FELON

US, 2008, 104 minutes, Colour.

Stephen Dorff, Harold Perineau, Val Kilmer, Marisol Nichols, Sam Shepard, Nick Chinlund, Nate Parker.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh.

There have been many prison films over the decades, some classics, as well as documentaries – one thinks of film versions, features and documentaries about the writing in Attica, 1971.

While this is a fiction, it is based on events in American prisons during the 1990s, especially the role of the guards, the setting up of in-house fighting between the inmates, betting, corruption.

In a way, the basic plot is familiar. We are introduced to a loving family, a home invasion, the father, Wade, defending his family with a baseball bat, killing the intruder who was unarmed. He is arrested, charged with murder, a plea altering it to unintentional manslaughter.

Then there are the expected entry into prison sequences, familiar but nonetheless tough. On the bus to prison, another inmate stabs another to death, the knife dropped and pushed under the seat, Wade charged, his decision for safety to cover for the actual killer.

And then there are scenes of the prison, the cells, solitary, the brutality of the inmates, the enclosed yard and the setting up of the fights between the prisoners, Wade becoming involved, able to defend himself.

The film also shows the familiar portrait of warden and guards – but, with one guard, Jackson, played by Harold Perrineau, seen as a pleasant family man with his son but urging him to fight back against bullies, then taking charge in his area of the prison, organising the fights, having a pistol to shoot the fighters when things don’t go his way. We are also introduced to a sympathetic young new wardsman, played by Nate Parker.

The drama is enhanced by the presence of another prisoner, John Smith, a very interesting performance by Val Kilmer, who has developed kind of mystical survival routine, shares the cell with Wade, helps him to affirm himself, finally writing a letter, urging him for his future, and then sacrificing himself in the yard.

Marisol Nichols plays his wife, the hardship of selling the house, the business, with the boy, and her dominating and critical mother, played by Anne Archer. There is also a corrective officer who had been saved by John Smith in the past, played by Sam Shepard, who visits him in prison and is finally asked to intervene on Wade’s behalf.

The film is directed by Ric Roman Waugh, director of many action films including Angel has Fallen.

1. The title and expectations? Tough prison film? Based on actual events of the 90s, abuses by authorities against prisoners? The final message – and the number of incarcerated, millions, in the United States?
2. The opening, the ordinary family, bonds between them, workplace, enterprise, friendships? Wade, boss, payments? The home invasion, the response, his hitting the invader with the baseball bat, killing him? Laura phoning the police?
3. Wade and his arrest, the charges, murder, the burglar without weapons? Legal advice, involuntary manslaughter? The sentence? Laura’s response, her critical mother?
4. The procedures of going into prison, familiar, humiliating? Internment, the tough criminals, Wade attacked?
5. The bus, the murder on the bus, the shiv, under Wade’s seat, Snowman implicating him? The murder and his look, control? The guards, Wade under guard, interrogated, his covering? Transferred into the security centre? His cell, isolated, reaction of other prisoners, the guards?
6. Jackson, his role in the prison, seeing him with his son, affectionate father, yet encouraging him to fight back? His son’s later injury and his violent reaction, his weeping reaction? His role in the prison, in charge of the area, working with the other guards, their bonds, the particular yard, the men, encouraging them to fight, the bets, and his shooting to injure fighting prisoners? His callous attitudes? The higher authorities and their permitting his regime?
7. The introduction to John Smith, his character, the encounter with Gordon, his helping Gordon in the past, Gordon helping him in prison? His transfer, into the cell with Wade, his philosophies of life, theories about time changing? Appearance, manner, way of speaking, his writing? In the yard? The relationship with Wade, tentative, Wade asking questions, Smith responding, helping him, advice, covering for him in the yard?
8. The fight in the yard, Wade and his success, Jackson firing at him?
9. Collins, young and enthusiastic, the interview, Jackson taking him under his wing, his observing what was happening, disapproval, alienated, offer of help to Wade? The encounter with Jackson and his family at the supermarket, genial, Collin’s wife and her response? Collins later talking with Wade, offers of help, in the final supervision of the fight, the surveillance?
10. Laura, the effect of the imprisonment, financial difficulties, with her mother, her mother’s criticism, with her son, selling the business, eventually selling the house? The visits to the prison, bringing the boy? Wade and his desperation, Laura explaining that she was living to survive? Her mother’s pressure, wanting to separate, the message? But the confrontation with her mother, finally coming to the prison for reconciliation?
11. Wade, the further accusations, Jackson and the implications, charged with conspiracy, further longer sentence?
12. Wade, character, the effect on him? The discussions with Snowman? Becoming part of the white group, shaving his head, the fights? The various bouts, Jackson and his shooting?
13. The ultimate setup, the fight in the yard, Smith and his intervention, everybody supporting Wade against Jackson, Jackson coming to the yard, Smith and his ship, killing Jackson? The guard shooting, Smith’s death?
14. Laura, going to see Gordon, calling the FBI, travel, eventually intervening, the criticisms of the warden, the final release? And the importance of Smith’s letter to Wade? Possibilities for the future?