Fresh

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Summary: my favorite movie.. no joke.
Review: most people will watch this, and go "what is happening?" .. and just not get it when it is over. it is a complex journey through a short time frame.. and it's a true gem. and copelands score is brilliant. LISTEN TO WHAT HIS FATHER SAYS.

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Summary: My all-time favourite film
Review: The acting is superb, the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat, and you will lie awake for nights on end, haunted by this movie

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Summary: Yojimbo in the Projects
Review: The best urban drama of the 90s. Newcomer Sean Nelson plays Fresh, a 12-year-old runner for a couple of local drug lords, who also happens to be a chess prodigy. When the girl he loves is killed by a thug, and his older sister is stalked by a heroin dealer, Fresh masterminds a brilliant, devious revenge. It sounds gimmicky, but the script is so intelligent, the direction so assured, the acting--especially by Giancarlo Esposito as the creepy-suave heroin king and Samuel L. Jackson as Fresh's Dad, a bitter wino who plays speed chess in the park for beer money--so riveting, that you believe every twist and turn in the story. In the dimwitted scripts of practically all Hollywood movies, the hero's "clever" plan is so full of holes it couldn't possibly work in real life. Here, for once, the hero's plan is ingenious and airtight. All it requires is lightning-quick thinking, shrewd judgment, and nerves of steel. But these are qualities the young Fresh has already demonstrated in abundance. We believe he can pull it off.

I've seen this film five times now and it doesn't get old. The only criticism I can make is that some of the kids' acting is a bit amateurish. But this is a small blemish on an otherwise great film. The last scene, when the steely Fresh breaks down after realizing what he's done and how he's changed, is shattering.

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Summary: Must See
Review: The previous reviewers have pretty much summed it all up. This is a great American movie. The theatrical release completely passed me by, and I only recently discovered 'Fresh' by reading the reviews on Amazon. Buy this movie, it will have you rapt with attention. The story is deep and the details many, so much so you will need more than one viewing to take it all in. Great performances all around.

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Summary: Manipulative Stree Smarts !!!
Review: The young boy Fresh is separated from his family and lives with his grandmother and aunt who is also raising another 11 children. He is running drugs for a couple of dealers in the neighborhood he lives in while his best friend is arranging a dog fight for a dog that they found. Meanwhile, he is illegitimately visiting his father in a park where they play chess and his father teaches him the tough life of the street through the game of chess. In the absence of a family he is longing for his sister, who has fallen to the power of drugs and affection. Fresh intends to set things straight and find a way out of the misery in which he lives. Overall, the film is directed with inventive detail and untouchable character development that builds up several plots that will intrigue and cause the audience to ponder the experience.

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Summary: The dramatic game of life in the hood, as played by a child.
Review: There's no hope for people like Fresh, who live in the inner city's crime-ridden slums and projects. Besides, he's only a kid. Wait! This child has the cunning and determination to get himself and his drug-addicted sister out of this black hole of existance, with some help from his distant, streetwise chess-playing father. The storyline is intelligent and even complicated at times, with tragic subplots that carry the main character to push harder to change his life.

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Summary: This is REAL Ghetto.
Review: This 1994 film is about a 12-year-old African American boy named Fresh. He's a quiet boy, with large dark eyes that seem to carry the weight of the world. That's understandable, given that he is often late for school because he's a drug runner for some vicious drug lords. The young actor, Sean Nelson, does a remarkable job of bringing this character to life. And, with constantly escalating experiences of violence, the director, Boaz Yakim, creates an urban nightmare of this world.

Fresh lives with his aunt and 11 other children in a small apartment in the projects, which resembles a group home. His mother doesn't exist in the film, but his father, played by Samuel L. Jackson, has a small, but important part. His life is already defined as that of a loser, but he keeps his dignity and spends his days hanging out in Washington Square Park and hustling games of chess. Jackson's words of wisdom about the game are basically the only connection he has with his son.

Fresh sees more violence and wasted lives than a child should have to. Somehow, though, he grows wiser than his years. And as the plot develops with increasing complexity, he devises a plan to manipulate the drug dealers into effectively eliminating each other. It might seem a little far fetched for a 12-year-old to do this, but it is done so well, that it all seemed possible.

There are many upsetting scenes in this film, as there should be. Life is sad and painful for the young boy. We root for him as he fights his way out. And definitely can relate to the touching conclusion. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A 12-year old drug runner cleans up his neighborhood!
Review: This 1994 film is about a 12-year-old African American boy named Fresh. He's a quiet boy, with large dark eyes that seem to carry the weight of the world. That's understandable, given that he is often late for school because he's a drug runner for some vicious drug lords. The young actor, Sean Nelson, does a remarkable job of bringing this character to life. And, with constantly escalating experiences of violence, the director, Boaz Yakim, creates an urban nightmare of this world.

Fresh lives with his aunt and 11 other children in a small apartment in the projects, which resembles a group home. His mother doesn't exist in the film, but his father, played by Samuel L. Jackson, has a small, but important part. His life is already defined as that of a loser, but he keeps his dignity and spends his days hanging out in Washington Square Park and hustling games of chess. Jackson's words of wisdom about the game are basically the only connection he has with his son.

Fresh sees more violence and wasted lives than a child should have to. Somehow, though, he grows wiser than his years. And as the plot develops with increasing complexity, he devises a plan to manipulate the drug dealers into effectively eliminating each other. It might seem a little far fetched for a 12-year-old to do this, but it is done so well, that it all seemed possible.

There are many upsetting scenes in this film, as there should be. Life is sad and painful for the young boy. We root for him as he fights his way out. And definitely can relate to the touching conclusion. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic&Honest
Review: this film doesn't apologize for it's Honesty.very much up front about surviveing the streets.Sean Nelson gives a solid Performance here that you almost forget about Samuel L.Jackson.also the very underrated Giancarlo Esposito who played Buggin'Out in Spike Lee's Classic Do The Right Thing gives a solid Performance here.The Hustling&drugs and Violence never overshadow Sean Nelson's Role.he stays above water.A Must see.

Rating:
Summary: An Overlooked Gem
Review: This is a very recent film that I watched at the suggestion of one of my co-workers (Hey Harlan!). I was captivated by this film from beginning to end. Its raw power is undescribable, and the performances by the lead actor in particular (Sean Nelson) was brilliant. The story deals with a young boy who has become a pint size drug runner. He, however, is extremely intelligent and knows that there is no future in this type of life. He sets out to become a man, and in the process many lives are changed, most importantly his own. It is a film of astonishing and unrelenting power which should be seen by everyone. I was very impressed with screenwriter/director Boaz Yakim's decision not to put the usual soundtrack that befuddles urban films, instead, the instrumental score brings yet another dimension to this already multi-layered motion picture. Kudos to Giancarlo Esposito in the role of Esteban.