Starred Up

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I also watched this earlier today.

Bloody hell, was this film intense or what? The whole film is set in prison, we get no background or reason for why anyone is there. What we get is a highly intense prison drama of psychotic violent prisoners with "issues".

Its brilliantly made.

And I fmuking hated it.

Its brilliant because it is so real, I have no idea what is coming and as each scene rolls, I am either riveted, disgusted, shocked or surprised and at one time unexpectedly smacked with an emotional moment.

But I hate it.

But it doesnt mean you should hate it. By all means enjoy it. The reason I hate it, is because it hits too close to home with its reality depiction of violent criminals. When something like that happens, I cant help not disassociating my real world with the fictional one on screen so I cannot share the "funny" side or sympathise with certain characters that in my real world are the scum of the Earth. I do not care about any hardship that causes these violent criminals to become what they are. I have had hardship and survival tests growing up in my Peckham schools and teenage years. I know these violent characters. In my adult years, I was mugged and beaten up by them. We had the disgraceful London riots which showed the country's true colours. I know these people all my life, even being friends with them in my youth, just to survive.

They are scum. I had parental hardship too (no sexual abuse but parental neglect and mental abuse from the father side and being homeless with my mother for a short while because of him). But I didnt choose to become a psychotic killer, burglar, mugger or rapist as the media or social stigma appears to suggest from such typical backgrounds. There is a choice. I know, some people say there isnt but there fmuking well is a choice. So dont b*y this bull about criminals having no other choice to survive.

So I do not see this film as a deterrent for people to think twice about crime. Not at all. This film practically glamorises violence. Yeah, I see many of you disgusted with its violence or hard edge grittiness and think surely this would be a great deterrent but believe me, if a violent criminal watches this, he would see it as a promotion for macho testosterone badassness rather than a warning message of "be naughty and suffer the consequence" shit. Na, I have grown up in Peckham all my life to know better than that.

But anyway, onto the film. Its brilliant. I've said that already, havent I. The performance of the main lead is extraordinary, as is the supportin cast. The direction was so tight, cranking up the intensity so high, seat number F21 now has my finger nail imprinted on the arm rests.

There is a p*y off to it all too. The story is a fascinating psychotic analysis of a short fuse violent prisoner and a prison psychotherapist teacher (or something along that lines) attempt to rehabilitate a group of prisoners. There are also great relationship building between these varied personalities. But because of the unpredictable behaviour, you just never know what to expect and that is part of the greatness of this movie.

Its powerful stuff.

I hate the fact that the film tries to make us laugh at some of the despicable actions (as I have witnessed in much of my audience reaction) and have us sympathise. I hate that...

But damn, I cannot deny its brilliance and power. I will therefore, purely from a film appreciation perspective, give this an

8.5/10

But I still fmuking hate it in principle.

[kkarimco]

Can't believe i missed this most of my friends really seem to have enjoyed it despite the bits of violence.

[britcar2]

Although I found the levels of violence a bit too much and the portrayal of prison officers slightly offensive, I durprised myself by enjoying the film.