More interesting than entertaining, "FTF" follows one inner-city street hood from his first time "bust" for drug dealing through one of the controversial "boot camp" style reform programs back into the streets where he is again faced with a choice between easy money or long unemployment lines. A journeyman film which runs a bit long with it's attempts to milk sympathy from the audience, "FTF" is a somewhat staged telling of a true story, a tour de force by a well cast Epps, and a seemingly serious attempt to give insights into the plight of the young inner-city black male with a criminal record.
13 Reviews
A bleak look at black America.
CharltonBoy7 May 2000
This TV movie is a bleak but insightful look at how a young black American copes with and ultimately benefits from being sent to a Boot Camp instead of prison. I did enjoy this movie as it took us into the dark and depressing life of a young African American but it could have been so much better. I would have liked the relationship with the two gang Bangers to have been explored a little bit more and we could also have done without the slushy sentimental bit in the middle of the film.
I had never heard of the actor Omar Epps and I was impresssed with him in the lead role. Over all a good movie. 7 out of 10.
I had never heard of the actor Omar Epps and I was impresssed with him in the lead role. Over all a good movie. 7 out of 10.
Watchable But Doesn't Sustain The Excellent Opening
Theo Robertson19 June 2013
Greg Yance finds himself busted for drugs and is sentenced to five years without parole . At his trial he is given a choice between serving his sentence in a tough penitentiary or to be sent to a tough boot camp
As soon as the opening sequence rolled I came on to this page only to find it's a TVM . Oh dear not doubt a PG cert , a sort of disease of the week movie for homeboys . Quickly it became clear this was a HBO production with graphic language . The fact is I'm a big fan of HBO drama OZ and the first fifteen minutes played out like that classic show as Greg Yance finds himself quite literally having to fight for his life in an uncaring and brutal prison system
Yance is given a choice of staying in the state pen or shipping out to a tough boot camp . You do think that in that case we'll be watching a sort of civilian version of FULL METAL JACKET . Rules are rules and somewhat strangely the rules of the camp involve no swearing . This means the film is conspicuous by missing a Sgt Hartman type character full of highly quotable foul mouthed language
FIRST TIME FELON is certainly more enjoyable and impressive than a lot of TVMs I've seen and his competently directed by Charles S Dutton and competently acted by a mainly black cast . The problem is that the early sequences are so impressive the rest of the film doesn't sustain the hard hitting drama the story is capable of and becomes a bit too preachy the more it continues
As soon as the opening sequence rolled I came on to this page only to find it's a TVM . Oh dear not doubt a PG cert , a sort of disease of the week movie for homeboys . Quickly it became clear this was a HBO production with graphic language . The fact is I'm a big fan of HBO drama OZ and the first fifteen minutes played out like that classic show as Greg Yance finds himself quite literally having to fight for his life in an uncaring and brutal prison system
Yance is given a choice of staying in the state pen or shipping out to a tough boot camp . You do think that in that case we'll be watching a sort of civilian version of FULL METAL JACKET . Rules are rules and somewhat strangely the rules of the camp involve no swearing . This means the film is conspicuous by missing a Sgt Hartman type character full of highly quotable foul mouthed language
FIRST TIME FELON is certainly more enjoyable and impressive than a lot of TVMs I've seen and his competently directed by Charles S Dutton and competently acted by a mainly black cast . The problem is that the early sequences are so impressive the rest of the film doesn't sustain the hard hitting drama the story is capable of and becomes a bit too preachy the more it continues
Definitely worth watching once
TC-427 March 2001
I thought that this would be another preachy movie about black kids in jail and all their problems. I was wrong. This is about black kids will all sorts of problems in and out of jail but it is done very tightly and kept up my interest throughout. Omar Epps is getting a lot of well deserved credit for his acting but my thumbs up goes to the director Charles S. Dutton who I would like to see do other films. The music with the end credits was beautiful and sounded like the high class music that you hear with much bigger budget movies. I recommend that everyone see this movie once. You will not regret it.
a movie about overcoming prejudices
serdarkuru7524 December 2005
Omar Epps portrayed Greg Yance good. A good story line but it can be better filmed. We can make selections in our life and courage needed to overcome prejudices on the way to accomplish our choices is the main idea I think. It is interesting to see the racial prejudices still have place in US but it is some kind of subliminal discrimination. You cant see openly but feel it. The movie gives this good. Also the correction methods of the government which uses military style reeducation on the movie is interesting. it reminds me the methods soviets use to politically educate the misfits to the society. The movie also portrays the dilemma of the convicts. If you made one mistake in your life a second chance is very low option for you.
