Brubaker
Tags: violence, murder

Plot synopsis:
In 1969, a mysterious man (Robert Redford) arrives at Wakefield State Prison in Arkansas. As an inmate, he immediately witnesses rampant abuse and corruption, including open and endemic sexual assault, torture, worm-ridden diseased food, insurance fraud and a doctor charging inmates for care. Brubaker eventually reveals himself—during a dramatic standoff involving Walter (Morgan Freeman), a deranged prisoner who was being held in solitary confinement—to be the new prison warden, to the amazement of both prisoners and officials alike.
With ideals and vision, he attempts to reform the prison, with an eye towards prisoner rehabilitation and human rights. He recruits several long-time prisoners, including trustees Larry Lee Bullen (David Keith) and Richard "Dickie" Coombes (Yaphet Kotto), to assist him with the reform. Their combined efforts slowly improve the prison conditions, but his stance enrages several corrupt officials on the prison board who have profited from graft for decades.
When Brubaker discovers multiple unmarked graves on prison property, he attempts to unravel the mystery, leading to political scandal. A trustee decides to make a run for it when he realizes that he might be held accountable for killing an inmate. The resulting gunfight, in which Bullen is killed, proves to be the clincher that the prison board needs (acting with the tacit approval of the governor) to fire Brubaker.
A statement before the credits explains that two years after Brubaker was fired, 24 inmates, led by Coombes, sued the prison. The court ruled that the treatment of the prisoners was unconstitutional and the prison system was ultimately reformed. Meanwhile, the governor was not re-elected.

Review: Though Shawshank Redemption has gotten the critical raves and the box office receipts that could make it the best prison story ever filmed, my personal choice for the best film ever done about the penal system is Brubaker.Based on the true life experiences of Thomas Murton, the co-author of the book the film is based on, Brubaker captures the realities of prison life, the complexities of trying to "reform" the system without sacrificing one iota of entertainment.Robert Redford leads a great ensemble cast in this film.
Yaphetto Kotto and Tim McIntire are two such prison trustees, both of them showing very different reasons why they don't like some or all of what Redford is doing as warden.Among the supporting cast, I'd like to single out David Keith who was the best as the prisoner whose life Brubaker saves and ultimately becomes his biggest booster in the joint.
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.
BRUBAKER is my kind of movie; grim, realistic, stimulating and a story based around a great struggle between right and wrong.
Robert Redford plays Brubaker (based on the real life story of one Thomas Murton of Arkansas, not to be confused with Thomas Merton, the poet) who tries to bring decency to an Arkansas prison that is corrupt from top to bottom.
Very little background music is another mature plus.A good, feel-bad movie; and as a Bostonian, it's hard to hate a film that has a character in it named Fenway Park..
Redford who has always been a social reformer placed an emphasis on communicating the dedication of the Brubaker character in this role.If you happen to live in the Deep South where prison farms have used convicts as virtual slave labor for years, you can appreciate the storyas well as the attitudes of the government and local officials who are portrayed.
Robert Redford plays another dignified character, this time as new warden Henry Brubaker posing as an inmate in a corrupt prison to understand the deplorable conditions there.
Maybe "Brubaker" goes a little overboard in portraying its main character as a saint, but considering that the main point is to show the inhumanity of this country's penal system (which apparently hasn't changed much since this movie came out), they do a good job.
But as we got into this movie, she changed her mind.Robert Redford plays Henry Brubaker, a prison warden who is recruited to reform brutal Wakefield Penitentiary, in Arkansas.
The scenes in which Brubaker has to deal with the morally corrupt prison board are powerful and captivating.
Brubaker (Robert Redford) as a messiah-type, seemingly on the fringe of municipal importance, takes up the job of Warden at a Southern state penal farm and decides to see the extent of what he is up against by entering in disguise as just another inmate, with no privileges.
