Sorry, this movie sucks

Absolutely Fantastic

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Animal Factory is a prison set film directed by actor Steve Buscemi and based on a novel and subsequent screenplay by Edward Bunker, a real life ex convict, who played Mr. Brown in Reservoir Dogs. If that sounds like an irresistible team up to make this type of thing work, you're thinking right. And I haven't even mentioned the epic cast yet. It's a scrappy little film that almost takes stage play form, as we watch a plethora of raggedy and very diverse inmates navigate the difficult, tragic and often touching life of incarceration. Edward Furlong (before he ballooned out) plays a young man barely out of his teens, locked away for marijuana possession, essentially a victim of the extremely harsh system they got down there in 'Murica. He's a sitting duck on the inside, but receives kindness and mentorship from veteran con Earl Copen (Willem Dafoe, excellent). It's all done in an almost Robert Altman style way; characters jump in and out, events trundle by in centrifugal motion with little regard for one solid narrative, instead choosing to arbitrarily shift focus from prisoner to prisoner, whilst periodically checking back in on Furlong, who is the closest thing to a main protagonist. The cast is wonderful: Danny Trejo shows up (another guy who has done time in real life), Tom Arnold plays a pervert sicko who preys on Furlong, and Mickey Rourke is an absolute standout as Jan The Actress, a transvestite cell mate with a peppy life lesson or two for young Furlong. Watch for Bunker himself, Seymour Cassel, Mark Boone Jr., Chris Bauer, Buscemi as a parole board member and John Heard as Furlong's father. Bunker no doubt based much of the story on his actual prison experience, and the dedicated authenticity shines through in every aspect of the film. Buscemi is no doubt an actor's director (being one himself), and he lets every player have their moment to shine, while always contributing to the story as a whole as well. Prison films don't get much better than this. Not to be missed.

What's really the point of this borefest? I want to see a prison film with some sort of story not one which ends up with one of them messing about in a garbage truck for what? To escape? We never saw anything after as the credits rolled up. This of course made it unreal. If anyone entered one of these machines he would be cut up in 10 minutes. Its also not what we see on any of these documentaries about America's most dangerous prisons where blacks,whites and Mexicans are separated and to step into the wrong turf would mean a week in the hospital. These kind of films are supposed to be escapist entertainment so why not throw in a few killings?

Vastly underrated prison movie with excellent characters, an interesting and sentimental plot, good score, and fast pace.The chemistry between Dafoe and Furlong is convincing and it seems that both actors got along really well. Their characters needed such a good chemistry because all the situations they go through require a good relationship.The way Dafoe protects Furlong inside prison (of course, a "light" prison compared to the one of, for example, "American History X" to say the least) is somehow tender and as their "friendship" evolves it gets more endearing."Animal Factory" won't add anything new to your life or will change your mentality but it's a pleasant watch with a positive message. So if you are looking for a movie to just watch once and are in the mood for a good "buddy" flick this might be a good option.For a more solid, deep movie in the likes of this one, try "American History X", also starring Edward Furlong.

A gritty prison drama of some, but not much, merit. Director Buscemi takes a back seat for a change, It's no Green Mile/Redemeption but has its moments.The two things I found difficult to swallow were Furlong's status as a 'pretty boy' in jail - I guess though if you're in for long enough, even a broom might look sexy... who knows - and Mickey Rourke's transvestite inmate. In the first, Furlong just looked skinny and pathetic to me, in the second, how in God's name did Rourke's character not get murdered one second into the movie given all of the other sexual predation and intolerance? It was almost as if the writer felt compelled to throw in a Midbnight Express type fag just because it was set in a prison. There was no other development of this character at all. Rourke, I like, but he was used and abused here in more ways than one.The escape plot line is patently silly and this isn't Willem Dafoe's best work either. If this had been the work of a 'real' director, I'd have laughed. However, since it's Buscemi having a first go, I'll be forgiving and give it a grudging pass. The one thing that is certain is that he'll get better and, hopefully repay the couture of directors who have given him such a dream ride in films over the years (the Cohen brother, Fargo etc, Tim Burton) by directing something with heart and a twist in the future. Put this one down to learning the craft - I hope.