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David Mackenzie’s 2013 prison drama, “Starred Up,” is a cult classic for a reason. It features Jack O’Connell and Ben Mendelsohn at their absolute best, while also delivering an accurate, explicit, and realistic depiction of prison life in the U.K. Unsurprisingly, the movie garnered several award nominations, including Bafta and the British Independent Film Awards.
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The plot follows a young criminal, Eric Love (O’Connell), who’s moved from a juvenile penitentiary to a high-security adult prison where his father, Neville (Mendelsohn), is serving a life sentence. Neville is a respected and feared member of a criminal organization with authority and power inside those walls. Although the two have a tumultuous and emotionally distant relationship, Neville does everything he can to convince his son to follow the rules and prevent him from making stupid mistakes that could result in spending the rest of his life behind bars. He’s not the only one looking out for Eric’s future, though. Oliver (Rupert Friend), a prison therapist who runs a group for young criminal offenders, is also trying to help Eric with his traumas and violent behavior so he can be rehabilitated. But Eric’s wild side and violent outbursts put his future in doubt about whether he can turn his life around for good. Tragic, empathetic, and fierce, “Starred Up” deserves all the accolades given by critics, and its exclusion from the 100% club doesn’t change how highly regarded it is.
