just watch it!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This is a role that Billy Bob Thornton could play in his sleep and maybe he did, it's hard to tell. But then again, most of the cast seems to be only a few steps from lethargy. Even the inner city Black kids are unbelievably restrained. There is a lot going on here that is unbelievable.The nonthreatening environment in an alley alienated from rude behavior, or for that matter a city slice of life society that seems to exist in some sort of nether-land that is somehow protected from dirt, stench, and bad behavior. It is a soft spoken world where no one shouts or gets really angry, and when they do it is done (as in the inevitable ending confrontation) with a laid back, laconic style.The whole film plays this way and would have worked much better as a play. But even then it would be such a superficial study of the most deep emotions delivered in such a subtle way, that you can almost see the audience straining for some kind of insight or verisimilitude.There is not much answered and ambiguity can be an asset, but this is just too shallow and serene to be anything more than a sleepwalk through a little place in a fantasy land called Redemption where nothing is real or even interesting.

Actress Holly Hunter is wasted in "Levity", a schmaltzy, contrived, by-the-numbers drama about an ex-con (a fishing for accolades Billy Bob Thornton) who attempts to atone for a murder he committed 22 years ago. In this regard Thornton returns to the city in which he used to live, befriends a preacher, women, kids and works in community houses. When he meets a rebellious teen who seems destined to a life of crime, Thornton steps in and helps nudge the kid in the right direction.Slow, self-important, assembled from clichés and filled with stock characters stuck in a stock plot, the film is painful to watch. For this film done better, see "The Yellow Hankerchief" or "Frozen River".2/10 - Worth no viewings.

A clearly-written, thoughtfully-directed movie about a convicted murderer who seeks redemption for his crime. Writer/director Ed Solomon has a great knack for writing pointed, meaningful dialogue between his characters. I was impressed by the unity of his direction: the camera-work, lighting, production design, and music all work to create an engaging world.Billy Bob Thornton gives a wonderfully wistful performance, using subtle changes in expression to show us what his character is feeling. Morgan Freeman's character (the preacher) is very direct and no-nonsense – a perfect foil for Thornton. And Holly Hunter and Thornton's relationship is handled with a delicate touch. The inner-city kids, primarily background characters, also seem realistic, and the movie makes some fairly insightful observations about the roots of violence.I found myself thinking about the story and characters for several days afterwards. I highly recommend this movie.

If your looking for a review sorry, keep looking, I just really liked this movie and here is why. I got about 3/4 of the way through this movie and didn't realize it, which mean something for me. By the end I felt satisfied but disappointed it was over. I don't want a sequel, just more movies like this one. This movie seems more realistic to me than most Hollywood movies, except holly hunter and Billy bob Thornton's relationship which seemed off. It wasn't about some "sinner" who is looking for redemption, finding it through miraculous kindness or somebody telling him what to do. This is about a man who doesn't want to find redemption because he doesn't think it exists. Mabey it is because I can relate to some of the things said but there were no great overall fantastic things done to right the troubles of all of the character's lives. But people helped each other by doing mortal things, that's what I got from it all. It's a better message than saying everyone has greatness or a superman, mother Teresa in themselves, some people don't want that, or they don't want it yet, life is enough. Things can be done while people search for their greatness, and those things can be great for some. I hope this makes sense in relation to the movie, its not about bleed hearts, it's about life at a glance, lives that could be movies in themselves. It was all enhanced by amazing cinematography and a great sound track these both set a mood which enhanced the movie.