You are here:

Motives 2 : Retribution

Name: Motives 2 : Retribution
Director: Aaron Courseault
Released: 2007
Duration: 94 min

Representation Score

3.8/10

Limited

2007

Director

Aaron Courseault

Runtime

94 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film provides a platform for Black actors to explore systemic injustices, particularly wrongful imprisonment. This intentional casting offers a significant departure from the era's typical studio standards. However, the film follows traditional narrative structures where the plot is driven by male characters, and the female lead's role is primarily defined by her relationships to the men. Overall, the film is a genre-driven thriller that focuses on individualistic retribution rather than broader social or identity-based issues, resulting in a narrow but focused representation.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Motives 2 : Retribution have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or those with non-traditional gender identities. The main conflicts revolve around traditional heterosexual relationships involving ex-wives and siblings.

How does Motives 2 : Retribution portray gender?

Fair

The story is driven by male characters' actions, with the female lead's role being largely defined by her relationships to the male protagonists. Vivica A. Fox, a key figure, is primarily defined by her connections to the male characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Motives 2 : Retribution?

Good

The film features a prominent Black cast, including Vivica A. Fox and Shemar Moore. It explores issues of racial injustice and wrongful imprisonment.

How does Motives 2 : Retribution represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story critiques systemic legal failures and the unreliability of institutions. However, it sticks to conventional thriller clichés centered on personal vendettas and family loyalty.

Does Motives 2 : Retribution include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters with visible or invisible disabilities that play a central role in the story or its development.

Present on Screen

Strong racial diversity with a prominent Black cast.
Meaningful exploration of systemic injustice and wrongful imprisonment.

Limited or Absent

Lack of LGBTQ+ representation or non-traditional gender identities.
Heavy reliance on traditional gender hierarchies and male-driven roles.

Official Synopsis

Vivica A. Fox and Shemar Moore return for this thrilling sequel to Motives that picks up three years after the events of the original film. Innocent convict Emery Simms is serving time for a crime he didn't commit; while most convict's claims of innocence are shoddy at best, Emery has every reason to protest his wrongful incarceration. Meanwhile, in the outside world, Emery's ex-wife (Fox) has married his best friend and the pair is struggling to build a normal life together. When Emery is killed in prison and his brother Donovan (Brian J. White) discovers the truth about what killed his ill-fated sibling, his quest to cut through the complex web of lies and deceit which previously ensnared Emery threatens to bring about deadly consequences.

How are these scores produced? →