Big Stan (2007)
Movie trailer from Open Matte Trailer on YouTube
Score: 7.6/10
A comedic and fun movie to watch, I believe it is a good learning experience for many people, the portrayal of the prison experience is fairly accurate to what I imagined it would be, but as many people (like the warden) would forget: the prisoners are human too.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Review contains spoilers
⚠️ You have been warned
Too Long; Didn't Read (TL;DR)
Overall:
I personally don't condone some crimes, and would rather like to consider those who commit them more like monsters, but ultimately even they can probably have a chance to redeem themselves with some care and kindness.
For example Big Raymond, the other prisoners only thought of him like a bull permanently in heat, but ultimately even he has a reason to be like that and a soft side as seen later in the movie.
I think this is movie is a comedic twist to the popular belief people have of prisons.
Story
Score: 8/10
The story isn't really difficult to understand or lore heavy, as it is a comedy-like skit after all, unfortunately it doesn't reach a 10/10 because of some missing answers in the movie: what happened to the warden? Why did Stan's lawyer Lew go to prison? And why only after 3 years? Why did The Master wink at the end?
The Master training Stanley. Source: IMDb
The unanswered questions make it lose some points on the story, making it an 8/10 experience, even though it is understandable being a comedic movie. On another side, the development of the story is very nice, I really liked seeing how Stan evolved throughout the story at every difficulties, and the final choices he had to make, making it a very good story to follow except for the unanswered questions.
Stanley coercing an old woman into buying a property while being arrested for fraud. Source: IMDb
Characters
Score: 4.5/10
The characters and acting honestly are great, but it loses some points on the development, for example we don't get many interactions with the Nazi dude, what made him switch side? And what about the Mexicans?
I personally feel like some of the characters personalities aren't as developed during the movie like Stan, the old man, the warden and the black people. They receive the most personality evolution and development during the movie, while the others are left in the shadow leaving some questions without answer, this lowers the rating massively on a personal scale.
The Nazis gang in prison approaching. Source: IMDb
Visuals
Score: 7.5/10
Gotta give a 7.5/10 because there are scenes where a wider angle would be appreciated instead of a focused one. It would be nice to know what the other gangs and characters are doing during those scenes, while I understand that the purpose it to focus upon a specific character, understanding the environment around a character is also good way to understand their choices.
Focus being on the new inmate instead of widening with to the background too. Source: IMDb
For example during the speech Stanley gives, it would be nice to have the camera span over the reaction of every inmates, or focus onto the reaction of each gangs specifically, but it only focused on some specific gangs where the new weaker inmates joined.
Audio
Score: 7/10
Unfortunately this one gotta be a 7/10 because of the overlapping of voices that are present within the movie.
I would've appreciated if they are softer and more crisp so that you are able to understand what they are saying individually, I did hear some profanities being mentioned and it helps strengthen the environment and the ambient around, helping with the final score.
Stanley giving a speech and the background chatting being barely heard. Credits to ronin5emma
Also would've loved to know what the old man was saying to the other prisoners in order to understand how he gathered all that information and how he rallied everyone in the very final scene.
Enjoyment
Score: 6/10
Personally I enjoyed the movie as a learning experience and a comedic relief, but it loses on some points because I felt rather disgusted by some of the scenes.
On the other side, the comedic scenes are many spread throughout the movie, and it made a good movie with the right amount of actions, but in the end there were just some scenes that I felt uncomfortable at, hence it has to be a 6/10.
Stanley being harassed while moving to prison. Source: IMDb
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