User Reviews

Bleak, uncompromising and hard-hitting. The quality of the acting, scripting and direction pull together to create a contemporary urban drama revolving around the lives of drug addicts and dealers living in the slums of downtown Baltimore, a figurative cancer eating away at the American heartland.

Based on the true life story of Francine Boyd (played here by the mesmerizing Khandi Alexander) from the book by Edward Burns & David Simon - subject matter experts on the Baltimore drug scene and writers for TV's "The Wire". As with real life, there aren't any easy answers or happy endings.

With "The Corner" HBO raised the bar on the quality of television drama forever.

You want to force politicians and lawmakers to watch this film. You want high school kids considering drugs to watch this film. And you want to watch this film yourself, over and over, for the sheer drama of the story and for the tremendous performances by each and every person in it.

Equally poignant were the appearances by the people who weren't performers: at the end of the series, there's a brief meeting with the real individuals who were portrayed in the six episodes, along with a "five years later" update on what actually happened to other characters whose real-life counterparts didn't live long enough (or live free long enough) to participate in the on-camera reunion.

Dutton's direction is brilliant, presenting the cold facts of a deadly situation with great compassion as well as narrative force. Although not explicitly political and never preachy, the film makes the unpopular point that medical treatment backed up with intensive rehab works and pouring money into fruitless attempts at law enforcement doesn't.

This series is a great American tragedy and crime story combined, a fit companion to "The Godfather" and "Grapes of Wrath," combining the gritty crime story of the first with the deadly grind of verité poverty from the latter to produce an engrossing synecdoche of our culture at the end of the century.

This isn't an "inner city" movie -- this is about all of us. What Dutton shows us in the Baltimore ghetto happens in rural towns in the heartland, too. One small mistake leads to another until, all too soon and too often inevitably, the chances of a happy ending become very, very slim. A universal plot, as timeless and as touching as Shakespeare's finest.

THE CORNER is a powerful mini-series that delivers a ruthless, depressing, and depraved view of the lives of drug abusers and dealers. Told semi-narratively by a documentary crew, the viewer is delivered into the bowels of a hellish neighbourhood in America. Being based on a true story only serves to rattle the viewer further as you get to watch all the horrors of growing up on the streets from the comfort of your own home.

Truth be told, at times, I could barely watch the events of the program as the pain and suffering of each character seemed unbearable. Each has a struggle to deal with, from a father who has fallen into the depths of heroin addiction to his son who deals the same drugs on the unforgiving streets. Yet, they still try to maintain some sense of their former selves. Gary (the father) tries to get back on his feet numerous times, but failure seems to be the only result. DeAndre (the son) has had no worthy role models to teach him the value of honest living. The failure of his parents has reduced him to no more than another lost soul wandering the ghetto for his income.

Each event in the mini-series seems timeless and not easily forgotten, as I write this now, five months after I last saw THE CORNER, all I can think of is a shoot-out in the latter half of the story. We are shown kids with guns (somewhat echoing Columbine), however the shooters are scared. And you can see it, the fear in their faces and their random shooting. I was breathless watching this scene unfold as the youths who we have come to know have to defend themselves from rival dealers who have promised blood shed. All their talk and acting macho is instantly discarded as we watch them shoot up a once peaceful, beautiful neighbourhood in order to eliminate an unseen foe. There is nothing honourable about this scene and by the end I found myself lacking breath and on the edge of my seat. It is still one of the most incredible things that I have seen on television.

The fact that this story happened in Baltimore just enhances the story that much more. Usually, when people think of the drug problem in America they first think of the big cities. New York or Los Angeles, but here we are shown that the drug problem is in the backyards and backalleys of America, as well. IT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.

By the conlcusion of this story there seem to only be bodies left over as lifeless as they were wandering the slums for their next high. But there is no more highs after death, there is only a gap. The absence of a person has a great effect on the lives of those that surround them. But what's truly sad is that by the end the understanding is that only the dealers feel the loss...of customers. The death of their friends only serves to limit the junkie's chances of 'scoring' easier. Herein lies the saddest fact. Hope is fleeting on THE CORNER.

"The Corner," adapted from the true-life book, shows how drugs have infested a Baltimore neighborhood and how they have affected the residents.

