Weeds (1987)

 After his many suicide attempts are thwarted, San Quentin Olifer Lee Umstetter (Nick Nolte) finds his personal redemption when a traveling theater group stages a performance at the prison. Motivated to write and direct his own play with his fellow prisoners, Lee is discovered by a sympathetic newspaper critic (Rita Taggart), whose advocacy leads to his release. Forming his own theater troupe with other former inmates, Lee finds that life on the outside isn't as easy as he had expected.

The cast is made up of many well-known actors, including Nick Nolte, Ernie Hudson, William Forsythe, and Joe Mantegna, all of which give dynamic performances, the musical score by the great cinematic composer Angelo Badalamenti is absolutely beautiful, and the settings, characters and plot are all compelling.