Fresh

Little hustler outsmarts the local drug kingpins Story is basically garbage but it has two redeeming things #1. Samuel L. Jackson #2.Sean Nelson who gives an amazing performance

Who would've thought Boaz Yakin, one of the most mediocre directors ever, would direct and write something like this?

At last a movie worth of sitting though commercials to watch. "Fresh" is a utterly fantastic film in most ways. There are few young actors that could have done better, none that I can think of, and it is really believeable.

Engaging performances, particularly by the young lead, go a long way in outweighing the faint air of ridiculousness which is written into every scene. Impoverished chess genius? Drug lords taking the words of a 10-year-old as gospel? Kid who can outsmart multiple criminal gangs? Yes, it's all pretty far-fetched on paper, but there's an entertaining feelgood spirit inspired by a Stand By Me kids vibe, and the gritty Brooklyn slums create instant sympathy. Good pace, good directing, good movie.

This is an incredible film. Extremely surprised this isn't a film that everyone has heard of and seen. Surely up there with other crime films from this era (if not better).

I think this is one of the greatest and most underrated movie's ever. After watching this, I don't get why Boyz N' the Hood and Menace II Society always got the attention.

Similar to the first season of the Wire, but with fewer wires and more pit bulls...until, that is, Fresh takes Roscoe and--holy shit, did he just do what I think he--ooooohhhhh... Somebody call Michael Vick.

I get it, but it's overrated.

This film is an incredible emotional journey. While inner-city New York is the backdrop for this tale of a boy who has to try and win his and his sister's freedom from the drug lords and criminals that have them trapped, this film gives you an emotional connection to these smart and thoughtful characters.

The main problem with this is that The Wire has now done it so much better. While there are some decent plot devices, the acting isn't brilliant (Samuel L Jackson aside) and the form doesn't work on the same level as the content. A lot of effort has gone into the dialogue and the scene setting but a lot of the camera technique is not fresh at all, being more at home in a TV movie. Also the sound design is poor - a soundtrack with violins and acoustic guitar for this? Come on.

Fond memories. Perhaps adjust the score up, or down, when I re-watch it some time in the near future.

Underrated, underseen, hood film that puts a different spin on things. There are some scenes that hit really hard in this film. Sean Nelson is great and Samuel L Jackson is a welcome presence.

An up and coming young drug pusher fights the powers of evil threatening him and his family. Gritty but interesting. Surprised me.

Best 90s hood film I've seen. Feels like an episode from season 1 of The Wire. The acting is a bit inconsistent but the look and feel of the film are spot-on.

The Art of War never had it so good. Jackson in his best performance, not chewing screen but sublimely delivering his role to the audience to decode.

Was not expecting this at all... what a movie. The chess scenes with his (Fresh's) dad tell everything about this movie. It symbolized all Fresh's ordeals and the final scene with him playing chess with his dad while crying is truely the best scene of the movie. He survived, he's only a kid and now he's ready to leave this sh*t life of crime and drugs behind him.

This is perfection. Wish the director didn't sink into trivial mainstream movies.

An amazing, highly overlooked and underrated piece of cinema! Very difficult to find, but if you do and you enjoy drug dramas with revenge twists by unlikely underdogs, you'll love this movie.

If you want to see an interesting gangster film, this is it. It's a great film. Stars Sam Jackson before he started doing every script under the sun. This is a film I recommend to everyone. See it.

Underrated excellence realized.

Great film.

"I got the stupid juice, I bust the stupid moves. " 'Nuff said.

ufaklık!

Initially, the movie seems pretty dull and unoccupying. There is too much investment of time and effort into building mood and this is done at slow place which might pass of as bad but the patient will be duly rewarded.

by making a film quiet, almost mellow, Yakin involves you into this very real world in a way that a film shouting melodrama at you might fail the same content. yakin captures the amateur vibe of the actors in a way that brings out realism rather than inexperience. the story is excellent, the climax had me staying up way later than i should have because i couldn't turn away. cant believe more didnt become of nelson.

Nelson shines, but a horrible score, poor dialogue, and bad acting abound (and not just from the kids--Corky's men that Fresh accuse were also pretty bad, and I couldn't help but compare Jackson's Sam unfavorably to Fishburne's Vinnie from Searching For Bobby Fischer). But back to Fresh. Doing a 180 and killing the dog was just too sudden and unbelievable, not to mention his ultimate evolution into a mastermind. It was completely contrived and the chess metaphor was trite.

dated scoring, but otherwise awesome!

Jarring, brutal, and carefully crafted. I won't go crazy with my score, as many elements are a leap too far, but the movie is very effective.

An absolutely wonderful crime drama with a lead that is more than impressive. The few scenes of violence are poignant and jaw dropping, while the well lit photography gives Fresh a very unique tone. Its a shame that Yakin and Sean Nelson didn't take off after this.