It's pretty dark and definitely of the "gritty and important" genre, but I enjoyed it. Well, I should say I was satisfied. Basic plot rundown: 1) kid going down the wrong path, has a girlfriend, friend and rival. 2) Heist goes wrong, friend dies, hero accidentally kills little brother of rival. 3) Hero goes to prison. Interesting characters there. Finds a new friend and some new enemies. 4) Deals with enemies (though not completely), friend is kind of awesome. 5) Out of prison rival sexually assaults and nearly kills girlfriend then ends up in same juvey facility as hero 6) Tension mounts! 7) Climactic battle! In a moment I didn't really know which way they would go, Hero decides not to kill Rival. End. No wrap up with girlfriend (in fact, he burns his picture of her before the final battle). No leaving prison to reform. Very interesting.
It was a little flabby in the middle (though I imagine that's an era thing), and the writing felt a little...forced to me. The kids sounded like they were TRYING to be cool, rather than being cool. But again, that might have been purposeful or even just a problem of it being an older moving (I'm seeing it for the first time in 2014). The performances were just excellent, and it's nice to see where Sean Penn probably came from. I quite enjoyed it though I said it was dark and long enough that you weren't looking for happiness in the end, just resolution and some satisfaction. Both delivered.
It was a little flabby in the middle (though I imagine that's an era thing), and the writing felt a little...forced to me. The kids sounded like they were TRYING to be cool, rather than being cool. But again, that might have been purposeful or even just a problem of it being an older moving (I'm seeing it for the first time in 2014). The performances were just excellent, and it's nice to see where Sean Penn probably came from. I quite enjoyed it though I said it was dark and long enough that you weren't looking for happiness in the end, just resolution and some satisfaction. Both delivered.