Salubfoto
It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.
Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Dana
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
Michael Ledo
William Wyatt (Emory Cohen) is a gifted high school kid with a photographic memory. He steals cars, deals in mushrooms, and likes to get high. His antics land him in the Bernville Camp for Boys, a juvenile boot camp. Here we have the typical sadistic guard (Paul Sparks); the director (John Leguizamo) who turns a blind eye to what is happening in his camp; and a nurse (Heather Lind) with Mr. Jones still on her back.William's gift allows him to make friends in all the cliques as he tries to save Nathan (Al Calderon) a kid who is seriously ill and not getting the proper medical attention he needs.The story is "inspired by true events" and is one of a number of juvenile camp films out there, all with basically the same prison plot line, i.e. new person, makes, friends, evil system, revolt. My favorite ones have Pamela Grier in them, and their was an interesting one with a ghost. This one is of a more serious nature and is made watchable because of the likeable unpredictable bad boy character of Billy Wyatt.I think they could have come up with a better title. I would avoid IMDB on this film as they have posted a plot spoiler review.Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity. Fighting violence.
Carter Ballard
Wow!!! I just watched this amazing little gen of a movie on Amazon, and I really hope more people get a chance to see it soon! Well worth it if you do! The ensemble cast is truly something special: starting with rising star Emory Cohen (Brooklyn, The OA) and the always incredible John Leguizamo (Carlito's Way, Moulin Rouge, Bloodline). William H. Macy (Fargo, Shameless) and Felicity Huffman (Transamerica, American Crime), who are real life husband and wife, play the parents in the movie, which I thought was super cool and authentic. The supporting cast features the stunning and believable Heather Lind (Turn) and the very talented Paul Sparks (Mud, and both also from Boardwalk Empire), along with quick-witted funnyman Mike Epps (The Hangover, Next Friday) in a pleasantly surprising, more "serious," but still charming, role. The "younger" cast members are all excellent too (including Grace Van Patten, Al Calderon, Jeff Lima and Leopold Manswell, all of whom are expertly cast)! The story revolves around a teenager, Billy Wyatt (played by Emory Cohen), who is thrust into what turns out to be a Shawshank-type correctional facility for wayward youths. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say the story is inspired by true events and is very gripping and moving from start to finish. The performances are stellar, the cinematography is intimate, and the writers and director really tell an interesting, engaging, thought-provoking and heartfelt story! Highly recommended!
JR
--- The movie is well worth watching. I am simply explaining what bothered me and how it could have been made better in my opinion. --- I like continuity in movies and also a sense of closure. Nothing makes me lose feeling for a movie, that makes me loose that feeling of the suspension of reality that I need than a lack of closure and that is where I think this movie lost points in my opinion. Even so it was still a good 6/10, but it could have been a 7. --- They spend a good deal of time developing certain characters in the movie, the weak but sensitive boy, the strong and silent "Poeta" boy, and to a lesser degree the leaders of the white gang and the leader of the black gang. However the movie spins off to the ending and never gives us any closure on what happens to these characters. Even with Billy we only sort of get a idea of his over coming his issues as he steals yet another car and rushes a friend to the hospital. But that's it, exit stage right? I want to know what happened to the weak kid that was dropped at the hospital and the "Poeta". Time was spent building their characters just to drop them suddenly. Not an efficient use of screen time in my opinion. In the end we see what appears to be a prison riot kick off, the most violent guard turn into a cream puff and the weak kid dropped at a hospital, but that's it. The movie ends and we never hear if the weak kid lived or the riot was quelled, or the violent guard and the "warden" get what should be coming to them.
kosmasp
Not the space it plays in, but the script that is. It's a really decent effort into crime territory, though mostly played in a "restricted" area (to put it mildly). If you know more about the story, than you know what I mean, otherwise be surprised if you want to, where this is going (with or without stolen cars).This is definitely not another Gone in 60 seconds, it's much more of a drama and the stellar cast gives it more than a bit of gravitas. I'd argue they were drawn into the project by a very neat script. If all translated onto the screen, is something you have to decide for yourself. Does it have faults and flaws? The answer is yes, so do the characters in it, but that's what could be described as the extra something that keeps this ... driving
