Lt. Jackson was a good guy!!!

I couldn't possibly disagree more. Jackson was without question one of the bad guys. During a scene in the film, John Smith talks about prison and how societies rules no longer matter. Its the cops rules and the gangs rules that matter in jail. He goes on to explain how prisons desensitize you and that its "no different for the ones pulling the trigger". He concludes the conversation by stating that "were all prisoners in here".

Basically what John Smith meant by that is that even the cops are prisoners and the effects of prison (desensitization etc.) are felt by everyone, including the guards/cops. That is actually one of the main underlying themes behind this entire film. Even cops can become bad guys when they are in that type of situation for a long enough period of time. Not only are we told this directly from John Smith, we are also given the opportunity to see it play out with Jackson's character.

I have no doubt that Jackson started out as a good man and the film wants you to know that as were shown this "good" side of him in a number of scenes. The grocery store scene and the scenes with his son are good examples. Unfortunately, the time spent in the prison has taken its toll and as the film progress, we see more and more just how bad Jackson has really become. We're are also given other pieces of information, pieces that ultimately show us that all is not well in Jackson's world. For example, the fact that Jackson's wife left him.

The scene with the drunk driver who hit his son is one of the key scenes in regards to the regression of Jackson's character. Basically Jackson was a "good man" but years of working in the prison have taken its toll. Were told about the time when Danny Samson threw his own fecal matter at Jackson and it wound up giving him, his wife and his son hepatitis. Nick Chinlund's character tells the rookie guard that "we all have our Danny Samsons. you work here long enough and you will too". Basically this is all background on why Jackson has become the way he is. Again, there is no doubt he was once a "good man" but prison has taken its toll on him and he is definitely one of the bad guys now.


Still Shooting With Film!

Nah, he was a piece of *beep*

I would he was neither good nor bad more multifaceted. I saw alot of him in the new guard, He propbably started out like him, just wanting to do his job and support his family. But years of working with dangerous people, having to constantly watch back, living the very real risk to not only your life, but your families, can wear anyone down. In the end he just gave in to the violence and ammoral attitude that surrounded him.

Also he was right about nobody caring what happens as long as relative order is kept. The Warden pretty gave him the green light to do what he wanted.

That being said I do think he had turned into a just another bully, no better than the prisoners.


Please consider me as an alternative to suicide

Also the guys in his prison where scum anyway (except for wade, as he was in there for the wrong reason and Jackson didnt really know that), killers, rapist, etc, who would do the same once they get released.

No he was a vicious sadistic piece of *beep*