First Time Felon (1997)

Sick Product of a Sick System

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Blistering performances.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Nothing special. A lot better could and should have been made out of a probably very interesting true story.This made-for-TV movie has it's good times when it is rather powerful (especially the beginning) but then it loses itself as it describes the boot camp (everybody is so good and understanding...) and is overly simplistic towards the end by portraying "the cruel world that will not take a miraculously (in 3-4 months of boot camp) redeemed ex-criminal. Talk about politically correct...Overall, the acting, directing, cinematography, script, etc., same as the whole movie, average to below average.

this is a great movie. Its very hard not to like it. Its about the life of a first time felon. its also about the American prison/justice system and how hard it is to get out once your in. Although Craig made it out of the system the sad truth is not a lot of people do.America imprisons the most people out of all the countries in the free world largely due to the war on drugs. I could write a whole book about that ,but you know where I am going. My favorite part of the movie was when Omar Epps (yance)and Treach (Sams) get over there differences by that little pond. The part I hated was when the DS pushed Sams buttons and got him kicked out of boot camp.That whole thing the DS said about "Black People and Niggaz" is kind of self hating. It should be more like Good People and Bad People, because I use the later as an endearing word to my peers

I am not one to cry, so it takes a powerful movie and powerful performance to pull some tears out of my eyes. This was the second time I saw the movie, and it was even more powerful than the first. Everything was perfectly balanced, so much was left unsaid in words, but got through in other ways. I have always been a big fan of Charles Dutton, and I am so impressed by his first role as a director. Omar Epps did a fantastic job, even when he is just alone in the screen, his face speaks volumes. I cannot think of a single thing I would change about this movie.Though it was a bleak picture of America, and especially black America, this movie gives us so much to hope for, and provides goals we can work towards. It sends a very very positive message to children, and I would recommend it for teenagers. I would recommend that a parent watch it with his children and then have a discussion afterward. I hope that everyone watches this movie.Though the movie has some sappy moments, I found that it was very fast paced. The timing was precise and fantastic and never interrupted the flow. Sit down and watch this movie with American Historey X and you will be in for a fantastic evening. In fact I recommend you sit down with you teenage son, watch both and then discuss.I hope this was helpful.

This will be my first comment posting due to the fact that this is first time I felt the need to do so. I caught this movie somewhere towards the beginning and within 10 minutes it had pulled me in to the point where I could not step away. At first I thought it was going to be a "prison movie" but turned out to be so much more. When the boot camp sequence ended the movie just got better and better. Omar Epps was tremendous in this movie and actually had me caring about the character ,which never happens to me to the point that it did here. I felt that I was watching someones life story and not fiction,and it turned out I was right after signing on here. Omar made this movie very believable and I would recommend you see this movie. I will watch it again.