Each episode starts documentary-style, with director/producer Charles S. Dutton interviewing one of the main characters off-screen. Then, Dutton stops and the audience follows the main characters around their day-to-day existence.

I was really impressed with Dutton's work. The series makes no apologies for the characters' behavior and presents things very realistically. The acting is strong throughout, and I have to single out Khandi Alexander's portrayal of Fran the addict/mother as exceptional.

After viewing all six episodes of "The Corner" I sincerely believe that this extraordinary mini-series could've been a great film. I can see this film challenging the majority of so called masterpiece films in the theater right now, probably putting most of those films to shame.

This film has everything I expect from masterpiece film-story telling. First of all, unlike a lot of the films made by African-American filmmakers, it doesn't hold back on the truth. Charles S. Dutton did a marvelous job of telling a story about real life in inner cities all across America and with out holding back on the truth. The film consists of stereotypes most African-Americans, especially those who are living safely in Hollywood away from the ghetto, want deny being reality in most Black communities. But this film doesn't apologize for the stereotypes or anything, while some of the characters are apologetic about many things in their own lives. Secondly, the acting was one of the best by an ensemble African-American cast in recent years. Thirdly, the film was shot well, using little style to the shots so that it would have that documentary feel. I also found each scene in the film to be well written, like some great scripts of the past like Good Will Hunting and the Deer Hunter, both great films. So we've seen films about the inner city before (Boyz N'the Hood, Menace II Society) this one. Who cares? Hollywood had made dozens of titles dealing with the mafia, and most of those films are great. However, this film stands alone from the rest, making viewers sympathize with and see each character as being exactly who they are: human beings that make mistakes. This film doesn't demonize the drug addicts in the film regardless of their sometimes immoral ways of getting that drug. "The Corner" ranks amongst one of the best mini series ever made for television. Despite the fact that it wasn't a feature film, I still rank it over the majority of films of recent years as well.

If you had never been to the ghetto and you want to grasp an understanding of how must people in the inner city lives, this mini series is what you should see. Out of a grade of an A+, which is super excellent, to a F, I give this film an A+. I also give it 10 stars...

It's 2009 and I have just watched the best television drama I have ever seen and it's called 'The Corner'. Having been a late comer to 'The Wire' series on the FX channel in Britain then when that finished they advertised 'The Corner'. I expected the standard ghetto junkie story but 'The Corner' has an emotional pull that hits you right in the guts. I watched the show with friends and everybody was glued to the screen and the room was in total silence during this drama. The acting was incredible and the characters stay with you forever. I can't remember the last time that I genuinely couldn't wait to see the next episode of a programme. In my opinion this show is a lot better than 'The Wire' because it has heart in almost every character and you are desperate to see life improve for them. The Corner deserves a DVD release & I'll be the first in line to buy it. The cast & crew should be very proud of making a modern masterpiece.

I have read this book and bought the DVD collection. I would really like to know how DeAndre is doing now. I love the book as well as the series It couldn't have been done any better I really felt these people's pain.Does anyone know how Fran DeAndre Tyreeka or DeAnte are doing now. I would really like to give DeAndre some words of encouragement. I felt a connection with him. In fact I felt a connection with all of these people even though we come from two different worlds. This book and this series will forever be in my heart and I wish the best to everyone involved. And if anyone has any information on these people I would really appreciate a reply.

This story touched my heart so much that I drove 15 hours straight to Baltimore to the corner of fayette and monroe just to see some of how it really is. I cant say how much I am truly touched.

Gary, Fran and their teenage son DeAndre live in the slums of West Baltimore. They used to have a normal suburban family life, until Gary and Fran started taking drugs. Now Gary and Fran are estranged and their existence is day-to-day, hand-to-mouth, doing anything to satisfy their addiction. DeAndre has a chance, through getting his head down and staying in school, of escaping the abject poverty his parents live in, but he has his own problems. He is lured into become a drug dealer, making his living on the corner.

Created, written and produced by David Simon, who, at that time, had given us Homicide: Life On The Street and would later give us The Wire. The series is based on his non-fiction book "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood". (The book was co-written with Ed Burns, who is also a writer on the show, and was a writer on The Wire).

