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Michel D. (michelann) from WALNUT GROVE, MO
Reviewed on 2/11/2014...

Attica! Attica!
The shouting chant is memorable in the 1975 movie Dog Day Afternoon starring Al Pacino and although it was misplaced in that film brought back memories of the real rioting that resulted in many deaths back in 1971 at Attica prison in western New York state. This movie is a reenactment of that event that took place over four days from September 9, 1971 up until September 13, 1971 when the prison yard was stormed with tear gas and gunfire.
Prison systems everywhere were eventually affected by the attention that was brought on inhumane treatment of prisoners. The A list of actors in this made for cable (HBO)movie include Samuel L. Jackson, Kyle MacLachlan, Clarence Williams III, Frederick Forrest, Ann Heche, and Harry Dean Stanton worked with an excellent script to produce this highly entertaining movie that is both violent and emotional. Well worth seeing!

Justice Done At Last

magdelien | Salem, MA | 05/11/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a native Attican, living elsewhere now, but truly
an Attican. I was 17 when the events of this movie occured.
As acted and the accuracy of events written, this movie
captures as close to the truth as I've ever witnessed. All
of the actors have now gone on to do excellent work, but
to date, none can do a better thing than the truth they told
in this piece. There are small and great stories that beg to
be passed on. I am not the arbitor of which category Attica
falls in. But it needed to be well told----and so it was. I wish someday that someone would tell the truth of the
tenor of the town itself. Though there was a local "watering
hole" represented, I fail to know which it was ------or
a compilation of them all-----all five or six in a village
of, at that time, 2,000-----plus or minus a few. The truth
is, the real census records INCLUDE the population of the
prison. Part of what every lexicon of the riot excludes is
the real danger posed by the town's people. There are few
I knew that weren't expecting a deluge of inner-city
"blacks" to invade the town with the intent of holding
hostage the "innocent" residents. Not a man with a gun failed
to have it parked by the door. Actually, man or woman.
A village, economically depressed and relying on the sole
industry of warehousing human beings is a strange little
society. The film was effective and faithful in representing
the secrecy or "don't ask" policy of the guards and the
town. The direction to alcohalism the rookie headed was
true. It may be true or not now. Then, it was a fact. The
degredation of the prisoners was a fact. The feeling and
unacknowledged fear the guards felt every day was true.
The notion they were never armed is NOT true. Most had personal
or State issued side arms. Fact.
The movie is a great endeavor well done. Same players,
from front to back lines------finish the story.
L.M.Anton"

What was Attica? WATCH AND SEE!

magdelien | 11/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've done research and reports in criminal justice and Dept. of Corrections; the story of Attica goes in the What to do: AND What not to do: file and this movie does it good justice. The hardened correctional officers that know it all and do it all, cause if its been done, its been done here at Attica" and the true-heart feelings of some inmates of real problems that were overlooked and ignored because ...your criminals. Truely, a sad time in our society, but to the respect of those who died: the system has changed. Kyle Maclachlan, Samuel L. Jackson, Clarence Williams, and Anne Heche, are all seen in some of their best dramatic form."

Incredibly brutal but undeniably powerful!

Cinemaniac1303 | New Zealand | 07/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A very under-rated tv movie that deverse a lot of praise becasue it is one of the most brutal and gripping movies I've seen! The cast including Samuel L Jackson and Kyle Mclauhlan were really good and the direction of John Frankenheimer really added a lot of punch to this powerful and brilliant movie."