Lock Up
Tags: comedy, cruelty, murder, neo noir, violence, flashback, melodrama, revenge, sadist

Plot synopsis:
Frank Leone (Sylvester Stallone), a skilled mechanic and football player, in Hoboken, New Jersey is a model prisoner nearing the end of his sentence in Norwood, a low security prison. He occasionally spends time outside prison in his garage fixing cars and looking at pictures of his childhood and high school football years and pictures of him with his father. He also spends time with his girlfriend Melissa (Darlanne Fluegel) and he goes to the park playing football with kids in the neighbourhood. Melissa drives him back dropping him off at prison and gives him a lucky charm necklace. One night while sleeping in his cell, guards arrive and forcibly take Leone to maximum security Gateway Prison run by Warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland). Drumgoole explains that Leone will serve hard timeLeone was the only person to escape from Treadmore and did so on Drumgoole's watch. Leone escaped because his mentor and friend was dying; Leone was refused even one hour to see him. Leone went to the press about the warden's treatment of his prisoners, resulting in Drumgoole's transfer to Gateway and Leone serving in minimum security before his transfer.Leone befriends fellow prisoners Dallas (Tom Sizemore), Eclipse (Frank McRae) and First-Base (Larry Romano). The foursome refurbish a Ford Mustang, which Eclipse nicknames "Maybelline". After Leone reluctantly allows First-Base to start the car he refuses to turn it off and drives the Mustang out of the garage. Drumgoole has them watch as inmates destroy the car and Leone is subsequently sent to solitary confinement for six weeks. The warden orders that the letters sent to him from his girlfriend Melissa be stashed away but as Leone is released Braden the good conscientious prison guard secretly delivers them to Leone.Upon release, the warden wants an excuse to slap Leone with more time, so he allows prisoner Chink Weber (Sonny Landham) and his bullying friends to kill First-Base in the gym. Leone fights and defeats Chink, but he spare's Chink's life because he knows that's precisely what Drumgoole wants. Since Leone didn't kill Chink one of Chink's friends stabs Leone from behind with a shank. Whilst Leone recovers in the prison infirmary, one night a stranger, an inmate who claims to be an old friend from Treadmore, says that Chink has paid him to rape and murder Melissa. Dallas offers to help Leone escape to warn Melissa but instead delivers Leone to the utility basement right into Drumgoole's hands where he finds out that Drumgoole wanted him to try to escape so he would receive a mandatory 10-year sentence for the second escape attempt and the inmate who was going to rape Melissa was just a corrupt prison guard called Mastrone who was part of the warden's scheme to set Leone up.Dallas agreed with the warden to lead Leone into a trap only if the warden would give Dallas an early release from prison. But the warden betrays Dallas telling him he doesn't make deals with escaped prisoners. He then tells Dallas he'll be sent back to the prison's general population, and since they now know he's a snitch the inmates will kill him. Dallas tries to attack the warden but the corrupt sadistic prison guards beat him up and push him into a pool of water. The warden then leaves the sadistic guards to physically abuse Leone by pushing his face into a cloud of hot steam from the pipes. Leone breaks free burning Wiley, one of the guards, in the steam and knocking out Mastrone he then fights the sadistic guard Manly and beats him up and pushes him into the same pool of water Dallas fell into. Dallas badly beat up apologizes to Leone and as Leone tries to help him Manly attacks Leone from the water and Dallas then rips an electric cable off the railing and electrocutes Manly in the water taking his own life as well. Leone who wasn't in the water survives.Enraged, Leone breaks into Drumgoole's office and takes him to the execution chamber and straps him to the electric chair. Leone activates the generator and secures his hand to the switch. The guards organize into a response team and secure heavy weaponry. The prison guards break into the execution chamber and point their Heckler & Koch HK33 and Winchester Model 70 rifles and Ithaca 37 shotguns at Leone, but if he is shot he will trip the switch and kill Drumgoole. The warden finally confesses to his plot to increase Leone's jail time. Leone pulls the switch but nothing happens; he then reveals he took one of the fuses out to trick the warden into confessing. Captain Meissner (John Amos) and his men cuff Frank whom the warden order's to be taken to the hole; however, Meissner and his men don't. They take Drumgoole into custody for the confession though the warden insists that he merely played along to save his life.A judicial inquiry is made into the matter about the warden's corrupt behavior and Leone serves only the jail time required of him in the first place. A few weeks later Frank leaves prison to the cheers of his fellow inmates. He meets up with Eclipse one last time, and receives a Cuban cigar which supposedly was given to Eclipse by Fidel Castro. He tells the captain who walks him to the exit that he'll miss his incredible smile and Captain Meissner shakes his hand and says his farewell. Frank then exits Gateway and embraces the waiting Melissa.

