IslandGuru Who payed the critics

GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

callanvass This was an interesting movie, if nothing else. It isn't quite as powerful as it wants you to believe it is, but it definitely has some powerful moments. It lacks the kind of tension a film of this magnitude needs. The setup was perfect for this to be something memorable. Charlie Sheen's Anti-Authority character set up all kinds of possibilities, but unfortunately, it succumbs to inconsistencies. I dug Bean becoming close with the black convicts. It was very enjoyable to watch, as was watching them bond. It also succumbs to clichés I can't stand, such as racism and stereotyping. Also, is it just me? Or was this somewhat rushed. This movie could have gone a good 10 to 15 minutes longer. The characters were the biggest problem for me. I did dig Bean's attitude, but it was hard to care about anybody in this movie. A lot of the characters are underdeveloped. McKinney's was the biggest issue for me because we don't know why he is such a bully, other than a brief scene where he argues about his son. The acting is solid though. Charlie Sheen is great as the rebel. Everyone can empathize with a guy that wants to stand up to a bully. Charlie didn't overdo it during key emotional moments. Martin Sheen is intense as per usual as McKinney, but his character is underdeveloped. It's kind of ironic that Sheen buts heads with Martin in this film throughout, yet they are father and son in real life. You can blame that on Gary Busey's compulsive behavior on set. Busey was McKinney before his weird behavior got him fired. Laurence Fishburne does good in his role. Overall, I didn't mind it at all. It's a shame it has a lot of missed potential, but what can you do? Give it a look on a rainy night6.2/10

Spikeopath Cadence (AKA: Stockade) is directed by Martin Sheen and written by Dennis Shryack. It stars Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen and Laurence Fishburne. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Richard Leiterman.Upon the death of his father, Pfc. Franklin Bean (C Sheen) gets drunk and assaults an MP. Sentenced to 90 days in an army stockade run by bigoted bully MSgt. Otis V. McKinney (M Sheen), Bean finds he is the only white prisoner in the facility…… Better than it has any right to be visually, and rising above what looks to be scratchy themes on the page, Cadence rounds out as a more than enjoyable character study. After a poor opening suggests the picture is going to be an hour and half of Charlie Sheen over doing the brat packer persona, picture settles into its stride once Sheen Junior encounters the aggressive Sheen Senior and is thrown in clink with the Laurence (here credited is Larry) Fishburne led "Soul Patrol Brothers". True enough to say that basic formula sets in as Sheen Junior can't fit in with his new "roomies", whilst he stays firmly in his broody bubble much to the ever increasing consternation of the agitated McKinney. No way is Bean going to let McKinney break him, even as the gruff voiced warden starts to come down hard on his newly adopted brothers, this merely serves as the catalyst for some black and white unity; which if given a chance can always be powerful.At the centre of the character hot pot is a broken water windmill that serves as a beacon of hope for the prisoners, but sure enough we know where this is going and it will form the basis of the last quarter of the story as things invariably go bad before a ray of hope springs from the narrative. It's all very predictable and obvious, but Shryack's screenplay allows the characters depth, with much detailed emotion afforded the lead protagonists. Bonus, too, is that the secondary roles don't just serve as props, they impact hard on proceedings, something all too rare in prison/institution set movies. Smart sound-tracking as well, with Harry Stewart (Sweetbread Crane) singing his own beautiful composition "End of My Journey", a song that lands in your chest and stays there for some time.Sheen Junior has rarely been better away from Oliver Stone's guidance, no doubt spurred on by his father's presence in front of and behind the camera. However, Sheen Senior's direction is only safe and basic, while his acting is the films only real weak acting link. You have to feel that with his subsequent non directing career, Martin Sheen found it wasn't for him, certainly blending both acting and directing appears to have been a step too far for the otherwise talented actor. Fishburne is quality, while F. Murray Abraham shines in one of the smaller roles.A drama with touches of comedy, and full of good honest intentions to offer hope and inspiration, Cadence is a very good movie. That comes on proviso, though, if one can accept it on its formulaic terms. 7/10

DeuxAmis Caveat: I saw this movie at least ten years ago.Most folks are right about this film. Tired plot and strained character development despite some very good performances. So why am I writing my comments here? Because what sticks in the brain with this movie is not the plot, but the camaraderie. Not the standard prison barracks/exercise yard type, but a rather unique form that takes shape when the men march to an extremely soulful version of "Chain Gang."But it has more than soul. It has "Cadence." Weirdly, the men keeping lock step with this is oddly counter-soul. Their march is a metaphor for some parts of the film, but a sure thing was missed by not exploiting this aspect further. What emerged as the main plot in this film would have made a fine subplot, but it wasn't enough to carry it into being very, very good.No, the brilliance here is in the memorable (and haunting) marching footage, with the soloist tenor lending tenderness to the sing-song soldier cadence and the clomp-clomp-clomp of marching boots, and the stagger-step "fill" where each soldier, as one, does a double step and strikes his breastbone. It's like some uber-military statement and yet it is actually done in defiance.Enough to carry a film? Not at all. Worth seeing, though? Absolutely, if you like strong film elements that stay with you for a long, long time.-- TGR

sweetdog this movie was average at best, the plot was relatively predictable, the acting was good, and i had prepared myself to never watch this movie again, until i saw, or heard rather, the last 5 minutes of this movie. harry 'sweetbread' crane, played by actor/singer harry stewart has perhaps the greatest voice i've ever heard. the song he sings which he also wrote, "End of my Journey", was simply breathtaking. It was his voice alone that brought my overall rating of this movie up from a 5 out of 10 to an 8 out of 10, he is that good. Unfortunately there was no soundtrack for this movie, though after searching for about 5 or 6 months, i was finally able to locate an mp3 of "End of my Journey". this movie is worth watching if only to hear stewarts voice soar...