“Felon,” is a gritty, sad tale of injustice and family survival. Starring Marisol Nichols as Laura Porter and Stephen Dorff as Wade Porter, this film goes from quiet, calm to frantic violence within minutes. The story is told with a shaky camera and the haunting music adds a sad tone to an already melancholic tale. This is not a movie for everyone as the movie takes its story from atrocities at the Cocoran State Prison (IMDB).
Porter is charged with murder for killing a burglar outside his house and pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter, and thereby sets the film in motion. The main character spends time in San Quentin with a three year conviction attached to his name after losing his plea of self-defence. In the big house a new type of society becomes apparent, one that is divided by race and on the fringe of society.
The tale changes from shock and surprise to frustration as Porter is charged with a second case of murder, which he did not commit. The main character seems to attract trouble despite keeping a low profile, as a skinhead gang uses him to straighten things up in the prison yard. With two murders on his record it appears that Porter won’t ever see the light of day. Porter spends his days in isolation from his family, who are in the throws of a financial crisis and the shift from family life to prison life is almost too much for the title character to handle.
“Felon,” is an anti-prison movie and the story makes this clear early on with shots of prison riots and human distress. When gladiator battles, riots, knifings, and corruption kick off, the film moves into very dark territory. The blood sports in the prison yard are for the entertainment of the guards. Although, this movie is horrifying and difficult to watch, the struggles that the inmates go through will put most viewers into an empathetic state of mind. With few humorous or light qualities and many brutal fight scenes this film is dark, cold, and truly a visceral experience.
The story starts to move into positive territory halfway into the film as Porter befriends Smith (Val Kilmer) in a shared cell. Porter gives Smith the low-down on how to act, who to know, and how to survive, in jail all the while being a mentor or guide to Porter. The times Porter and Smith share alone together are intimate and offer some of the few comedic highlights of the film. With Smith routing Porter on both characters find hope in family and togetherness as a possible release from prison looms.
Is “Felon,” worth a watch? Only if you are in the mood for a realistic portrayal of prison life, this film is not escapism. If you are in that frame of mind sit back, grab some popcorn, and cheer on Porter as he journeys from home, to prison, and back again.
Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1117385/
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