Murder in the First (1994)

All Critics (40) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (18) | DVD (1)

The figures are right, the investment looks good, but the emotional pay-off is minimal.

April 12, 2002 Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

More than likely you will forgive the compromises -- the story of Henri Young needed to be told.

May 12, 2001

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

Woefully over-manipulative and over-the-top.

February 13, 2001 Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Regardless of how this version raises the hackles of Alcatraz aficionados, Marc Rocco's movie is a solid and affecting example of film making.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Slater, who in certain shots looks curiously like Kevin Costner, is an actor with talent, but he is too young for this role, and not confident enough to dial down a little.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

An example of what happens when a picture has everything going for it except good writing and good direction.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Moving story of justice but too intense for kids.

January 2, 2011 Full Review

Sarah Wenk

Common Sense Media

A must see for Kevin Bacon's performance, especially in the early scenes.

January 30, 2005

Brandon Judell

PopcornQ

It is Bacon's absolutely powerhouse performance that helps make 'Murder' one of the classic prison pictures of all time. (published 1-27-95)

January 4, 2005 Full Review

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Average thriller.

December 23, 2004

Alex Sandell

Juicy Cerebellum

O roteiro maniqueísta e a direção pesada, nada sutil, de Rocco comprometem irremediavelmente o filme - que ainda conta com a atuação nada convincente de Slater.

April 13, 2004

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

An arbitrary by-the-numbers courtroom/crime yarn that sometimes shifts between being too preachy and pretentious.

May 29, 2003

Frank Ochieng

Movie Eye

• 1. Henri Young: You don't know what you're talking about, because you don't know what it's like!
  2. James Stamphill: What's like?
  3. Henri Young: Alcatraz! I mean where do you think they're going send me those ten years they're talking about!They're going to send me back to Alcatraz those ten years they're talking about!
  4. James Stamphill: Henry, when it's over you'll be alive! You'll be able to take care of your sister..
  5. Henri Young: I'm the one that's got to do the time, not you! And I can't do it! I can't! It's not worth it!
  – Submitted by Frances H (4 months ago)
• 1. Henri Young: I spent three Goddamn years in the dark thinking. I hate thinking!
  – Submitted by Frances H (4 months ago)
• 1. Associate Warden Glenn: Henry, I have a job to do here at Alcatraz. Do you know what that is? To protect you from yourself.
  – Submitted by Frances H (4 months ago)
• 1. James Stamphill: The federal guideline regarding solitary confinements states that the maximum stay for an inmate shall not exceed nineteen days.
  – Submitted by Frances H (4 months ago)
• 1. Henri Young: How long?
  – Submitted by Frances H (4 months ago)
• 1. James Stamphill: Definition of rehabilitate: To restore to a state of physical, mental and moral health through treatment and training.
  – Submitted by Frances H (4 months ago)

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