Review of Felon

This was an unexpectedly good movie, as it's share of prison life cliches is balanced by a well developed back study of the principals, with the main character sentenced to a three year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter. Wade Porter's (Stephen Dorff) life behind bars becomes increasingly complicated as he becomes embroiled in the internecine warfare among inmate cliques, and opts to walk a fine line as an independent, while a corrupt guard system capitalizes on putting down insurrections with a fatal brutality. Befriended by a surprisingly good Val Kilmer as convict John Smith (couldn't they have been more original?), Wade begins to learn the ins and outs of survival in jail, while the domestic home life he left behind continues to deteriorate by his absence. Just as Wade's outlook is bleakest, Smith offers up an ingenious plan that carries the hope of a reduced sentence, while allowing himself the desperate choice to join his murdered wife and daughter as his final reward. I would question whether prison rules would allow an inmate like Smith to wear his glasses while incarcerated, or why metal detectors never signaled the miniature shiv in hidden in them, but those are minor nitpicks in a story that leads to Porter's eventual release to start life anew. With it's underlying idea of 'family is everything', this is a film that comes well recommended along with a similarly themed picture, 2017's oddly titled "Shot Caller".