Starred Up is British slang for a juvenile
offender
moving to an adult prison. That's what
happens to a nineteen year old prisoner
who has to learn to navigate the waters of 
a penitentiary.
Now this was suggested by a viewer and
they were dead on.
This is a serious drama that's gonna
get you when you least expect it.
Eric Love has been moved to an adult
prison because of his violent behavior.
When he arrives at his new home he
discovers that his estranged father
Neville is already there
serving a life sentence. Almost
immediately he gets into trouble
and he's sent to an anger management support
group. Now the therapy might actually
help him
but his temperament and his way of
handling things get in the way.
Will Eric learn to be a better man and will he survive the consequences
his actions? This is a no holds barred
prison drama
really tries to embody the real
experience. The writer based the script off of
actual accounts from his work inside the
British penal system.
So expect strong language, sudden
violence, and some tough content.
Now that makes this story which is
already rough and actually well-written
have an authentic feel to it. I honestly didn't
expect this movie to get to meet the way
that it did.
When Eric shows up we have no back-story
about his character but we know
he is far from innocent and really he's
kinda of a punk.
But still there's a charisma to his
character, a wit,
that comes through Jack O'Connell's performance.
Yes, this guy is a scumball
but he's a man that we hope can change and 
his story is something
we become stuck in. But seeing the main
characters transformation when he's
exposed to the support group
was the big draw for me. These young
talented actors
embody different levels and anger and
rage and  it was watching their dynamic
together as they even became friends
inside a prison
that was compelling. The cast here is
surprising
in these moments. After one session I
found myself
leaning forward in my chair lost in this
film. If stories about prison life
interest you
then Starred Up is a film you cannot miss.
The accents are fast and rough so
clicking on those subtitles may not be a
bad
idea. Even people who love thick
drama will not want to pass up a
riveting story
and sharp performances. Keep those
suggestions coming my friends because
this
was dead on the money.
