Detention

Rating:
Summary: Detention Deserves Attention
Review: The award-winning independent film "Detention," which could be described as an "urban" Breakfast Club is a powerful. Wharton who, wrote, directed, produced and acted in the film, is a considerable filmmaking talent, who seems to have taken notes from fellow Baltimore filmmakers, John Waters and Barry Levinson, by creating a world that takes a refreshing and honest look at Baltimore teanagers. The cast and character development is simply brilliant. Led by Charisse Brown as the strong-willed and determined teacher Mrs. Deakins, who brings together five students on a Friday afternoon because she believes they have potential. At first glance, these high school students seem to have stereotypical personalities, "the thug," the jock," "the militant," "the poet" and "the sex pot," but as the story unfolds Wharton is able to reveal layers to these personalities that don't fit into any mold. The students excellently played by Justin Black as "Black," Kisha Harvin as "Poochie," John Hall as "Tenspeed," Kiatenai as "Acirfa" and Wharton himself as "Langston," come across as truely real and has some raw moments of emotion. Wharton who worked as a substitute teacher and was a Staff Writer for NBC's "Homicide: Life On The Street," has brought to life a film with grace, grit and style rare in a first-time filmmaker. It is easy to see why this film won the "Best Director Award" at the 1998 Urbanworld Film Festival and the "Audience Award" at the 1998 Atlanta Film and Video Festival because it stays with you long after the first viewing. I would highly reccommend this film for any parent, teacher or civic minded person who cares about the problems facing today's young people.

Rating:
Summary: Detention Deserves Attention
Review: The award-winning independent film "Detention," which could be described as an "urban" Breakfast Club is a powerful. Wharton who, wrote, directed, produced and acted in the film, is a considerable filmmaking talent, who seems to have taken notes from fellow Baltimore filmmakers, John Waters and Barry Levinson, by creating a world that takes a refreshing and honest look at Baltimore teanagers. The cast and character development is simply brilliant. Led by Charisse Brown as the strong-willed and determined teacher Mrs. Deakins, who brings together five students on a Friday afternoon because she believes they have potential. At first glance, these high school students seem to have stereotypical personalities, "the thug," the jock," "the militant," "the poet" and "the sex pot," but as the story unfolds Wharton is able to reveal layers to these personalities that don't fit into any mold. The students excellently played by Justin Black as "Black," Kisha Harvin as "Poochie," John Hall as "Tenspeed," Kiatenai as "Acirfa" and Wharton himself as "Langston," come across as truely real and has some raw moments of emotion. Wharton who worked as a substitute teacher and was a Staff Writer for NBC's "Homicide: Life On The Street," has brought to life a film with grace, grit and style rare in a first-time filmmaker. It is easy to see why this film won the "Best Director Award" at the 1998 Urbanworld Film Festival and the "Audience Award" at the 1998 Atlanta Film and Video Festival because it stays with you long after the first viewing. I would highly reccommend this film for any parent, teacher or civic minded person who cares about the problems facing today's young people.