Episode 249 - Sweet Money

Episode 249 is here with two very different versions of what it looks like to get entangled in the prison system. We start with 1979's "Penitentiary" from filmmaker Jamaa Fanaka. Starring Leon Isaac Kennedy as "Too Sweet", who gets sent to prison on a bogus charge and gets involved in the prison's boxing program. In most ways, it's a comedy and has some great moments throughout. We follow that with 2017's "Shot Caller" from director Ric Roman Waugh and starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who gains the nickname "Money" once he lands in prison. After accidentally killing his friend in a drunk-driving incident, "Money" goes to prison and is recruited by the leader of one of the many gangs. We were divided on the movie, but we agree that it was brutal and rough throughout. Send us your thoughts on the show and recommendations for future episodes to [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also reach us on Facebook, Instagram, Letterboxd. YouTube.