Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

mirzatoyaga First of all, I have to say the acting is amazing, Kevin Bacon at his best. Now, I would like to say, even though it may not necessarily be the point of the movie, but it has such a strong metaphorical message, in fact it represents the dark side of life. We, the humanity, are kept in captivity and manipulation by those who have more power under excuse that "it builds character" or "it makes us better" and if we fight back by our opinions and moral values we get thrown into the dungeon. We must fight back against mind control and captivity within us even though it makes us seem like lunatics. I was very touched by this movie and I'm sure I'll watch it quite a few more times just to get really in to.

eric262003 "Murder in the First" commences to the year 1935 as a down-on-his- luck young man named Henri Young (Kevin Bacon) desperately steals $5 from a post office. His criminal act harshly leads him to be sentenced to five years in prison. The worst part is, Mr. Young is only 18 years old. This opening scene begins the superficial story of Henri Young and his time in Alcatraz. Prison life has not been the life for Young as he and other inmates make a great effort to escape only to be caught red-handed. Young gets sent to the "hole" where he remains there for three years. Left under supervision by the guards and one very mean warden named Milton Glenn (Gary Oldman) who hated Young the first time he set eyes on him, he is physically tortured and incapacitated while remaining in the "hole". There are days or even weeks when no human contact comes his ways while he's in the hole. Three years later, Henri is released from the hole, but a complete shell of his former self. So much so that as an act of revenge, Young kills the brown-nose inmate who tattled on him when he was making his escape. Now Young finds himself in a much deeper offence as he is now convicted of first degree murder. His appointed attorney James Stamphill (Christian Slater) pays Young a visit to Alcatraz. At first glance, he appears to look like a malnourished, decrepit elderly individual when really, he's only just a couple years older than Stamphill. The harsh and physical punishment he's endured during his incarceration has him now unable to walk upright, his legs and back are crippled and his speech is very slurred and his mind is almost lost. Almost as though he has dementia, he now has the mental capacity of a child. The only thing he can remember were happy times were baseball and Babe Ruth. Stamphill, who's a rookie lawyer finds himself in a precarious situation as finds it very difficult to communicate with someone like Henri.Stamphill finding the only way to open up to Henri is by talking to him about baseball. Through many visits, Henri progressively opens up to Stamphill which lead to Stamphill going over his head. Leaving him with no real hope, Stamphill persuades Henri to plead innocent and to overrule the trial and instead place the penal system and Alcatraz on trial. Stamphill then blames Alcatraz for turning Henri into the insane person he has become.In one of the only humorous scenes, Stamphill beings in a hooker posed as one of his assistants. This was a ploy to offer something to Henri due to never being able to enjoy the moment because of his long prison sentence. But this effort and the baseball discussions between Henri and Stamphill, the bonding between both men continued until Henri's death. In an excellent trial scene, Stramphill successfully proves to the judicial system that Henri was left in the unmerciful hands of Warden Milton Glenn and completely lays blame to the penal system which eventually leads to the potential closing of Alcatraz. Henri must return to Alcatraz until the paperwork leading to his release has been done. In a memorable scene we see Henri getting on a boat begging Stamphill not to send him back. He is now emancipated, but can't understand why he must wait for this paperwork to be completed in order to get of Alcatraz. Henri was never discharged from Alcatraz and remained there until his death. Even though the story is loosely based on real characters, the performances were absolutely phenomenal, especially from the three principals being Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon and Gary Oldman. For the past three decades, the ladies have often had the hearts melting for the attractive Kevin Bacon. But in this movie, they can see just how riveting he is in a heart-breaking but highly respected performance he delivers here. His manners and his characteristics were truly realistic. Slater was the perfect casting choice to play the part of the green, inexperienced lawyer thrown into a case he never thought he'd never thought possible. His fight against the penal system was handled with care and never felt forced or rushed. Gary Oldman has been quite versatile with his roles in the past comes through as a tough, unmerciful warden.Even though the story is inspired by real events and characters, but in reality it is still a work of fiction. However, the situations look and feel real. The execution of the story and the characters really draws you in and you really root the whole time through to Henri and hope that he is able to be released before it is too late. On a positive note, it was just wonderful that the evil, cruel atmosphere that was Alcatraz was brought down in defeat.

