Customer Reviews

American Chain Gang

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No matter what your political or personal affiliation, you will find something that you love and something that will challenge you in this film. Taking you from the formidable living conditions of the prisoners in chain gang to the fear and frustration of prison guards, this film covers the complexity of the american prison systems and our controversial approach to dealing with recidivism. The ending will astound everyone. Be sure to check out the letters from the inmates to the filmmaker that illustrate their desperation and unwavering hope (you will need to put the dvd into your pc in order to view letters).

Been looking for this one for years. Great access to inmates and prison guards. We get to know these young adults as they go through the humiliation of this 'alternative thinking unit.' The women in the Arizona chain gang are a great compliment to the hardened men in Alabama. This issue has faded from the news, but the film really gives you the big picture. The ending is a real eye-openner. GREAT FILM!

I personally got to view the movie way before its release and quite proud of Mr. Irving (Pookie). From beginning to end the documentary is riveting and makes you feel as if you yourself know the inmates personally. It's definitely a must have. Job well done!

This documentary tells the story of re-instituted chain gangs simply and with compassion. All parties are given a chance to express their viewpoints - with some surprising results. The film is gritty and engrossing, but never preachy. Guaranteed to make you think again about what we as a society hope to accomplish when we send men and women to prison.

Amazing what we do in this country. Inmates are aware of what we are doing to them - warehousing them and letting them out with no job training, counseling, or education. Chain Gangs are meant to make us feel good about punishing these people, but this film shows what those types of programs are really about. Wanted to see more. Loved the letters from prison.

Amazing view of the life behind bars and on the chain. I didn't know that prisons still did this. Whatever your view of this issue, this film will grip you from the moment you meet the prisoners. I agree, the ending is very strong. The officers are remarkably articulate and carry you through this film. See it after Cool Hand Luke.

Perhaps I've spent too much time watching true crime, but I didn't think that "American Chain Gang" was all that great. It's not a bad way to spend an hour, but I felt that others covered these issues in the past.

American Chain Gang focuses on the prison "chain gangs" in Alabama and Arizona during the 1990s. The Alabama chain gang members are male, while those in Arizona are female. The filmmakers use their time to tell the stories of the inmates on the chain gangs; the issue of whether chain gangs are effective as a deterrent to crime is a secondary issue.

I thought the lack of focus on the chain gangs was a major drawback in this film. While the interviews with the prisoners were interesting, none of the prisoners had any great insights. The filmmakers updated what had happened to the inmates at the end of the film; I don't want to include any spoilers, but few of the inmates had seen the light and gone into living productive lives. The film also includes a number of interviews with guards who work on the chain gangs. Some of the guards have interesting insights and they tell some frightening anecdotes about prison life.

I would rate American Chain Gang above average. The other Amazon reviewers seem to think that it is a terrific film - judge for yourself.