Incredibly raw and gritty, so much so that it is often painful to watch. The conditions people have to live in, the desperation and seemingly lack of escape options make for very emotional and harrowing viewing. The fact that Gary and his family were living a fairly idyllic lifestyle before being brought down by drug addiction makes viewing even more painful.

As mentioned, it is quite painful to watch at times. Add to this the fact that it can be quite slow, so in some ways it is an ordeal, and though a very high-quality ordeal, you do sometimes wonder why you are willing to put yourself through it.

It all comes together in the end though and the conclusion is very powerful.

Having watched The Wire before this, even though The Corner was released in 2000 and The Wire in 2002-2008, you can see how The Corner is an evolutionary step in David Simon's creation of The Wire. In The Corner Simon concentrates on a few characters and how the drug trade in West Baltimore affects their lives. In The Wire, Simon takes roughly the same location and looks at the bigger picture, and the characters involved - police, drug kingpins, as well as the street-level drug dealers covered in The Corner.

You can even trace certain plot devices and developments in The Wire back to The Corner. For example, Namond in The Wire is DeAndre in The Corner to a large extent (though their fortunes diverge, from a point).

Plus, the cast of The Corner is jam-packed full of actors who appeared in The Wire. Makes for interesting, and sometimes jarring, viewing. Seeing Freamon, Daniels and Norman Wilson as dope fiends was a bit of a shock!

It blows my mind that this HBO original isn't even on HBO's catalogue. I had to watch it on YouTube.

The show has the best character development I've possibly ever seen. Everyone is so real and human. Plus drug addiction hits home so the last quote from the lead pertaining to his drug addict father actually made me shed some tears.

Thank you David Simon

When oh when will this miniseries become available on video or DVD? At least let HBO rebroadcast it so I can make a copy. It is as close to excellent a view of its topic as I have ever seen and a great tool for use in a substance abuse recovery program. (I am a drug counselor.)

Mr.Dutton does it again by bring true life drama to the screen. "The Corner" is in anybodies neighborhood and everyone should be able to appreciate the talented people in front of the camera and behind the camera. Award quality work!

First thing's first, I recommend The Wire and hail it as my favorite TV series.

I know The Wire highly based upon Colesburry's experiences and of course this. A lot of the character archetypes are not just shared with this, but are based on this. Actually, with proper editing, one could probably fit most of this series into the Wire seemlessly.

I highly recommend it for fan's of The Wire, or anyone doing social studies on addiction and family dynamics, or just anyone who wants a compassionate window into the middle-ages of the drug epidemic. The stories are so lovingly brought to the big screen and I thought it was super cool to see some of the Wire's main cast playing completely different roles in this.

I really enjoyed this miniseries.

It's how social control is exerted over poor black, brown, and white people. It's why the U.S. imprisons 25% of the world's prison population despite having only 4% of the world's total population.

It's a hundred billion dollar grift by the state, including police, for-profit prisons, and the political class of both major parties. Any series or film that doesn't lead with this is fundamentally fraudulent.

"The Corner" was the closest, truest, most honest miniseries I've ever seen that delt with the streets, drugs, and dysfunctional families. Being a recovering drug addict, I never ever seen a film that actually put me back onto the streets, the drugs, and the dysfunction of life. The actors were superb. Their dialogue, gestures, even the look in their eyes, couldn't be more real. I can't compare it to any movies that I've ever seen. I saw what I used to be in this film and they reminded me that I don't want to ever go back. So real, too real, it is real. Thanks Mr. Dutton.

I'm assuming a lot of people will come to watch this show after seeing 'The Wire', and for all good reasons. 'The Corner' seems to me like "The Wires' test tube, you can see many ideas, characters (and actors!) woven into the story, that will pop up in the latter of the shows. The documentary drama approach works really well and it has a truly amazing pay off at the end of the series, so stick with it even if it may feel a bit 'slow' at times. 'The Corner' has a more intimate feeling than 'The Wire' it focuses on one family and their close environment, so there is not many thrilling moments in therms of action but rather those of character development. Overall an excellent miniseries, I wish I watched it before 'The Wire'.

I came across The Corner by pure accident one evening whilst watching UK TV channel, Channel 4.

