Cadence
A rebellious young Army private finds solidarity with imprisoned Black soldiers while confronting a brutal stockade sergeant.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- serious
- grounded
- rainy day
- serious movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film well acted and intermittently entertaining, but considered its treatment of racial and institutional conflict uneven and ambiguous.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Franklin Bean resists the abusive stockade regime and gradually aligns himself with prisoners targeted by its power structure.
Bean is the only white prisoner in a predominantly Black Army stockade, making racial hostility and solidarity central to the drama.
The work-camp stockade confines Bean with a dynamic group of Black prisoners whose friendship becomes his source of strength.
Bean's punishment initially isolates him, but his relationships with Roosevelt Stokes, Spoonman Bryce, and other prisoners reshape his understanding of loyalty.
Films like Cadence, and why
The Shawshank Redemption
shared prison setting, institutional abuse, racial tension, and solidarity among incarcerated men
A Soldier's Story
shared military institution, racial conflict, leadership under pressure, and ensemble camaraderie
Brubaker
shared prison drama framework, oppressive authority figure, and emotionally grounded group loyalty
Movie Details
- Director
- Martin Sheen
- Release Date
- 1990-11-16
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (114)
Cast
- Charlie Sheen
- Martin Sheen
- Laurence Fishburne
- Blu Mankuma
- Michael Beach
- Harry Stewart
- James Marshall
- Ramon Estevez
- Lochlyn Munro
- Matt Clark
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cadence about?
- A rebellious young Army private finds solidarity with imprisoned Black soldiers while confronting a brutal stockade sergeant.
- What is Cadence like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cadence as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Cadence violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Cadence as moderate.
- What did critics think of Cadence?
- Critics broadly found the film well acted and intermittently entertaining, but considered its treatment of racial and institutional conflict uneven and ambiguous.
- Which films are like Cadence?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shawshank Redemption, A Soldier's Story, and Brubaker.
- How long is Cadence?
- Cadence runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cadence?
- In United States, Cadence streams on Philo, Howdy Amazon Channel.
