Prison movies?

[ReadyAndWilling]

Hi all, I've been re-watching Con Air a lot recently. I think I've enjoyed it because it really makes me appreciate being a free man and being able to do the small things that I take for granted. I also enjoyed watching John Malkovich's character. I'm not sure if I like John Malkovich as an actor or if I just liked his character in this movie. His character seemed very logical and I liked that.

Are there any other high quality prison movies that share some traits to Con Air that people could recommend?

Thank you!

 

[Captaindemotion]

The Longest Yard/The Mean Machine from the 1970s with Burt Reynolds (It's been remade as The Longest Yard in the US with Adam Sandler and Burt in a cameo role and as TMM in the UK with Vinnie Jones).

Lockup with Sylvester Stallone

If you fancy a longer investment, try season one of Prison Break, the tv show from the mid/late 00s.

If you want something more thoughtful than Con Air and the like, the ultimate prison movie is the Shawshank Redemption. The Birdman of Alcatraz is also a must-see. Ditto Escape from Alcatraz (Clint Eastwood), Cool Hand Luke (Paul Newman) and the under-rated comedy life with Eddie Murphy.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ Life was definitely underrated. I own the DVD and enjoy it quite a lot.

Another good prison comedy would be Stir Crazy.

 

[ReadyAndWilling]

The Longest Yard/The Mean Machine from the 1970s with Burt Reynolds (It's been remade as The Longest Yard in the US with Adam Sandler and Burt in a cameo role and as TMM in the UK with Vinnie Jones).

Hey brother, thanks for your reply. I've already seen The Longest Yard 2005 and I really enjoyed it.

Lockup with Sylvester Stallone

After reading your suggestion I watched the trailer and it seems a lot more 'gritty' than Con Air.

If you fancy a longer investment, try season one of Prison Break, the tv show from the mid/late 00s.

If you want something more thoughtful than Con Air and the like, the ultimate prison movie is the Shawshank Redemption. The Birdman of Alcatraz is also a must-see. Ditto Escape from Alcatraz (Clint Eastwood), Cool Hand Luke (Paul Newman) and the under-rated comedy life with Eddie Murphy.

Ok thanks! I've already seen Shawshank Redeption. Escape from Alcatraz and Cool Hand Luke might be a bit too old for me to watch.

 

[JarodRussell]

Stallone's and Schwarzenegger's "Escape Plan" is coming up.

 

[J.T.B.]

Another vote for Cool Hand Luke, a classic and one of my favorites.

Brubaker with Roert Redford was pretty good. I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang was really good.

Ok thanks! I've already seen Shawshank Redeption. Escape from Alcatraz and Cool Hand Luke might be a bit too old for me to watch.

Oh, never mind. About what date did worthwhile movies begin to be made, then?

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Breakfast Club.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Since the 1990's seem to be acceptable , how 'bout The Green Mile?

 

[DarthTom]

The Green Mile and and Dead Man Walking are two excellent prison dramas that also center around the death penalty.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Escape from Alcatraz and Cool Hand Luke might be a bit too old for me to watch.

Your loss.

 

[auntiehill]

Cool Hand Luke is a classic. If you are interested in movies about prison, you need to see it. It's not a freakin' silent film, for God's sake.

 

[ReadyAndWilling]

Another vote for Cool Hand Luke, a classic and one of my favorites.

Brubaker with Roert Redford was pretty good. I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang was really good.

Ok thanks! I've already seen Shawshank Redeption. Escape from Alcatraz and Cool Hand Luke might be a bit too old for me to watch.

Oh, never mind. About what date did worthwhile movies begin to be made, then?

Haha, I didn't mean the old movies weren't watching, I just meant I find it hard to watch these old movies because of the style they were made in.

 

[od0_ital]

^

What style is that?

And why hasn't anyone suggested Tango & Cash?

 

[ReadyAndWilling]

The Green Mile and and Dead Man Walking are two excellent prison dramas that also center around the death penalty.

Alright, thanks. I'll check them out!

 

[J.T.B.]

Haha, I didn't mean the old movies weren't watching, I just meant I find it hard to watch these old movies because of the style they were made in.

Maybe what we've got here is a failure to communicate.

Seriously, watch Cool Hand Luke, you'll forget anything about "style."

 

[Nerys Myk]

The Great Escape.

 

[wildstar]

Escape from Alcatraz and Cool Hand Luke might be a bit too old for me to watch.

May I ask why they would be too old to watch? Escape from Alcatraz is on netflix. I checked.

You could also try The Great Escape. It's a POW camp movie (based on real events from WW2), but still a prison movie. - edit, I see Great Escape is already mentioned.

One of my absolute favorites is Papillon. Also based on real events, but man, you feel like you're there with them in the rain and in the prison camps in the jungles. Not a WW2 movie btw.

Of course, there's The Prisoner tv show. Very 60's and might be dated by modern eyes, but it tackles all kinds of modern issues. I guess it's not a prison movie per se. But awesome anyway.

 

[stoneroses]

Poridge film and the original prisoner tv series

 

[Holdfast]

Prison movies (and to a lesser extent, related courtroom dramas) are one of my favourite genres. There's something about the claustrophic/insular setting that creates a lot of drama IMO. They're also pretty timeless in that sense, so I wouldn't worry about a movie being old.

My favourites, in no particular order, would be:

- The Shawshank Redemption
- Cool Hand Luke
- Escape from Alcatraz
- American History X (ok, not all set in prison, but...)
- The Last Castle
- Undisputed (and to a lesser extent, the sequel)
- Con Air
- The Escapist
- Bronson
- The Longest Yard (Burt Reynolds version)
- An Innocent Man
- Scum
- Silence of the Lambs (in a way)
- The Jacket (technically not a prison, but played out in the same way)
- Escape from New York (well, it IS a prison, right?)

 

[auntiehill]

A Holdfast sighting!