22/07/2014

Starred Up (2014)


19 year old Eric (Jack  O'Connell) is starred up, temporarily transferred from a Youth Offenders institution to the same adult Prison facilities as his estranged Father, here his explosive violent behavior with both the Prison authorities and fellow dangerous inmates gains him enemies, and pushes his frail relationship with his Father to boiling point

Tough, realistic,brutal and uncompromising, this is a Prison drama as it is, no bells and whistles, no hope for redemption, men who are confined for violent crime and very little sign of conforming to the world outside. Excellent performance from O'Connell as the ticking time bomb that is Eric and also Ben Mendelsohn as his Father, more wizened but equally psychotic.

Bleak, a film that offers no answers, but a fine piece of prison drama.

*****

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