Review: Oh, what a rare treat!The best acting is not Stallone's (no surprise there) but that of Donald Sutherland's portrayal of the sadistic and bloodthirsty prison warden.
Have to say right off that I can't believe the low rating for this one here, because it delivers everything that a Stallone fan would want, if one is loading this into the player then surely they know what to expect?Frank Leone (Sylvester Stallone) only has a few weeks to go before being released from prison, he is no hard core offender, he is a loving man and is ready for a new life with his gorgeous girlfriend Melissa (Darlanne Fluegel).
During the night he is whisked away to a maximum security prison on the orders of a sadistic warden out for revenge because Leone was the only man to have ever escaped from his prison, thus setting in motion the wheels of revenge.We then follow Leone as he is pushed to the limits by crazy warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland) and all the sadistic guards under his command.
There certainly is nothing here that hasn't been done before in the prison film genre, and only an idiot would expect anything other than the ending we get, but this is a Stallone movie and it's full of guts, testo macho action, and it should be noted that Sly here puts some depth to the character of Leone.
Donald Sutherland does overplay it to the point that he goes beyond pantomime villain, it's a real teeth itching performance that he would only outdo with the dreadful Jamie Lee Curtis starrer, Virus, 10 years later, but in a film with such primal fun/action intentions, it doesn't ruin the film and leaves it all told as a fine genre piece.No awards here for sure, but when I watch a film about a man played by Sly Stallone in prison then I think I know what to expect, and it delivers all that I hoped for, so hooray for the beefcake I say.
There are superb performances from the main man and his supporting characters like Donald Sutherland(the assignment), Tom Sizemore(enemy of the state), John Amos, Sonny Landham(predator) and Danny Trejo(desperado).
I really enjoy watching this movie.Although the movie isn't much famous as Rambo or Rocky series it's a real masterpiece.Stallone gives an excellent performance as Frank Leone- a convict that is pushed too much and not fairily  from the prison warden (D.Sutherland) who has a personal vendetta with him.Frank finally achieves in an astonishing way to prove that the warden has set him up in order to escape.There is where his personal drama ends.It's a drama-action-romance movie that it's worth to see it not only for the good performances(S.Stallone,T.Sizemore,L.Romano,F.McRay) but for the suspense especially in the end.For me it's just a Stallone's classic one, so take a seat and enjoy this really entertaining movie.
Now the warden is seeking revenge and will do anything to keep Leone behind bars."Lock up" is an entertaining prison drama full of action with Sylvester Stallone after the successful Rambo trilogy.
Sylvester Stallone plays the ideal prisoner - a rock, Tom Sizemore an edgy inmate, Larry Romano the naïve kid, Frank McRae the friendly man mountain, Sonny Landham dominates with a snake-like turn, John Amos a hardened prison officer captain and finally Donald Sutherland looking down on them as the menacing prison warden using his inmates like chess pieces "That's no game man.
The story follows that of Frank Leone having only 6 months of his sentence to serve, but then one night he's whisked away and he finds himself in a high security penitentiary with a warden Drumgoole (who he shares a past with) that tends to break his spirit within that time by using brutality, intimidation and humiliation.
