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".
Animal Factory (2000)
6.6/10
Director: Steve Buscemi
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Edward Furlong, Steve Buscemi, John Heard, Mickey Rourke, Tom Arno...
Steve Buscemi directed and co-stars in this gritty prison drama filmed at Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary. Edward Furlong, a middle class yo... Read more
Before Night Falls (2000)
7.3/10
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Javier Bardem, Johnny Depp, Michael Wincott, Olivier Martinez, Sean Penn, Andrea...
"Basquiat" director Julian Schnabel brings to the screen another doomed creative genius on the fringes of his society - gay Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas... Read more
The Green Mile ( Blu-ray ) (1999)
8.5/10
Director: Frank Darabont
Starring: Bonnie Hunt, David Morse, Graham Greene, Harry Dean Stanton, James Cromwell, Pat...
This superlative adaptation of Stephen King's novel is from the writer and director of 'The Shawshank Redemption', Frank Darabont. Tom Hanks is the he... Read more
The Green Mile (1999)
8.5/10
Director: Frank Darabont
Starring: Bonnie Hunt, David Morse, Graham Greene, Harry Dean Stanton, James Cromwell, Pat...
This superlative adaptation of Stephen King's novel is from the writer and director of 'The Shawshank Redemption', Frank Darabont. Tom Hanks is the he... Read more
True Crime (1999)
6.6/10
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Isaiah Washington, James Woods, Denis Leary, Frances Fisher
A gripping story about a down-and-out reporter (Clint Eastwood) who is sent to cover the execution at San Quentin of convicted murderer Isaiah Washing... Read more
Life (1999)
6.7/10
Director: Ted Demme
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence
Focuses on jailbirds Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence over five decades beginning in Harlem in 1930, where hustler Murphy and bank teller Lawrence are... Read more
The Hurricane (1999)
7.6/10
Director: Norman Jewison
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Hannah, Liev Schreiber, Deborah Kara Unger
He was the man who inspired songwriters, actors and everyday people to march on the streets of the US for justice and freedom. His name is Rubin "Hurr... Read more
American History X ( Blu-ray ) (1998)
8.5/10
Director: Tony Kaye
Starring: Avery Brooks, Beverly D'Angelo, Edward Furlong, Edward Norton, Elliott Gould, Fa...
A hard-hitting drama about former skinhead Edward Norton who, having been released from prison after serving three years for the shooting of two black... Read more
American History X (1998)
8.5/10
Director: Tony Kaye
Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Stacy Keach, Elliott Gould, Avery B...
A hard-hitting drama about former skinhead Edward Norton who, having been released from prison after serving three years for the shooting of two black... Read more
Out Of Sight (1998)
7/10
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames
Adapted from the Elmore Leonard bestseller and starring George Clooney as a convicted back robber who escapes from prison with the help of partner Vin... Read more