Micro Review: 13th (2016)

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

We don’t generally do documentaries at BMB, but anything goes at the Concession Stand and every so often we will slide in something like our earlier micro review of The Beatles: Eight Days A Week.

13th, named for the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, is a lot more serious than the Beatles.

The film, directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma), packs a lot into a tight 100 minutes: the transition from slavery to “convict leasing,” Birth of a Nation, the prison-industrial complex, disparities in sentencing, and much more.

A few of the rocks they toss:

The U.S. makes up 5% of the world’s population, but holds 25% of its inmates.

Black males make up roughly 6.5% of the the U.S. population…but over 40% of the U.S. prison population.

97% of Americans in prison today did not go to a full trial: they are serving on plea agreements.

13th is worth a watch, if only because of the tight production, important topics, and Ava’s skill at drawing in - and giving respectful time to - people from Van Jones to Newt Gingrich.

You can catch it for free HERE and on NETFLIX.

Four out of Five Stars.

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