He is right as the thrust of the film would have otherwise been lost and the overall plot (simple though it is) is stronger for the fact that Brubaker has 'been there'.He manages to carve a bond with a few prisoners before he modestly reveals his true identity and, through a series of well acted confrontations, he begins to make the prison machine tick over nicely.
'Brubaker' was apparently a rather mournful, strained film to work on and the original director, Bob Rafelson, was sacked for smacking Ron Silverman (producer) in the nose during an early on-set argument.However, I think it is well acted and very absorbing to watch.
He also did the screen story for this Robert Redford film about prison reform.
The lead character, played by an unusual and remarkable Robert Redford, is introduced to us as a prisoner who barely speaks but observers everything concerning how inmates are treated by the guards, how the machine works behind bars and the constant brutality of the place.
In the film's case, it fails because one can't change a system unless if one being part of it; Brubaker made the terrible mistake of not firing the whole officials team, and those guys still managed to cause harm and work their way behind his back; and the people with the money will always speak higher.Such idealism wouldn't work today, that's sure but it could worth a shot, specially in countries where the private initiative isn't the option (because politics are having their big time with a failing system that pays them well).
Today's criminal minds are far more worse than the ones from the 1980's when this was made and they probably wouldn't leave a place where they could feel as if being on a hotel, practically with the cell keys on their hands, dictating orders like Pablo Escobar did in his "prison" time.
The film has a fine progression and it's greatly well acted by Alexander, Redford and heightened by convincing performances from trustworthy character actors Everett McGill, David Keith, Yaphet Kotto, Matt Clark, M.
Very good Prison system film that could have been a Masterpiece if it had better cinematography,screenplay and directing which were only average.But still,the story was powerfull and very positive.An Idealist's film that challenges us regarding our treatment of the less fortunate souls undergoing over punishment in most Prison systems even today.Excessive Prison punishment is not necessary.Their punishment is their loss of freedom and that is it.Inhumane treatment is not our right to bestow on criminals no matter what they may have OR HAVE NOT done.This is the burden of society.The burden to care for these Prisoners as they serve out their time.The burden to ensure that these Prison caretakers do not become criminals themselves during the process.This great film puts it out there nicely.Good cast and acting here as well.Only for liberal or idealist minded people who like prison dramas and for big fans of the lead actors.......
Enjoyed this film starring Robert Redford, (Henry Brubaker) who plays the role as a law enforcement officer who poses as an inmate at Wakefield Prison in Arkansas.
He portrays Henry Brubaker, a man who has been elected as the new warden of a state prison farm.
There's a good true-to-life story here, of a newly installed reforming prison governor attempting a root and branch reform of the corrupt, inhumane and as it turns out evil practices at a prison somewhere in the prison south.
Baulked by politics as his reforms start to make themselves felt, Redford's title character must decide whether or not to toe the party line and compromise his beliefs.For me, the story was weakened by just too any scenes coming over as second-hand, witnessed in so many prison dramas of yore.
At least the movie tells its story from a different point of view, in placing Brubaker at the centre of the drama and not the usually heroic prisoners.The cinematography is excellent, as, for the most part is the ensemble acting.
I wasn't convinced by the over melodramatic "Spartacus" meets "Goodbye Mr Chips" finish, which just didn't ring true.All that said, I was reasonably engrossed all the way through but didn't in the end feel the film conveyed a suitably dramatic arc, or insightful delineation of character, to really make it remarkable.Good, yes, but not great..
Redford's Character with Prison Board and other certain people the same way Jesus did with the Pharisees and the Sadduces..
It was a wound so hard to be healed, that's felling in everywhere that has a jail, who already went there know as it works inside, Brubaker err thoroug by excess for willy-nilly, find out the penal institution as detailed in movie is one thing, try to change the whole corrupt system right away in another, Brubacker plays with the audience try to making the good guy.....all or nothing, these things changes in slow pace and works very well, each generation has their basic principles, anyway Brubaker brings to us a sensitive issue to discuss, after almost forty years in most part of the world this corrupt system still go on....sadly!!!Resume:First watch: 1985 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 8.
