The Corner Mini-series Review

The Corner (2000)
Mini-series - 6 episodes (2000)

Buy The Corner on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: David Simon, David Mills, David Simon and Ed Burns (based on: The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood)
Directed by: Charles S. Dutton
Starring: T. K. Carter, Khandi Alexander, Sean Nelson, Clarke Peters, Glen Plummer, Reg E. Cathey
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
This chronicles a West Baltimore family living in poverty on the front lines of America's drug war.

Verdict
Based on a true story, this is a powerful look at the drug epidemic in Baltimore. We look at one family and how drugs have and do affect them. We see how easy it is to try drugs and how hard it is to ever get clean. When living in poverty, dealing offers a way out. Hassled at a minimum wage job for a fraction of the pay only pushes characters back to dealing. We see this world through many residents on the corner as they struggle to survive. Getting out is unlikely, these characters can only try to survive one day at a time.
Watch It.

Review
I've been meaning to watch this as it was Simon's precursor to The Wire Series, which is my favorite series. Many actors in this series went on to appear in The Wire. There are even a few scenes that seem to have served as inspiration for that show.

With many of the episodes, director Dutton talks to residents about life on the corner. They discuss how the corner has changed, and  how Baltimore has changed due to the drug trade. That's what makes this so harrowing, these are true stories.

At the center of the series is the McCullough family. They've long split. Gary (T. K. Carter) lives every day looking for the next fix. He's always hustling, and what makes his story sad is that he was quite successful. His wife Fran's (Khandi Alexander) drug use contributed to the end of their marriage. After he made poor decisions and now lives in squalor.

Gary's son DeAndre (Sean Nelson) works the corner. He tries to get a normal job a few times, but corner money pays so much better than fast food. DeAndre lives in a world with no support. It's up to him to provide what he needs.

This show isn't trying to cast blame or fault the addicts. This shows what an untenable situation everyone lives in. Some make a living with drugs, others sink into squalor. Few ever get out. Becoming an addict is easy, and then you're always an addict, hopefully one in recovery. This is a compendium to The Wire, with similar themes and similar scenes even. The Wire offers a broader look at systemic problems. This show is an eye witness account, it feels like a subplot of The Wire.

This series concludes with Dutton talking to the actual people that serve as inspiration for the characters in the show. It's powerful and too real as you don't want to imagine people live like this. The series never strays too far from reminding you that this is real.