Jailbait (2004 film)
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| Jailbait | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Brett C. Leonard |
| Written by | Brett C. Leonard |
| Produced by | Rene Bastion |
| Starring | Michael Pitt Stephen Adly Guirgis |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Lightyear Entertainment |
Release date | 4 August 2006 (USA) |
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Jailbait is a 2004 psychodrama film written and directed by Brett C. Leonard. It stars Stephen Adly Guirgis and Michael Pitt and is set in an unnamed prison in California. The film received numerous independent film nominations and was awarded the Lake Placid Film Festival Grand Jury Prize.
Plot
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Randy (Pitt), a 20-year-old convict, is taken to his cell on his first day in prison. He is greeted by his new cellmate, Jake (Guirgis), a veteran prisoner serving a life sentence for murdering his unfaithful wife. Randy explains that he is serving 25 years for spray painting his neighbor's Mercedes-Benz; the damages exceeded $5000 and therefore the vandalism was considered a felony. As he had already been convicted twice for felony possession of marijuana, this was Randy's third felony and he was sentenced under the California Three Strikes Law. Jake explains to the younger prisoner that 25 years will come to an end and that Randy, unlike himself, will be a free man again someday.
The next morning, Jake begins telling Randy a story about the worst sexual encounter he ever had. The tale involved a sexual romp with an extremely overweight and hirsute black woman. The story terrifies Randy, who begins to realize that Jake's motive may be more than just friendship. The conversation turns toward how Jake feels homosexuality is a state of mind and that a "fag" is not identified by what he does, but by what he thinks of while doing it. The breakfast bell rings and the story is interrupted, much to Randy's relief. Jake seems to drop the topic and return to his more friendly demeanor. However, Randy is quickly brought back to the horrible reality of his situation when Jake forces him to wear his shirt in a feminine style and to hold his hand as they go to lunch (See prison sexuality).
Some time later, Randy's mother (Laila Robins) visits him at the prison. Randy lies to her and says his cell mate and he are getting along well. Although they seem to enjoy the visit, it ends quickly. The brief visit only highlights Randy's isolation, as his mother is powerless to do anything to help him.
Upon returning to his cell, Randy starts writing his mother a letter. Jake tells him that his mother will give up on him and eventually stop visiting because she is so disappointed in Randy. When Randy protests, Jake tries to explain that he is just trying to make it easier for him when she abandons him. Jake then admits that he no longer writes to his mother because she doesn't write back any more.
Back in the cell, Randy tells Jake that he likes the way Jake forces himself on him. Although the idea had been hinted at for some time, this is first open revelation in the film that Jake has made Randy his sexual property. Jake is visibly flustered and intrigued by Randy's admission. However, Jake recovers quickly and viciously beats Randy. Jake chastises the younger man for "playing games" and for trying to make him feel like a "fag."
Moments later, Jake again prods the now bruised and bloody Randy to tell him about his "worst fuck." Randy tells Jake about his first sexual experience: he was 17 and drunk in a Tijuana strip club, and paid a stripper $35 for oral sex in a room above the dance floor. Afterwards, he saw the same stripper perform a striptease in which she revealed that she was a pre-operational transsexual. Randy then tells Jake that he "thought that was the worst it was ever going to get," insinuating that his current situation as Jake's sex slave is far worse. Jake appears angry and offended, but then seems guilt ridden. Again, Jake snaps out of his more tender feelings and, replacing them with cruelty, forces Randy to perform oral sex on him. Afterward, Jake makes pleasant conversation as Randy lies in the fetal position in his bunk.
That night, as Jake sleeps, Randy creeps silently to his cellmate's bedside, preparing to stab him in the throat with a pencil as the older man sleeps. Randy hesitates and Jake wakes up. Jake doesn't attempt to physically restrain Randy, but instead tells him that he doesn't have the heart to kill a man in cold blood, and that even if he did he wouldn't kill him. Jake tells Randy that he is all that Randy has, that he is his protection, alluding perhaps to an even more brutal sexual slavery among other inmates were he not tied down to Jake. He sincerely tells Randy that he is his only friend. Jake then tells Randy to go back to his bed and think about all the things he will do when he is finally released.
Jake then tells the now nearly tearful Randy why his mother stopped writing back; she had died and no one told him. The prison authorities had refused to let him go to his mother's funeral. Jake then tells Randy to make sure that he gets to see his mother's funeral, that it is very important to be able to say goodbye. The viewer is left wondering if this is just another manipulative plot by Jake to prevent Randy from making trouble, or rather, sincere advice to ride out his sentence so he can experience the truly important parts of life after his release.