Focus

This was a pathetic, talentless movie with very poor dialogue and no characters worth caring for. Just a really bad movie and I blame it on the poor writing and directing. The actors were pretty pathetic too. Probably the worst movie I have seen in more than 10 years. Don't see this and if you already have, I'm sure you share my sentiments. Sometimes I watch movies for just pure entertainment value and do not put a whole lot on the writing and editing and actual direction of the movie being stellar, but in this case nothing worked at all. It seems as though there wasn't much of a follow-up for Mr. Roth and I'm not at all surprised because no one in Hollywood or anywhere on the planet for that matter would give this man a chance to direct another picture or read anything he penned on paper. I sort of feel sorry for the guy for releasing this and having to be around audiences who surely hated this film.

The camera used on this film was a 35mm MovieCam Compact. The transfer to DVD was probably not so hot and that's what you're seeing. Speaking as someone who saw it for the first time in an actual theatre, the picture quality on the print is amazing.

Anyway, I liked this movie a great deal. It didn't seem as stereotypical as it could have been and I actually cared when negative things began to happen to the characters. I didn't like the acting of the photographer, but the child actor saved the interactions from being somewhat trite situations. I loved the cinematography. The use of color, light and shadows was amazing. I've watched certain scenes over and over again just to see the red light reflected in puddles in the alley or the graffiti in the LA River scene at the end.

I strongly encourage people to go out and rent this film. It's not a big famous production, but it is thoroughly enjoyable.

On a side note: Lloyd Avery II, who plays "G-Ride" is currently serving hard time for a double homicide.. It's amazing how close this film is to the reality he lives.

It shows the emotional hardship and struggle of not being used to such a rough neighborhood and suddenly being thrusted into it. All the deaths were painful and every scene left me at the edge of my seat, awaiting what was going to happen next. This movie shows the realistic parts of the hood more than most hood movies I've seen. The way it portrays the characters and builds them up is amazing, and the attention to detail in this movie is impeccable. I felt like I was there, living the moment during this movie. I felt the fear of Rob as the film got later in, the worry of the gang that they were going to be turned in. Few movies have spoken to me the way this movie has. Every character and event was structed perfectly. This is a near perfect film, and I couldn't recommend it enough.

This movie is so visceral and powerful . It leaves you, though, with hope for our modern humanity. You will cringe, cry, and at last celebrate the fact that we can recover from the worst things that happen.

Very intelligent and emotional portrayal of life in the hood through a starry eyed Hollywood semi-profession photographer. When Robert takes Marcus a young boy with a good eye for photography under his wing Marcus older brother Keith initially rejects the Robert's good intentions. Proving his worth Robert tags along with Keith to prove to his lose ensemble of thugs he has noble intentions and to get an honest portrayal of the hood. Of course things get out of hand and new relationships are tested and tested well. Very well acted and decent cinematography for a low budget film.