Rather than simply film Kosmond Russell's award-winning play, first-time
feature director Jordan Walker-Pearlman made a few improvements.
Unfortunately, the result is so overloaded with extra characters, tangled
story lines, dance numbers, fantasies and flashbacks that the once-simple plot
feels puffed-up and irritatingly self-important. And that's too bad, because
the film includes fine performances and some very inventive camerawork from
cinematographer John Ndiaga Demp. But it lacks the very first thing a director
should provide: direction. Alex Waters (Hill Harper) has been sentenced to 25
years in California's Union Grove S...
Released:
2000
Rated:
R
Length:
126 mins