Rating of
2/4
Low budget film and it shows.
TheWolf - wrote on 08/10/07
Randy (Michael Pitt) is convicted for the 3rd time for a minor offense, 2 violations for substance abuse (pot) and 1 vandolism charge in excess of $5,000. This film is an attack against the 3 strikes rule that many states are adapting to include in their justice system. After his 3rd conviction Randy is automatically sent to prison for 25 years. Randy is put in a cell with a Jake, (Stephen Guirgis), a man in prison for life after murdering his wife who cheated on him after only 3 months of marriage. Being a guy with really youth like features, and obviously someone that doesn't have a criminals instinct Randy accepts Jake as his friend, only to find out that Jake has a lot more in mind then just friendship.
The film is disturbing, it does cast a solid light on the horrors of being in prison. The downside to this film is that because it is a low budget film and the script takes place mostly in the cell there really isn't much change or anything that can maintain the perspective of interest. The camera work is simple, and it seemed pretty apparent that the director didn't know what to do with each shot other than to just focus the camera on whoever was speaking at the time. It really does feel like a "talking heads" kind of film. It probably would have done better as a play, or as a short film. Some people like it because it is not something they would want to experience in prison but it certainly show the extent at which one can be brutalized through the system. The film is one that you might want to see once, but because of its lack of locations and long drawnout scenes, this is one that I wouldn't recommend for most people.
