Brubaker (1980)

Corruption and Murder told with cathartic style.

It's odd that whenever talk of Prison base films crops up you rarely see Brubaker mentioned as a viable piece of work, which to me personally is a damn shame because it's origin source provides a worthy story to be involved in.

Based on the writings of Tom Murton, a Prison Farm Reform Warden in Arkansas in the late 60s, the corruption and murder the film deals with is a very frightening reality, and although this film is obviously fictionalised to a degree, the evidence of the main themes can be found from many sources.

Robert Redford plays the title character who chooses to go into the prison farm as a convict to see at first hand how the Farm is run, what he sees shocks him to the core, which in turn rightly shocks the viewer as well. After learning all he needs to, he comes forward to take control of the Farm and tries to put an end to the torture, corruption and dank depression that is rife at the Farm. He has to deal with many obstacles along the way, and it's the strength of the man that has the viewer firmly onside all through the film.

The acting is emotionally spot on, the title role calls for a cool persona to not get flustered when faced with mounting resistance, and Redford delivers in spades. The main supporting cast of Yaphet Kotto, David Keith, Morgan Freeman, and Jane Alexander do very good work (believable), whilst the direction from Stuart Rosenberg ("Cool Hand Luke") is paced to perfection. The story is grimy and gnaws away at you, and then we get the ending that frustrates as much as it lifts the spirit, this is in my opinion a criminally undervalued piece of work. 8/10

Jun 28, 2014

One of the top 3 prison based movie ever made but highly underrated, sometimes I feel really so sad when see that there are many many top class movies from 80"s & 90"s are very underrated while they need or deserve a really very high attention and fame too,and this one "Brubaker" is one of them.

Jun 27, 2022

**_A maverick prison warden uncovers corruption and tries to make positive changes_**

In 1967-1968, a state penal farm in Arkansas gets a new warden (Robert Redford) who discovers condoned sexual abuse, severe beatings, electrical torture and extortion by inmates with guns who work as "trusty" guards (to save money otherwise spent on salaried guards). Then there’s the lousy quality and meager amount of sustenance for the inmates on a penal plantation that marketed enough produce and dairy products to create profits in the millions.

“Brubaker” (1980) is a fictionalized detailing of Tom Murton’s 1969 book, Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal. It’s a realistic prison drama with the expected grunginess and brutalities revealing how the penal installation was basically a means for the government to make money by treating inmates like property (slaves) to be used, abused and, when necessary, secretly thrown away in holes on the grounds.

The movie’s not as dramatically compelling as it could be since it refuses to permit its characters more human dimension and flesh out interest, yet it raises interesting ideas. For instance, corruption exists when it is knowingly allowed at the higher levels of authority. How can you be an idealist in a world that is not ideal? Do you compromise with the corrupt powers that be in order to get SOMETHING done, or do you take the attitude of no compromise, period? The latter takes true dedication to noble principles, but what good is it if it prevents you from making positive changes?

The movie “Serpico” (1973) shows that it can be done with challenging consequences. I’ll leave it to you to discover how this one pans out.

A young Morgan Freeman shows up in the first act as a deranged prisoner in solitary confinement. He would of course go on to star in the more popular prison flick “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994), both movies shot in the heart of Ohio about 90 miles from each prison location. I should add that, while “Brubaker” is not popular like “Shawshank,” it was quite successful at the box office.

Unsurprisingly, it’s is a mostly male story, but Jane Alexander has a pretty beefy role as a public relations specialist for the governor while Linda Haynes appears as a play thing for one of the corrupt trustys.

If you’re in the mood for a flick in the mold of “Cool Hand Luke” (1967) and “The Longest Yard” (1974), “Brubaker” should fill the bill.

One last thing, the ending was glaringly borrowed for “Dead Poets Society” (1989).

The film runs 2 hours, 11 minutes, and was shot at the former Junction City Prison Farm outside of Junction City, Ohio, as well as nearby New Lexington and Fairfield County Fairgrounds in Lancaster.

GRADE: B-

May 31, 2023