Film debut of writer/director Morgan J. Freeman is a gritty, poignant, atmospheric coming-of-age film set in NYC, starring Brendan Sexton III as a teenager whose mother is in prison, living with his aunt who owns the local bar, and running around with his friends shoplifting, and potentially building towards more serious crimes.  His life becomes enriched when he meets a girl and falls in love, pulled back and forth between a possible future with her and the looming allure of his illegal activities.  
        This was the first narrative film to win three awards at Sundance (Audience Award, Best Director, and Best Cinematography), and it’s a shame it never became successful (making $375,000) and has largely been forgotten since its release.  Supported by a superb screenplay, the film also features Edie Falco as Sexton’s mother, and their scenes when he visits her in prison are some of the best in the film.  
         Hip-hop also plays a prevalent part in the film, with multiple songs from De La Soul’s ‘Stakes is High’ album playing throughout, which really grounded the film in its time period and gave it an authentic sense of atmosphere.  
          An ambitious first film with a talented cast and engaging story, that deserves more recognition than it’s received.