I was lucky to see a screener for this film. Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) has it all - a loving fiancé, an adorable son, and a job with a future. Its all about how one action can change your entire life. 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. 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. ... who is currently in the U.K. promoting his STV prison movie FELON which co-stars Val Kilmer and was … it will make everyone who watches it appreciate everything in their life so much more. 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. However every once in a while a movie comes along that surprises. I look forward to see more from Ric Roman Waugh. | Felon is fantastic from beginning to end and does more than justice to the doco film style they use. When your life is defined by a single action, you change the concept of time. 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. A subplot involving corrupt guards makes the movie even duller than the score that sounds like a rusty squeezebox. Superb and intelligent drama-prison with an extraordinary acting by Val Kilmer. 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. Prison is overcrowded and violent. Felon is a moralistic movie about a guy that is sentenced to prison cause of some circumstance which is best described as 'being at the wrong place at the wrong time', together with an action that is very understandable, but very unfortunate. 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. The director/author Ric Roman Waugh apparently spent 2 years researching and writing the script for Felon. Seeing that I've never heard of this film but that Val Kilmer was in it, I gave it a chance. 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). Felon Movie Review, Comparison, Specification Specification Genre: Drama, Crime Directors: Ric Roman Waugh Actors: Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Harold Perrineau, stars as an ordinary family guy who accidentally kills a burglar and finds himself in a high-security prison. FAQ The move gives insight into a life in prison and conjures up feelings of pity, anger and sympathy at different times. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Val Kilmer is great and Stephen Dorff is great as well. Tweet "Felon," is a gritty, sad tale of injustice and family survival. In fact, it shocked me as too how great it was and kept me in suspense and thinking, as the DVD back said, "It Could Happen To Anyone". Felon Movie Review. We do not provide paid / free First Time Felon Movie downloads. With Omar Epps, Delroy Lindo, Rachel Ticotin, Anthony 'Treach' Criss. Directed by Charles S. Dutton. Felon, is an excellent film with great acting, a great plot and good dialog. Even more so, how action of others (Kilmer situation) can influence you do act out! After some time in solitary confinement, he gets placed in the maximum security section of the prison know as 'The Shoe'. Don't have an account? First Time Felon is a 1997 drama film starring Omar Epps. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Inside he meets a seasoned con (Val Kilmer) who teaches him what it takes to. While the storyline flirts with typical prison antagonists and a pseudo-familiar plot the story is very realistic and highly believable. It's the first time I leave a comment in 3 years at IMDb, just to let you understand how I enjoyed this film. 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. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. 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. It is an emotional roller-coaster of a film, bringing you emotions as varied as sorrow, joy and anger. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! The website's critics consensus reads: "Felon offers a rather hackneyed depiction of prison life, but is held together by a pleasantly complex plot and solid performances from Kilmer and Dorff." $2. 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. 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. It reminded me a little of The Shawshank redemption and an Innocent man. Because of the amount of drugs on him when he was arrested, he is facing a … Boot camp's tough. … Expand I liked the way the movie started. The characters in the film are very realistic. Felon is not. Directed by: S. Craig Zahler. 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! Great screenplay followed up by a formidable cast. The main plot of the movie centers on a man (Stephen Dorff) who kills an intruder and is sent to prison. 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. 'Felon' is in my opinion one of the most realistic portrayals of prison movies and there is nothing glorifying nor 'gung-ho' about the situation inside. Felon offers a rather hackneyed depiction of prison life, but is held together by a pleasantly complex plot and solid performances from Kilmer and Dorff. Watch It! Superb performances by a talented cast manage to sustain a fair amount of interest but not enough to elevate Felon above anything other than a disappointing mediocrity. Forgot your password? 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. Directed with pounding energy by Ric Roman Waugh and acted to the hilt by a cast comprising several of yesterday's stars proving their mettle, the movie delivers the thrills and emotion that prison movies require. Very solid. 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 … In spite of a talented cast and some strong performances this movie is simply too ambitious in scope and lightweight in execution. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Golden Tomato Awards: Best Movies & TV of 2020. A young inexperienced drug dealer and Vice Lords gang member, Greg Yance is nabbed for drugs in his home town of Chicago. Here lie the movies that aren’t good enough to make it to theaters. Felon Starring Val Kilmer A Movie Review. 99 to rent. The sad part is that so much of this is true. 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 Kilmer gives the film its center as an alien, still presence amid the chaos around him. survive. | You are transported to a nightmare that feels so real and emotive you may as well be in a prison for 2 hours. Allies are won, enemies are made, death lurks around the corner. 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. 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. It's really nice to stumble upon good movies when you don't expect it. Overview of First Time Felon, 1997, directed by Charles S. Dutton, with Dennis Neal, Greg Yance, Dottioe Healy, at Turner Classic Movies Starring: Vince Vaughn , Jennifer Carpenter and Don Johnson. ’Felon’ features a gritty 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that drowns its picture with wave after wave of heavy, salt-n-pepper grain. $2.99. Starring Marisol Nichols as Laura Porter and Stephen Dorff as Wade Porter, this film goes from quiet, calm to frantic violence within minutes. Free wallpapers download of First Time Felon movie, hero, heroine, etc is available in our Gallery section. September 5, AM PT. Extras. 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. Felon is based on actual events at happened in California’s Corcoran State Prison. From $12.99 to buy. 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. DVD REVIEW: FELON 08/06/08. All in all, one of the best action dramas i've seen.....definitely a must see movie. 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. movie review Feb. 22, 2013. DVD Review: FELON. 