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Associated Film Distribution
EMI Films
Universal Pictures
Not part of a collection.
There's only one person left who believes Mick O'Brien can make it... Mick O'Brien.
Mick O'Brien is a young Chicago street thug torn between a life of petty crime and the love of his girlfriend. But when the heist of a local drug dealer goes tragically wrong Mick is sentenced to a brutal juvenile prison where violence is a rite of passage and respect is measured in vengeance.
RobMcJ
Nov 6, 2023 · via TMDB
Originally watched this on TV (WUTV Buffalo 29) and I vividly remembered the soda can scene - (although I thought he put them in a sock) plus the performances of Sean Penn and Esai Morales. I did not remember a young Ally Sheedy, Clancy Brown and Alan Ruck.
CinemaSerf
Nov 28, 2022 · via TMDB
Sean Penn is "O'Brien" who is sent down for the accidental killing of an eight year old lad. His time in prison subjects him to the usual pressures and bullying but he allies with the shrewd electronics whizz "Horowitz" (Eric Gurry) and slowly but surely starts to learn the ropes, turn the tables and thrive. When he learns that the older brother of the dead boy has seriously assaulted his girlfriend "JC" (a few, sparing, contributions from Ally Sheedy) and is now incarcerated in the same institution, a deadly reckoning is on the cards with "Paco" (Esai Morales). Penn never did shy away from the grittier roles and here he carries off his part quite efficiently, though without much sparkle, but the rest of the cast - especially prison scumbag "Lofgren" (the always one-dimensional Clancy Brown) - really only make up the numbers as this predictable and rather plodding two hours of slowly building revenge drama heads to it's inevitable conclusion. It might have been more impactful at the time, but forty years on it is a wordy variation on a well travelled theme that is easy to watch and just as easy to forget.
Bazzjazz
May 8, 2018 · via TMDB
Being an early favorite of when I first discovered the potential of Sean Penn. Really gritty film centered around some youths that are ‘raging against the machine’ and learned to fend for themselves on the street. It’s a good film if you can appreciate it in it’s own time and merit.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Sean Penn
Mick O'Brien
Reni Santoni
Ramon Herrera
Jim Moody
Gene Daniels
Eric Gurry
Horowitz
Esai Morales
Paco Moreno
Ally Sheedy
J. C. Walenski
Clancy Brown
Viking Lofgren
John Zenda
Wagner
Alan Ruck
Carl Brennan
Lawrence Mah
Ricky Lee
Jorge Noa
Carlos
Ray Ramirez
Mr. Moreno
Michael Andrew Gorman
Detective Moran
Jane Alderman
Woman Victim
Rick Rosenthal
Judge
Jason Gedrick
Inmate (uncredited)
Rob Hahn
Assistant Camera
Donald E. Thorin
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Chuck Waters
Stunts
Gray Johnson
Stunts
Walter Robles
Stunts
Rick Rosenthal
Director
Katterli Frauenfelder
Second Assistant Director
Tom Stern
Gaffer
Jane Alderman
Casting
Bill Conti
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Bound by Honor
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Mar 25, 1983
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Leo Kottke: Home + Away
1989
Match in a Haystack
2025
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
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