serdarkuru75 Omar Epps portrayed Greg Yance good. A good story line but it can be better filmed. We can make selections in our life and courage needed to overcome prejudices on the way to accomplish our choices is the main idea I think. It is interesting to see the racial prejudices still have place in US but it is some kind of subliminal discrimination. You cant see openly but feel it. The movie gives this good. Also the correction methods of the government which uses military style reeducation on the movie is interesting. it reminds me the methods soviets use to politically educate the misfits to the society. The movie also portrays the dilemma of the convicts. If you made one mistake in your life a second chance is very low option for you.

sabremookie I am not one to cry, so it takes a powerful movie and powerful performance to pull some tears out of my eyes. This was the second time I saw the movie, and it was even more powerful than the first. Everything was perfectly balanced, so much was left unsaid in words, but got through in other ways. I have always been a big fan of Charles Dutton, and I am so impressed by his first role as a director. Omar Epps did a fantastic job, even when he is just alone in the screen, his face speaks volumes. I cannot think of a single thing I would change about this movie.Though it was a bleak picture of America, and especially black America, this movie gives us so much to hope for, and provides goals we can work towards. It sends a very very positive message to children, and I would recommend it for teenagers. I would recommend that a parent watch it with his children and then have a discussion afterward. I hope that everyone watches this movie.Though the movie has some sappy moments, I found that it was very fast paced. The timing was precise and fantastic and never interrupted the flow. Sit down and watch this movie with American Historey X and you will be in for a fantastic evening. In fact I recommend you sit down with you teenage son, watch both and then discuss.I hope this was helpful.

McGuireN I am so glad that I stumbled upon "First Time Felon" ... it is wonderful! Based solely on the title, I probably would have passed it by, assuming it wouldn't be "my kind of movie". But from the very beginning, I was totally drawn into this factual drama and thoroughly enjoyed the entire film. It's a good, solid story, enhanced by superb acting and excellent direction. I highly recommend it for anyone!

George Parker More interesting than entertaining, "FTF" follows one inner-city street hood from his first time "bust" for drug dealing through one of the controversial "boot camp" style reform programs back into the streets where he is again faced with a choice between easy money or long unemployment lines. A journeyman film which runs a bit long with it's attempts to milk sympathy from the audience, "FTF" is a somewhat staged telling of a true story, a tour de force by a well cast Epps, and a seemingly serious attempt to give insights into the plight of the young inner-city black male with a criminal record.