Finally, saving the best for last, David Mackenzie’s Starred Up.
This film introduces us to Eric Love (Jack O’Connell), a feisty,
uncontrollable juvenile who is transferred to an adult prison. Eric’s
father, Neville (Ben Mendelsohn), is a hardened and fairly respected
inmate, introducing Eric to his connections and way of life. But Eric
decides to take the Michael “Charles Bronson” Peterson route, and
bullies his way toward the top. Starred Up explores the penal system
and asks whether prison is solely meant to punish or to rehabilitate.
Furthermore, it spends most of its time developing the relationships a
convict may have in prison, and how difficult it can be to trust, even
when it’s your own family. Starred Up is another film that would be easy to talk about ad nauseam, but I will simply give two reasons to see this movie. First, O’Connell is kind of incredible as Eric. He is a British up-and-coming actor really showing his chops here. Channeling his inner Bronson, he owns every scene with brute force, demanding the audience to take him seriously without crossing into over-the-top territory. Unlike the comparable 2008 film Bronson, Starred Up is less stylized and handled with far more subtlety; at times it feels almost like a documentary. O’Connell is given room to shine as a human being rather than a generally charismatic presence. He’s an actor to look out for in the coming years.
Beyond the mighty lead performance, Starred Up handles its characters’ personalities very well. For example, Eric’s struggle between being a no-holds-barred convict and a recovering adolescent is a compelling struggle to watch unfold. Between his father teaching him the rules of the game, and his counselor attempting to rebuild him as a positive future contributor to society, we see Eric grow into a three-dimensional character. And due to this growth, it allows us, the audience, to consider more of these deeper elements which are layered below the surface. Starred Up is more complex than it may seem. It is available on Amazon Instant Video (currently streaming for free for Amazon Prime users) and iTunes.
All in all, 2014 was a pretty decent year for film … decent enough for the Oscar snubs lists to go on for days. These five films stood out as experiences that, in many ways, are too good for the Academy Awards. They’re special little gems that delve into subjects that may shy away or frustrate many moviegoers. However, if you share my affinity for such content, they are pictures you enjoy showing people who have yet to see them, or maybe haven’t even heard of them. And honestly, I think I like those movies even more. Enjoy!
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