Lockdown (2000)

Avery (Jones) returns to college as a competitive swimmer after getting his life back on track. But his life takes another unexpected turn when he and his two friends (Bonds, Casseus) are wrongly accused of murder and end up in prison.

Director:

John Luessenhop

Writer:

Preston A. Whitmore II

Stars:

Richard T. Jones, Gabriel Casseus, De'aundre Bonds

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard T. Jones	...	Avery Montgomery
Gabriel Casseus	...	Cashmere
De'aundre Bonds	...	Dre
Master P	...	Clean Up
Melissa De Sousa	...	Krista
Bill Nunn	...	Charles
Clifton Powell	...	Malachi Young
Sticky Fingaz	...	Broadway
David 'Shark' Fralick	...	Graffiti (as David Shark Fralick)
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Saunders
Chrystale Wilson	...	Dana
Paulette Braxton	...	Marisa
Mike Butters	...	Barkley
Joe Torry	...	Alize
Mary Evans	...	Anderson

Storyline

Avery had to drop out of college to support his girlfriend Krista and their son Jordan, but he saved his money and is eager to get back in the game. He has returned to the swim meet circuit and is now having the time of his life. One night, after winning a race, he is approached by a college scout. Thrilled, he goes out with his friends Dre and Cashmere to celebrate. A gun used in a drive-by shooting somehow finds its way into Cashmere's car. The cops arrive, and soon the trio land in jail. Cashmere has an easier time adapting to penitentiary life than Dre and Avery, who are more unfamiliar with the gang life that pervades the environment. Avery clings to Krista and Jordan as reasons to hold on, but there is only one man who can, and will, fight on his behalf - Charles, his swimming scout, who believes in his innocence without question. Regardless of the outcome, Avery must learn to hold on to his ideals after the brutality he has witnessed.

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Plot Keywords:

swimmer | prison | false accusation | release from prison | prison riot | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brutal violence including sexual assaults, a strong scene of sexuality, pervasive language and graphic drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

A fogoly

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$83,377 (USA) (21 February 2003)

Gross:

$449,482 (USA) (14 March 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Evolution Entertainment, No Limit Films, Palm Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the final fight, the stab wound in Ruckus' back disappears and reappears between shots.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits have the following excerpt: "I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me... ...they only see my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination -- indeed, everything and anything except me." Ralph Ellison Invisible Man

User Reviews

Brutal, But Not As Bad As Reported

Yes, this is a brutal film. It's scary to us who are not criminals or have not been around these types for any length of time. Since I am a fan of HBO's "OZ," I felt that I'd partake in this much talked about flick. I ordered the DVD and I'm pleased to have it in my collection, mainly because it introduced me to a couple of really good actors. Bill Nunn, as Charles, the college scout, I've seen for years on TV and in the movies.

Richard T. Jones was new to me. If he is going to be a star, he shouldn't do what Sidney Poitier did: ignore his own lighting. The star MUST always be lit correctly, especially if he is darker skinned. Mr. Jones is a good-looking leading man type and he should "tend to his business" and make sure HE looks good on that screen.

"Lockdown" is an okay movie. Gabriel Casseus as Cashmere was appropriately ignorant and vacuous. His "don't care" attitude is pervasive in poor neighborhoods where people feel helpless and hopeless in America. It was not surprising that he, a drug dealer, with a violent demeanor ended up in jail and adapted easily to that macabre world behind bars.

Of course it was different for Dre (De'Aundre Bonds) as the sensitive brother of Jones' girlfriend, Krista (Melissa De Sousa). Dre is not gay, but his good looks scream "woman" to brutes behind bars. He is viciously raped by two Aryan thugs the first day he arrives in the big house. He is immediately frightened into becoming Graffiti's "bitch," sexually available at "his man's" will. Graffiti (David "Shark" Fralick) is a muscular and insane drug dealer who is in competition with the head black dealer, Clean Up (played by rapper, Master P) who is a psychotic, disgusting character who would kill you for a nickle, no problem. His speech is as brutal as the part he portrays.

The movie is about survival, and that is what Avery (Jones) has to do, if he wants any kind of life and future. Yes, the characters are sterotypical, but aren't they always in this kind of vehicle?

The sex was played down in this, as it is in all American-made prison films. Americans are very squemish about man/man sex and DO NOT want to see it on the screen. Two woman. That's okay. When are we going to grow up?

If you liked "OZ" you might like this. But be prepared. It's not an easy watch.