Crime After Crime

Name: Crime After Crime
Genre: Biography, Crime, Documentary, News
Released: July 1, 2011
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Deborah Peagler

2011

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Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Crime After Crime

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Movie Details & Credits

Virgil Films & Entertainment | Release Date: July 1, 2011 | Not Rated

Starring: Deborah Peagler

Summary: Crime After Crime tells the dramatic story of the legal battle to free Debbie Peagler, an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence. Over 26 years in prison could not crush the spirit of this determined African-American woman, despite the wrongs she suffered, first at the hands of a duplicitous boyfriend who beat her and forced her intoCrime After Crime tells the dramatic story of the legal battle to free Debbie Peagler, an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence. Over 26 years in prison could not crush the spirit of this determined African-American woman, despite the wrongs she suffered, first at the hands of a duplicitous boyfriend who beat her and forced her into prostitution, and later by prosecutors who used the threat of the death penalty to corner her into a life behind bars for her connection to the murder of her abuser. Her story takes an unexpected turn two decades later when two rookie land-use attorneys step forward to take her case. Through their perseverance, they bring to light long-lost witnesses, new testimonies from the men who committed the murder, and proof of perjured evidence. Their investigation ultimately attracts global attention to victims of wrongful incarceration and abuse, and becomes a matter of life and death once more.… Expand

Director: Yoav Potash

Genre(s): Biography, Crime, Documentary, News

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 95 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Playlist Katie Walsh

Apr 6, 2014

Potash marks time by the year until the last 30 minutes of the film, when the clock intertitles speed up with the many advancements in her situation, building to a breathless finish that will leave the viewer emotionally crushed and yet also hopeful and joyous. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Jul 1, 2011

Recording every success and setback, the wrenching documentary Crime After Crime favors the personal over the political, creating a no-frills portrait of a stoic and remarkably unembittered woman. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Jul 8, 2011

A deeply affecting account of the very real effect of political corruption, but also of resilience and grace. Read full review

Andrew Schenker

Jun 28, 2011

It not only makes for riveting cinematic drama (all the more impressive given that it relies so heavily on recounted words rather than illustrated actions), but for first-rate muckraking. Read full review

John Anderson

Jun 28, 2011

Although helmer Yoav Potash's approach is low-key and only vaguely cinematic, each instance of judicial malfeasance -- and there are many -- is allowed to toll loudly in its own moral echo chamber. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Jun 28, 2011

The tale itself is extraordinary, so why not let it do the talking? When Crime After Crime sifts through the facts, we feel the pull of justice; those moments might be enough. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Vadim Rizov

Jul 2, 2011

Stylistically dull, Crime After Crime proceeds from one talking-head interview to the next, sticking to sentiment. Read full review

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User Reviews

popcornjoe

Apr 3, 2014

This gripping independent film provides a rare and intimate look at the legal battle to free someone who has been wronged by the criminal justice system. It's more dramatic and emotionally powerful than anything I've seen in years. I don't want to spoil anything, but it has severalThis gripping independent film provides a rare and intimate look at the legal battle to free someone who has been wronged by the criminal justice system. It's more dramatic and emotionally powerful than anything I've seen in years. I don't want to spoil anything, but it has several significant plot twists, and the people in it are absolutely riveting. The music is great too, much better than most movie music.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KingTor

Apr 4, 2014

This movie portrays a heart-wrenching story which is all to familiar to a large percentage of our nation's incarcerated women. The lengths to which this poor woman has to go in order to receive anything resembling justice are appalling, and the condemnation of the criminal "justice" systemThis movie portrays a heart-wrenching story which is all to familiar to a large percentage of our nation's incarcerated women. The lengths to which this poor woman has to go in order to receive anything resembling justice are appalling, and the condemnation of the criminal "justice" system is impossible to ignore. This story is grippingly and expertly told by filmmaker Yoav Potash. This is not just an issue isolated to one, poor woman and one unfortunately incident: this is a shockingly common story within our prisons, especially among female prisoners (as pointed out by the film). If you've gotten anything out of the social commentary in either the book or screen versions of Orange is the New Black, you should see this movie for the real picture of what's happening every day to our peers in our prisons.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

animatesf

Apr 3, 2014

With good reason this film received seven standing ovations at Sundance! It's personal, emotional and uncovers shameful things about our legal system. Footage taken within a prison, let alone one of the biggest maximum security women's prisons in the world, is impossible to get so this was aWith good reason this film received seven standing ovations at Sundance! It's personal, emotional and uncovers shameful things about our legal system. Footage taken within a prison, let alone one of the biggest maximum security women's prisons in the world, is impossible to get so this was a huge coup for the filmmaker. Should be required viewing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dsb

Apr 4, 2014

Crime after crime Is a interesting splice of life Woven in a tapestry of controversy It follows the struggles of a woman falsely Accused of murder Of her abusive pimp boyfriend With a excellent backstory of two young attorneys trying to get her out of prison I find this will be upliftingCrime after crime Is a interesting splice of life Woven in a tapestry of controversy It follows the struggles of a woman falsely Accused of murder Of her abusive pimp boyfriend With a excellent backstory of two young attorneys trying to get her out of prison I find this will be uplifting and positive… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

metamotivcritic

Jul 22, 2011

Although not the most cinematically adept or professional documentary of the year (and a bit too blatantly manipulative), the story of Debbie Peaglor and her interminable legal battle is so involving and so heart-breaking that it seems to me that only the heartless (ot the terminallyAlthough not the most cinematically adept or professional documentary of the year (and a bit too blatantly manipulative), the story of Debbie Peaglor and her interminable legal battle is so involving and so heart-breaking that it seems to me that only the heartless (ot the terminally chauvinistic) could fail to be moved by the movie. It is a stunning story from both a personal and a legal point of view; and (as in the case of The Last Mountain), it is a tragedy that so few people will see it (unless they tune it later to the Oprah network) and that the major newspapers again sent their 3rd string critics to review it. (The theater at which I saw the movie--the only theater in the area to show it--was playing it only one time per day.) The mix of personalities and backgrounds among the lead "characters" and their obvious affection for each other makes the movie even more compelling. Go see it before it closes (if it hasn't already).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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