Admittedly I've never been a great admirer of actor/director Robert Redford, but I do adore raw & gritty prison movies, especially from the 70s-80s period, and I was also blown away by the fabulous supportive cast!
Redford stars as the titular Brubaker, the newly appointed manager of a large prison farm in Southern Arkansas and initially posing as a randomly nameless inmate in order to observe how the institution is currently being run and how the prisoners are treated.
With his little act, Brubaker exposes far more than he bargained for, as the supposedly exemplary and most beneficiary prison facility of the United States is really a hellhole full of corruption, greed, physical abuse and slavery.
If you compare "Brubaker" with prison epics like "Shawshank Redemption", "Beyond the Walls", Cell 211", "Shutter Island" or "Nightmare in Badham County", it comes out rather pale, but it's nonetheless a recommendable film with terrific acting and marvelous settings..
These type of characters pop up in nearly all prison movies, but at least we have a very talented cast playing these roles with near perfection.Before I can delve in with what fascinated me the most, we need to discuss the plot.
Henry Brubaker (Robert Redford) decides to begin his new position in an unorthodox way-disguised as an inmate.
When the local business community led by John Deach (Murray Hamilton), whom benefits from the corruption begins to fight back, Brubaker is going to have plenty of trouble on his hands Now we got that out of the way, I will talk about what truly fascinated me about the movie: the corruption of the prison system and the attempted overhaul of the system.
The way Brubaker revealed himself to his prisoners is very genius and it gives him a sense of all the corruption happening around him.
Redford is a really talented actor and his performance kept you riveted, although I kept thinking he seems too nice to be a prison warden.
It is a drama that highlights the corruption in the prison system and what makes this film more interesting is that it is based on the true life events of warden Thomas Murton who was hired by Arkansas governor Winthrop Rockefeller to reform one of the prisons, but was let go after one year due to bad publicity.
In jail, Robert Redford—and the audience—is exposed to some very upsetting goings-on, including senseless beatings for no reason other than to warn the other prisoners, knife fights, rape, inedible food, and corrupt officials.
If you like him best in All the President's Men and similar films, you'll probably feel differently than I did about Brubaker.To be fair, there's one really great scene in the movie, the Morgan Freeman scene.
Based on the real life story of Tom Murton, "Brubaker" tells of a new prison warden, Henry Brubaker (Robert Redford), who enters Wakefield Penitentiary in the South under the guise of being a fellow prisoner.
He will earn himself both allies and enemies in his bull-headed quest for changes, eventually getting wind of the fact that bodies have been buried on prison property for many years.It's interesting to note from the leading IMDb review that the film is largely faithful to the true story, with some standard embellishments and inventions for a movie audience.
The ultimate goal is to expose the skeletons in the closet of this corrupt system, and while Brubaker may come off as a stubborn sort, there's no denying that he's a man with the courage of his convictions.Redford is ideally cast as the protagonist, and he's supported by a simply phenomenal bunch of actors: Yaphet Kotto (who has some great moments), Jane Alexander, Murray Hamilton, a charismatic young David Keith, Morgan Freeman (in what is really a minor sort of role), Matt Clark, Tim McIntire, and Richard Ward.
The film's based on an expose of actual occurrences at Arkansas' Cummins State Prison Farm, especially the secret convict burial ground found there.One thing for sure—this is not a date movie.
Based on a true story, Redford plays a determined prison reformer who first impersonates an inmate in order to experience actual conditions at a prison farm.
That's not to leave out state government and its slick go-betweens that tolerate the system since it does produce a profit.Determined to humanize brutal prison conditions, Redford takes a hands-on approach by daily eating and mingling with the convicts.
The new warden (Robert Redford) of a small prison farm in Arkansas tries to clean it up of corruption after initially posing as an inmate.I don't think this is one of Redford's better-known films, and the true story it is based off of is not well known either.
"Brubaker" is a superb drama film staring Robert Redford.
