jmacd-3 This movie is basically about giving people a second chance. Michael Ironside's character gets a chance to become a better person by helping someone else, which is really kind of a nice theme.Ironside and Dourif are the stars of this unlikely buddy picture, and together they give great performances. Dourif in particular disappears into his role, becoming almost unrecognizable. He really is a chameleon in this film. Ironside, as usual, gives a reliable, strong performance, giving his loser character some depth and presence.This was a small production and doesn't get anything like the attention it deserves. More than 15 years later, it still deserves a good look.

bipvg71 DRAMA- J.T. Blake (Michael Ironside)a convict in jail realizes that he can have a second chance in life by volunteering on a work release program supervised by Social Worker Ilene Curtis (Rae Dawn Chong). Paired & chained to severely paralyzed Cerebral Palsy patient Johnny Reynolds (Brad Dourif) he returns each night to prison & ultimately fights a rival convict who controls the wing's male prostitution, drugs, & black market goods with a corrupt guard's approval. J.T. finds the care a disgusting filthy job at first but learning about Johnny's life, intelligence and character he develops heart and compassion. Released on parole he takes Johnny on a visit to his old girlfriend's whorehouse & to a bar to party when his recent rival convict arrives shooting while he's holding Johnny who is killed. They fight viciously & he's beaten badly. His prostitute ex-girlfriend picks up the gun and shoots his rival but is killed by him also! ALSO STARS: Scott Andersen as James, R. Nelson Brown as Greason, Norman Browning as Topper, Leslie Carson as Willy, Billy Croft as Mitch, Don S. Davis as Sergeant,Russell Ferrier as Eric, Bruce Glover as Casey, Deryl Hayes as Policeman Outside Bar, Janet Hodgkinson as Resident In Cafeteria, Lee Jeffrey as Guard #2.

John Benjamin Tatum (JBT-DMC) This is a film that truly shows that Brad Dourif can act. This also shows that Michael Ironside, could have a character that truly could be "loveable".Brad Dourif's performance as a man with Cerebral Palsy was flawless, and it was equal to Daniel Day-Lewis' Cerebral Palsy performance in "My Left Foot" released the year before. Truly this was showing a true insight into the character, since neither actor (Dourif or Day-Lewis) had the other performer's work to look upon given the production schedules and release schedules of both films.This is high praise for me, because, I have not really been a Brad Dourif fan. I appreciated his 'Billy Bibbit' role in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" (1975), and his role as 'Piter De Vries' in David Lynch's version of "Dune" (1984) which was made with the on set assistance of the author Frank Herbert so it has a special place in my heart.If this film EVER comes out on DVD, I will Definitely add it to my collection. I keep searching for it to come out... but like most quality "art house" Canadian films, I am not holding my breath for it to come out anytime soon. This was a low budget film, and Aylward & Ironside as rather new writers came up with a quality script all things considered. If you compare it with a "Big Budget Hollywood Film", then you will be disappointed. But if you want a film that shows human drama from the points of view of someone with severe Cerebral Palsy (Dourif) and a Convict on work release (Ironside), with heart, and looking at it from a "Foreign Film" point of view, rather than a "Hollywood" point of view, you may find this a very touching and lovely little film to come out from our Neighbors to the North in Canada.

Gargoyle26 I recorded this movie off HBO which called it "Common Bonds" and it's one heck of a acted, directed & written film. Excellent acting by all especially by Brad Dourif. Kudos to Michael Ironside for a great film.