Have you ever watched a movie that you think about for days, weeks, even months later? The opening scenes of Murder In The First stayed in my mind for a very long time. And that was especially true, considering that this story was inspired by actual events. Now when I read such words, I tend to view a film in an entirely different light.

The voice-over narration that runs through the entire length of the film is done by Christian Slater. He begins the story by telling us some of the history surrounding the island "escape-proof" prison of Alcatraz. On March 25, 1938 four men tried to break out of the prison together. Two of the men died, a third one (Rufus McCain) turned over information for leniency and was returned to his cell. The fourth one was Henri Young. He was sent to solitary confinement for what was referred to as his rehabilitation.

As you're listening to the story, the scenes flick back and forth of a naked man in a dark, cold cell. And that's all there is....just the man and the stone walls that surround him. There isn't even a bucket. He's shown at different moments, from hanging from his wrists while getting viciously beaten to scratching a baseball diamond into the stone floor, mumbling the whole time. The visuals here are haunting, to say the least. The man has been confined to this cell for 3 years and 2 months, with only one 30-minute reprieve a year into the prisons' exercise yard.

Eventually Henri was released from solitary, showered, given a haircut and taken to the prisons’ cafeteria. Some of the other prisoners begin taunting him with the fact that the man that "put him in that hole", Rufus McCain, was sitting close by. Henri gets out of his seat and grabs Rufus, stabbing him in the throat with the handle of a spoon. There's no doubt to Henris' guilt in the murder, because there was a roomful of other prisoners and guards that witnessed the entire event.

All of this happens in about the first 15 minutes of Murder in the First. The bulk of the story deals with Henri and his attorney, James Stamphill, who has been appointed to represent him and the friendship that develops between the two. Stamphills’ defense is to point the finger of guilt on the institution of Alcatraz itself. He wants to prove that normal men entering Alcatraz leave as murderers.

Kevin Bacon (Henri) gives a brilliant performance. His eyes reflect the fear and pain of this character, as well as his body language and voice. He plays the role so well, it’s hard to put it out of your mind later. There’s a part of you that wishes you could. Like the scene when he’s quietly begging for mercy, just before his heels are slashed with a straight razor. Oh, man....

Christian Slater (Stamphill) does fine with his role, but was overshadowed by both Bacon and Gary Oldman (Associate Warden, Milton Glenn). Glenn was sadistic and cruel, the kind of role that Oldman has played before, but he excels here. William Macy, the Prosecuting Attorney, is there, but you’ll hardly notice him. Kyra Sedgwick is seen briefly as a prostitute that Stamphill sneaks in to “entertain” Henri for his first time. Hey, gotta have some sex in there, right?

One of the things I noticed is how the music is used in Murder in the First to show the contrasts of the lives that exist on Alcatraz. Specifically, I’m thinking of when the children are joyfully singing Christmas carols, while men were being tortured on the other side of those walls.

This film had an impact on me enough to want to do some research to find out just how historically accurate the story was. And for the record, it’s not accurate. But that’s alright. It’s well worth watching.

Rated R, definitely not for the Kiddies, and running just over 2 hours.

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There are some great entries in Sleeper54s' Lean 'N Mean 2 Write/Off. If you want to check them out, just click right here. Thanks, Tom, for letting me join in!!
8-)
~~Nedi~~







Recommended: Yes