Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

Even among individuals unfortunate enough to enter US prison system, some are more fortunate than others. One of them is the protagonist of Lock Up, 1989 action drama directed by John Flynn. Sylvester Stallone plays Frank Leone, talented car mechanic who made two major mistakes in life. First one was to beat up some thugs that had terrorised his friend and mentor and the second one was to escape the prison in order to attend his funeral. Years have passed but Frank apparently learned his lesson, became model prisoner and is now serving last months of his sentence in minimum security prison which grants him all kinds of privileges, including furloughs during which he is in the company of his girlfriend Melissa (played by Darlanne Fleugel). However, everything changes when he is suddenly transferred to Gateway, notorious maximum security prison. Its warden Drumgoole (played by Donald Sutherland) felt humiliated after Frank’s escape and now, after pulling some strings to bring him back into his custody, wants to settle old scores. He launches campaign of humiliation and torture intended to either mentally break Frank or force him to try escaping again, which would leave him in prison for life. Frank does his best to remain calm and not succumb to provocations, earning respect and friendship of other prisoners that would ultimately help him survive the ordeal.

Lock Up is, for the most part, well-acted and well-directed film. Director John Flynn had rich experience in action genre and also put locations of real life New Jersey State Prison (or Rahway) to good use, with some prisoners and guards acting as extras and bringing some authenticity. Stallone, who at the time enjoyed reputation one of 1980s greatest action stars, plays his role well and also receives help from the diverse cast of character actors. It includes Frank MacRae as an old prisoner, John Amos as tough but fair guard, Sonny Landham as main bully among prisoners and, finally, Tom Sizemore as another prisoner. For Sizemore, who would become Stallone’s lifelong friend, this was the first major role that paved the way for some great roles in next few decades.

However, all those efforts are compromised by weak script by Jeb Stuart, who had previously written some of 1980s action classics. Stuart, who was apparently forced to work in the middle of production, applies almost all prison clichés and even the less perceptive or experienced viewers would easily guess each plot development – which character would die, which character would betray protagonist and which of them would ultimately have change of heart. Otherwise great actor like Donald Sutherland is simply wasted in the one-dimensional role of villain. The script is also terribly manipulative, especially in the beginning, when he tries a little bit too hard to establish Frank as nice human being who is devoted to his girlfriend, helps children at the street and enjoys friendship and respect from prisoners and guards alike. This effect is enhanced by oversentimental and ultimately misplaced music score by Bill Conti. But the film begins to fall apart near the end, with gaping plot holes and utterly unconvincing finale, which suggests that Stuart and production team simply lost all inspiration. Lock Up failed at the box office, was savaged by the critics and received few Razzie nominations, becoming one of the least successful films of Stallone’s career. Stallone himself later agreed with critics and blamed its failure on “lack of maturity”. He apparently learned some lessons and decades later approached the same setting with more success in Escape Plan.

RATING: 4/10 (+)