» Jailbait (2013, USA)
There is not much that can be said for this other than that it is a singularly distasteful, exploitative film. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on June 8th, 2014 at 9:41 pm. Updated on June 8th, 2014 at 9:43 pm.
» Some Mother’s Son (1996, Ireland / USA)
It’s over twelve months since I finally caught up with the Irish film H3 and then declared that I was in no hurry to see another movie about Bobby Sands, the dirty protest or the Troubles. But here I am, back again; I’m clearly a sucker for a dirty protest.
Posted on June 1st, 2014 at 7:58 pm. Updated on June 1st, 2014 at 7:58 pm.
» Impact (1963, UK)
“Crime reporter Jack Moir is framed by crooked nightclub owner, ‘The Duke’. In prison, Moir plans his revenge…” is what the internet synopses say. And that’s all true. Just don’t expect a lot of prison plotting; the prison scenes account for just 5½ of the film’s 59 minutes. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on May 31st, 2014 at 9:04 pm. Updated on January 1st, 2017 at 9:04 am.
» The Mulberry Tree (2010, USA)
Mickey Loren (Louis Crugnali, who also wrote the script) is troubled. He’s been out of jail for several years, but is still haunted by the drunken accident in which he killed his ‘blood brother’, Anthony. He drinks too much, continues to drink and drive, and has come perilously close to breaching his parole. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on May 25th, 2014 at 6:17 pm. Updated on May 25th, 2014 at 6:17 pm.
» Healing (2014, Australia)
In saying that this is the most interesting new prison movie for some time, I need also to declare my bias: I know a number of the principals connected with its production. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on April 25th, 2014 at 4:10 pm. Updated on April 25th, 2014 at 4:24 pm.
» Provoked (2006, UK / India)
The real-life trial around which this film revolves was a landmark battered wives case in Britain. Unfortunately, director Jag Mundhra makes the mistake of assuming that his audience has no intelligence at all; the story is so dumbed down and melodramatic that at every corner there is a “My God! That’s brilliant!” moment as someone thinks of flicking a light switch in the dark. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on April 21st, 2014 at 7:18 pm. Updated on April 21st, 2014 at 7:18 pm.
» Convict (2014, Australia)
When this opened where I live, it opened, I think, for just one session in one cinema. That might say as much as needs to be said. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on April 14th, 2014 at 10:56 pm. Updated on April 29th, 2015 at 10:34 pm.
» Die Konsequenz / The Consequence (1977, Germany)
Based on the book by Swiss Alexander Ziegler, who as a 22-year-old was sent to prison for a gay relationship with a 16-year-old, this is a not-so-simple love story that battles its way through prison, a reformatory for juveniles, and considerable torment. Although it is a German production, almost all of the action takes place in Switzerland. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on April 6th, 2014 at 7:00 pm. Updated on April 6th, 2014 at 7:00 pm.
» Hell’s House (1932, USA)
“What are you, Kelly? A man or a rat? You’re a rat!” says newspaper editor Frank Gebhardt to Matt Kelly. This is a film about that rat… and the kid who suffers from his ratdom – his rattee. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on March 31st, 2014 at 9:41 pm. Updated on March 31st, 2014 at 9:41 pm.
» More Than Just a Game (2007, South Africa)
I’d thought that this was a movie based on real-life events, but no, it’s a dramatisation of those events interspersed with commentary from the real-life characters, 35 or more years on. A ‘documentary feature’ is what it is, apparently. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on March 24th, 2014 at 8:28 pm. Updated on March 24th, 2014 at 8:34 pm.