Robert Redford gives an outstanding performance in this gritty but brutal prison drama fraught with edge of the seat moments...
This film, Brubaker may not reach that scale, but it's still a great movie that tackles the subject of prison corruption.
Stuart Rosenberg's film is about a man named Brubaker who is a new warden at this Arkansas prison.
There were also good performances from the likes of Yaphet Kotto and Jane Alexander as well as an early great performance from Morgan Freeman.Overall, Brubaker is a very good film.
The mysterious prisoner comes to the rescue revealing himself to be the new warden Henry Brubaker.
He institutes reforms with the help of inmates Bullen and Dickie Coombes (Yaphet Kotto).The scariest thing about this prison isn't the torture, the rape, or the corruption.
Robert Redford stars in director Stuart Rosenberg's biographical account of Henry Brubaker, who goes undercover as an inmate at a southern prison where he is to be the new warden.
Those in the system who profited from the illegal activities decide to fight back, and make political trouble for the new warden, who has further uncovered a worse scandal...a score of unmarked prisoner graves.Well-directed and scripted film features fine performances by all, which also includes Yaphet Kotto and Morgan Freeman as prisoners, and Murray Hamilton in his last performance.
Robert Redford is simply astounding in his role of the new warden trying to rehabilitate a Dante's inferno of a prison farm in Arkansas.
However, at almost 2:30am, I was still awake--ratcheted to the TV screen watching "Brubaker" until its exciting conclusion.The film is essentially the experiences of Tom Murton as warden of a hellish prison in Arkansas--although unlike the movie, he did NOT enter the prison disguised as a prisoner.
Robert Redford is a very very good choice for the role of brubaker.
Rather cold adaptation of Joe Hyams' book has Robert Redford appearing to play a convict housed at a rough prison work farm for men, but he's really the new warden getting to know his prisoners first hand.
This movie tells the true story of a man called Henry Brubaker.This man arrives at a prison as an inmate and witnesses all the bad stuff that's going on there.Later he reveals he's the new warden of that prison and he's gonna make some changes.Brubaker from 1980 is directed by Stuart Rosenberg.Bob Rafelson started as the director before being replaced.Robert Redford does excellent job as Brubaker.Yaphet Kotto is superb as Richard "Dickie" Coombes.Jane Alexander is very good as Lillian Gray.Murray Hamilton is great as John Deach.Morgan Freeman is good as always as Walter.Matt Clark is terrific as Roy Purcell.M. Emmet Walsh does convincing job as C.P. Woodward.Albert Salmi is great as Rory Poke.Noble Willingham plays Dr. Fenster.Nicolas Cage makes his debut as an extra.The movie succeeds in showing the cruelty of the prison world.One can ask is this something they deserve.Once you commit a crime, you need to be punished.But how much punishment is too much?.
If you like Brubaker, then i'm sure you will like another film he starred in The last castle is another great movie to watch i think.
The fact that it was a true story makes it somewhat interesting, but all in all this is not up there with the great prison movies..
Robert Redford has never been better as a prison warden who goes undercover in his new posting in order to learn the ins and outs of the place - the ultimate UNDERCOVER BOSS!
Robert Redford stars in this film about a new prison warden attempting to weed out corruption in a decrepit prison farm.
Redford shows a unique ability to respect many of his inmates, and this film is the only one focusing on the warden's perspective on prison.
In one sense, Redford is an inmate, a "prisoner" of the penal system corruption, fighting for the rights of the prisoner.
Robert Redford is probably too handsome an actor to be cast as a reform prison warden, but once that's out of the way, this is an effective and gripping story that's bound to put the viewer on edge for all the corruption on both sides of a jail cell.
Redford is Brubaker, the new reform warden who enters the prison in the guise of a prisoner in order to get a worm's eye view of the goings on.
It was directed by Stuart Rosenberg who injected a lot more life into Don Pearce's "Cool Hand Luke." Pearce, by the way, like Warden Brubaker, was a true original.