The Corner (2000) Disc One NR - 3½ Stars

The Corner is a documentary that follows a family of three for one year. This family lives in the ghettos of Baltimore Maryland and disc one is split into three episodes, each focusing on one family member. Originally made for an HBO mini-series, the collection is a two disc set showing the lives of families and what they go through living in the inner cities. The acting is great, believable and assures me I'll never be addicted to the big "H" heroin.

The first Episode entitled "Gary's Blues" focusing on the father Gary McCullogh (T.K. Carter). Gary grew up in this neighbor and even once worked at the local corner drug store. Times were different then and Gary managed to stir clear of drugs and build a successful life for him self. When his girlfriend Fran Boyd (Khandi Alexander), became pregnant, the three joined as a family to welcome in DeAndre (Sean Nelson). Gary had it all, money, great home and car but lost everything to drugs. The once elegant home he lived in has now been replaced with sneaking into an abandoned building to sleep at night. At the age of 34, Gary has been using heroin for 4 years now and even though he's found his way in and out of jail, he continues to use. This once successful business man is reduced to stealing copper piping or taking money from his son, to score some dope.

The second episode entitled "DeAndre's Blues" focuses on the young son now at the age of 15. He was probably too small to remember a lot of how nice his home and family life was as now he sells drugs and skips school to get by. You can't blame him really for his life style as both of his parents are users. He's tried a few times to do the right thing by staying in school and actually participating giving a speech from Martin Luther King at a class presentation. He even got a job at a crab market but his allergies to shell fish having him sweeping the floor for $4.10 an hour. He's not down for this new lifestyle change and goes back and forth to the streets in search of loyalty from his friends and a quick buck. He'd love to have things the way they used to be with two sober parents at home, but he's excepted that pushing the drugs to people like his parents, is the only way to afford the things he needs to survive.

The third episode entitled "Fran's Blues", focuses on the mother who seems to be calling most of the shots in this families life. Fran has been doing drugs for a long time of her life but really got hooked on heroin after her sister Darlene died. She stays with three other family members now so the rent can be split 4 ways to have money left over for her addiction. She's love to blame the rest of the world for her problems, but contends that she's always been a mother for son DeAndre, puts a roof over his head, clothes and feeds him and supports him for staying in school. She's almost accepted the fact that things are never going to be good again for her and instead stays on top of the hustle of the people in her neighborhood. Even she remembers how it used to be. Her brother has gotten sober, 6 years now, and Fran finally decides what she needs to do. She arranges to check in at a 28 day rehab program. She's even excited about becoming clean but when she gets there, her hopes are lost as they inform her no beds for another week. She returns to her home and back to her life of drugs.

2000 - The Corner - Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Outstanding Miniseries

HBO Films
Director: Charles S. Dutton
Writer: David Simon
Producer: Antonia Ellis

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