By David Yeung
**1/2 out of ****
Murder In The First (Warner Bros., rated 'R') is based on the real story of Henri Young (Kevin Bacon) who was imprisoned at Alcatraz for a minor robbery. In 1938, however, he was caught trying to escape, and this is the point where the film begins.
As punishment, Henri Young is tossed into solitary confinement at Alcatraz, where he is severely abused. By putting many ghastly and horrifying scenes, director Marc Rocco reveals the most gruesome part of the jail--the "dungeon." The situation in the jail does not only consist of brawls among the prisoners, greater corruption is revealed, including the inhumane and brutal treatment of the prisoners by the warden, a state official. By showing visibly how Henri Young was abused, how he was tortured in the grimy dungeon, Rocco sends his message to the audience that this depraved jailhouse movie is real.
Henri Young is kept in solitary confinement for years before he finally gets a chance to emerge from the filthy, dark dungeon to the dining hall with normal prisoners. However, due to the three abusive years in the dungeon, Young becomes so deranged and demented that he murders a prisoner in the dining hall. It is almost certain he will be sentenced to death after murdering a fellow prisoner; but then James Stamphill (Christian Slater), a young attorney, is assigned to defend Henri Young. Stamphill defends Henri by arguing that it is due to Henri's awful experience in Alcatraz that drove him homicidally insane. Unlike most courtroom movies, there is not much suspense throughout the case. The ending is as predictable as it can be. Slater, as usual, shows his boyish cockiness and likable cuteness. Yet he is simply not the type of actor who can fit in the role of being a convincing attorney. To act like a big-time hero is just not Slater's strong suit. Bacon gives an outstanding performance as the dismally abused Henri Young. He evokes the audience's sympathy despite the fact that the hapless Young is nothing close to an interesting character that might impress the audience. One scene when Young begs Stamphill just to be his friend, Bacon flawlessly displays how hopeless Henri Young is. He deserves a lot of credit for playing Henri Young. Good acting aside, Murder In The First would be much more interesting and worth seeing if the screenplay were better.