g-bodyl Murder in the First, is a very powerful courtroom/prison drama that features exemplary acting from all three leads. It's a shame a January release hindered this film's award chances. Plus, I'm shocked not many people heard of this great film. Even though this film is not historically accurate, it's still an engaging film with three of the finest performances you will see.Marc Rocco's film is loosely based on Henri Young and his time at Alcatraz. After Young is transferred to the prison with his only crime stealing five dollars to feed his sister, he is inhumanely treated by the associate warden thus leading to a murder. But a young defense lawyer comes to his aid to lessen his charge against him and to prove to the world what a terrible place Alcatraz is.The acting is magnificent to say the least. Kevin Bacon delivers one of his best performances of his career and he shows a wide acting range playing Henri who lacks trust after spending three years in complete darkness. Christian Slater does mighty fine as the lawyer and Gary Oldman, as usual, delivers another impressive performance.Overall, this film is very interesting and it's an emotionally powerful movie. Some of the scenes really moved me especially the one when we find out some hard, cold facts involving the head warden in the courtroom scene. Like most others, I was disappointed when I learned many facts were muddled but still made audience believe the events in the film were true. That being said, I really liked this movie and I find it to be criminally underrated. I rate this film 9/10.

ben83 Directed by Marc Rocco, Murder In The First (based very loosely on a true story), tells the tale of Alcatraz inmate Henri Young (Bacon) and his treatment at the hands of the Associate Warden and Alcatraz authorities, which subsequently lead to the catastrophic events that set the film in motion.The period is set in the late 1930's. Petty thief Henri Young, played by Kevin Bacon, was sent to Alcatraz previously from another prison to make up the numbers as the infamous Rock was lacking incorrigibles at the time and the numbers needed justification. He and a small party of other prisoners attempt a daring escape which inevitably fails. One of the escapees, Rufus McCain cuts a deal with the Associate Warden Glenn (Gary Oldman) and is rewarded by being sent back to the general prison population. Henri Young is not so lucky and is sent to the dungeons of Alcatraz, commonly referred to as 'The Hole', where he spends a total of 3 years and 2 months in complete solitude, with no light, clothing, toilet or other basic provisions. We then witness Young's gradual descent into insanity as he is cut off from human contact and suffers merciless torture and beatings at the hands of the Warden and the guards there.Young emerges a mere shell of his former self, and almost immediately kills another inmate in the prison canteen. The rest of the movie is focused on the subsequent court case whereby Henri is defended by a young and inexperienced, albeit enthusiastic lawyer James Stamphill, played by Christian Slater. Stamphill attempts to put Alcatraz and it's wardens on trial and expose the conditions there.The movie is a solid one and is gripping enough to keep you watching. Christian Slater's narration leads us through the movie and events. Kevin Bacon is excellent and very convincing as the prisoner making us believe every word and scene. He plays Henri Young as a pathetic, ruined man who is totally at the mercy of Alcatraz.Gary Oldman is great in a supporting role here, playing a sadistic warden almost in a monstrous bureaucratic way. He is given free reign to do what he does in the film and of course Oldman is at his best when playing borderline psychos with underlying anger issues just waiting to boil up. I only wish his character could have been given a little more screen time.Christian Slater is good as the lawyer and is suited for this part. I am often undecided in my opinion of Christian Slater when I watch him, but I feel that in this movie he does what is needed and plays Stamphill as a decent guy who is fundamentally a humanist.Some scenes are brutal and hard to watch, especially the torture scenes in the dungeons where Bacons's character suffers. Some viewers may actually consider this a movie that requires only the one watch, as it kind of leaves a dark impression on the mind. But this is how it was intended to be made. It's not pretending to be anything else. This is undoubtedly a very moving and powerful film that won't disappoint. If you like strong and solid performances then look no further.