O.G. (film)


O.G. is a 2018 American drama fiction film directed by Madeleine Sackler and written by Stephen Belber. The film stars Jeffrey Wright, William Fichtner, Boyd Holbrook, Mare Winningham, David Patrick Kelly and Yul Vazquez. The film premiered on HBO on February 23, 2019. The film was entirely filmed in Pendleton Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in Indiana.

Cast

Many of the prison's inmates and guards were used as actors and extras. Inmates were selected based on behavior; those with disciplinary actions against them were not eligible.

Release

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 20, 2018. On October 12, 2018, HBO acquired distribution rights to the film. The film premiered on HBO on February 23, 2019.

Plot

The movie follows the story of Louis as he prepares to reenter civilian life after 26 years in prison. He must choose between his own freedom and the opportunity to protect a younger fellow inmate.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 89% based on reviews from 9 critics. On Metacritic the film has a score of 69 out of 100 based on reviews from 8 critics.
Ben Travers at IndieWire gave it a grade B and wrote: "Can be a tad slow, a touch too simple, and even a little distracted from making a larger, more declarative point about modern incarceration. But by carving its own path through Louis...it's nothing short of original."
In 2019 the film was listed as one of The Marshall Project's picks for Criminal Justice in Movies, TV, and Podcasts.