They Call Us Monsters

I felt as if this documentary tried making us feel bad for the inmates. Unfortunately, they never had a chance due to their upbringing with lack of structure and discipline from their parents. Do all juvenile convicts deserve life? No. But if you are confident enough to run up on someone and put 4 bullets in their head, or paralyze them, I dont have much sympathy for someone who gets life behind bars even if they are 15 years old.

In a world where children grow up sleeping on the floor, numerous families crammed into a two-bedroom apartment, barely receiving enough sustenance to stay alive, these kids begin life with nothing but survival instincts. Fathers in prison. Mothers staying home to care for their children. The kids needing to find monies for their families. Their parents grew up in identical conditions before them and know nothing of survival in an "acceptable" way because they have NEVER been given instruction. We need to remember that what we know is due to years of instruction, they are not innate abilities we understand when we are born--we have been taught.

Watch the movie WITH your kids, pausing for periodic discussions, and remember that kids often have no sense of the future -- only their immediate desires. Parents must teach them about consequences and the way the law works. It's much more than "don't get caught," it's about not doing it in the first place. There will be repercussions for every decision, and some of those consequences alter lives of other innocent people who happen to be at the right place at the wrong time.

Admittedly, as a writer myself, I was pleased to see the opportunity for these young men to create a substantial work from within the walls of a prison. Their ideas were phenomenal and their hard work toward something of context is phenomenal. At first, I appreciated the semi-counseling of the first meeting from the filmmaker. As the film progressed, I was disappointed to realize his purpose for tackling this project appeared not to do with the boys as much as granting himself credit. He began adding lines to situations he knows nothing about. It always irritates me to see writers embarking on unfamiliar subjects without bothering to research. He went there for a purpose and should have followed through the first time. Thank goodness, he backed off and allowed them free reign. The actors portraying the story? They were great. So was the camera crew and writers of the score. I may embark on something like this myself. Anyone up for a challenge?

One other frustrating item was the subtitles. When words are inaudible or in another language, for the audience to comprehend what is taking place, the story must be readable. Aside from these minor things, the idea behind allowing the public in was good.

There are consequences to your actions but sadly these kids have been raised to a life on the streets. Who is really at fault here?

This documentary brought back some harsh truths, in film format and excellently made to documentary and how a lack of parental support and historical family cycles may impact offspring.

Also questions with Americas juvenile system. And how unfortunate things, were for each of these boys.

This documentary made be cry and hours after watching it left thoughts and questions and decisions on my own rearing of my son, whom is five.

I was amazed at how little support or adequately supportive their parents or guardians were. And how the person whom directed this movie showed this though the film structure.

If I had millions of pounds in the bank I would seek to help each of these young youths. I appreciate my childhood and have a stronger love for my parents, and their consistent and strong influence in my life. I rediscovered new thoughts and new values in how I wish to raise my son to be a responsible and strong young man. My heart bleeds for these children and I wanted to reach out to the children and their situations. And their circumstances and too thoughts for their victims. But we too have to look at society and how things like this occur. I'm terribly saddened by this situation Excellent documentary and thought provoking and a lot of reflection. I know out there, there are millions of youths having exactly the same situations as these youths we saw in that documentary.

Another one of those documentaries that will make you sigh and say, in a disappointed tone, "oh America...." 🙄

It lacked some real impact until its final act, which focused on how the court's sentences would impact the documentary's subjects; that part was truly devastating and depressing.

Before that, it did feel like it was killing time in parts- I liked the core idea of their screenplay development being a bit of a narrative to follow, but I don't think it really made the most use of this concept in the end.

Some crimes are detailed, some are more briefly discussed, so it might have been better to get a tiny bit more info in a few instances. Still, it had a lot more background and crime info than last year's Oscar-nominated Time, and also unlike that documentary, it did feature an interview with a victim in order to gain their perspective (only one, though. And only for a couple of minutes at that. So it was another great idea that was unfortunately a bit half baked).

This documentary has its problems for sure, but ultimately it does a pretty good job at exposing one insane part of America's justice system, and provides a (mostly) sympathetic look at a few juvenile offenders who, while they committed awful crimes, now have to potentially face an adult life in prison.

This feels wrong, even if the crimes were heinous. They need help, and arguably deserve some punishment, but the life sentences seem excessive, and this film does a solid job at arguing this position.