this movie paint a grim picture of a group of people life destroy by violence . i can not say that this movie be a statement on the reality of life because the character circumstance be so specific that many would have a hard time relate . here a list of the lesson teach in the movie . 1. don not hit a cop and you will get send to prison . 2. don not shine a laser pointer in a cop face and you will get send to prison . 3. don not stab a security officer in the neck and you will get send to prison . 4. don not push anyone onto the 3rd rail of a subway station . they will be electrocute and you will get send to prison . 5. don not try to escape from prison . you will either die try or get send back to prison . i be not really sure what the overall message of this movie be . elijah do everything right by stay out of trouble and go to school and etc . and and yet he still get the shaft . negative only because i like q tip .