The System

I always make an effort to give some slack to newb filmmakers, but they need to at least bring something fresh to the table. Writer and director Dallas Jackson gave us a film that's been done many times before, and many times better. There was nothing new or engaging in the dragged out 97 min runtime, but cliched characters with cheesy dialogue, a predictable and bland script, with sub-par performances all around. It was clear that Jackson was inexperienced directing his cast effectively, but at least Terrence Howard and Jeremy Piven gave it their best attempt; Tyrese Gibson gave his lousiest, laziest and most boring performance to date, like it was his first acting gig. He made it seem like he'd rather just be at home calling in his lines - even him just walking around so slow in his scenes felt like he was struggling to stay awake. Had Gibson put in just half the effort (even with some facial expressions) like the rest of the cast did, this may have been more watchable. But instead, it was a boring slog with mediocre action and a barely existent narrative. It's a very generous 5/10 from me.

Jeremy Piven was unrecognizable. Wow. Terance Howard popped up. Again, wow. Standard script. Watching these former A-listers bring the whole movie up a star was fun. Gibson is not a leading man. He mumbles and poses his way through. Just not a very good movie. Found myself checking email and surfing while it was droning on. The fact an inmate carries a cell phone around for an hour was not beyond me. The fact all the bad guys were white and all the heroes were black was not missed. Just a paint by numbers, straight to DVD and streaming movie about a former soldier who gets into trouble and has to go underground. Meh.

This movie left me wondering if I was supposed to take it serious or if it was intentionally mocking prison and action movies? I found myself laughing out loud several times either because of the lousy acting by Jeremy Pevin as the warden, or the absurd scenarios laid out by the director and writers. What warden would put himself in a "dungeon" with a bunch of convicts and encourage them to fight with just one guard by his side and nothing between him and the inmates but a few guards? Also, his interraction with the inmates was odd. He seemed to be reasoning with them all the time, and when he did finally get forceful with them, he came off as weak imo. I don't know if it was the actor chosen, the director, or the writer, or all of the above, but that was the worst portrayal of a warden in all of the prison movies I have seen to date. I gave it a 3 out of 10 only because of the acting by Terrance Howard and Tyrese Gibson. They were the only reason I watched this movie. In the end, I wish I wouldn't have wasted my time, because they were unable to carry this poorly executed prison flick.

This is a good film, people are thinking it's low budget and poorly made, it's not, the director is clearly paying homage to all the 70's 80's action films and at the same time making it his own. Look at the wardens chair watching the fight! Look at padding they wear it's MEANT to look like this! I watched it, I think everyone's acting was perfect for the type of film! Dallas Jackson has made a new fan right here! And I can't wait to see what comes next! Ignore all the hate ignore all the haters! Go watch this film! Tell a friend tell all your friends! It's brilliant! Hope there's a follow up to this!

10 minutes and 15 seconds and bam slap. My name is Lt. Killian well they got the name of your character correct because your killing the movie with your so called acting. Haven't watched passed that but if it's an indication of whats to come well damn Tyrese, Terence and Jeremy are going to do some really good acting and some good action scenes to make up for his and the other guards because their acting SUCKS. Not all the guards acting needs help not all the guards but most of the ones with speaking parts and damn even some of the inmates acting was far from acting seemed more like some middle school kids play acting.