Fresh

Rating:
Summary: Fresh as the Cold Streets
Review: This is not a glossy xerox of New Jack City. In the world of 90s black gangsta films Fresh takes a grueling look at a 12 year old drug runner well played by Sean Nelson. Much maybe too much foul language can make the movie seem cheap and futile at times. This may be the darkest film of it's kind as you witness a young girl murdred in a basketball game in a crossfire by a disgrunted player. While it is obvious (Boaz) is going for some shock value he cunningly casts Samuel L. Jackson in a limited role as Fresh's estranged father and maybe more importantly Giancarlo Esposito as drug pusher and boyfriend to Fresh's older sister. Giancarlo steals this movie as a guy you love to hate and a very familiar street type. Sean Nelson as Fresh is amazing in his ability to make you see his tolerance for the pain of his dysfunctional childhood. He uses his gifted intelligence to escape what could be a very catostrophic situation. Just a note that although the bad language is neccesary it's use seems like an alternative to good script. Lines seem to be ad libed by the young actors. This movie however dark and disturbing does what it intends to do. It tells it's streetlife story without glamourizing it! Welldone for the most part!

Rating:
Summary: An extremely inteligent movie that will move you
Review: This is one of the most emotionally moving movies that you will ever see. If you havn't seen "Fresh" yet, then you need to see it ASAP. It ranks up there with "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Seven" (Morgan Freeman sure does know how to pick a great script!). The first time I saw the movie it blew me away. I only wish that I had known about it when it was playing in theaters. I hadn't even heard of it until my friend got it on vidio. The soundtrack is truly fantastic, but is apparently unavailable. This is extremely annoying due to the fact that I can even find the pathetic soundtracks of made for T.V. movies in any store. If anybody has any information on how I can obtain the soundtrack I would appreciate it greatly. Now go see "Fresh"!

Rating:
Summary: The most intelligent of all the 'hood' movies...
Review: This movie stands out as a gem amongst the mishmash of 'trash 'hood flicks' that have come out over the last 15 or so years--the other standouts being 'Boys in the Hood' and 'Menace to Society'. This story is very well told, directed--and acted--and is in fact a very classic game of 'chess' played between the title character and the the rest of the cast.

Sean Nelson is outstanding in the lead, as well as the supporting cast, including the 'always great' Samuel L. Jackson and Giancarlo Esposito, and truly make this film a joy to watch!

Rating:
Summary: Fresh - what an apt title
Review: this movie was outstanding. I've seen it many times and cannot wait for the DVD to come out, as my tape is on its last loop.

I will defend the music and say that works really well in this film. It's not the kind of thing you would go out and purchase seperately, however. The writing is also superb, nary a wasted word, although some lines seem kind of awkward, forced or inauthentic - one of the three. The director Yakin apparently did a lot of research on the streets of some tough neighborhoods in New York to prepare himself to write this drama. All things considered, I think he did a fine job.

Sean Young puts in a better than adequate showing, Giancarlo Esposito is captivating as Esteban and Samuel Jackson is wonderful as Fresh's deadbeat, chess-sparing father. Chess, by the way, is a theme tailored to the plot in this coming of age story, as the pieces on the chess board come to represent figures in young Fresh's life; some, er, most of whom he must sacrifice in a gambit that will get him and his heroin-addict sister out of the ghetto.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe my favorite movie ever!
Review: Where can I start with this movie...wow it is 1 of the greatest films ever. It truely shows city life like no other films does. I happen to live in a city, a bad one at that Baltimore. And this film represents how city life really is. The actors in this film are extrodinary. First time I ever seen this, I picked it up mid-way thru..and I watched the end and never understood alot of it, however it has such a fast-paced un-boring script and plot I could still get into it, I found out what it was called and rented it. There are very few movies like this..when a movie is unsad plot wise, but still can bring you to tears because it is so raw and real you know its got greatness written all over it. When people come up to me, and we start talking about this movie or that movie and we get on the topic of urban movies there are always 3 movies I hear, Scarface, Boys In The Hood, and New Jack City. But I always recommend Fresh, and after I talk to people after they've seen it they all say this is better than all 3 combined. 5 Stars is a disgrace to this film, it should be 5 Millions stars. Greatest Movie I have ever seen! Please, if you have not seen this film rent it, buy it just find a way to see it..you will not be disappointed! I can gurantee that, it is a great film!

Rating:
Summary: No easy answers, a disturbing film
Review: While some of the summaries and reviews have portrayed the kid as being heroic, I didn't see that at all. The film avoided that easy out, as the kid can be just as brutal as the drug dealers he takes down. Recall the scene where he deals with the dog, or where he perches on the hood of a car, eating a candy bar with bright eyes while he watches the players he has set in violent motion as if it was a movie. The kid becomes just as animalistic as those he betrays, lying to kill, sacrificing his friends if need be. What all that means in the end, I'm not sure, and there doesn't have to be an answer I suppose. Also, kudos to the film for portraying violence without getting graphic visually.

Rating:
Summary: An INCREDIBLE movie that suffered from lousy distribution
Review: With the exception of a audio track that sometimes gives the impression that students were hired to record the sound, this is quite possibly a perfect movie. Given two thumbs WAY up by Siskel and Ebert, this film is a tightly written and well acted. The initial opening, which confused me at first, on later viewings revealed itself to be the setting of the chessboard upon which the title character plays his most important game -- Namely, his life. If you are a lover of suspense, intelligence, or chess (Fresh uses chess tactics to checkmate his opponents and save the "queen") than This is the film for you. Because, at first glance, this film is about African Americans and drugs -- but with relatively little violence, the distributors had no idea what to do with it and it received lousy distribution and little advirtising. It is NOT however so much a film about drugs and violence, as it is about an incredibly intelligent, hard working kid who uses all the resources available to him to get himself and his sister a better life. I have seen this film multiple times, and to my amazement found NOT ONE line of wasted dialogue in the whole thing... which makes the lousy soundtrack all the more annoying. Additionally, it has the complex construction of a Dickens' tale -- seemingly unrelated details all coming together to a tighly knit resolution. If you are a serious student or lover of film, this is one to be savored.

Rating:
Summary: This is REAL Ghetto.
Review: Yo, when I first saw this movie, I never saw the begining. The T.V. was left on and Fresh was on. I just sat down and watched it, and I was gonna change it, when a kid got shot. This movie is a deep potrayal of a young drug-runnin' twelve year old. If I had never seen this movie, my atitude would be tottaly different. This movie is like Juice, for teens. I didn't think it would go this far. But if you want a deep, violent, but real, glimpse into the ghetto, I recommend this. Basicaly the only thing missing was a soundtrack, which I'm suprised, doesn't have. So check it out. I garentee you'll like it. This movie is for any fan of a drug or ghetto movie.