ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Bob_the_Hobo I expected a bait-and-switch with Tom Sizemore and Edward James Olmos and got it. For those of you watching the film solely for their performances, don't. They aren't in the film long enough to judge their characters. However I'm somewhat glad I ended up watching this.The main character is Dreamer (played by Enrique Almeida), who we find at the beginning of the film being questioned to a murder. We soon find out that a friend of Dreamer's was the victim, Dreamer was there, and that he can't remember a thing due to sustaining a head injury during the murder. The ramifications of Dreamer's memory loss manifest themselves in Detective Gramm, a newbie to the force who is being harassed by Sizemore's character. Eventually Gramm and Sizemore have to investigate a slew of murders, with Dreamer being their missing link.I could have done a lot worse. Noel Gugliemi (Noel G.), who here plays Dusty, is always great to watch, I remember his performance in "Wrong Turn At Tahoe" particularly. Honestly I watched it for him as much as Sizemore and Olmos, and saw more of the first. The story is layered and interesting and I remained interested for the duration.The acting is mediocre by our star, yet he is still better than half the actual stars of the bait-and-switch genre. Like I said, Olmos has a cameo role. Tom Sizemore is great in what screen-time he actually has. He plays a great scumbag. Diamond Dallas Page plays another sleazy detective in a pretty sweet role. Noel G. and several others play some memorable supporting roles. The actress who plays Gramm, the newbie, is bearable.The cinematography is really, really well done. The scenes of Los Angeles are beautifully captured, as well as the gang-life that "Splinter" tries to portray in it's depictions of LA violence. The dialogue starts off awful but manages to get a bit better as the film goes along.Ultimately, you could do a heck of a lot worse, though I wouldn't put it at the top of your queue.

fedor8 An hour into this movie, and I thought "okay, enough now; this is as much as I can take of this crap." I haven't seen the ending, and I really don't care.This inept piece of garbage would have even Ed Wood splitting heirs over its numerous flaws. Olmos, who is I assume either the son or nephew of that other Olmos - the one that played in "Blade Runner" - made this amateurish junk, proving for the umpteenth time that nepotism doesn't work. Not in movies, not anywhere. Movie-making is not DNA-based.Awful acting, phony-sounding "ghetto dialogue", muddled editing, an ugly look, and a dull plot. What more can one want?

v70e I rarely comment on here about films I have seen, although I do tend to give them a vote.This one made me make a comment, its an unusual film, I won't go into specifics, but when you watch it you will see what I mean. Its not the usual Hollywood blockbuster, and that's what makes it great.Watch it and it will no doubt make you question a few things in your own life. Any film that makes you do that, is certain to be a great film.Its a great shame I didn't watch this earlier!Just watch it.....

overherebuddy so, i've seen this at a preview screening. here's my commentary: i don't know how many people go to blockbuster, but i'm sure anyone who has, regularly, has noticed over the years, a slew of low-budget "gang" films. well, those movies hitting the shelves, seem to only bring to the viewer the basic, generic love affair, doubled with an attempt (a poor one) at the "tough feel" better captured by classics like "american me", and "south central". well, after actually renting a few of those, i'd say they were more than a let down, they were HORRIBLE. but then again, they WERE low-budget. i can go on about these titles, bad acting, bad editing, etc. and rarely, anything new brought to the table.with splinter, it seems (finally) someone decided to actually jump off the cheap bandwagon, and make more than just another "urban"/mi vida loca/boyz in the hood b-flick. the best way i've heard it described is "memento" meets a modern "blood in/blood out". sizemore fits his character so well, you forget he's not really a messed up cop. ed olmos' deadpan look and stern dialogue also do great in the story. the main "gangsters" themselves, especially "dreamer", also do a good job, portraying these characters as more than just average street criminals, but people with messed up lives.anyways, i definitely recommend this if you want to see a "gang life" movie with some good twists and turns, along with numerous scenes of gratuitous violence. this is one i wouldn't be surprised HBO picking up.