The movie isn't too original. Pretty much all prison movies go like this. A guy who never committed gets into an unfortunate situation, is incarcerated and needs to learn how to survive. The movie is also based on some real incidents where prison guards were using the prisoners for their amusement in fights.But even though it isn't very original it is very well done. The acting is outstanding. A very special mention deserves of course Val Kilmer. He did a very good and methodical portrayal of Wade's cell mate who is there until the end for revenge killing. He was so good that I was almost not recognizing him. Harold Perrineau also did a great job. His character sometimes seems over the top, but Harold Perrineau still manages to make him believable. There is plenty of brutality, but I must say it wasn't the kind where I had to close my eyes. The scenes keep one watching to see how it ends. Although when it comes to the very end one somehow can predict it pretty soon.

Stephen dorff is a totally underrated and excellent actor who deserves excellent roles. This thing is very mediocre and just ism't super great. There's another movie with almost the same story line that came out sometime in the teens like 2016 maybe...it totally sucks. There are so many ultra lame movies out there on all ends of the spectrum and no-talent actors like chris pratt that the state of movie making sucks. I'd like to see stephen dorff in some really cool movies, he definitely has the acting chops if he could get the roles.

This is an excellent film about the atrocities of prison life and being sent there in the first place. Stephen Dorff is a family man with a wedding and business success on the horizon when disaster strikes:he accidentally kills a burglar who breaks into his house. The police want to charge him with murder, but he gets a plea bargain down to manslaughter, and on the way to prison, he gets framed by the Aryan brotherhood for an attack and winds up in maximum security. Of course, he has to deal with the vicious other inmates, but there is a bit of irony:he gets help from his cell mate and has to deal with a sadistic security guard. His fiancée is supportive on the outside.I think this movie was suspenseful and good with good characters, especially with Dorff and Val Kilmer and the guard. His family was good too.*** out of ****

a film about prison life who has a high ambition than be only story about a social circle. a touching film for the message and for touching moments. a film about details because its subject is not exactly the sin but the need to discover the world better . and that fact transforms it in a version of The Cout of Monte Cristo . and a surprise because not the violence defines it, not the brutal language or the strong scenes but the delicacy of hope, the courage to fight.and that fact does it different. maybe not special because the genre has its public, the actors, real impressive in this movie, are defines but others roles. but it must see it maybe for discover a different Stephen Dorff who explores in inspired manner the nuances of his character and for Val Kilmer in a rare role. a film of details. that could be the best definition in this case.