Twelve-year-old Fresh (Sean Nelson) is a runner in Brooklyn, carrying heroin for the intimidating Esteban (Giancarlo Esposito) and crack cocaine for local dealers. Seeking an escape from the ruthless environment he's been subjected to, Fresh uses the lessons learnt from his chess-playing father (Samuel L. Jackson) - as well as his own sharp survival instincts - to turn his dangerous employers against each other in the hope that it will free him from their grip. Featuring fantastic performances from Sean Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito and Samuel L. Jackson, Boaz Yakin's debut feature is one of the standout films from the 1990s.