tomgillespie2002 Steve Buscemi's first feature as director was Trees Lounge, an engaging drama about the bored, alcohol-drenched inhabitants of a small town, and their day-to-day interactions. For his second, Buscemi explores many of the same themes of aimlessness and having too much time on your hands, but changes the setting and tone entirely. Adapting Eddie Bunker's novel of the same name (the real- life ex-con also shares script writing duties with John Steppling), Animal Factory is about as unglamorous as prison drama gets. With a heightened sense of realism, violence and rape lurk at every turn, often happening so quickly that you barely have the chance to comprehend it. Buscemi and Bunker also find time to explore an engaging father-and-son relationship, albeit one taut with tension and distrust.After receiving an incredibly harsh sentence for drug possession, young Ron Decker (Edward Furlong) is packed off to prison where his youthful looks quickly attracts unwanted attention. Proving himself to be completely ill-equipped to handle the danger he faces, he is taken in by the shaven-headed Earl Copen (Willem Dafoe), who teaches him the ropes and how to spot a threat. A man of little physical prowess, Earl has risen to a position of authority by using his background in law to improve the living and working standards of his fellow inmates. Surrounded by his gang of trusted bruisers (including Danny Trejo, Mark Boone Junior, and The Wire's Chris Bauer), Earl promises to protect the vulnerable Ron. Pondering Earl's true intentions, Ron at first keeps the smiling convict at arm's length, until a bond is formed that just may help the young offender to make it out alive.By shaping the drama in the most unsensational way imaginable, Buscemi adds the necessary grit to Bunker's knowing words, with many of Bunker's novels taking inspiration from his own time in the slammer. Performances impress across the board, as you would expect from an ensemble taking direction from such a seasoned pro (who also appears). In particular, there are memorable roles for Mickey Rourke, playing Furlong's motor-mouthed, transvestite cell-mate, and, of all people, Tom Arnold, who is unnervingly convincing as a predatory rapist with his eye on Ron. But the film belongs to its two leads. Dafoe brings extra layers to his somewhat sensitive gang leader, and Furlong, one of many promising young actors who emerged in the 90s to disappear into the ether, is particularly effective as the protagonist. Changing his behaviour to suit his surroundings, we see the prison sculpt him into the type of career criminal the system's suppose to prevent. While the matter-of-fact approach prevents it from generating any real momentum - despite an attempted prison-break climax - Animal Factory is quietly powerful in small moments.

room102 A veteran prisoner (Willem Dafoe) takes a young new prisoner (Edward Furlong) under his wings.Solid and impressive direction by actor Steve Buscemi. Excellent production and acting by the entire cast.Mickey Rourke is very impressive in a tiny role as a tranvestite prisoner (could have earned him some awards if it was a bigger part and a more advertised movie); And I just now realized that it was actually Tom Arnold in one of the key roles as a prisoner, so that's pretty impressive - I thought the guy looked familiar, but I'd never have guessed it was him.The script could have been stronger, although it's apparently based on an autobiography by actor/writer Eddie Bunker.

videorama-759-859391 AF isn't as frightening and scary, when judging the preview. Although it does have it's moments. Written by two actors, who were convicts in their pasts, and who star in this (good to see Eddie Mr Blue Bunker again) they have fashioned a really good script and film. F is a fine prison drama, that cages all sorts, none the more out there then Jan, the transvestite- "Yeah, that's Mickey Rourke" who steals his scenes". There's so much that's good about this film, where I've never been riveted like this to any other prison film, even Chained Heat, ha. The story has young new fish Furlong, from one of those rich families, involved in small time drug selling, who learns quick that you should have friends. We have our share of kiddy rapists, one of particular menace, nice guy Tom Arnold, again like you don't want to see him. Furlong has his scrapes, and more bad news from outside concerning an extended sentence, and it's easy to see why he goes el troppo, where later he adds fuel to the fire with a shared plan of escape, where before he was saved by an attempted stabbing on another priosoner. Veteran prisoner Earl Copeland (a brilliant performance of depth by Willem Dafoe) takes young fish (Furlong) under his wing, and it was good to see these actors together, though really I've never thought much of Furlong's acting. Nonetheless, all the characters carry some weighty performances, none more wilder than Rourke, but it's Dafoe's acting that shines above the rest. Rourke's makes for the comedy moments which are gold, while actor/director Steve Buscemi, stars as a governor, taking the role, with a strong grip. One hard to take scene, was Dafoe, self inflicting pain on him, with a razor blade, which to me questioned the MA rating. AF has an opened ending, where for one attempted escapee, he'll be damned. AF is a solid and impressive piece of film making, that has, like I said, so much to offer, apart from his great actors. Something is always happening.

David T This isn't just a violent prison story, though it certainly has that, it really is a story about an innocent's slide into despair. There are moments where humanity shines through. Furlong's acting is powerful and naive and Dafoe's subtle, menacing and compassionate. It is very disturbing at times and unpredictable in its twists and turns. Fortunately a lot of the gang violence is often hinted at and not shown. there are even moments of humour, though rare. It's not too distant from Shawshank in its ambiance, not story, and I found it just as compelling. There are several minor roles, especially the drag queen, that are wonderfully played, poignant and unsettling and Mickey Rourke is top notch. The setting is dirty and ugly, but it is a prison of course. A film with subtle and natural dialogue, and a film with a nice pace and flow.