This is probably Sylvester Stallone's best performance that wasn't in Copland or a Rocky / Rambo film.While the muscle dudes of the 80s did a lot of character-free action, this one is an action film with some character and drama.I was surprised that the average rating was only 5.8.
Donald Sutherland is solid as always, and you get easily the best performance of Sonny Landham's career and Tom Sizemore showing why he became a bigger star about 5 years down the road.This is the only big movie where Larry Romano got more than a few lines and he does a good job as "First Base." I was a little surprised he didn't go much further and generally only appeared in the future when the casting director needed someone to "look and sound Italian." I recommend this one even if you aren't a big Stallone fan.
Stallone (leone) plays the role of an an escaped convict who is in a good low-security prison having just 6 weeks to finish his term.
This film is a good entertaining Stallone film.Donald Sutherland,Sonny Landham,and Tom Sizemore were all good.It is entertaining and its a good jail fighting film.I wouldn't say it is Stallone's best film but if like Stallone, the above mentioned actors,and action its worth a watch!.
(Tom Sizemore, Frank McRae,Sonny Landham and the effortlessly likable John Amos) In other words this is a decent movie and well worth watching for fans of Sylvester Stallone.
Lock Up will not be the most memorable film, but Stallone did a much better job than he usually does, and the film had a good depiction of the jail as a real hell.It could have been a very good movie, but it was just way too predictable.
Lock up is the type of action that will make you go "Wow, this is very different, and I love it."the movie is about Frank Leone who is not only a good mechanic, but also has to finish some time.
Drumgoole intends to make Leone serve very, very hard time, pushing him to his limits in hope that he might lash out and thus extend his sentence.It goes through a lot of prison movie clichés, and I guess it doesn't really stand out against the better or more exciting movies in the genre.
Lock Up is a pretty good movie for Stallone fans, although it could easily have been much better had he not been basically a saint behind bars.
There's nothing realistic about it, but for good Stallone entertainment, this is not a bad way to follow up the massive success of the Rambo and Rocky films.
Chuck Wepner, the real-life inspiration for Rocky Balboa, was an inmate at the prison where the film was shot.The supporting cast is pretty strong with Tom Sizemore ("Passenger 57") , Frank McRae ("48 ours") , Sonny Landham ("Predator") , Darlanne Fluegal ("To live and die in LA") and Danny Trejo ("Desperado")."Lock up" is a bad movie , but somewhat entertaining , especially if you don't take it seriously.
The plot is pretty much stolen from all those 70s hot-chicks-battle-sadistic-warden flicks, but given a male reversal in a pretty watchable way.The first thing required of the viewer is just to go with the implausible set-up, wherein Stallone is SOMEHOW given clearance to transfer to another prison despite nearing his release date.
Though Sutherland is a howl during the final confrontation while being subjected to a certain prison device staple."Lock Up" was the other good-guy-against-the-odds-while-incarcerated film of 1989 along with Tom Selleck's "An Innocent Man", but in terms of what you'd expect of a Stallone popcorn muncher, it should deliver for you..
This one's not written by him, and like me, you'll see why he can act on emotional levels, as a low security prisoner, put away for a minor offence, whose last six months are upgraded to ones of hell, when he's transferred to a s..thole of a prison, run by a vengefully vindictive warden (Sutherland) really good, who's really got one hell of a score to settle with Stallone, which involves his standing of work place.
This is not your typical shoot em' up Stallone film, and there are some Rocky moments int his, but it does make a change of pace with an interesting structured story and really good performances from really capable actors, Sutherland's, you won't forget easy.
But not every actioner he churned out was a high-point, as films such as Cobra and this dreary prison thriller showed.Frank Leone (Stallone) was a successful mechanic.
His endurance and sanity pushed to their very limits, Frank comes to realize he must find a way to stop it or die.The prison movie is quite a popular theme for the action genre, so it's only fitting that Stallone would want to try and make his contribution.
