5/5 Gripping and heart-stoppingly real!
  by Catherine Russell (New York)
I was totally bowled over by this film. It takes you into a very different reality, without sensationalising the very dark world of prison life.

From the writer's talent for getting inside so many diverse psyches to the wonder of seeing D.L. Hughley transition so beautifully into a dramatic role......this is a must-see!

5/5 GALEN!!! I LOVE YOU!!! YOUR AN AWESOME ACTOR!!!
  by
I THOUGHT SHACKLES WAS THE BEST MOVIE OF ALL-TIME BECAUSE MY HONEY BOO' WAS IN IT, GALEN!!! I LOVE YOU!! AND ALSO I LOVE D.L. HUGLEY BECAUSE THE "D" STANDS FOR HEY, I LOVE YOU!! GALEN I LOVE YOU TOOMUCH!!! I LOVE HAM!!! FKASDJ L;KASDHSAGDH GJKLSDHKSDA;FKDSJADSKGHEKAG;SDKLJGASKL;DFJSDLKFJASDKLFJADSKLFSAJFADSJF ASDKFJS ADKLFJA SDL;KFJASDK! QUEEN LATIFAH SMELLS LIKE CHEESE!!!

5/5 Life In Question
  by Tristan M. Armstrong (La Crosse, WI USA)
With Oscar winning performances on well structured writing, Shackles is a must see! Is not each one of our lives lived in the frame-work of a question?

4/5 Good
  by (Mr.) N. Sean Wright (Whiteville, NC USA)
Although it's pretty hard to imagine
Hughly in a serious dramatic role,
he actually does a good job.
I really didn't expect very much
when I rented this film, but I'm
proud to say that I was wrong.
This is an enjoyable view inside
the life of fallen educator and
his subsequent attempts to rebuild
his life and that of his inmate students.
The parallels between Hughly and
his troubled prized pupil, Gabriel,
is the main theme of the film.
The ending is tragic, but the story
is entertaining and heartwarming.
Hughly occasionally reverts back
to the comic that we know and love,
but he manages to pull off a convincing
dramatic portrayal.

5/5 Outstanding film
  by Themikeman (CT)
I saw the Shackles premiere at the Tribeca Film Fest this year and I can not say enough about it.

Anybody who watches comedy central will know DL Hughley....great comedian, hilarious guy. But reading the synopsis for this movie will immeadiately tell you that it is by no means a funny movie. Nevertheless, he plays the role perfectly and easily was one of the best performances I had seen in a while.

As for the rest of the movie, amazing acting all around to go with a very well shot film. The acting by the inmates is realistic. The scenarios too are realistic and is what you would expect to see in an actual juvenile prison fight. If you did't catch it at Tribeca or can't find a theater THEN BUY THIS MOVIE.