes) life-changing influence. Call him the first of a new breed: the cinevangelist.
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50
Washington Post Ann Hornaday
At its best, Woman Thou Art Loosed conveys the unfathomable meaning behind those words.
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40
Village Voice Kris Wilton
Feels part reality show, part mockumentary, part Jakes promo video.
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40
Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall
The heavy-handed delivery may reflect the urgency of the message--that women need to face the past and stand by their children--but it impedes the drama.
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40
Film Threat Phil Hall
While I admire Bishop Jakes and I frequently watch his sermons on TV, I have to question his tactic of charging people admission to generate hosannas on his behalf.
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38
Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder
Jakes' characters are points to be made, flesh and blood cautionary tales that don't particularly feel human. His dialogue, even in the mouths of Michelle and her troubled mother, sounds as if it comes straight from the pulpit.
Read Full Review
38
New York Daily News Jami Bernard
If you're looking for cinema, skip this. But as a religion-based self-help workshop for victims of ­childhood abuse, it'sa deadly accurate button-pusher.
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25
Entertainment Weekly Gregory Kirschling
Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell from this confused mess (costarring Jakes as himself) what that message is.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jay H. gave it a4:
Disappointing, but the acting is pretty good. It's too severe and that made it unconvincing for me. It has some fine moments, but also some that just don't ring true.

Psean C. gave it an8:
This could have been a 2 hour TV movie on ABC. Instead of the characters talking in between segments commercials would have done justice. I give it a 10 if it was on ABC.

Bonnie gave it a10:
I would like to see a part two, where we can see what happened to Michelle, her mother, her friend and the relationship between Michelle and Todd. I too believe that the gun should have been dropped at the alter with the dress. I also feel that Bishop Jakes should have seen them struggling with their demons and stepped in to see what was going on. I would have loved to see Michelle's forgiveness and her mother's acceptance of the truth.

Burnice T. gave it a9:
It was a very good movie.

Kim gave it a10:
I rated the movie a 10 because I had never seen my life on film. I had only played it over and over again in my head and could never understand why it had such a profound affect on me. I was truly devistated and the older I get the more it haunts me. You see, you have to walk that walk to understand this spectacular movie. It's going to help someone. I will say that I will have to disagree with JT the outcome of this movie was perfect. Not that killing is right , but the emotion,hurt,pain and frustration makes you feel that way. The relationship between a mother and a child is pure love,godly love,breath. Nothing should come between that. Somehow they do and you will never look at that person that took not only your innocense, but your earth as well. The ending was perfect the door was on her house.

Ricardo J. gave it a10:
Very timley movie. it addresses not only the situation in America but Worldwide.

Jonea C. gave it a 10:
It some what tells what goesn on in everyday life to young girls.

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