However their dream becomes a nightmare when Wade unintentionally kills a burglar that had broken into their house in the middle of the night on his lawn. The move gives insight into a life in prison and conjures up feelings of pity, anger and sympathy at different times. It's the first time I leave a comment in 3 years at IMDb, just to let you understand how I enjoyed this film. Tough, brutish prison drama with an easy windup, but good acting and an uncompromising take on the prison system. Directed by Charles S. Dutton. DVD REVIEW: FELON 08/06/08. It kinda reminded me of "The Shawshank Redemption" (another great movie) with Stephen Dorff being Tim Robbins and Val Kilmer being Morgan Freeman (the comparison is a little bit forced but still valid with the two movies plots being somewhat similar). MR. Kilmer played a pivotal role towards the end, for all the dubious minds who'd question his character/ role in the film. We do not provide paid / free First Time Felon Movie downloads. The movie has a tight script and will keep one glued to the screen. Plot. movie review Feb. 22, 2013. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Val Kilmer was just a pleasure to see, this dark Character suited him very well, his acting becomes better and better the older he gets. The action fight scenes are engulfing, the acting by Kilmer and Dorff is amazing...Far from Blade and Heat....but performances just as good if not better! After some time in solitary confinement, he gets placed in the maximum security section of the prison know as 'The Shoe'. "Felon" is no different but three things raise it above most others. It has a run time of 104 minutes and is rated 16LPV. Almost interesting movie about the good guy in prison. It's really nice to stumble upon good movies when you don't expect it. Read critic reviews I was expecting another prison movie with just more rapes and violence, but i was pleasantly surprised. This movie perspectivates ones life and at the end, what you're left with, is the feeling of fulfillment and the urge to do something good to the ones you love - … I look forward to see more from Ric Roman Waugh. He is sent to trial and accepts a deal proposed by the prosecutor, being sentenced to three years in prison. | Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Righteous Felon Beef Jerky Bundle - Variety Beef Jerky Set - All Natural Craft Beef Jerky - High-Protein, Low-Sugar Healthy Snacks Bundle | 8 Count (2oz bags) at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Despite this dark storyline it's a film I enjoyed more than many others in the last years. A good cast and disciplined direction add some distinction to Ric Roman Waugh's Felon, which is basically the old tale about an innocent man corrupted by a stay in prison. it will make everyone who watches it appreciate everything in their life so much more. It tries to be gritty and realistic while asking of the audience that they be willingly manipulated at every turn in order to embrace the film's message. Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) has it all - a loving fiancé, an adorable son, and a job with a future. Kilmer gives the film its center as an alien, still presence amid the chaos around him. The violence seemed fairly realistic, increasing the impending sense of fear encompassing the central character. REVIEW: I walked into FELON knowing only that it was a prison drama starring Stephen Dorff and Val Kilmer, so naturally I expected a cheesy, over-the … Ebiri on Snitch: Face It, Everyone — the Rock Can Act. In spite of a talented cast and some strong performances this movie is simply too ambitious in scope and lightweight in execution. A young inexperienced drug dealer and Vice Lords gang member, Greg Yance is nabbed for drugs in his home town of Chicago. At first I wasn't expecting much as the last film I saw with Val Kilmer-Conspiracy-I shut off 15 minutes into it in disgust. Superb and intelligent drama-prison with an extraordinary acting by Val Kilmer. Val Kilmer is great and Stephen Dorff is great as well. It probably differs from state to state and from prison to prison and even from one part of a prison to another, but looking at the movies and documentaries about US penal institutions, its probably not far of. Reviews. Brilliant! Excellent movie not the usual prison movie, i cannot think of the words to praise this film. Rounding out the disc is a bunch of theatrical and home-video previews. First-Time Felon. Explores how violence is endemic in the prisoner, no matter their background, almost as soon as their sentencing is handed down. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted averagescore of 58 out of 100, based on ten critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". ... who is currently in the U.K. promoting his STV prison movie FELON which co-stars Val Kilmer and was … Felon Movie Review. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. A better stylistic comparison would be a more ambitious film like "Crash" which succeeds in spite of its wholesale contrivances and manipulative elements because it is an artful and poetic drama. For a film that seems to pride itself on its depiction of prison-reality, it feels extremely movie-phony. i cannot think of the words to praise this film as it is one of the most awe inspiring films i have ever seen. A family man convicted of killing an intruder must cope with life afterward in the violent penal system. Movie review: In 'The Mustang,' a felon swaps his orange jumpsuit for cowboy boots to find redemption By Josh Terry Mar 28, 2019, 9:00pm MDT Share this story First Time Felon is a 1997 drama film starring Omar Epps. Sign up here. This film had some strong plot lines, from the 'innocent man imprisoned' to the 'cold rules of prison'. The sad part is that so much of this is true. You are transported to a nightmare that feels so real and emotive you may as well be in a prison for 2 hours. A subplot involving corrupt guards makes the movie even duller than the score that sounds like a rusty