On B List of Movie Reviews
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Brubaker (1980)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
1/20
1/20:
Brubaker is a liberal's wet dream about how to run a prison the right way.
What I saw in terms of penal reform is nice and all in theory, but convicted criminals, especially murderers and rapists,
don't need anything more than just the basics. They also shouldn't be trusted at all times to perform
administrative tasks, live in a commune, or be let out as free men to take care of business. That's the most shocking aspect
of the film, not how they were treated in a brutal manner as depicted in the first thirty minutes.
Today, what's shown in Brubaker is not a reality anymore; all prisons are up to standards minus the overcrowding
and staffing problems. Yeah, there's the issue of violence. As long as prisoners remain confined and are sometimes
killed, it doesn't matter to me. I merely view it as one problem less.
Robert Redford looks great; I mean, it's an outdoor fashion show for him, and his hair is immaculate.
Having said that, I don't think I've missed the point, but the filmmakers clearly have.
I hate incomplete shots. In the film, they're 10% short of being complete before moving on to the next. Apart from
the overall lack of character development, the editing is a problem because the movie feels episodic, touching
a lot of topics, and then, all of a sudden, a hundred of prisoners are digging holes and looking for skeletons. At one point,
they're shown playing polo(!) with fresh horses. How I envy them...prison life must be great.
All in all, despite the negatives, Brubaker is gritty and worth watching, and having Robert Redford on board is a big
bonus.