The first time I can even remember hearing the word Attica was in the movie "Dog Day Afternoon." I had no idea what Al Pacino meant when he was repeatedly shouting "Attica! Attica! Attica!" I later found out that Attica was a prison in New York, and last year I read the Pulitzer Prize winning book "Blood in the Water" about the Attica uprising and retaking.

"Against the Wall" focuses a lot on one guard, Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan) and one prisoner, Jamaal X (Samuel L. Jackson) aka Richard X Clark. Attica prison was a powder keg ready to blow and only needed the right situation to detonate. That situation came and what started as a small fracas from a few dozen inmates quickly became a prison-wide takeover.

Because the movie focuses so much on two individuals, we don't get a firm sense of the overall atmosphere--in America, in the prisons, in New York, or even in the city of Attica. Of course, a movie is limited in its ability to be encompassing, which is a bit of a drawback. And what movies in general also suffer from is dramatizations. In this case, "Against the Wall" makes the entire ordeal a lot bloodier than it really was. One only need to watch the documentary titled: "Attica" (1974). Although a few hostages were harmed, the more intelligent prisoners realized immediately that the hostages were their only bargaining chips and should they be harmed--or worse, killed--then the prisoners lost all leverage. For that reason they treated the hostages better than themselves.

I knew ahead of time what the end result would be in this movie, it was just a matter of how it would all be portrayed. Writer, Ron Hutchinson, and director, John Frankenheimer, did an OK portrayal from what I've read and seen elsewhere. The bottom line is that the Attica uprising and takeover was an ugly spot in American history, but it's one we shouldn't forget.

The prison drama subgenre features the lives of inmates, prison staff, and the dynamics within correctional facilities. These dramas often explore themes of confinement, survival, redemption, human nature, and the impact of incarceration on individuals and society.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The history genre features recounting and analyzing past events, societies, cultures, and historical figures. This genre aims to provide insights into the development of civilizations, the causes and consequences of historical events, and the impact of individuals and ideas on the course of history.

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

Based on the true story of the Attica Prison uprising of 1971.

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Against the Wall

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