O.G. (2018) Poster

(2018)

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6/10
Great acting and sense of reality. But story?
isaacthe24 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
No spoilers because... what would I spoil?

Basically just followed around a dude his last 40 days in Prison.

It was very much real life.

But we could be watching any characters last 40 days, why this guy?

The why isn't super clear.

Still a good film.

Because of the nature of this portraying reality, reality offers much beneath the surface that different people connect with and see.

Therefore I believe every 10 star review is justified. I personally watched the credits roll with a resounding, "well. Ok." in my head.
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6/10
Honest
fmwongmd25 February 2019
I learned something about prison life. Honest, good portrayal by Jeffrey Wright.
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5/10
No Redemption
TheWordYo24 February 2019
Great acting, no doubt however there's very little substance. The story line feels like there's more to offer and there really should be. HBO could have had more on their hands but the script let down what could have been. Solid acting but a poor script is where O.G feels more like a PG. (poor Ganster)
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6/10
Awesome performance, unfinished storyline
lanellkeith310 March 2019
Jeffrey Wright is an exceptional actor and what I know of prison life from those I have spoken with the story was on point. However despite the excellent performance by Jeffrey Wright the story seemed incomplete. There was something else to say that was left unsaid. I just needed a little more and perhaps I would have given it at least an eight. it's still a worthy watch for those who appreciate a smart drama and to see the Stellar acting job from Jeffrey Wright.
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7/10
When you got to comfortable with one aspect, you forget the main one.
ariqakbar2 March 2019
For me o.g wasn't that bad. Almost all of this movie power come from it's background. Which is pretty amazing. I mean you can feel so much strong grip from something that only tell by story not scene. But, they look like wasn't utilize this power and decide to go easy on the main story movie.

They put a tiny laugh in this movie, and it's fun to have that in this kind of movie. The visual sometime may surprise you.

The hand wall scene was unnecessary for me.
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7/10
Realistic prison life character study
juneebuggy8 April 2020
Jeffrey Wright gives an unflinching and pretty amazing portrayal of former prison gang leader 'Lois' who is nearing the end of his 24 year sentence in a maximum security prison. When a new inmate shifts the balance of prison society Lois must decide between protecting himself or getting involved in the brewing conflict.

There isn't really much of a story here, just a realistic view of prison life unlike anything I've seen before. The movie has a bit of a documentary feel to it because of where and how its filmed. Wright's performance is unflinching and very real feeling, probably the sole reason I stuck with this. Enjoyed his interactions with the warden William Fichtner and also how scared and uncertain Lois was to return to the outside world. Worth a watch.
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6/10
Prison semantics
chrisgee-0795612 March 2019
Pretty good flick about the last weeks of a long time offenders sentence. With a lesser actor this movie would have been much worse. Jeffry Wright is outstanding per usual.
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4/10
Did Somebody Lose the Second Half of this Movie?
Raffer_J27 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is the story of a prison inmate, banged-up for 26 years, who is due to be released.

It's a well-observed account of prison life; the performances are excellent and all concerned deserve praise.

However, there are problems with this movie. The story, near the end, involves the central character foiling the plans of an inmate gang leader, but nothing happens to him for having done so. Really? Next scene, he's released from prison. The end.

It's as though half the movie was lost.
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9/10
Jeffrey Wright is one of the greatest actors of our generation.
jonnywalker-7028025 February 2019
This film felt like cinema at its finest. The moral and psychological dilemma's the main character, Louis, was going through played out in a beautiful nuanced way. Jeffrey Wright once again becomes the character he is playing in a way that makes you feel for them. Great film among the noise.
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1/10
Hypocrite blood-heiress deserves prison
jasonb-kohl11 March 2022
Madeleine Sackler, of the infamous Oxy-murder Sackler family, waxes poetic while completely ignoring her family's responsibility for a wave of murder and destruction that claimed the lives of over 600,000 Americans. Nan Goldin was thrown out of the premiere for protesting this film. HBO and Tribeca should be ashamed.

