Starred Up

[Yinster]

No sex or rape scenes but there is full frontal nudity

[stuartboy]

No sex or rape scenes but there is full frontal nudity

Just a bum and a willy though.
I'm wondering if Jack is having delusions of being Ewan McGregor? He seems to have a trademark of managing to get his winky into every movie he's made (with perhaps the exception of Star Wars?!)

[The Sparrow]

stuartboy summed it up for me. This was disturbing but not for the language, which is realistic nor for the violence which is all too prevalent in these kinds of institutions. Sadly the female - Governor Cardew who told Oliver that he was getting too involved, was what tugged at my heart. He was getting results and should have been encouraged not derided by his superiors. The final encounter between Eric and Neville was also extremely moving.

It showed the problems with our penal system; and how difficult it is to deal with young offenders who are too violent to be kept with fellow Young Offenders but who really shouldn't be "starred up" and put in with older, more hardened criminals.

Right from the start, I felt for young Eric. No matter what crimes he had committed, he should not be made to strip in front of a female officer. We wouldn't expect a male guard to be in the room with a female being strip searched.

This film will stay in my mind for some time, it disturbed me so much.

I have just read a review where the author stated that this isn't a film "for your Aunt Nelly". I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. This isn't a film for the delicate or easily offended but I would recommend it for the broad minded and those who are fine with realistic portrayals of prison life. If your Aunt Nelly is all of that, then she will appreciate this hard hitting, brutal film.

[stuartboy]

Hope you are referring to my initial review, The Sparrow, and not the above bum and willy one! Lol.
I saw this again today (!). Is just as powerful on a second viewing. I still have questions though, and several things fell into place. I can now see a begining, middle and an end.
This movie is compelling and sucks you in, making YOU feel incarcerated. It is a relief when the closing scene rolls to realise that you are free to go.

[Brian1502]

Seen this tonight in Edinburgh. Greatly enjoyed it if its possible to enjoy a movie like this. At its heart is a movie about a father and son re connecting. It just so happens they are both violent, quick to lose their temper and in prison. Only recently watched A Prophet a much more subtle prison film about a teenager surviving and one that I though was the better. However with great acting and a set design that you could almost imagine you could smell what it must be like to be in prison I give this film 8/10.

[alythonian]

This was a truly good movie. The violence is "real" and it's probably the fear and the tension in the air that is actually more menacing and frightening. It's got a grim reality to it all. Ben Mendellson really does do a good line in psych/sociopaths. Took my ear a while to tune in to the accents but was worth the extra effort as the bit players and the main players all interwove very well. What is prison for? Rehabilitation/punishment/incarceration - good criminology essay in there somewhere. However, I did leave the cinema with a feeling of hope, and that's a result.
Maybe your Aunt Nan wouldn't enjoy it, but she might appreciate it for what it is - an excellent piece of film making.

[ushersk]

Quite liked this, was definitely better than I expected. But though it was well acted. 6/10

[opas]

Admitedly, I do like a prison drama. I find them intriguing settings to explore human emotions and behaviour, especially when 'normal' people are forced to engage and relate to people who are all different levels of psychopath for various reasons. Throw in a bit of the 'pursuit of redemption' and a cliched reminder that "bad people do good things" and vice versa, then I'm sold!

I therefore found this film to be compelling. Disturbing, gritty and difficult to watch at times, I think most of the actors, particularly Rupert Friend, put in great performances. Jack O'Connell can do that type of role in his sleep now, like someone mentioned, he is is danger of being typecast if he doesn't break away from it at some point - but he does do it well.

I did feel for some of the characters, some of the time and the tension at certain points really came off the screen - you felt it was going to kick off at any point. And like The Sparrow, I did find the last scene between Eric and Nev quite emotional. Found the ending to be fittingly abrupt too. I think it is definitely worth a watch. 7.5/10.

[stuartboy]

A third viewing has emphasised the amazing use of sound in this movie. From the initial black screen with sounds of alarms (which actually sound as if they are coming from outside the cinema) and clanging metallic sounds significant of a prison to the sudden deafening silence when Eric is finally left in his cell for the first time, the effect is all-engrossing. There are some watermelon-stamping sounds that are pathognomonic of dirty fighting where there is head stamping etc. involved that make the pain almost tangible.

I do have a question though. There is a scene about half way through where someone goes into a cell and puts an orange cover over the window and sees a sleeping figure on the bed. This is then replicated further on in an attempted suicide scene. I can't help wondering if this was a mistake in editing? Or perhaps someone can explain what that short scene was about. 3 times I have seen it and still don't get it. Any ideas?

[midian]

Put me in the 'enjoyed' it (liked / enjoyed etc just don't seem right) camp.

I was shocked and appalled at the violence but was glad i went. i have known people with these extreme anger management issues thought the film did well to show how this might come about and what might (but rarely is) done about it. the issues of vulnerability and masculinity were well explored, imho. some very big issues were smuggled in during the terible fight scenes. i will be keeping an eye out for this director & scriptwriter. have recommended it to many already.

8/10

edit: found this article in the telegraph about the screen writer Jonathan Asser. He was actually a therapist in Wandsworth Prison and consulted on set to ensure the accuracy of what is shown. he talks about the therapeutic intervention shown in the film. very interesting.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film ... -Scum.html