Directed by:
Marc RoccoScreenplay:
Dan GordonCinematography:
Fred MurphyComposer:
Christopher YoungCast:
Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, Embeth Davidtz, William H. Macy, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brad Dourif, R. Lee Ermey, Mia Kirshner, Kyra Sedgwick (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
The true story of Henri Young, a 1930's convict who has been sent to prison for stealing five dollars. But when Young and others attempt to escape, they are caught. As punishment, a naked and wet Young is thrown into a dark, damp, rat-infested cell, where he is his beaten continuously. He emerges from this hellhole three years later a virtual madman -- and promptly kills the inmate who snitched about the escape attempt. Now facing a charge of murder in the first degree, Young is defended by inexperienced go-getter James Stamphill. Although the cards are stacked high against him, the lawyer makes Young plead innocent. Stamphill's plan: to put Alcatraz, and the whole prison system on trial, as both institutions have turned his client into a homicidal maniac. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (1)
An excellent courtroom film and definitely among the better ones. The film has a lot of great things, the main ones being the great cast where, lead by an insane Kevin Bacon, a perfect Christian Slater, who took my breath away with his brilliant and excellent speech, Gary Oldman as the tough warden of Alcatraz. I also liked William H. Macy as the prosecutor, he gave another admirable performance. The setting of the squalid Alcatraz and the fact that it is based on a true story only enhances an already very solid film. It's a bit short of a full score. 80%.
()