Impressive
Dann-718 April 2000
This will be my first comment posting due to the fact that this is first time I felt the need to do so. I caught this movie somewhere towards the beginning and within 10 minutes it had pulled me in to the point where I could not step away. At first I thought it was going to be a "prison movie" but turned out to be so much more. When the boot camp sequence ended the movie just got better and better. Omar Epps was tremendous in this movie and actually had me caring about the character ,which never happens to me to the point that it did here. I felt that I was watching someones life story and not fiction,and it turned out I was right after signing on here. Omar made this movie very believable and I would recommend you see this movie. I will watch it again.
This is a wonderful movie!
McGuireN20 December 2001
I am so glad that I stumbled upon "First Time Felon" ... it is wonderful! Based solely on the title, I probably would have passed it by, assuming it wouldn't be "my kind of movie". But from the very beginning, I was totally drawn into this factual drama and thoroughly enjoyed the entire film. It's a good, solid story, enhanced by superb acting and excellent direction. I highly recommend it for anyone!
Average...
buiger25 March 2012
Nothing special. A lot better could and should have been made out of a probably very interesting true story.
This made-for-TV movie has it's good times when it is rather powerful (especially the beginning) but then it loses itself as it describes the boot camp (everybody is so good and understanding...) and is overly simplistic towards the end by portraying "the cruel world that will not take a miraculously (in 3-4 months of boot camp) redeemed ex-criminal. Talk about politically correct...
Overall, the acting, directing, cinematography, script, etc., same as the whole movie, average to below average.
This made-for-TV movie has it's good times when it is rather powerful (especially the beginning) but then it loses itself as it describes the boot camp (everybody is so good and understanding...) and is overly simplistic towards the end by portraying "the cruel world that will not take a miraculously (in 3-4 months of boot camp) redeemed ex-criminal. Talk about politically correct...
Overall, the acting, directing, cinematography, script, etc., same as the whole movie, average to below average.
Fantastic Movie, actually made me cry
sabremookie30 March 2005
I am not one to cry, so it takes a powerful movie and powerful performance to pull some tears out of my eyes. This was the second time I saw the movie, and it was even more powerful than the first. Everything was perfectly balanced, so much was left unsaid in words, but got through in other ways. I have always been a big fan of Charles Dutton, and I am so impressed by his first role as a director. Omar Epps did a fantastic job, even when he is just alone in the screen, his face speaks volumes. I cannot think of a single thing I would change about this movie.
Though it was a bleak picture of America, and especially black America, this movie gives us so much to hope for, and provides goals we can work towards. It sends a very very positive message to children, and I would recommend it for teenagers. I would recommend that a parent watch it with his children and then have a discussion afterward. I hope that everyone watches this movie.
Though the movie has some sappy moments, I found that it was very fast paced. The timing was precise and fantastic and never interrupted the flow. Sit down and watch this movie with American Historey X and you will be in for a fantastic evening. In fact I recommend you sit down with you teenage son, watch both and then discuss.
I hope this was helpful.
Though it was a bleak picture of America, and especially black America, this movie gives us so much to hope for, and provides goals we can work towards. It sends a very very positive message to children, and I would recommend it for teenagers. I would recommend that a parent watch it with his children and then have a discussion afterward. I hope that everyone watches this movie.
Though the movie has some sappy moments, I found that it was very fast paced. The timing was precise and fantastic and never interrupted the flow. Sit down and watch this movie with American Historey X and you will be in for a fantastic evening. In fact I recommend you sit down with you teenage son, watch both and then discuss.
I hope this was helpful.
A SMALL GEM OF A MOVIE!!!
nifabs19 October 2003
A movie provides entertainment,FTF told a real story realistically. I missed the beginning credits so didn't know what it was about till I saw Epps and knew it couldn't be something ordinary.
First Time Felon doesn't rush along because its' story isn't one to be rushed, critics call it slow, I call it insightful.
The hood trying to give up his "hood" has a tough time because he's become a fencesitter in the eyes of all. He's not accepted by society for being honest about his conviction neither is he one of the boys because he's seen the end of that road and this is depicted harshly when Pookie is blown away right next to him, that could have been him and for a minute his own existence was in the balance.
Greg Yance's story is deeply moving in an "it could happen to you" kind of way and you get pulled in like one of the comments said, it holds you right through and I found myself rooting for Yance when he hit the streets again and again, his Mum's support was instrumental in keeping him going,I didn't find it mushy in the least.
