The movie is largely the same as the book. The changes made largely consist of condensing scenes for the sake of time. In addition, Helene McReedy is more sympathetic in the film than in the book. The character of Cheese is changed from a white imprisoned drug dealer to a Haitian who is free and a sub plot involving a gang war is eliminated. The most significant change is Angie Genarro who, due to scenes which were truncated from the book, becomes largely a cypher.
