It's hard for me to convey the impact of this type of film to those who think it is "cinema". I lived five years in Baltimore, and cut through these neighborhoods everyday on my way home. I am not a junkie nor did I want to be in this neighborhood. I was in school and broke and needed to get from point A. to point B. The gut-wrenching truth of this documentary/film makes me thankful for the advantages I received. Mr. Dutton took a brutal story and directed a brutal documentary that rings so real, it was painful to watch. I could've given money to Gary, or "Fat Kurt", or "Blue". My first year there I was a sucker. I gave a dollar to every cause and every story. They looked like junkies, but I didn't know that at the time. Those were the easy days. I was stopped/accosted/confronted by every type of junkie/thug/moron portrayed in this film in the days following. In fact, the "Wendy's" that Andre works at was less than two blocks from my home. Anyway, This film portrays to America the grip drugs have on our cities. This not a race issue, it's a junkie issue. Drugs don't know color, or age, socioeconomic boundaries. Mr. Dutton has grittily revealed this slice of Americana few want to believe is there. There is no whimsy or exaggeration or sentimentality or cinematic liberty taken here. The gloves are off and the cast are some actors, some real people. If you've ever wondered why our inner cities seem to perpetuate problems, watch this documentary. There is a portrayal of the larceny of childhood, the desperation of the poor, those who wish things could go back to the way they were, The gravity established is unavoidable. And if you think it's a joke, the finale reminds you this was not an episode of some show on a major network. This is not easy to watch. But it's well worth it.
Review of The Corner
