Brubaker (1980)
In the opening scene of Brubaker, a group of convicts are on a bus on the way to prison. Among the prisoners is Robert Redford, with a perfectly windswept ‘do and a very innocent looking face. 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. But it isn’t until Morgan Freeman, a man in solitary confinement, throws a fit that Robert Redford steps forward. Turns out, he’s been undercover the whole time. He’s the new warden.
While it’s got a fantastic premise, most of the film just doesn’t work. Everyone knows Robert Redford is passionate about his causes, but in this movie, he’s just too handsome and glamorous to pull off the role. Wouldn’t he have a love interest, or any other kind of connection in his life that might take his attention away from the prison? The first several years I saw Robert Redford in films, I really didn’t like him because I found him cold, with a chip on his shoulder. Then, of course, he won me over in The Great Gatsby, but in Brubaker he’s a little cold and has a pretty large chip on his shoulder. 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. The two usually understated actors throw caution to the wind and lose their tempers, and it’s terrific to watch. So, my advice is to enjoy the opening sequence and after Robert Redford says the fantastic line, “Any f***ing color he wants,” then turn it off. Trust me, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Kiddy warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to extreme violence, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Robert Redford movies here!
While it’s got a fantastic premise, most of the film just doesn’t work. Everyone knows Robert Redford is passionate about his causes, but in this movie, he’s just too handsome and glamorous to pull off the role. Wouldn’t he have a love interest, or any other kind of connection in his life that might take his attention away from the prison? The first several years I saw Robert Redford in films, I really didn’t like him because I found him cold, with a chip on his shoulder. Then, of course, he won me over in The Great Gatsby, but in Brubaker he’s a little cold and has a pretty large chip on his shoulder. 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. The two usually understated actors throw caution to the wind and lose their tempers, and it’s terrific to watch. So, my advice is to enjoy the opening sequence and after Robert Redford says the fantastic line, “Any f***ing color he wants,” then turn it off. Trust me, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Kiddy warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to extreme violence, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Robert Redford movies here!