Product Details

• Actors: Stephen Adly Guirgis, Michael Pitt (II), Laila Robins, David Zayas, Eric Trosman
• Directors: Brett C. Leonard
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Lightyear Video
• DVD Release Date: October 24, 2006
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000I2JDDU
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #67,385 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Randy commits a victimless crime that would normally get him probation and a hefty fine, but in the "three-strikes" world of justice, he finds himself locked up for 25 years. His cellmate Jake is a congenial yet remorseless lifer who casually informs Randy that he slit his wife's throat because she slept with another man just three months after they exchanged vows. Jake recognizes Randy's fear and offers him advice on how to make it in prison. But it soon becomes clear that Jake has much more than mentoring in mind as he takes Randy under his wing. "Jailbait" sets a darkly cerebral tone, juxtaposing brutality with the unattainable ideal of intimacy in the harshest of psychological environments. For these two men so yearning to be anything but who they are and where they are, power is the goal, and it's never clear who truly holds it right up to the last unsettling moment.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Riveting performances in powerful film about mandatory prison sentences, November 10, 2006

By	Bob Lind "camelwest" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Lake Placid Film Festival, "Jailbait" is the story of Randy, just a few years out of high school, who makes the mistake of testing California's "three strikes" felony law (on two pot possession charges and one vandalism) and finds himself with a 25 year prison sentence. The film opens with his goodbye to his mother and arrival at the prison, where he is assigned a cell with an older "lifer", Jake, who befriends him at first, but later preys on Randy's fear and the intimacy they developed in order to manipulate him and get what he wants.

A powerful film which, on its surface, shows how our prison system fails young men like Randy, who become default playthings for the older, stronger inmates. It also illustrates, without discussion (beyond Jake's laughter when he learns why Randy is there), the stupidity of any law that mandates a lengthy sentence regardless of the circumstances. In the two lead roles, Michael Pitt (Randy) and Stephen Adly Guirgis (Jake) provide riveting performances that would have been rewarded if the subject matter was a bit less controversial. Rated R for language and discussion of sexual activity, although there is no sex or nudity in the film itself. The only DVD extra is the trailer and chapter stops.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking and Emotional, December 24, 2006

By	Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

"JAILBAIT"

Thought-provoking and Emotional

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Surely one of the most fascinating films I have seen this year is ?Jailbait? from Warner Brothers and now out on DVD. It tells the story of Randy who commits a victimless crime that would ordinarily have put him on probation but because of the ?three strikes of justice? he is locked up for twenty-five years. His cellmate is Jake who at first seems to be the most congenial of all people is remorseless after which he very casually tells Randy that he is in jail for slitting his wife?s throat three months after they were married. Jake senses how afraid Randy is of prison life and advises him how to behave so as to make his life easier. But there is something else about Jake and why he takes Randy to heart. This is a dark, cerebral film which juxtaposes brutality with intimacy. The goal is power for these two people who so obviously are where they do not want to be. The attainment of power?one man over the other?is what propels the film.
Michael Pitt and Stephen Adly-Gurgis, who play the lead roles, are nothing short of amazing. It is as if the characters were designed for them. They create a sense of tension and breathlessness and any violence that occurs in the story is not seen on film. Everything is by insinuation or allusion. Ninety-nine percent of the movie takes place in a closed claustrophobic cell and there are just no words to describe the emotions that run through you as you sit and watch the interchanges between the occupants. Emotion is abundant but also insinuated and you feel as if you are on a roller coaster while listening to the conversation. I would say it took me over an hour to recover from the film once it was over. It is a haunting film with its limited cast, one principle setting and almost exclusive use of the color blue and lack of background music. Randy?s cellmate was a fearsome yet loveable character, amusing and disturbing at the same time. Randy (Michael Pitt) portrayed such facial emotion and such regret for his place in life that it is hard to forget him.
The only way to really describe the film is to say that it is powerful, disturbing, thought-provoking and humorous at the same time. It is mature and seasoned. In this two man prison drama the interaction between the two characters is highly pronounced and from the mild beginning of a rather tender meeting, between the two men, the menace of below the surface tension is felt quite strongly. At first we are not certain what the menace is but as we watch and observe Randy?s face, we more or less feel that rape is impending.
What goes on in prisons today really hits home. It is shocking to see the entire lead up to rape, the carefully planned maneuvers, and the sheer lack of feeling. We know that young men are raped and mentally abused by cellmates and the federal government and the judicial system do nothing about it. This is hat ?Jailbait? is about. It should be a wake up call to everyone as to what goes on in our prison system

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shocker! A+, May 3, 2007

By	Alshia Moyez Lipwear, LLC "Our Reviews" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own this film and actor Michael Pitt really shines in this role. This film is an absolute rollarcoaster ride that takes place in one jail cell...and there's no way out!