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. A deadly, almost amateurish combination. B. Alan Orange Dec 18, 2020 Critics Score Reviews. Especially Harold Perrineau surprised me, this is his best performance to date. The movie delivers a very diverse emotional palette, with tear breaking scenes all the way to explicit hardcore violence thanks to incredible acting by Dorff, Kilmer and Perrineau, truly bringing their characters to life. by Guest Writer. The violence seemed fairly realistic, increasing the impending sense of fear encompassing the central character. For a film that seems to pride itself on its depiction of prison-reality, it feels extremely movie-phony. 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. Most prison movies are essentially the same story told with different characters. This film had some strong plot lines, from the 'innocent man imprisoned' to the 'cold rules of prison'. | Great characters, great story, great directing. External Reviews A family man convicted of killing an intruder must cope with life afterward in the violent penal system. Nothing quite rises above, but this will find its audience. Movies profile; ^ Rotten Tomatoes movie profile. All characters are developed to suit the overall story, without going too deep or to shallow. Almost interesting movie about the good guy in prison. 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. We do not offer to watch First Time Felon movie online. FELON touches our hearts and our minds, humanizing what and who many perceive as inhuman. Others have drawn parallels to The Shawshank Redemption which to my mind is an insult to the latter. From. 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. Felon is s simple story, but one that is executed with style and it keeps you interested due to its well written story and tense action. | Felon was directed by Ric Roman Waugh, and the main characters were Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff. 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. truly one of the great films of this century....it will probably not be remembered like this but it truly is. Sign up here. 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. The direct to DVD market is filled with broken dreams. 1 Plot; 2 Cast; 3 Filming Yahoo! Especially after the realist depiction of what prison is like to the everyday common man and how it can make something your not. Awards Read full review 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. Greg Yance is caught with over 5 grams drugs on him for trafficking. Brilliant! 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. Felon is not a total bust. Read critic reviews 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. It has extreme violence and profanity. Coming 2 America Movie Review _ The Whole Cast is Back, but should've stayed home It's really no different or complex than any TV-movie on the subject. 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. As easily as waking up in the morning - as easily and swiftly your life can be turned upside down. I was expecting another prison movie with just more rapes and violence, but i was pleasantly surprised. That last thing is what this movie is about and without getting too deep into who is to blame for what, i would like to quote Dostojevski - i think- who said that 'you can judge any society by its prisoners'. 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. This is one of those films that I'd always try to remember. The movie has a tight script and will keep one glued to the screen. Def a movie to buy and own....def a movie to watch and appreciate what you have! As first time felon, he can get 120 days of boot camp instead of 5 years prison. The place is reigned by the evil lt. Jackson played by Harold Perrineau ('OZ' 'Lost'). ...establishes itself as a gritty, thoroughly compelling prison drama that rarely relies on the various tropes of the genre. "Felon" is no different but three things raise it above most others. Most of it takes place in a US penal institution and i don't know enough about that to reflect on it being correct. 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. Explores how violence is endemic in the prisoner, no matter their background, almost as soon as their sentencing is handed down. FELON touches our hearts and our minds, humanizing what and who many perceive as inhuman. “Felon” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). He is sent to trial and accepts a deal proposed by the prosecutor, being sentenced to three years in prison. . Wont explain, but you find out why Kilmer is there too....It Could Be You! 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. Or $0.00 with a Prime membership. The plot expands and gets more complex as the story progresses, and the dramatic tension ratchets up. Despite this dark storyline it's a film I enjoyed more than many others in the last years. 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. If I learnt anything in all my years reviewing movie, it is not to expect too much from the direct to DVD market. This is by far the best movie I've seen Stephen Dorf in and Val Kilmer gives a solid performance. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted averagescore of 58 out of 100, based on ten critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". First Time Felon Movie Review are added by registered customers. All rights reserved. It's defiantly one of those films that you can watch again and again. 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. Despite the proliferation of prison movies since, well, ever, FELON manages to be a fresh and entertaining example of the genre. First Time Felon is a drama film starring Omar Epps. Nearly two and a half million Americans are in prison today, and that number is increasing by one thousand a week. 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. It has a run time of 104 minutes and is rated 16LPV. Stephen Dorff, Marisa Nichols carried it really well. Easily empathized with character finds himself in murkiness, The final monologue explains the true meaning of the film. I would highly recomend this movie to anyone who loves quality film making. Stephen Dorff (remember him?) Ebiri on Snitch: Face It, Everyone — the Rock Can Act. Written and directed by veteran stuntman Ric Roman Waugh, the story concerns amiable small-business owner Wade Porter (played by Stephen Dorff) pursuing and … 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. First-Time Felon. Then, one night, a burglar breaks into his house, and he ends up killing him by accident. 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. 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). Metacritic Reviews. 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. i cannot think of the words to praise this film as it is one of the most awe inspiring films i have ever seen. Copyright © Fandango. Plot. The acting is superb, by all the actors. 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. Contents. What does work is because of the strength of the actors. Dorff brings a visceral sense of desperation to his performance, though he does tend to go too big too quickly. 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. User Ratings Excellent movie not the usual prison movie, i cannot think of the words to praise this film. MR. Kilmer played a pivotal role towards the end, for all the dubious minds who'd question his character/ role in the film. Sunday, October 12, 2008 Michael Allen No comments. and the Terms and Policies, Rounding out the disc is a bunch of theatrical and home-video previews. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. 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 - … Tough, brutish prison drama with an easy windup, but good acting and an uncompromising take on the prison system. The film had a limited screening in the … The story of year-old African-American Greg Yance, played with touching restraint .