Set It Off

UPC: 794043131585

Studio: New Line Home Video

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Graphic Violence, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity]

Summary: The sophomore film effort from music video director F. Gary Gray, Set It Off is a crime thriller about four women bank robbers from a housing project in L.A. Ever since her parents' death, Stony (Jada Pinkett Smith) has had to act as a parent to her little brother Stevie (Chaz Lamar Shepard). She works in various capacities to make a future for him at U.C.L.A. Cleo (Queen Latifah) is a butch lesbian who wants nothing more than to customize her classic car. Tisean (Kimberly Elise) is a painfully shy single mother to her son Jajuan, struggling to make ends meet. Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) is the stylish bank teller who gets fired in the opening scene and ends up working with the other three at a janitorial service owned by irritating boss Luther (Thomas Jefferson Byrd). With Frankie upset from her unjust firing, Stony angry from the wrongful killing of her brother, and Tisean losing her baby to the child protective services, the four friends are motivated to rob a bank themselves. Looking for thrills, Cleo gets some guns from Black Sam (Dr. Dre in a cameo role), and they pull off their first job without a hitch. Their success starts a trend and they rob other banks in the area, all the while being investigated by Detective Strode (John C. McGinley). In a romantic subplot, Stony finds romance with wealthy Harvard-educated Keith (Blair Underwood) before the violent chase-scene ending. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Category: Crime

Awards: Best Supporting Actress – Independent Spirit Awards

Features: New featurette Setting It Straight: Making Set It Off
Ray J Let It Go Music Video
Theatrical trailer

Set It Off

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 09/08/2009

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 2.40:1

Audio: DTHD null, DD-EX Dolby Digital Surround EX (simulated 6.1)

Runtime: 124 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: French,Spanish

Andrea LeVasseur

The Hollywood crime drama Set It Off effectively uses the various injustices suffered by black women in the inner city as motivation toward a life of crime. The main asset here is that it's a rare instance of black women screenwriters (Takashi Bufford and Kate Lanier) writing for a cast of black women actresses. In contrast to the showy action scenes and the slick production design, the individual hardships and financial problems of the four women are realistic and believable. In an early scene, the four friends get high on a rooftop overlooking an abandoned factory, pining at the prospect of making 15 dollars an hour. Unfortunately, after they become bank robbers, the screenplay starts to suffer from the standard improbabilities of Hollywood action movies and plays out to a needlessly violent conclusion. Also unnecessary is the wild change in tone during the romantic relationship development between tough girl Stony and pretty boy Keith. This seems to be just thrown in for reasons of Cinderella-style wish-fulfillment. What is the most disappointing aspect of Set It Off is its brutal ending, where none of the hard work and sisterhood pays off for any of the protagonists. Though it has been frequently compared to Thelma & Louise, don't expect the same kind of thoughtful, moving catharsis in the final reel. This is just a decent action film, worthy for its initial setup and its unabashed view of gay lifestyles in the black community. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Dr. Dre  Actor 
Vincent Baum & Van  Actor 
Darryl Gibson  Actor 
Christopher Young  Composer (Music Score) 
Dale Pollock  Producer 
Oren Koules  Producer 
Takashi Bufford  Screenwriter 
F. Gary Gray  Director 
F. Gary Gray  Executive Producer 
Kate Lanier  Screenwriter 
Mary Parent  Executive Producer 
Jada Pinkett Smith  Actor 
Queen Latifah  Actor 
Vivica A. Fox  Actor 
Kimberly Elise  Actor 
John C. McGinley  Actor 
Blair Underwood  Actor 
Chaz Lamar Shepherd  Actor 

Country: USA