I caught the first episode halfway through a 2 episode double bill.

Over the course of the next few days Channel 4 did double bills of the remaining episodes and i watched it religiously.

I knew nothing of the world of drug addiction but this gritty, intense show inspired by real events really shone a light on the lives of the underprivileged in the deprived areas of the US. It is a harsh departure from the sunny 'American dream' ideology that usual underpins US programs.

I felt very invested in the charters to change their ways and live better lives. The twists in the story can feel very crushing because of this but it really adds to the authenticity of the show.

I remembered the name after years of not seeing it on TV and eventually got it on DVD. I've only watched it twice since so i don't spoil its gripping nature.

A definite, decent watch.

If you like the wire make sure to watch this little gem. Acting and directing is great, raw and moving. Of course, as the other David Simon series this is not for everyone. My advice: if you're interested in a kind of fiction that does not rely on stale cliches and corny gimmicks to result touching, but instead shows you how things really are then you are probably going to love this, and other Simon's stories.

As i watched this movie I thought to myself, "what has happened to the black community?" In the movie all the people had to travel outside the neighborhood to get jobs, they all lived inside a huddled corner where drug dealers are allowed to roam freely, and what terrifies me is it looks like its always the black mans fault. Are we truly heathens? Are we that ignorant to see that this hateful deceitful world thrives off purposed intent, that sometimes things happen for a reason?

I am not convinced that black people are the sole source of their problems, every time we have tried to unite, we have been robbed of our leaders, every time we try to branch out, we are left the abandoned rubbish that others leave behind to escape us. Its time we wake up, and begin to act like citizens that police our communities rather than losing our people to lifetime sentences, and leaving the children to learn for themselves how wicked life can be.

I'm sure that this might be somewhat accurate about the area of baltimore that these people live in, but I also see that any place whites have abandoned, so have the businesses, and the money goes out therefore the jobs are gone, the police force is minimum and the people are stuck with that American dream that tends to contribute to living a good carefree life, you know, like the people we idolized on television?. This does not make sense. Something has got to give.

Sure this is not about just us, but about every ghetto across the nation, and right now this isn't about every race, because one race is being targeted in this rough somber picture about neglectful negroes circling inside a make-believe prison of their own internalized fears and physical addictions to chemical incarceration. I am sure that we need to be more rigorous about teaching the youth, being more resilient about how we need to stay close even when we spread apart. This is not just a problem in baltimore, its all over the united states. Something has got to give.

I was privileged to see this movie, just a week ago. But actually I truly lived it. I grew up in the mean streets of Newark, NJ. And easily saw my life displayed in this mini-series. I too have found my way into recovery. I no longer hang on the mean corners, I am a productive member of society, trying to provide a good life for my two children. We have relocated to upstate New York, and occasionally go back to visit family. I truly hope that other's like the addicts depicted in this movie find recovery. I would like to thank all of the the people involved in this movie. It was very moving but most of all it is REALITY for a lot of people.

I seen this story over and over again growing up in Newark, New Jersey. I take my hat of to Charles S. Dutton for his Courageous work and dedication to be able to complete 'the Corner', based on the true story. America needed to see this, finally a story that showed the puppet act with strings attached. I recommend this story to be educational with parental guidance. The blessings of some are simply not enough. I really saw hope in the character's: Fran, Blu & Scoogie.

"The Corner" is some wonderful television. Everyone should see this to better understand what the hopelessness of inner city life in major American cities is like. I find my self horrified but unable to turn away from the reality of the life this inner city family is trapped in. The most painful sequences are the flashbacks to the life before drugs and the eventual fall into them. It is interesting to watch as the seemingly small decisions the characters make early in their lives change the rest of their years. Watch it if you have the opportunity and if you don't, seriously consider HBO as they have wonderful programming like this all the time.

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.

Due to to positive reviews on IMDB and because I am a fan of Charles S Dutton I decided to purchase the DVD and I was amazed by what I saw. The acting is amazing and convincing, the writing is exceptional and the camerawork adds a gritty feel to the series. This is one of the best series I have seen and the fact that it is all true adds to the entertainment and one of the best things is you get to see the real life people which the series is based on at the the end of the sixth episode. This is an important series that should be viewed by everyone. 10/10.