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A bright young boy attempts to survive life in the city by acting as an errand boy for a drug dealer in this thoughtful, sharply plotted drama. Known as Fresh, the young man must use his delivery jobs to support himself and his troubled sister, receiving nothing from his distant, alcoholic father but the occasional chess lesson. His intelligence and quiet determination serve him well, as he wins the trust of his employer and settles into an unpleasant but survivable routine. Even this small comfort disappears, however, when Fresh accidentally witnesses the killing of a classmate and becomes a potential target himself. Giancarlo Esposito (the smooth talking drugs dealer) and Samuel L. Jackson (the alcoholic chess-master tramp) give strong, realistic performances in challenging roles. The other characters (like N'Bushe Wright's portrayal of Fresh's sister) are also incredibly well played, and every single one of them is believable. The script is also fantastic. This is not a movie for those who want the cheap formulaic thrills of violence, sex and guns that are so prevalent today. There are no special effects, no overly violent scenes. Instead, the movie relies on superb acting and a relentless drive for gritty realism. Great movie.Read full review
Fresh is easily in my top ten favorite movies of all time. The entire movie is superb. Do yourself a favor and rent it, if you can find it. Plot Summary: Fresh is the story of a young teen living in the projects of Brooklyn, New York. Don't mistake this for another of those tired "urban dramas", though. This film makes no excuses, apologies, or justifications. It just happens that the setting needs to be urban for the story to unfold. The movie stars Sean Nelson as the twelve year old nicknamed "Fresh". He lives in an apartment with his sister and several of his cousins (all those kids are not his brothers and sisters. This is a major point.), under the weary eye of his Aunt Frances. She's obviously physically and mentally exhausted from having to care for so many children in such a hostile environment. She genuinely has feelings for all the children, but only so much as she can allow herself to. The actress does an excellent job of relaying this to the audience. Fresh's only sibling is his drug-addicted older sister Nicole, played by actress N'Bushe Wright. He desperately wants to protect her from the drugs and other negative influences of their environment, but since he's only a child, he doesn't have the means or the knowledge of how to go about it. The young protagonist's only real escape are the games of speed chess he plays in the park with his estranged father Sam, played by Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson's character is one of the best speed chess players in the city and has the "trophies" to prove it. Stapled to the wall of his dilapidated mobile home, he has money autographed by some ranked World-Class chess players as proof that he defeated them in speed chess. Sam knows that chess becomes a vastly different game when the speed clock is applied, and that even the best regular chess players tend to make mistakes or completely fold under it's pressure. He even says this about a hypothetical match with the enigmatic Charlie Fischer, "put the clock on him. I'll eat his a** up." Under his father's strict tutelage, Fresh has become an extremely skilled chess player, easily defeating some of the best adult players in the park.Fresh helps support his family by running drugs. Being the young entrepreneur that he is, he chooses to run drugs for two different local drug dealers. On one hand, he runs cocaine for the ruthless dealer Corky, then runs heroin for Esteban, played by the talented Giancarlo Esposito. Esteban, although a married family man, is desperately in love (lust is probably a better word) with Fresh's sister. You'll shudder in the scene where Esteban describes to Fresh what it's like to be with Nicole. It's very twisted. So for Fresh, the only two tools he has available to him are the few thousand dollars he's saved from drug running, and his mind, honed and disciplined by a lifetime of playing speed chess with his father. He sets up a chessboard in his room, with each piece representing a person in his life that he must use to accomplish the goal. His friends, his family, his employers, and even his sister all become chess pieces and his neighborhood becomes the board. With a single move, the "game" begins. So to anyone who's tired of watching trite, uninspired "urban dramas" and is just looking for a good movie, please check out fresh. The storyline is compelling, the acting is almost flawless, and the direction is seamless. I very highly recommend buying this movie. You will not be disappointed.Read full review
The entire movie. It was too much vulgar language, epecially by the youth. The story line was one that was just the "same thing wamed over" nothing new. Not a good movie for Samuel Jackson, that must be why I did not remember seeing it advertised. The role he played, of a down and out Black man not fulfilling his role as a father was not a good role for him. He is too good of an actor and this was not a good role for him. The entire movie did not portray Blacks, minorities well at all. Plus, the movie cost too much on ebay.
Beautifully well written story new York city to a T
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Very intricate plot line, subtle but gripping inner city young mans struggle to break out of the lifestyle he was born into and would otherwise remain. Street smart young kid goes toe to toe with all the evil forces which seem destine to destroy him and his spirit. He outsmarts them all. I love revenge stories, and this one is right up there with The Count of Monte Cristo and The Shawshank Redemption! He who laughs last laughs loudest! I especially like the directors dialog, notes and scenes which were the extra disc in the release I purchased.
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