Develiker terrible... so disappointed.

Btexxamar I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

superdad25 Absolutely loved this film... Gritty, violent and intense, but very deep and sad at the same time. I'm just blown away.

Jason Ivey I came to this movie looking for other work the actor in Homeland, Rupert Friend, had done. The movie was violent and language was a very hardcore, (haven't heard the use of the C word that frequent in as far back as I can remember, and it wasn't used sparingly! It wasn't that unexpected based on the trailer though. It was well done, the end of the movie was touching, and with that I feel it achieved what it set out to do, but for me a lot of the sub plots, including Rupert Friends plot, went without conclusion, or explanation and ultimately felt like filler more so then pivotal to the main story line. I am certainly glad that I had the subtitles turned on when I watched the movie, for I am not up on all the British slang that goes on, and wouldn't have understood a small section of the dialogue.Good gritty British prison drama overall.

lasttimeisaw A UK prison drama directed by David Mackenzie (YOUNG ADAM 2003, 7/10 and ASYLUM 2005, 6/10), which has instantly leapfrogged Jack O' Connell to the most promising young actor echelon, who would win BAFTA Rising Star Award later for Angelina Jolie's UNBROKEN (2014), if his demonic performance in James Watkins' EDEN LAKE (2008, 8/10) has evaded you, you should definitely give it a try! STARRED UP is a term means putting a teenager offender to adult prison due to his violent nature, and the film is exclusively shot inside a UK prison and defies any flashbacks to elaborate on the history of main characters. Our protagonist is a 19-year-old boy Eric Love (O'Connell), we follow him being transferred to an adult prison where later we will be informed also resides his father Neville (Mendelssohn) who is serving life-sentence, which forcibly proposes a motive for Eric's unjustifiably savage conduct - he is just a boy looking for his absent father. One might suspect Mackenzie has applied a poetic license to depict a more relent prison environment to give Eric a full gamut of experience before prison officers put their revenge into action in the climate, otherwise, considering how corrupted the system is represented, one doubts Eric can ever survive retribution from the very place.The film charges an engaging pace and a fast editing scheme to offset its claustrophobic setting, Eric is aggressive, bull-headed and seethes with danger and wherever he goes, we become wary about the safety of those who are around, especially the awfully nice jailer Selfy (McDonnell), there are even female guards in a male's prison in UK, what a fair example of equity! The usual disputes among inmates are inferiorly grim compared with the authorities' viciousness under the surface, as Eric's opponents are far less competent to be life-threatening to him. Meanwhile a subplot is about Oliver Baumer (Friend), a voluntary inmate counsellor who organises group sessions for those who have severe violent tendency, prominently save Eric, the rest is all black. Oliver is designed as a ray of sunshine but what is equally intriguing is his back-story, a misfit in the society needs his patients more than they need him. Also the scenario reminiscent of Jacques Audiard's universally praised A PROPHET (2009, 9/10), but STARRED UP's main spotlight is always on the blood bond, a father's redemption to protect his own while the former is a masterful dissection of prison philosophy. O'Connell shines in his career-defining performance, impressively in his physical form and not shies away from nudity scenes and violence, which brings highly realistic impact on screen, Eric's transformation is predictable but he never overdraws the creditability during the process. Australian thespian Ben Mendelsohn, whose inherent criminal flair is put into great use, as Eric's equally hot-tempered father (something definitely runs in the genes), it is a showboating role, and he is perfect in it. Friend, on the contrary, is actually the more complicated character, but he remains unbelievably humble all the way through. It is rewarding to see Mackenzie bring us such a powerful genre cocktail of suspense, drama and affection, only if the aftertaste can be less cloying when things turn out exactly what viewers can possibly imagine, with a feel-good smugness on its tail.

CrimsyMovieRatings I "met" the actor watching quite good British TV series - Skins. The second time I faced him in the psychological thriller Eden Lake. Then there was the recent Unbroken movie directed by Angelina Jolie. And judging by these films (and the series) I am very happy how his acting career "proceeds".The movie is about Eric Love (O'Connell) - 19-year-old, incredibly cruel, violent and straightforward teenager. Starring up into the new jail, plunging into a new environment, Eric surprise us with his actions and decisions. From the moment of his arrival he causes only trouble and nuisance as to prison guards and so to prisoners.Neville Love (Ben Mendelsohn) adds fuel to the fire - father of Eric whom he had not seen 5 years. Neville, at first glance, seems to be even more "broken" than his son and his attempts to help Eric at first seem strange and suspicious.Another highlight of the film, in addition to the excellent acting and the story is the absence of music as such. This feature makes the film even more clear and straightforward.The film left a lasting impression because of it's honesty and strong emotional message. Honest and brutal, Starred Up is not aimed at a wide audience, it is very secret and intimate way talks about human relationships.The final scenes are striking, incredibly strong and comprehensive final.8/10.