Gideon's Army

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Gideon's Army

2013

1h 36m

Documentary

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11 Reviews

88%

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250+ Ratings

Three young public defenders dedicate their lives to helping the people that society would like to forget.

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Aramide Tinubu

Shadow and Act

Gideon's Army is a straightforward, eye-opening snapshot at the uncelebrated, but incredibly crucial work done by a relatively invisible population comprised of government employees.

Aug 14, 2017

Full Review

Alan Scherstuhl

Village Voice

For all the harrowing truth here, about race and poverty and justice, the film is brisk and tight, alive with everyday detail and flashes of humor.

Oct 17, 2013

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David Hinckley

New York Daily News

Gideon's Army does what the best documentaries have always done: It makes us think about something we'd rather not.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2013

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Nicole Ackman

FF2 Media

While not necessarily groundbreaking film work, it's a much needed piece to reveal what the people who work this largely thankless job go through daily.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 2, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

Playback:stl

While both the structure and most of the content of Gideon's Army are familiar, it does raise a few issues often left out of similar issues docs. One is the fact that many of the defendants are in fact guilty...

Rated: 7/10

Apr 8, 2014

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Kevin Jagernauth

The Playlist

If Gideon's Army underscores anything it's that the right to counsel is being following in America by the letter of the law, but not the spirit.

Rated: B

Oct 17, 2013

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Audience Member

A raw look at the impossible job that public defenders have. An incredibly inspirational story of 3 individuals who fight for those society would turn away from and abandon.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

As someone who studied Criminal Justice, nothing in this documentary really stood out or was new to me. It'd be good for someone who has little to no idea about what public defenders go through on a day to day basis.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

This was an awesome documentary showing the hectic lives of public defenders. It shows public defenders deal with a lot of shit and not as much money as you think. And, they are not heartless. It breaks the stereotypes for defense lawyers, at least for public lawyers anyways. Definitely watch if you think justice systems are a joke.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A wonderful documentary about a very important topic. Director Nyree Dawn Porter really cares about her subjects, and chooses to give us a human story rather than just focus on the bigger issues. Like any good "true story" the characters are at the forefront, and the issue of the documentary becomes clear as we care about the people involved. It's so much easier to care about an issue when you're emotionally invested in the lives of people who are affected by the issue. This is what Porter does so effectively in Gideon's Army, and it's a film everyone in America should see.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An inside look at public defenders. It will give you a newfound respect for these hardworking professionals.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

interesting and touching exploration behind the scenes, what public defenders go through.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

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Dawn Porter

Director

Matthew Hamachek

Screenwriter

Dawn Porter

Screenwriter

Dawn Porter

Producer

Julie Goldman

Producer

Paul Brill

Original Music

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Synopsis

Three young public defenders dedicate their lives to helping the people that society would like to forget.

Director: Dawn Porter
Producer: Dawn Porter, Julie Goldman
Screenwriter: Matthew Hamachek, Dawn Porter
Production Co: HBO Documentary Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 5, 2015
Runtime: 1h 36m

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