Bad Boys Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1983

Whereas the 1995 Michael Bay production of Bad Boys may be what immediately comes to the minds of most moviegoers upon hearing that title, there was first a hard-hitting drama of the same name released in 1983. Starring Sean Penn as a criminal juvenile that must face his nemesis within a correctional facility, Bad Boys is a gritty take-no-prisoners drama that pulls no punches in its depictions of the mean streets of Chicago as well as the criminal justice system.

Mick O'Brien (Sean Penn) is a troublesome teenage delinquent with a rap sheet longer than a lanky basketball player's arms. In fact the kid would have fallen completely into unredeemable territory were it not for his beloved girlfriend, J.C. Walenski (Ally Sheedy), trying to tone down his criminal ways.

One evening Mick attempts a daring heist with his high school buddy Carl (Alan Ruck). The target? A teenage Latino gang led by Paco Moreno (Esai Morales) that is arranging a sizeable drug sale with a black street gang. But due to circumstances beyond his control, the attempted heist goes terribly wrong, and Mick participates in a high-speed chase with the police hot on his tail. During the escape attempt he loses control of his car and accidentally kills Paco's kid brother.

Sentenced to the Rainford Juvenile Correctional Facility for his crimes, Mick quickly learns that life in the inside of the depressing jail is anything but a walk in the park. He faces trouble at every turn, whether it is in the form of abusive facility employees or in the form of fellow violent inmates. Two in particular rule the roost, and they make no effort to hide their displeasure with the rebellious newcomer.

Eventually Mick overcomes his trials and becomes the new top dog, but his old nemesis Paco is up to no good of his own on the outside. Months after Mick's incarceration, he brutally rapes Mick's girlfriend and attempts to kill her afterwards, but police arrive on the scene quickly enough to disrupt his murderous plot.

The powder keg is lit when the justice system foolishly incarcerates Paco at the same facility as Mick is housed in. Ramon Herrera (Reni Santoni), a guidance councilor who has been working with Mick in an effort to convince the youth to change his ways, pleads with Mick to exercise self-control and avoid any violent confrontations until Paco is either transferred to another facility or until Mick can ride out the remaining six months of his sentence.

But while Mick struggles with his desire to avenge his girlfriend, Paco maintains no such self-control. His sole desire is to see Mick lie dead in a pool of blood no matter what the cost.

Bad Boys is a dark film that doesn't shy away from depicting the struggle many youths experience when they take a walk down the wrong side of the legal street. While the violence doesn't take the forefront of the film (it is a drama), when it erupts it does so in a gritty and almost painful fashion.

The story, while not necessarily original, remains compelling nonetheless, due in large part to the acting talents of the cast. Sean Penn does a great job in the role of the conflicted teenage inmate, and the secondary actors don't disappoint either. The only chink in Bad Boys' armor when it comes to the acting was Esai Morales – while he didn't do a bad job, he just didn't have the screen presence necessary to prevent Sean Penn from stealing the scenes they shared.

Anyone that enjoys prison films or serious crime-dramas should pick up a copy of Bad Boys. It's not exactly a cheery film, but it's definitely riveting.

Movie rating: 9 stars

If you enjoyed Bad Boys you may also find the following films to be of interest:

• The Outsiders
• The Principal
• Tuff Turf

Enjoy the Bad Boys experience in the comfort of your own home with these products!

DVD

VHS

Other Resources:

• Bad Boys IMDb Page

Movie Sitemap

• Action/Adventure
• Animation
• Comedy
• Drama
• Fantasy
• Horror
• Sci-Fi