Omar Epps is a multi talented actor who delivers every time. This is one of his finest performances till date.
A 7/10
First Time Felon doesn't rush along because its' story isn't one to be rushed, critics call it slow, I call it insightful.
The hood trying to give up his "hood" has a tough time because he's become a fencesitter in the eyes of all. He's not accepted by society for being honest about his conviction neither is he one of the boys because he's seen the end of that road and this is depicted harshly when Pookie is blown away right next to him, that could have been him and for a minute his own existence was in the balance.
Greg Yance's story is deeply moving in an "it could happen to you" kind of way and you get pulled in like one of the comments said, it holds you right through and I found myself rooting for Yance when he hit the streets again and again, his Mum's support was instrumental in keeping him going,I didn't find it mushy in the least.
Omar Epps is a multi talented actor who delivers every time. This is one of his finest performances till date.
A 7/10
Transcends some of its own cliche's
Eddiejoe2 May 1999
Great movie
dezertxeagle227 May 2005
Warning: Spoilers
this is a great movie. Its very hard not to like it. Its about the life of a first time felon. its also about the American prison/justice system and how hard it is to get out once your in. Although Craig made it out of the system the sad truth is not a lot of people do.
America imprisons the most people out of all the countries in the free world largely due to the war on drugs. I could write a whole book about that ,but you know where I am going. My favorite part of the movie was when Omar Epps (yance)and Treach (Sams) get over there differences by that little pond. The part I hated was when the DS pushed Sams buttons and got him kicked out of boot camp.
That whole thing the DS said about "Black People and Niggaz" is kind of self hating. It should be more like Good People and Bad People, because I use the later as an endearing word to my peers
America imprisons the most people out of all the countries in the free world largely due to the war on drugs. I could write a whole book about that ,but you know where I am going. My favorite part of the movie was when Omar Epps (yance)and Treach (Sams) get over there differences by that little pond. The part I hated was when the DS pushed Sams buttons and got him kicked out of boot camp.
That whole thing the DS said about "Black People and Niggaz" is kind of self hating. It should be more like Good People and Bad People, because I use the later as an endearing word to my peers
Redemption
view_and_review23 October 2020
"First Time Felon" is a story of redemption for a man named Greg Yance (Omar Epps). He was a small time drug dealer in Chicago who got busted. Being that he was a first time nonviolent offender he had the option of five years in prison or four months in boot camp. He did what most of us would have done--regardless of the nightmarish tales about boot camp--he chose boot camp.
Once there he and his fellow inmates were hit with a barrage of commands, insults, and rigorous exercise. Just the sheer noise was enough to drive a man mad, but quitting would mean serving out one's sentence in prison--a big deterrent.
Greg had three obstacles: the torment of the boot camp, a particularly jaded officer (Delroy Lindo), and a rival gang member (Treach). He would have to overcome them all to succeed.
"First Time Felon" was Charles S. Dutton's directorial debut and it was a brilliant one. The movie is a little bit "Boyz n the Hood" and a little bit "American History X." Like I stated, it is a redemption story and I, for one, am a sucker for redemption stories. I think most people like to see others turn their lives around. It gives us hope for humanity. This particular redemption story was even more impactful because it's based upon a true story and it was so realistic. There wasn't much in the way of drama for drama sake. Each character and each circumstance was so realistic. Thousands of young men just like Greg have found themselves in his same situation, but only a precious few have had the will, the temerity, and the opportunity to break from that life.
Once there he and his fellow inmates were hit with a barrage of commands, insults, and rigorous exercise. Just the sheer noise was enough to drive a man mad, but quitting would mean serving out one's sentence in prison--a big deterrent.
Greg had three obstacles: the torment of the boot camp, a particularly jaded officer (Delroy Lindo), and a rival gang member (Treach). He would have to overcome them all to succeed.
"First Time Felon" was Charles S. Dutton's directorial debut and it was a brilliant one. The movie is a little bit "Boyz n the Hood" and a little bit "American History X." Like I stated, it is a redemption story and I, for one, am a sucker for redemption stories. I think most people like to see others turn their lives around. It gives us hope for humanity. This particular redemption story was even more impactful because it's based upon a true story and it was so realistic. There wasn't much in the way of drama for drama sake. Each character and each circumstance was so realistic. Thousands of young men just like Greg have found themselves in his same situation, but only a precious few have had the will, the temerity, and the opportunity to break from that life.
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