squeezebox. If I learnt anything in all my years reviewing movie, it is not to expect too much from the direct to DVD market. Boot camp's tough. Written and directed by Ric Roman Waugh, and filmed at the New Mexico State Penitentiary near Santa Fe, Felon is one of the most realistic prison films ever made. It's really no different or complex than any TV-movie on the subject. All in all, one of the best action dramas i've seen.....definitely a must see movie. I liked the way the movie started. Metacritic Reviews. I wouldn't last a day if i were ever sent into one of those and i really sympathize with any person who is penalized because of an error, corruption, or some grey area that is judged hard but from what everyone thinks it wasn't that bad. Def a movie to buy and own....def a movie to watch and appreciate what you have! Coming 2 America Movie Review _ The Whole Cast is Back, but should've stayed home Usually the protagonist is convicted of a crime (which he did or did not do), is sent to prison and finds that they have to either adapt to their brutal new surroundings or die. Greg Yance is caught with over 5 grams drugs on him for trafficking. Felon is based on actual events at happened in California’s Corcoran State Prison. With Omar Epps, Delroy Lindo, Rachel Ticotin, Anthony 'Treach' Criss. Inside he meets a seasoned con (Val Kilmer) who teaches him what it takes to. Or $0.00 with a Prime membership. Justin Timberlake is a convicted felon who suddenly finds himself in the care of a young child in a new drama from director Fisher Stevens. If i can sum up in a sentence what i feel about this film it is.....the best film i have seen for many years bar none,a truly inspiring piece of filmwork and story telling, a must see for everyone :D. Felon is an outstanding film and externally well written. To make matters worse, Wade on his bus ride to the State Prison, gets implicated in the murder of one of the inmates in the bus. It makes you realise the unjust nature of the world we live in, and how the worst things can happen to the nicest of people. I was lucky to see a screener for this film. During the transportation, there is an incident in the bus and Wade is framed and sent to the maximum security wing under the command of the corrupt Lieutenant Jackson (Harold Perrineau). Let me say first off that I'm not into that whole action-thriller-nail biting-under ware staining kinda movie....which is OK because this film is more of a drama than anything else. It shows how difficult life can be for someone whom lives a hardworking and honest life to enter the prison system filled with career criminals and gang members. Tweet "Felon," is a gritty, sad tale of injustice and family survival. September 5, AM PT. Others have drawn parallels to The Shawshank Redemption which to my mind is an insult to the latter. Nothing in Ric Roman Waugh's prison drama Felon will surprise anyone who watched the HBO series Oz, but then, Waugh—a former stuntman turned writer-director—never tries to pretend his movie is some kind of searing original. This is one of those films that I'd always try to remember. Most prison movies are essentially the same story told with different characters. Starring: Vince Vaughn , Jennifer Carpenter and Don Johnson. When your life is defined by a single action, you change the concept of time. I was really bored one night and randomly picked a few titles to rent since I just wanted to watch a no-brainer flick for once. The plot expands and gets more complex as the story progresses, and the dramatic tension ratchets up. While the film is violent and decidedly tragic, the overall sensation of watching it is nothing you haven't experienced before with numerous films, from Death Warrant to Lock Up to Oz. Then, one night, a burglar breaks into his house, and he ends up killing him by accident. The direct to DVD market is filled with broken dreams. | Allies are won, enemies are made, death lurks around the corner. Contents. Written and directed by veteran stuntman Ric Roman Waugh, the story concerns amiable small-business owner Wade Porter (played by Stephen Dorff) pursuing and … This is by far the best movie I've seen Stephen Dorf in and Val Kilmer gives a solid performance. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Check out the exclusive TVGuide.com movie review and see our movie rating for Felon Join / Sign Up Keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. ...establishes itself as a gritty, thoroughly compelling prison drama that rarely relies on the various tropes of the genre. As first time felon, he can get 120 days of boot camp instead of 5 years prison. Great screenplay followed up by a formidable cast. Felon ventures outside the prison walls so often that the audience doesn(TM)t get a prolonged sense of the claustrophobia of confinement; the rage being displayed actually dispels the sense of isolation and boredom. We do not offer to watch First Time Felon movie online. Stephen Dorff (remember him?) Stephen Dorff's powerhouse perf as an ordinary Joe trapped behind bars with warring ethnic psychopaths propels "Felon" well ahead of its expose/exploitation brethren while still avoiding the pious learning curves of Frank Darabont's prestige prison dramas. FELON touches our hearts and our minds, humanizing what and who many perceive as inhuman. This movie was amazing, read the DVD case and was intriguing but thought it was going to be a disappointment. It's still white-knuckle tense, and held together by dozens of small, well-observed moments. Especially Harold Perrineau surprised me, this is his best performance to date. Directed by: S. Craig Zahler. External Reviews Here lie the movies that aren’t good enough to make it to theaters. FAQ and the Terms and Policies, Dorff, who was last spotted as a scary sexual sadist in Shadowboxer, gives a mesmerizing performance evolving from stunned civilian to brutalized inmate and dangerous prison thug, then transforming into a tested man who rediscovers his own humanity. All rights reserved. It's