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Against the Wall

Play trailer Poster for Against the Wall R 1994 1h 50m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In this film based on a true story, an idealistic young recruit, Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan), begins working in Attica Penitentiary and quickly learns how awfully the inmates are being treated. Soon a prison riot breaks out, and Smith and the other guards are taken hostage. The prisoners, led by Jamaal (Samuel L. Jackson), take control of the jail and demand better living conditions. Despite the tense environment, Smith finds sympathy for Jamaal, who is a political prisoner.
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Against the Wall

Critics Reviews

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 08/31/2022
B
A brutal, complex, tough-minded drama set inside Attica during the 1971 riot. Go to Full Review Dragan Antulov rec.arts.movies.reviews 01/01/2000
5/10
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Audience Reviews

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Michael W @mawilps 02/11/2024 This prison movie was great. Kyle MacLachlan, Samuel L. Jackson, Clarence Williams III, Harry Dean Stanton, Frederic Forrest, Anne Heche, Steve Harris, Philip Bosco, Carmen Argenziano, and the rest of the cast did a great job in this movie. This true story about the uprising at Attica prison was dramatic and intense. It's about demanding better privileges for inmates and making it out alive. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's worth watching. See more 07/14/2019 Takes forever to start. Instead of good cinematography they use a lot of close up views that have nothing to do with the movie or the plot. Who want to see a close up of dyed hair, locker or ugly guards. See more 07/24/2018 Fantastic prison film, great cast, superb acting. Based on a true story. See more delysid d 04/26/2017 Not bad. Cool prison riot film See more 03/31/2012 Fantastic film. Haven't seen it in years, but I remember being very fond of it. Leave it to HBO to come up with some of the most interesting work in the last 20 years or so. See more 02/11/2012 I never knew the back story, so can't vouch for the authenticity of the plot but it was very watchable purely as a film. I thought Samuel L added the most weight to this film and Kyle McLaughlan was also very good. Interesting story but I have no doubt it has been embelished. Worth seeing if yo get a chance. See more Read all reviews
Against the Wall

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Cast & Crew

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John Frankenheimer

Director

Kyle MacLachlan

Michael Smith

Samuel L. Jackson

Jamaal

Harry Dean Stanton

Hal

Clarence Williams III

Chaka

Frederic Forrest

Weisbad
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Against the Wall

Against the Wall (1994) Against the Wall (1994) Against the Wall (1994) Against the Wall (1994) Against the Wall (1994) Against the Wall (1994) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this film based on a true story, an idealistic young recruit, Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan), begins working in Attica Penitentiary and quickly learns how awfully the inmates are being treated. Soon a prison riot breaks out, and Smith and the other guards are taken hostage. The prisoners, led by Jamaal (Samuel L. Jackson), take control of the jail and demand better living conditions. Despite the tense environment, Smith finds sympathy for Jamaal, who is a political prisoner.
Director
John Frankenheimer
Rating
R, TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 6, 2017
Runtime
1h 50m
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