Read Empire of Pain if you want to hear about how this tone deaf blood heiress strategically avoided the fact that the prison she was filming in was likely filled with people who were put there as a result of her family's products. I hope she gets chased out of the country for good.
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8/10
Excellent non-Hollywood film on prison reality
Top_Dawg_Critic26 March 2019
I'm not a fan of slow paced films without any real excitement, but this films story and Jeffrey Wright's performance kept me captivated throughout the entire film. The directing was decent with some nice shots, and considering it was filmed in a real prison with real inmates, it was quite the well put-together production. It really shows the reality of the last weeks of prison life from a 23 year inmate ready to get out to the real world facing his final challenges. No action, twists or Hollywood effects here, just a story told really well. It's an honest 8/10 from me, and if anyone questions my review as fake, click on my username to see 1000+ ratings and 600+ reviews.
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8/10
Riveting
frankwhitek24 February 2019
It was very well written and the actors performance were strong. There was great depth to the characters even-though the story line was not complex. Yet, it presented just enough suspense to keep you uneasy. The scene with his victim's sister was amazingly honest. The cinematography gave it a documentary feel. Job well done HBO!
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10/10
Compelling
drewbusch24 February 2019
Stumbled across this movie on HBO. Humanizing tale of struggle with ones reality. Loaded with powerful, emotion rich performances. Great story portrayed efficiently from the main characters (Louis) point of view.
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9/10
Jeffrey Wright was brilliant!
lrosenda24 February 2019
I guess I watched a different movie than some of the other reviewers. I thought Jeffrey Wright's performance was brilliant. The subtle realism of the writing was terrific.
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10/10
No Story?
markann-22 March 2019
Really? The "story" about prison and prisoners was brilliantly told and Jeffery Wright was incredible. Seeing him struggle with the fear of the unknown of the world he was going to face after 24 years was truly powerful. "Where's my betamax, give me my beeper"! Wonderful film for people who can, like you know, think.
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10/10
Og is an amazing movie! This is this the closest Prison movie to real Life I have ever watched!
mikerich20085524 February 2019
Jeffrey Wright has finally made me see him in another light from WestWorld. He is absolutely amazing in this movie. He made me think i was watching a prison documentary instead of a movie. Og, original gangsta shows me that there is a way out from prison gang life. It takes some luck,courage, and sense to get away from that life in prison. I have never thought that prison can rehabilitate someone. But, if your mindset changes in the outside world or on the inside you can make it in life...It won't be easy but just keep pushing on...
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Jeffrey Wright
Kirpianuscus7 April 2019
In my case, he was the basic motif for see this film. And his performance was the prize . Because it is a honest portrait of jail life, nuanced picture of a man after 24 years in prison and his steps to freedom. The friendship with a young man and the obstacles to the end of the life out of society. Right game with the expectations and suppositions of the viewer. And the blank end. Jeffrey Wright does a great job. Not surprising. But the best word about a film who gives not revelations or impressive twists, being more a correct one.
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8/10
Way better than it's rating
bgar-8093211 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The movie follows Louis, a prisoner who's been in for 24 years and is about to get on parole. He's portrayed by Jeffrey Wright who does an amazing job. He's about to get out so he's polite when he can be yet can still be violent when pushed. It's the prison life, nobody gives you a break because you're about to get out (or so I assume). He's also dealing with a lot of emotions that come with leaving what's essentially been his home for 24 years. When he gets out he's left with very little money, has to find a job, and has to adapt to the world around him. Where it becomes a story is he starts mentoring one of the new inmates. I think it's because he feels like he's been a bad guy in his life and it's a chance to do something good. Overall it just kind of follows Louis's day to day but I thought it was great and certainly way better than a score of a 6.
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8/10
What's not to like
brunovanael19 May 2019
Great oscar winning potential acting by Jeffrey, all other actors and even extra's. I liked how there was not much ado about why he was in prison... until the hit you in the face, back to reality scene that was just awesome. Nice flow and build up in the scenario. Some really nice scinematographic scenes. Great directing from Madeleine. What's not to like except that I personally was not a big fan of the ending. Left a lot of questions unanswered.
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10/10
Fit for the grown ups
slickrick-3657710 March 2019
Jeffrey Wright enjoyed his performance was deep with feeling more going on than you think opens up your mind try it for a change A film for real OGs dont play, its a big man ting not a boy ting, a lot of people don't get it I do 10 out of 10 OG was for real.
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8/10
Not A Typical Jailhouse Flick
danalexbetts18 September 2019
This is not an action, thriller or shoot-em-up type movie. The acting was good, and surprisingly believable. (for what it is) And yes, I'd know. The cinematography is great, and is never distracting. It's not a big-budget movie with an arresting storyline, but it does help the viewer to get a bit of an idea how life incarcerated is. Not in a glamorous or violent way, but in showing how small and restricted life is behind bars. Inmate have...nothing. everything is known by everyone nearly, and what's worthless out here can be nearly invaluable to an inmate serving 15-to-forever. This was a very watchable TV-level movie, absolutely.
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9/10
Great movie
Evangelisti16 April 2019
Basically Jeffrey Wright needs to be in e everything that's ever made and I wish this could've been a show, even though it works perfectly as a 2 hour flick. I just love what he did with the character
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8/10
Quiet desperation
Bigchin3310 March 2019
From the moment the film starts you feel every subtle nod to have someone shut up and nose to nose response to shut up by the main character. You can feel his quiet balance to survive. By the end I was crying for the convict over the smallest conflict. All he wanted to do Was help a new fish and things manifest that make you want to pray in a tiny voice "walk away". Watch it if you love human redemption on your own terms
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9/10
Very well done
kennethokpe12 September 2021
Its Real ! Great performance by Wright.

Loved it!
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