Time in Prison
Or, "Life in The Big House". The prison film has proved to be a popular subject for cinema and many superb titles are represented in this canon of work. Here the human spirit is often shown to thrive in what are generally hostile and oppressive settings. There are the tales of the 'wrongly accused man' protesting his innocence, the 'race against time' thrillers to save the condemned from execution, and the 'prison as hell' where your worst nightmares have come true. There are also the comedies where the familiar prison 'cliches' are parodied, and the science-fiction variants that show the possible shape of things to come...
Now, go directly to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
Pictured: Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in "The Shawshank Redemption".
The Escapist (2008)
6.8/10
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Starring: Brian Cox, Damian Lewis, Joseph Fiennes, Seu Jorge, Liam Cunningham, Dominic Coo...
Managing to breathe some fresh life into the prison break genre, this rousing thriller employs a flashback/flashforward narrative that keeps the suspe... Read more
100 Feet (2008)
5.5/10
Director: Eric Red
Starring: Famke Janssen, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Pare, Ed Westwick
Marnie (Famke Janssen) is in prison for the murder of her abusive husband, but is granted early release on the condition she remain under house arrest... Read more
Hunger (2008)
7.6/10
Director: Steve McQueen
Starring: Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, Michael Fassbender
Follows life in the Maze Prison of Northern Ireland, with an interpretation of the highly emotive events surrounding the 1981 IRA Hunger Strike led by... Read more
Death Race (2008)
6.4/10
Director: Paul W S Anderson
Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez
Barnstorming futuristic thriller with Jason Statham as ex-con Jensen Ames, forced by a notorious prison warden to compete in the post-industrial world... Read more
Death Race ( Blu-ray ) (2008)
6.4/10
Director: Paul W S Anderson
Starring: Ian McShane, Joan Allen, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez
Barnstorming futuristic thriller with Jason Statham as ex-con Jensen Ames, forced by a notorious prison warden to compete in the post-industrial world... Read more
Boy A (2007)
7.6/10
Director: John Crowley
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Siobhan Finneran, Skye Bennett, Alfie Owen
A hauntingly ruminative tale of redemption and the pain of starting over, based on the novel by Jonathan Trigell. Jack is a young ex-con desperate to... Read more
Boxing Day (2007)
7.1/10
Director: Kriv Stenders
Starring: Richard Green, Tammy Anderson, Syd Brisbane, Stuart Clark
Living alone on home detention, recovering alcoholic, Chris, is preparing Christmas lunch for his family when an old friend turns up at his doorstep a... Read more
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006)
7.3/10
Director: Mike Clattenburg
Starring: Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, Mike Smith, John Dunsworth, Patrick Roach, Lucy...
Taking their trailer trash antics to the big screen, Ricky, Julian and Bubbles have the perfect job lined up, the job to end all jobs - The Big Dirty.... Read more
Leo (2006)
6.5/10
Director: Mehdi Norowzian
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Dennis Hopper, Sam Shepard, Elisabeth Shue, Justin Chambers, Deb...
After being released from prison, convicted felon Stephen (Joseph Fiennes) attempts to get his life back on track while helping a young pen-pal cope w... Read more
Sherrybaby (2006)
6.6/10
Director: Laurie Collyer
Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Brad William Henke, Danny Trejo, Bridget Barkan, Giancarlo Es...
Maggie Gyllenhaal was nominated for a Golden Globe for her extraordinary performance as Sherry, an ex-con trying to get her life back on track and est... Read more