Foster Boy

This is a great movie! It's aggravating, annoying, intense, emotional, terrifying and sad all at the same time.

It's so sad that people rating this movie are so heartless - it's based on a true story and they are saying this boy's life isn't interesting enough for them...

Humanity sucks - this movie is GREAT! Don't go by the ratings.

A 19-yr-old boy has been in a series of troubles with the law, to the extent that the judge recognizes him. He is a failed product of the foster system, starting when he was 8.

Now he is suing the large corporation that has been running the placement system. He doesn't want a financial award, he wants the company and its guilty to be prosecuted and the system cleaned up. But he can't afford a lawyer.

Set in Chicago, the judge corrals a high-profile L.A. lawyer to be his pro bono lawyer, against his will. First just wanting to settle the case and get home for Thanksgiving, he gradually learns what all the boy has been through.

The movie is "inspired by real events" but the closing credits state that parts of the story were fabricated and some characters are composites. Still it is a good look at how the foster system can fail the kids when money is paid out without enough regard to the health and safety of the kids.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library.

Please watch this film. If you enjoy courtroom dramas it should at least interest you although you wont find the thrilling battles you find in Goliath or other of the same ilk. The story forcuses more on the pitfalls of the foster care system and the broken corporations that back it.

The characters are a bit one dimensional outside of Jamal. His pain and performance is undeniable and the main reason I stuck around.

Definitely worth a watch.

The premise of this film is the sick side of the foster industry, which got my blood boiling; personally it could of used more of that context, painting us a more gruesome picture of that reality.. but I don't think I will chip away at the rating for the director's discrepancies. Overall it's very uplifting and makes you want to join the fight - I know I have!

This movie has everything which defines a sleeper HIT. Content is strong. But story is true. The truth is raw and undeniable. Thank you Shaq for using your platform to present this story