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.

I like the movie, I though G-Ride ( Lloyd Avery II) was great,he made the movie interesting. Plus with him being the technical adviser on the set, working with the director showed. I really like this movie, I just wish it was longer because I believe there could of been more to it. I don't like the way its ends, it should have ended differently. It did have some stereotypes. Overall this is a good movie, I can it watch it over and over. It had some funny parts as well, lines that you will never forget. Also Mr. Avery later became a minister, he was a good person if you really got to know him. So whatever he did, even though he did nothing, an was accused, it is all forgiven. He did what most people should be doing spreading God's word. Love the movie

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.

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.

A photographer. His desire to develop his career. A boy with obvious gift and sensibility to take beautiful photos. The family of boy and the young Robert as his mentor. And the confrontation with the universe of hood, looking for take the perfect picture and defining in wrong manner the life around him.

A good film for the fair accents on characters and facts. Ad, sure, for images.

A sensitive portrait of friendship and mentorat, good acting and smart crafted emotion.

Its good point - the honest point of view and the poetry of some images. And, off course, the message, intense and realistic.