AGAINST THE WALL (1994) A Film Review Copyright Dragan Antulov 1999
New generations who watch Al Pacino chanting "Attica! Attica!" in DOG DAY AFTERNOON, are probably less aware what those words mean than the audience in early 1970s. For those who used to be around in those times, word "Attica" is forever associated with the great prison riot in 1971, tragic event that traumatised the American nation in the very same way Waco, Oklahoma City bombing and school shootings are doing today. Hollywood simply ignored that events, same as those events are ignored now, and left to the professional yet routine treatment of television industry. In case of Attica, it happened with the ATTICA, 1980 television movie directed by Marvin Chomsky. The author of this review used to watch this movie long time ago, and it was very impressed with it. Fourteen years later, HBO made a cable version of those events, directed by John Frankenheimer, director who had made reputation by making great political thrillers in 1960s and 1970s.
The story is told from the perspective of Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan), young man from Attica, New York, who follows the family tradition and becomes the guard in nearby State prison, nicknamed "The Factory" by the local population. However, unlike his predecessors, including his father (Harry Dean Stanton), retired guard who now owns the bar, Smith is the product of its generation - idealistic, liberal and open for new ideas. Soon, he is shocked to find that the prison is run like nothing has changed outside the walls. Guards like sadistic and racist Weisband (Frederic Forrest) treat prisoners like animals. Smith is, on the other hand, aware that it can't go for long. The inmates, mostly blacks like Jamaal (Samuel L. Jackson) are convinced that they too should have some new political and other freedoms that the rest of country enjoys under the reforms. The anger and discontent explodes in the violent outburst that would leave scores of prison guards, including Smith, as hostages.
Technically, the movie is well-done. The acting is superb, which isn't so hard to imagine with excellent character actors like Forrest, MacLachlan, Jackson, Stanton and Clarence Williams III (playing prisoner Chaka) around. Also, the grey photography of John R. Leonetti provides a lot of gloomy atmosphere, that was essential for this kind of picture. Unfortunately, Frankenheimer in later years continues with the series of bland and forgettable movies that undermine his reputation, and AGAINST THE WALL is not an exception. It happened mostly because of screenplay; Ron Hutchinson wrote characters less like a living and breathing people, and more like a symbols. So, the division between the guards and inmates seem somewhat artificial, same as the use of "good vs. bad" stereotypes in characterisation (most notable in confronting Smith with Maclachlan, and Jaamal with Chaka). Also, the film is too didactic - the characters keep telling to each other and audience that the times are changing, instead of leaving that task to the director. The ending of the film, with its "symbolic" message being spelled out, is even worse. However, despite those serious flaws, and despite the fact that the Attica prison riot deserved somewhat better depiction, the movie serves its purpose simply by showing that dark chapter of American history to the audience of today.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
Review written on May 22nd 1999
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax Fido: 2:381/100 E-mail: dragan.antulov@st.tel.hr E-mail: drax@purger.com E-mail: dragan.antulov@altbbs.fido.hr
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