A hero, Emmett Foley (Gary Oldman), returns from Korea, only to find that he can't function like he used to. Something is changed within him. One day he goes nuts and starts shooting all over the neighborhood. And while he has no intention of harming anyone but himself, he accidentally shoots a woman in the leg. The police arrives, but is completely incompetent and cannot hit him. He ends by taking his own life, or at least so he think, but he even fails at that.
He is placed at a mental institution called Chattahoochee, where life changes dramatically for him. This is not a place where people get better, far from it, in fact most people who leaves this place does so in a casket. Emmett, along with his friend Walker (Dennis Hopper) tries to fight the system from within, but it seems like an impossible fight. The "patients" have no rights and Emmett is constantly reminded of this, and yet he continues to fight.
The story was inspired by a true story, and the characters actually feel real (which is ultimately a big credit to the cast). Most of them are indeed insane, but some, like Walker has merely been placed at Chattahoochee because it will be impossible for them to leave that way. In the end, the only way for Walker to leave is by fleeing...
I had no idea what to expect when I saw this movie, except that it was a story about "heroes (that) happen in crazy places", but that isn't saying a lot. And honestly, when the movie ended, I didn't have the feeling that it glorified Emmett, it merely set him free and gave him some peace of mind.
The movie has a nice pace that isn't forced. It takes the time to show us the characters so that we understand that they are more than just crazy and criminals. Sure, Gary Oldman overacts at times, but he has to, and so he is forgiven.
Overall, a solid movie with an interesting story. It sort of reminded me of the Shawshank Redemption, only with crazy people. Nothing is prettied up here, everything feels real. Definitely worth a second look, just not anytime soon.
He is placed at a mental institution called Chattahoochee, where life changes dramatically for him. This is not a place where people get better, far from it, in fact most people who leaves this place does so in a casket. Emmett, along with his friend Walker (Dennis Hopper) tries to fight the system from within, but it seems like an impossible fight. The "patients" have no rights and Emmett is constantly reminded of this, and yet he continues to fight.
The story was inspired by a true story, and the characters actually feel real (which is ultimately a big credit to the cast). Most of them are indeed insane, but some, like Walker has merely been placed at Chattahoochee because it will be impossible for them to leave that way. In the end, the only way for Walker to leave is by fleeing...
I had no idea what to expect when I saw this movie, except that it was a story about "heroes (that) happen in crazy places", but that isn't saying a lot. And honestly, when the movie ended, I didn't have the feeling that it glorified Emmett, it merely set him free and gave him some peace of mind.
The movie has a nice pace that isn't forced. It takes the time to show us the characters so that we understand that they are more than just crazy and criminals. Sure, Gary Oldman overacts at times, but he has to, and so he is forgiven.
Overall, a solid movie with an interesting story. It sort of reminded me of the Shawshank Redemption, only with crazy people. Nothing is prettied up here, everything feels real. Definitely worth a second look, just not anytime soon.