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Gideon's Army

Play trailer Poster for Gideon's Army 2013 1h 36m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Three young public defenders dedicate their lives to helping the people that society would like to forget.
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Gideon's Army

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Gideon's Army

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Movie Info

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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