If you have experienced undeserved pain, or injustice in your life, you can absolutely relate to Stallone's Frank Leone character.Donald Sutherland's performance as the soul-crushing Warden is superlative.
Its from 89, so you immediately have to excuse some of the cheese that comes from movies out of that era but the plot is strong (if unoriginal) and the acting more than decent especially from Donald Sutherland as the sadistic and bloodthirsty prison warden and a(very thin) Tom Sizemore in an early role.
The story is entertaining and pretty much delivers what you'd expect from a prison film including here football games in the mud, and a montage while the guys work on a muscle car in the garage -strangely reminding me of 'Grease'.I liked Stallone's character in this, he plays Frank Leone; a minimum security nice guy just trying to finish his time and go home to his girlfriend.
When Frank won't break (despite time in the hole, getting shanked and encounters with fellow prisoner Chink Weber) Drumgoole arranges for him to learn that his girlfriend is about to be raped on the outside, causing Frank to plot his escape once more.Stallone seems to have a penchant for doing movies where his character goes to prison.
Continuing my plan to watch every Sly Stallone movie in order, I come to 1989's Lock Up. Plot In A Paragraph: With only 6 months left of his prison sentence inmate Frank Leone (Stallone) is transferred from minimum security to maximum security by a vindictive warden (Donald Sutherland) who has a score to settle.Not dramatic or brutal enough to be considered a serious drama, without enough action to call it an action flick, it's somewhere inbetween the two, but if you can ignore the implausibility of the plot, 'Lock Up' is very enjoyable.
Lock Up (1989) is underrated Stallone Action prison Drama film.
Lock Up (1989) is underrated Stallone Action prison Drama film.
Lock Up is fight for survival in this movie and I simply loved it I don't care what anyone else is saying about this underrated prison drama style film.
The film was released in the United States on August 4, 1989.With only 6 months left of his prison sentence inmate Frank Leone is transferred from minimum security to maximum security by a vindictive warden.Sylvester Stallone as inmate Frank Leone did a wonderful job, he acted like he was Rambo and Rocky two in one.
I also love the football game in this film and Eclipse was helping to defeat Chink and his gang.Lock Up did poorly at the American box office, making $22,099,847 on a budget of $24 million10/10 Grade: A Studio: Carolco Pictures Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Sylvester Stallone,Donald Sutherland,John Amos, Darlanne Fluegel, Frank McRae and Sonny Landham Director: John Flynn Producers: Charles Gordon,Lawrence Gordon Writers: Richard Smith,Jeb Stuart and Henry Rosenbaum Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 49 Mins.
Great prison drama with an friendship theme if you want to know it is about a man who gets put into prison when a bully gives him crap that involves a great ending , dialouge is good but the acting gets cheesy in places but it is a fun film that you can enjoy like i say great sound and visceral, this is a better Stallone film.
It is definitely one of the strongest action movies with Sylvester Stallone's participation: the plot has twists and unexpected outcomes, the cast is evenly strong and there are interesting characters both "good" and "bad".
"Lock Up" is basically a good, solid vehicle for Sylvester Stallone, a prison picture with a decent enough, if predictable, story and enough gritty atmosphere, brutal violence, melodrama, and excellent supporting performances to keep it moving along nicely.
"Lock Up" certainly does have its good ingredients: a score by Bill Conti who'd composed that iconic "Rocky" music, an incredible look to it - the prison used was the East Jersey State Prison in Rahway, New Jersey (and actual inmates are used as extras), and the director was the accomplished John Flynn, a man who'd specialized in action fare and whose resume also included "Out for Justice", "Best Seller", "Defiance", and "Rolling Thunder".
I had wanted to see Lock Up for quite some time but I could not find the DVD version of the film anywhere.I eventually did find it and watched it.While it is not Stallone's best movie, it's still fairly good and better than a lot of his other movies.It also features Donald Sutherland as an evil prison warden.Sutherland can play evil characters very well, watch the movie "1900" and you'll know what I am talking about.Apparently he is a very nice person in real life though.Anyway the film is about a man who gets transfered to a maximum security prison run by a warden who he wronged a while back.The warden tries to make his life a living hell but Stallone keeps it in until eventually.This is a fairly good Stallone film and is recommended for fans..
