← Back to Reviews
in
Starred Up
Directed By: David Mackenzie
My next review is 2013's British prison drama Starred Up. This may be a movie many of you have never heard off, but it's a very well acclaimed movie by critics and festivals and currently holds a 99% fresh rating on rotten tomatoes. I only found out about this movie myself when I was flicking through the television one night board and came across it, and ime glad I did. Starred up is a very violent movie with some very powerful performances. It has an excellent cast and a very strong story. Some of you may have also noticed it went straight into my top 100 favourite movies, so I personally rate this movie very highly.
One thing that audiences and critics have praised about this movie is the performance of young rising star Jack O'Connell. You may recognise this young star from Angelina Jolie's Unbroken, or tv series Skins. He's tipped to be a huge star and this movie showcases just why. He sort of reminds me of a young Tom Hardy, and his performance in Starred up is quite similar to Hardy's performance in Bronson. Both actors carry them selfs very well and both have a very similar body language. Jack O'Connell also bagged him self BAFTA award for rising star this past year, as well as countless other british awards so he's certainly making a name for himself.
Director David Mackenzie really knows how to build up tension in this movie. The first 5 minutes where our young convict is signed into prison is quite a powerful scene and yet there are no words really spoken. The scene feels like where along side him, and you get a feeling of what it would be like to be put in prison, the scene is captured very cleverly. Mackenzie also knows how to deliver on the violence. The movie flows rather nicely but when things do kick off there certainly delivered with mayhem and power. Mackenzie Aldo deserves a lot of credit for casting O'Connell. I know I've mentioned his performance above, but he really is the star of this movie.
Overall Starred Up was one of my favourite movies of 2013. It's great cast, great script, and really fine performances make it a film you really must see. Actually writing this review makes me think i should of placed Starred Up even higher in my top 100 favourites, great movie.
Directed By: David Mackenzie
My next review is 2013's British prison drama Starred Up. This may be a movie many of you have never heard off, but it's a very well acclaimed movie by critics and festivals and currently holds a 99% fresh rating on rotten tomatoes. I only found out about this movie myself when I was flicking through the television one night board and came across it, and ime glad I did. Starred up is a very violent movie with some very powerful performances. It has an excellent cast and a very strong story. Some of you may have also noticed it went straight into my top 100 favourite movies, so I personally rate this movie very highly.
One thing that audiences and critics have praised about this movie is the performance of young rising star Jack O'Connell. You may recognise this young star from Angelina Jolie's Unbroken, or tv series Skins. He's tipped to be a huge star and this movie showcases just why. He sort of reminds me of a young Tom Hardy, and his performance in Starred up is quite similar to Hardy's performance in Bronson. Both actors carry them selfs very well and both have a very similar body language. Jack O'Connell also bagged him self BAFTA award for rising star this past year, as well as countless other british awards so he's certainly making a name for himself.
Movie Trivia: The title ("Starred Up") is a term used to describe the early transfer of a criminal from a Young Offender Institution to an adult prison.
Based on screenwriter Jonathan Asser's experiences working as a voluntary therapist at HM Prison Wandsworth.
No music score is used in the entire film, except for the end credits.
Based on screenwriter Jonathan Asser's experiences working as a voluntary therapist at HM Prison Wandsworth.
No music score is used in the entire film, except for the end credits.
Overall Starred Up was one of my favourite movies of 2013. It's great cast, great script, and really fine performances make it a film you really must see. Actually writing this review makes me think i should of placed Starred Up even higher in my top 100 favourites, great movie.