First Time Felon (1997)
Inspired by the true story of Greg Yance. In the film, Yance (Epps) is a hood who goes to jail for possession of drugs. He is given a choice: 5 years in jail or a couple of months in boot camp. He chooses boot camp and finds out it is tougher than he thought it would be. He braves it through and comes home a better man. He then has to deal with the real world, and never gives up no matter what the odds.
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Very well executed
Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Omar Epps portrayed Greg Yance good. A good story line but it can be better filmed. We can make selections in our life and courage needed to overcome prejudices on the way to accomplish our choices is the main idea I think. It is interesting to see the racial prejudices still have place in US but it is some kind of subliminal discrimination. You cant see openly but feel it. The movie gives this good. Also the correction methods of the government which uses military style reeducation on the movie is interesting. it reminds me the methods soviets use to politically educate the misfits to the society. The movie also portrays the dilemma of the convicts. If you made one mistake in your life a second chance is very low option for you.
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
A movie provides entertainment,FTF told a real story realistically. I missed the beginning credits so didn't know what it was about till I saw Epps and knew it couldn't be something ordinary. First Time Felon doesn't rush along because its' story isn't one to be rushed, critics call it slow, I call it insightful. The hood trying to give up his "hood" has a tough time because he's become a fencesitter in the eyes of all. He's not accepted by society for being honest about his conviction neither is he one of the boys because he's seen the end of that road and this is depicted harshly when Pookie is blown away right next to him, that could have been him and for a minute his own existence was in the balance. Greg Yance's story is deeply moving in an "it could happen to you" kind of way and you get pulled in like one of the comments said, it holds you right through and I found myself rooting for Yance when he hit the streets again and again, his Mum's support was instrumental in keeping him going,I didn't find it mushy in the least. Omar Epps is a multi talented actor who delivers every time. This is one of his finest performances till date. A 7/10
I almost stopped watching when the inmates graduated but I hung in there and realized this movie was going beyond the cliches and attempting to show what few choices a gang banger with a record has. Very realistic.