defiantly one of those films that you can watch again and again. From $12.99 to buy. Overview of First Time Felon, 1997, directed by Charles S. Dutton, with Dennis Neal, Greg Yance, Dottioe Healy, at Turner Classic Movies stars as an ordinary family guy who accidentally kills a burglar and finds himself in a high-security prison. … Expand Felon Starring Val Kilmer A Movie Review. As easily as waking up in the morning - as easily and swiftly your life can be turned upside down. by Guest Writer. Hard Time is surely upon the inmates for they are being put to fight each other under the supervision of Jackson and his team who eventually ends all fights by shooting the fighting inmates but only after a fair amount of fighting took place. Great characters, great story, great directing. The family man Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) is living the American Dream with his girlfriend Laura (Marisol Nichols) and their son Michael: they have a nice house, he has just raised a loan to make his company grow and they are going to get married. Extras. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! While the storyline flirts with typical prison antagonists and a pseudo-familiar plot the story is very realistic and highly believable. User Ratings Copyright © Fandango. Dorff brings a visceral sense of desperation to his performance, though he does tend to go too big too quickly. Felon, is an excellent film with great acting, a great plot and good dialog. After accidentally beating to death a burglar on his lawn, the hardworking Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff, 'Shadowboxer' 'fairdotcom') finds himself convicted to 3 years hard time. $2. Kilmer and Dorff, who was also an executive producer, immerse themselves in difficult roles and the film's overall air of social commitment will surprise viewers drawn in by its exploitation-movie promotion. B. Alan Orange Dec 18, 2020 Critics Score 99 to rent. The picture tells the authentic experiences of convicts of a prison that is a hell on the earth, reflecting the hardship existence of the inmates .We have seen men tortured,harassed and humiliated in a gaol where rules the strongest law. On a 13-minute making-of featurette, a sincere Ric Roman Waugh declares that most of the work he put into his screenplay was a matter of research and confirms what we already suspected-that Felon was essentially made as a cautionary tale for the average Joe. A deadly, almost amateurish combination. All characters are developed to suit the overall story, without going too deep or to shallow. This really make you think of all those times you have thought or said how and what you would do if someone ever broke into your home....Felon makes you think this could happen to me, and that alone is a scary thought. Nearly two and a half million Americans are in prison today, and that number is increasing by one thousand a week. Its all about how one action can change your entire life. Most of it takes place in a US penal institution and i don't know enough about that to reflect on it being correct. His cell-mate John Smith (Val Kilmer) that was sentenced to life revenging the death of his family befriends Wade and gives helpful advices and hope to Wade to return to his family. Felon is fantastic from beginning to end and does more than justice to the doco film style they use. ’Felon’ features a gritty 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that drowns its picture with wave after wave of heavy, salt-n-pepper grain. Especially after the realist depiction of what prison is like to the everyday common man and how it can make something your not. It is an emotional roller-coaster of a film, bringing you emotions as varied as sorrow, joy and anger. This Blu-ray release presents the film re-mastered in High Definition (HD) and comes with a single special feature: The Shark Tank: An Inside Look at Felon — contains interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. truly one of the great films of this century....it will probably not be remembered like this but it truly is. Felon was directed by Ric Roman Waugh, and the main characters were Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff. Despite the proliferation of prison movies since, well, ever, FELON manages to be a fresh and entertaining example of the genre. This tough, uncompromising, cautionary thriller should be a wake-up call about America's outrageously archaic laws insofar as defending the sanctity of home and family. Palmer moves in with his Crusty Old Wisecracking Movie Grandmother, Vivian (June Squibb, effortlessly knocking it out of the park) and lands a job as a janitor at the local elementary school. The place is reigned by the evil lt. Jackson played by Harold Perrineau ('OZ' 'Lost'). Movies profile; ^ Rotten Tomatoes movie profile. I give it a 10 out of 10 because it kept me in front of the screen, I think it portrayed the prison life from many different perspectives. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 6.45/10. Even more so, how action of others (Kilmer situation) can influence you do act out! Nowadays, we are becoming more and more guided by the marketing that goes behind the movies, to realize when we actually go see them that we are often left unsatisfied. Felon Movie Review, Comparison, Specification Specification Genre: Drama, Crime Directors: Ric Roman Waugh Actors: Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Harold Perrineau, 1 Plot; 2 Cast; 3 Filming Yahoo! The director/author Ric Roman Waugh apparently spent 2 years researching and writing the script for Felon. survive. Read full review Wont explain, but you find out why Kilmer is there too....It Could Be You! It reminded me a little of The Shawshank redemption and an Innocent man. From. The characters in the film are very realistic. Watch It! Awards Starring Marisol Nichols as Laura Porter and Stephen Dorff as Wade Porter, this film goes from quiet, calm to frantic violence within minutes. 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