Once Fallen

I read some of the reviews on this one before I watched it. Several were very negative, but I decided to watch anyway. Glad I did. I've liked everything I've ever seen Ed Harris do. He had a difficult character in this one, a man who made a snap decision to protect someone else, with that snap decision changing not only his life but his son's life forever.Taraji P. Henson is excellent also. The issue of hatred between the races is an ugly one, and this film reveals that ugliness. I was pleased with the movie's portrayal of the difference between fomenting that hatred and making CHOICES TO END that hatred. We can perpetuate the sins of the fathers ..... or we can live in a way that breaks those horrible traditions.Other reviews criticized the acting, but I found the acting to be strong, even among the inmates. Their scenes were short and shallow and a bit stereotypical, but those scenes got the point across.The issue of fathers and sons is well covered across three generations. The moment when Chance finally understands why his dad did what he did almost made me cry. The volatility of the two characters was well portrayed, especially when juxtaposed with Chance's increasing affection for and responsibility toward his own son. Learning the WHY behind some of our parents' actions can truly help us come to forgive them where they failed us.

I came across this movie trailer while searching for another one and was very interested. When I read the reviews on Amazon, I became a little wary. Boy am I glad I went with my curiosity!I never really got the feeling that the budget was low while watching this movie. And I came away thinking this could easily be someone's life under those same circumstances. I thought it was well directed but a little choppy at times. Never the less, it held my attention until the very end.Ed Harris is a genious. He is one of only a very few that can draw you in like a moth to a flame, saying so much with little actually being said. Peter Weller was fun to watch as the comedy relief in this dark drama. In fact, all of the actors in this film did a great job. I prefer this movie to anything the big budget studios are showing today.

... and that's why I bought it. But I'm sorry, half way through I was just waiting for it to end. Actually the best acting performance in the film was by Ash Adams - and I did not realize he was the director until the movie credits came up at the end. Two of my favorite actors ever, Ed Harris ["Jacknife"] and Amy Madigan ["Twice in a Lifetime" and "In the Name of the People"] - were wasted in their roles, I feel. However, I don't think there were good roles for them in this film, and they weren't afforded meaty enough material to make their performances memorable.The prison scenes were not believable. What maximum security prison do you know of where you are able to visit an inmate right in his own cell? When the dad [Ed Harris] and the son [Brian Presley] were arguing at the top of their lungs like they were going to fight there was not a corrections officer in sight. The entire movie looked to be thrown together. I realize it was low-budget and there were problems with the production, but the consumer is not required to take any of that into consideration. All we know is that we want to see a great movie. When I saw Ed Harris' name on the DVD cover I just wanted to check it out. "Once Fallen" is not a movie I will watch again.

Ed Harris portrays a jailed convict with a long criminal past. His son just recently released from prison wants to break free from following in his father's footsteps, but is drawn into the crime world by a family friend. His wife leaves him with the care of their son and he realizes the futility of crime as a way of life. Ed Harris and his son try to work through their differences; there is no way out of Ed, but his son works toward a normal life in which to raise his son. Good solid movie, has violence, emotional moments, and a ray of hope. I recommend.

I pretty much like a lot of Taraji P. Henson's work. She's good in this too. The main character is a guy who has had some tough breaks in life from a very young age, but he didn't have a horrible childhood up until a certain point. The story begins with him getting out of jail, discovering he has a son, meeting Taraji's character, trying to avoid heading back down the road that took him to jail, and making a new start.The acting is good and the story is interesting. I would watch it again.

Taraji is not favorite actress! Good movie

Ok I spent my day off finding things to do, not that I didn't have plenty, but as the reviewer before me I stumbled on this gold mine. It is excellent well written, directed and acted. When I find something really good in the genre that I love I try and give a review. Please watch this movie it's excellent. Two thumbs up.SLKRomance

Great flick but I felt like something was missing from a homoerotic hint at the end of the film. Was it just me??? Stellar performances.

Disapointed!!!!

Excellent! Ed Harris is as fantastic as ever.