This isn't a Hollywood version of prison. This is a real, hard look at prison and the relationships that form within. The writer is Edward Bunker, ex-convict, bestseller writer, actor and recent winner of the prestigious Gold Dagger for non-fiction by the Crime Writer's Association.
The ensemble cast was glorious.
Willem Dafoe gives a stellar and raw performance. Mickey Rourke is laugh out loud hilarious as a transvestite. In fact he had all his makeup, fingernails and hair done in Los Angeles and flew on the plane "in character" to Philadelphia to shoot the movie.
The music was gritty, cool blues, performed by Jake Labotz who also appears in the movie.
Danny Trejo showed a little bit of his comedic side, but of course he was a hard guy.
I think what I liked most about this movie is that I know it is based on actual characters that Mr. Bunker had encountered while doing time and that truth showed through.
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