Murder in the First | | Cast : | Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman | | Director : | Marc Rocco | | Studio : | Warner Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | January 20, 1995 | | DVD Released Date : | February 08, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 28, 2005 | | Summary | 40 reviews? | Content
 | Oh well, but yet here is another underrated movie with great acting, a sad true story, and no appreciation. This movie MURDER IN THE FIRST is alot like midnight express, in both true stories, both men were charged for something not very serious. It's an issue that has never been corrected. I know how messed up systems can be, and i'm not saying let the petty criminals all go, but even if they do break the law over something small, why give them such a harsh sentence? It makes me sick that these guys are in prison for 10-15 years for stealing pencils, and 5 bucks, and carrying marajauina. And yet the rapists and child molesters and murderers get 3-5 years. It makes no sense! Both men in both movies had breakdowns while in prison. Who wouldnt, so they both attack an inmate, it's like hello wake up. When you have a breakdown whatever you do you are so from reality and not enough people understand the mental effect prison can have on your mental health. It's the worst punishment of all. I'm against over-sentencing on non violent criminals. People who harm people, children, and animals, people who are a real threat to society should be locked up for 10-15 years, not peopple like the guy in this story who stole money for his hungry sister, and just because of the building being federal AND no longer a convenient store is ludacrous and absurd. And these sadistic arrogant SOB's that call themselves wardens shouldnt even be in charge of the prisons if they are going to torture and cut people's ankles open. They shouldnt get away with that. There's no excuse for that. This movie is a sad reality that if you put power into the wrong hands, they'll do horrible things. Much like the SOB warden in SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION another excellent film. Probably the best because i like the ending. Well both endings are similar in midnight express and shawshank redemption. But murder in the first is sad because kevin bacon dies. I'm not sure i believe he got the justice he deserved. Good thing all these evil bastards have a nice roasting hell to look forward to after their life of haneous acts towards innocent people IS OVER. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 29, 2005 | | Summary | Heartbreaking Film | Content
| It is so nice to hear other reviewers' on this site give such praise to this amazing film. I saw it when it came to the theaters 10 years ago and have watched it at least once a year since. Kevin Bacon deserves an academy award for this movie, hands down. And it is so unfourtunate that most people have never even heard of it. It makes me angry that it never got any attention. The cast of this film is solid as is the score. This is a must have for anyone with an appreciation for good drama!! |
| Rating | | | Date | March 02, 2005 | | Summary | WHERE WAS OSCAR THAT YEAR? | Content
| Having just come off this year's Oscars, one need look no further than MURDER IN THE FIRST to see how the awards are merely an extravagant popularity contest that more often than not misses truly outstanding performances. Kevin Bacon's performance in this powerful film is tremendous and more than worthy of just a nomination, but a winner. Kevin brilliantly captures the person who is Henri Young. Physically, emotionally, Bacon brings a rare depth to a complex and wrongly treated person. Christian Slater, who I have long considered an average performer, also shines in this role as David, the public defender who fights to show the real villain - Alcatraz itself. Gary Oldman is superb as the assistant warden to whom cruelty and inhumanity is as natural as drinking water. Embeth Davidtz, William H. Macy, Kyra Sedgwick (as a hooker who tries to "service" Henri) and even the hammy F. Lee Ermey provide excellent support. To those reviewers who claimed the movie was phoney, poo poo on you. I found myself riveted to the screen and Bacon's performance alone should earn the movie five stars! |
| Rating | | | Date | December 29, 2004 | | Summary | Enjoyable film, pure fiction | Content
| Upon seeing this movie, despite the rather cliché, sadistic warden versus good prisoner plot, I still found the film rather enjoyable. However I was extremely disappointed to find that while they declared this was inspired by a true story, most likely to boost interest, the real story of Henri Young is much different. Henri Young was by no means the innocent and harmless victim as portrayed in this movie. In reality he was a bank robber and murderer who killed a man three years before he even reached Alcatraz. Indeed, Alcatraz was a brutal place, but in the end the fate of Kevin Bacon's character is nearly completely fictionalized. The real Young was eventually paroled and to this day, his whereabouts are unknown. For the real story, visit the National Parks website for Alcatraz. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 16, 2004 | | Summary | Another Great Movie with Kevin Bacon | Content
| I saw this movie along time ago and my husband has not so I started looking for it and here it is. This movie is worth seeing at least one time. Very good drama movie. |
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