Rating: 
Summary: AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
Review: MY USUAL TASTE IN FILMS RARELY INCLUDE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF COMEDY. I USUALLY GET BORED AND UNINTERESTED IN DRAMA. THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME FROM SCENE ONE UNTIL THE CREDITS ROLL. KEVIN BACON'S PERFORMANCE SHOULD WIN HIM AWARDS FOR HIS PROTRAYAL OF HENRY YOUNG UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!!! THE MOVIE, OVERALL, IS A GREAT PEICE OF CINEMA. I CAN WATCH THIS MOVIE EVERYDAY AND STILL STARE AT THE SCENE IN AWE. WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS MOVIE, IT'S WORTH IT!!!!! BUTTERFLY26@VERIZON
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
Review: MY USUAL TASTE IN FILMS RARELY INCLUDE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF COMEDY. I USUALLY GET BORED AND UNINTERESTED IN DRAMA. THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME FROM SCENE ONE UNTIL THE CREDITS ROLL. KEVIN BACON'S PERFORMANCE SHOULD WIN HIM AWARDS FOR HIS PROTRAYAL OF HENRY YOUNG UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!!! THE MOVIE, OVERALL, IS A GREAT PEICE OF CINEMA. I CAN WATCH THIS MOVIE EVERYDAY AND STILL STARE AT THE SCENE IN AWE. WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS MOVIE, IT'S WORTH IT!!!!! BUTTERFLY26@VERIZON
Rating: 
Summary: -- Not a true ending --
Review: The extra star is for Kevin Bacon's performance. One of his best.Christian Slater's acting was good, but there was nothing remarkable about it. Some courtroom scenes just seemed downright ludicrous. If R. Lee Ermey is going to play a judge, he should at least play one that's been written realistically. Christian Slater's yelling and theatrics in the courtroom got really old really fast. And now the ending: Not only was it stupid to rewrite Henri Young's fate, it was morally wrong. Henri Young didn't die in prison. He lived up into the 70's. (Look it up if you don't believe me) The producer(s), writer(s), and director decided that the facts about his death weren't historically entertaining enough, and decided to rewrite them. It was cheap, corrupt, and pathetic what they turned this movie into.
Rating:
Summary: kevin bacon at his best
Review: the most gripping movie about prison life. excellent
Rating: 
Summary: The Truth Would Have Been Better
Review: The performances in this film are gripping. I actually believed in the plight of Henri Young, portrayed by Kevin Bacon. I wanted to be as good a Public Defender (This is what I do for a living) as Christian Slater portrayed in the film (oddly, the character's last name he uses is one of the real-life escapees). The judge, played by R. Lee Ermey, actually reminds of some of the judges I have been in front of - his iron disipline is that convincing. Then, to my shock, I found out that the truth had been stretched beyond all recognition. The movie itself deserves at least four stars for the performances, particularly by Bacon, who should have been at least nominated for an Oscar for this film. The DVD must have been made at the beginning of DVD technology. If a director's cut DVD is complete with interviews, historical perspectives (why did the jury do what it did, anyway? I don't believe the Federal Board of Prisons and its smear job of Henri Young any more than I believe the version proffered by the director of this film) and the like then I will certainly buy it. Until then, I recommend that you rent this film, or buy a used copy.
Rating:
Summary: Let down by story structure
Review: The tagline tells us this is the story of the trial that closed down Alcatraz, and the first twenty minutes of Dan Gordon's screenplay tell us precisely why: Henri Young (Kevin Bacon) was illegally kept in solitary confinement for over three years, and during that time was regularly brutalized by the prison warden (Gary Oldman). Consequently, the story of how his lawyer, James Stamphill (Christian Slater), discovers and proves these events is drained of most of its excitement - we know exactly where it's heading, and what the final outcome will be when it gets there. It might have been more engaging if the audience, like Stamphill, was simply presented with an apparently deranged petty-thief-turned-murderer, and had to uncover gradually the institutionalized brutality which unhinged him (a structure more like 'A Few Good Men' where the dramatic revelation about what really happened is only made at the climax). As it stands, this film is nicely put together but a little dull. The characters are interesting, though, and the emerging friendship between Henri and his lawyer almost makes up for the predictability of the plot. Slater and Oldman do well, as usual (though the script doesn't give either of them much scope), and Bacon delivers the most physically committed performance of his career - but it's still no Oscar winner.
Rating:
Summary: Acting at its best
Review: This film is a classic example of society condemning an individual to a severe prison sentence for attempting to survive in the world. Mans inhumanity to man is exemplified by magnificent acting on all parts, particularly that of Kevin Bacon. This isn't to say that Christian Slater and Gary Oldman were lacking - they were not. This film is highly recommended to all of those who have not yet lost their imagination and sensitivity in this modern world.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie, But don't be fooled, not a "true story"
Review: This is a really great, gripping movie. When I first saw it I could not keep my eyes of the screen. I recently watched it again and decided to research the real plight of the main character Henri Young. What I found out really disappointed me. Althought his movie is supposed to be a true story, it is not. After reading about the real life of Henri Young (from several different sources), I am no longer sympathetic and I can't believe the filmmakers would be so irresponsible in marketing this as a true story. It is a great movie with great actors, but don't be made the fool as I was. This is not true and if you don't believe me, just type in "Henri Young" on your search engine. Knowing the truth actually makes the movie laughable.
Rating:
Summary: Heartrending Prison Drama
Review: This is a remarkable piece of Hollywood filmmaking, one of the best big studio efforts of the 90's and it was so poorly marketed that few have seen - or heard of - this picture.
The too often (and sometimes easily) dismissed Kevin Bacon is here Henri Young, a role as powerfully haunting as any actor could dream of. With an uncannily natural affinity for Henri, Bacon finds his way into the marrow of this tortured, downtrodden prisoner. In what could have too easily turned into a over-the-top "Look, Ma, I'm acting!" role, Bacon strikes a balance that is unique and rare. Unafraid of any aspect of Henri it becomes a performance nothing less than astonishing in its honesty.
The first 20 minutes presents us with the naked, filthy animal the system wishes to portray him as Henri. Yet, even here, with little more than a mad scene comprised of grunts, screams and incoherent mumblings about baseball, multiplication tables and The Lord's Prayer, Bacon makes Henri shine beneath the hair and grime introducing us to a pitiable sorrowful man not only wronged by the system, but utterly destroyed then forgotten by it. This is one of those rare performances where the work outshines the actor - I'd forgotten entirely I was even watching an actor.
It's a hard heart that will not be moved by Henri and Bacon should look back at this performance with nothing but pride. (The fact he was not nominated for an Oscar is astonishing as his performance.)
Christian Slater gives one of his best performances as well and Gary Oldman is, (predictably) wonderfully evil as is William H. Macy. The court room scenes fairly crackle, but ultimately the heart and soul of this movie is found in Kevin Bacon's Henri.
Everything else about this production shines - with 30 year old director, Marc Rocco at the helm, giving a strong vision to the entire proceeding. San Francisco looks marvelous and Christopher Young's soundtrack (eerily foreshadowing Kamen's score for "Band of Brothers") adds the final overwhelming touch.
Not to be missed.
Rating: 
Summary: No punches pulled, lump in your throat, drama
Review: This is a very, very good movie that did not get the attention it should have when released. The screenplay is good, the acting is surprisingly very good. Kevin Bacon gives an amazing and restrained performance that should have been nominated for an Academy Award.If you are looking for a movie that makes you think twice about the fragility of life, check this one out.
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