Silvester Stallone( Frank Leone)"First Blood", gave one of his greatest performance as a beaten down innocent man accused and blackmailed by a demon like Warden, Donald Sutherland(Warden Drumgoole)"Eye of the Needle", who made you hate him with all your heart and soul because his acting was outstanding and his eyes showed great hatred and evil against Frank Leone right to be bitter end.
Cool action movie with a lot of good twists and turns, and probably one of the best prison flicks out there.
Sylvester Stallone stars as Leone, a prisoner who only has a short time left to serve before he can go home and live a happy life as a free man with his old lady.
A late night transfer has Leone shipped to a maximum prison run by a warden (Donald Sutherland) who has an ax to grind with the star.
It's just a routine thing in where brains must be at zero (unless you believe that you really can escape with a Ford Mustang out of prison...) and Stallone isn't that bad, it's one of his mediocre movies that are enjoyable even if you are sure he just wants to have another Rockything (the musical score from Bill Conti is like a copy from the Rockyscore) but it is just some actionmovie you can watch on a sleepless night..
Lock Up starts as model prisoner Frank Leone (Sylvester Stallone) is transfered from the nice minimum security prison Norwood to the maximum security hell-hole that is Gateway run by sadistic bent warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland) who has a personal axe to grind against Leone.
The acting is alright, Sutherland makes for a suitably sadistic bad guy & John Amos makes for a good hard as nails prison guard with a heart.Lock Up is a decent film which I actually quite liked although thinking about it now it's difficult for me to explain why, it's just one of those films that you like but deep down know that you shouldn't & you don't know why..
The supporting cast is unusually good for a film like this, a fact which makes Stallone's movie more enjoyable than Van Damme's prison offering, DEATH WARRANT.
LOCK UP is a film for Stallone fans, prison movie fans, or just casual viewers who want to switch their brains off after a hard day at work..
Sutherland's still nursing a years-old grudge, and has made it his life's ambition to break Stallone's indomitable spirit."Lock Up" is your standard prison movie, albeit charged by John Flynn's macho direction (sentimentalized by Conti's score).
Sylvester Stallone, Donald Sutherland, Darlanne Fluegel and John Amos star in this 1989 drama.
Stallone (Rocky) plays Frank Leone, a mild-mannered guy who just wants to finish serving his short prison sentence for assault and then get out to spend the rest of his life with his girlfriend, Melissa (Fluegel).
Added to this is a psychological edge, as Stallone's Frank Leone is manipulated and tortured throughout under the watchful eye of Donald Sutherland's sadistic warden.
Somewhere within all the corny, bombastic fare lies a cool little prison flick starring Sylvester Stallone as a furloughed convict with six months to go – suddenly thrust from a nice location to a really nasty one thanks to villainous warden Donald Sutherland, seeming out of an overboard science-fiction film.
Worse still not even the great Donald Sutherland seems able to do anything with his role and despite using real life inmates for crowd scenes they come across as just a bunch of extras from a central casting agency which shows you how bad a film LOCK UP really is.
This film won't break that trend, but it just barely squeaks by in the task.For a basic plot summary, Lock Up sees Frank Leone (Sylvester Stallone), a minimum-security prisoner, transported to a "hard time" type facility by Warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland), who is intent on torturing Leone for a past transgression.
The movie surrounds the character Frank Leone (Sylvester Stallone) who is forced into another prison against his will and then bizarre and crazy things starts to happen and he need to help his friends and himself from trouble.
It's another great Stallone movie and it's very entertaining and enjoyable to watch.In this movie, Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison sentence for a relatively minor crime.
Lock Up is an prison action melodrama that features Sylvester Stallone and Donald Sutherland.