Brubaker
by Stuart Rosenberg, Bob Rafelson
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Keith, Jane Alexander, Murray Hamilton, Robert Redford, Yaphet KottoDirector: Bob Rafelson, Stuart Rosenberg
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 130 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-05-20
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Brubaker
Movie Review: An earnest work
Summary: 3 Stars
I have always had a soft spot for the 1980 film "Brubaker." This earnest work, detailing horrible conditions in a Southern prison, stars Robert Redford in fine superstar form as liberal warden Henry Brubaker attempting to reform the conditions of a penal system suffering from decades of neglect. "Brubaker," in many ways, is the end of a glorious 1970's era of Redford's career. He would soon become a director ("Ordinary People" in 1980), and would work only sporadically as an actor for the next 10 years, evolving into the older roles we see today.
Redford's character mysteriously arrives on the scene as a quiet inmate, witnessing a variety of shocking injustices including torture, rape, maggot-infested food and murder. After 30 minutes of grime (which evidently takes place over several days), he steps forward, revealing himself to be the new prison warden.
Based on an actual case which took place in Arkansas during the 1960s, "Brubaker," to its discredit, takes quiet a few liberties for dramatic effect. I have always wondered how Redford's character escaped unscathed during his brief inmate tenure. And when he finally makes his proclamation, he takes a huge risk by walking into the warden's office adorned in nothing more than soiled prisoner scrubs. This is not the way it happened, and while this device allows the viewer to witness primitive prison conditions first-hand, it creates an uneven film.
Brubaker has his work cut out for him. He essentially rolls up his sleeves, hires a new doctor, plants crops and has fresh food available for the inmates. This is all well and good until he must make an appearance at a prison board meeting (at the local Hilton) and answer the inevitable questions as to why improvements are even necessary. With selfish abandon, he alienates the board and decides to go to war against their corruption.
"Brubaker" boasts one of the finest supporting casts you are likely ever going to see. Yaphet Kotto, David Keith, Murray Hamilton, Jane Alexander, Tim McIntire, Matt Clark, Everett McGill, M. Emmet Walsh, Albert Salmi, Val Avery, Richard Ward (in his final role) and with an early performance by a singing Morgan Freeman to boot! Such expert casting raises the level of "Brubaker" several notches, and Kotto, as cynical inmate trustee Richard 'Dickie' Coombes, just about steals the film. Interestingly, he sees the futility of Brubaker's quest. He announces to him at one point, "You're going to get people killed!"
Stuart Rosenberg directed this film, and a token glance at his resume reveals the fine prison drama "Cool Hand Luke" in 1967. Reportedly Bob Rafelson ('Five Easy Pieces") was originally on board, and one wonders what his vision might have been. Abrupt changes in directors never help a production, and "Brubaker" suffers from an overall lack of character development. Rarely is there a scene of personal contemplation. We know very little about Brubaker's life, with the exception that he eats TV dinners and falls asleep on the couch. Redford's star persona is supposed to fill in the gaps, but it weakens the film's quality.
By the conclusion, Brubaker has discovered some unmarked prisoner graves, though his source is murdered in a very sad scene. Politicians wish this secret to be kept quiet, giving Brubaker negotiating power to receive the funds necessary to fulfill his reformation. His refusal to compromise seems short-sighted and egotistical. Men get killed, he gets rightfully fired, and by film's end the prison is returning to traditional ways.
There is really no way to have a happy ending for this story, though less formula would have better served its message. I couldn't help but recall the brilliant 1995 film "Dead Man Walking." It too was a cry for prisoner rights, but told from the viewpoint of multi-dimensional characters with disturbing flaws and anguish. "Brubaker" has the same message, 15 years before, though with contrivances injected to enhance traditional Hollywood flow.
Summary of Brubaker
Through solid dramatic impact and global exposure on cable TV, Brubaker gradually joined the ranks of all-time best prison movies. While preparing to direct Ordinary People, Robert Redford brought his considerable star power to bear on his title role as a prison reform warden, in an unnamed Southern state, who poses as an inmate to expose corruption, violence, and administrative abuse in Wakefield, a prison farm where trustee inmates are armed and encouraged to shoot at would-be escapees. Originally developed for director Bob Rafelson and ultimately filmed by Stuart Rosenberg, this rugged exercise in social commentary has undeniable power, even if some its characters--including Redford's--seem more like stick-figure ethicists than real human beings. It's also got a dynamite supporting cast including Yaphet Kotto, Jane Alexander, and Morgan Freeman in one of his earliest films. Bolstered by his Oscar-winning directorial debut, Redford didn't star in another film until The Natural ended his four-year hiatus. --Jeff ShannonRobert Redford stars in this potent drama based on the real life story of Tom Murton, the prison superintendent who rocked Arkansas politics when he exposed scandalous abuses and murders in a state prison. Posing as a new prisoner, Brubaker discovers vast corruption in a state penitentiary before revealing himself to be the new warden. His personal crusade to bring reform puts him in grave danger, especially when he insists on exposing a series of secret murders that took place years earlier. Powerful and disturbing, Brubaker won acclaim for its gritty realism and Oscar nominated screenplay.
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