Product Details

• Actors: Kyle MacLachlan, Samuel L. Jackson, Clarence Williams III, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Special Edition, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: November 10, 1997
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303192157
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,186 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This HBO docudrama depicts the notorious 1971 prison revolt at the Attica State Penitentiary in upstate New York. One can sense the mastery of veteran theatrical feature director John Frankenheimer in the movie's gripping suspense and gritty, hard-hitting realism. The semifictionalized narrative is told from the point of view of young Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan), a newly recruited prison guard. (The real Smith worked as a consultant on the film.) When Smith arrives at Attica, the place is a revolt waiting to happen. When riots break out and the inmates take command of the prison, Smith and several other guards are held hostage. In this powder-keg climate, a relationship develops between Smith and the rebellion's wise, cool-headed leader, Jamaal (the superb Samuel L. Jackson), a political prisoner representing the African Liberation Movement. The insurrection at Attica became emblematic of protests taking place all over the United States at the time. "We've got a civil war going on in this country," says one prison guard, "This is where we hold the line." Against the Wall illustrates in no uncertain terms which side won this particular battle, and at what tragic cost. Then it goes one step further, becoming a platform for contemporary prison reform. The film's terrific performances include Clarence L. Williams III as a wild-eyed, malcontent prisoner, Frederic Forrest as a rabid prison guard, and Anne Heche as Smith's stalwart wife. --Laura Mirsky

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Justice Done At Last, May 10, 2002

By 

"magdelien" (Salem, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Against the Wall [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What was Attica? WATCH AND SEE!, November 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Against the Wall [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly brutal but undeniably powerful!, July 2, 2001

By 

Cinemaniac1303 (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Against the Wall [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.