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The Force

Play trailer 2:35 Poster for The Force 2017 1h 33m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The Oakland Police Department and its members struggle to confront federal demands for reform, a popular uprising following events in Ferguson, Mo., and an explosive scandal.
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The Force

Critics Reviews

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Tim Grierson Paste Magazine 10/27/2017
... we see why it's so hard for minorities to feel like they can trust those assigned to protect them. Two communities pull in opposite directions, perhaps permanently. Go to Full Review
Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times 10/20/2017
The result, unusual in a documentary involving the police and the public, is a film that does not advocate for anything but the truth, one that aims to show what happens on both sides of an issue rather than coming down in favor of one or the other. Go to Full Review
Peter Sobczynski RogerEbert.com 09/22/2017
3.5/4
A strong film that tackles a charged subject in a fair and even-handed manner. The Force will give viewers of all social and political persuasions much to think about afterwards. Go to Full Review
Vadim Rizov Filmmaker Magazine 01/11/2023
Peter Nicks’s super-solid doc The Force covers the notorious Oakland Police Department over the course of two years... Go to Full Review
Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site 02/22/2021
His diffuse liberal outlook, however, proves thoroughly inadequate in the face of Oakland's high levels of poverty and the anger of its residents against their treatment at the hands of the police. Go to Full Review
Erica Ciccarone Nashville Scene 06/17/2019
Nicks quietly challenges what you think you know about both the police and the people who most often are killed by them. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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07/27/2019 Oakland police cant hold a chief2014-2016 See more 03/08/2018 A friend of mine worked as a hospice night nurse in the community for 20 years and said she saw police with obvious PTSD and bullet-ridden cars with blood all over the seats struck by gangs. Brave police of every color work in Oakland- no matter how screwed up they are. The real crazy there is the Mayor Libby Schaaf. She tells cops and journalists, "As Mayor of Oakland, we are ending an investigation of racist text messages sent by African American police officers that are wholly unacceptable and inappropriate from anyone who wears the badge as a police officer". Good little meeting, but of course, the media and community don't publicize that because it doesn't fit the DNC narrative. Instead, she goes on national TV and calls ICE agents trying to do their jobs "Racists", after she puts them in danger by alerting the criminals of their presence. See more 09/17/2017 It is "one of a kind" documentary. I recommend it to all of us . . It is a display of a profession that requires adrenaline the moment the first sock gets put on for the uniform to follow. At first, the movie gives the impression that it's propaganda for the police department but in essence-what unfolds is the gamut of unforeseen consequences that follows when virtues are traded off thinking truth can be hidden. Truth demands respect - otherwise, it can become like a small water leak that when it gets ignored - it escapes through crevices of deceits until an opening allows it through without a side but Truth does not come alone. Truth comes with a Healing. In this documentary-the choreography of the music with its cinematography reaffirms the unique magic rubs on one when living in the East Bay Area. Truly a work of gifted minds and talents! I would have gone with a 5 but did not since there was no debriefing from the side of the police- which reinforced their traditional robotic imagery. See more 08/19/2017 'The Force' looks deeper into the real life drama and corruption of the Oklahoma Police Force, where a number of the controversial murders took place and the inception of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. Capturing a lot of camera footage on the time and place these events occurred helps the viewers understand the general conflict the people as well as the city council have the force. For the most part, it almost feels like a real life drama for the sake of the film being an investigation on the reporting and independent journalism and for the most part that works. However, the lack of conventional interviews makes the documentary feel lackluster in offering counterproductive POVs up close or personal to ensure any compelling arguments that's happened over the past 3-4 years. The film itself is just, 'fine' for that matter, well made, edited, shot and it very eye opening into a modern central conflict between police force and general public that's not only captured the nation but the entire world. Insightful for the most part, but also bleak and not enough personal intersections to gether everything up at the end. See more 01/24/2017 With great balance, steady pacing, and thoughtful cinematography, the Force tells an interesting story with style and passion. While done well enough to hold the viewer's attention, production value never gets in the way of telling the story in a way that makes us feel as if we are riding along with the filmakers. A wonderful effort. See more Read all reviews
The Force

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Movie Info

Synopsis The Oakland Police Department and its members struggle to confront federal demands for reform, a popular uprising following events in Ferguson, Mo., and an explosive scandal.
Director
Peter Nicks
Producer
Linda Davis, Lawrence Lerew, Peter Nicks
Screenwriter
Linda Davis, Lawrence Lerew, Peter Nicks
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Production Co
Independent Television Service
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 15, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 12, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$58.2K
Runtime
1h 33m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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