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Brubaker

R Released Jun 20, 1980 2h 12m Drama List
75% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 73% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings
Posing as an inmate at a small Arkansas prison, the new warden of the penitentiary, Henry Brubaker (Robert Redford), witnesses firsthand the corruption and abuse inflicted upon the prisoners by the staff. After revealing his true identity, Brubaker brings much-needed reform to the prison with the help of supporters Dickie Coombes (Yaphet Kotto) and Lillian Gray (Jane Alexander). Yet when the benefactors of the old corrupt system are threatened by the changes, Brubaker's battles really begin. Read More Read Less
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Critics Reviews

View All (24) Critics Reviews
Linda Deutsch Associated Press Brubaker is a grim, often powerful prison movie based on the true story of convict torture and mass murder in a Southern penitentiary. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Michael Blowen Boston Globe Brubaker is a dramatic movie with a social conscience and a welcome change from the primarily fluffy-headed film fare of the summer of 1980. Apr 28, 2018 Full Review Gary Arnold Washington Post ... a vivid, entertaining and shamelessly manipulative "crusading" melodrama about the impact of a reform warden on a barbarous penal institution. Oct 17, 2017 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews It's interesting to note that Brubaker, before it devotes itself entirely to the protagonist's exploits, boasts a first act revolving around the happenings within the central penitentiary... Rated: 2/4 Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Matt Brunson Creative Loafing The first half-hour is powerful stuff, but after Brubaker reveals his true identity, the movie begins to falter, with the one-dimensional nature of the characters (particularly the warden himself) eventually stripping the story of any dramatic charge. Rated: 2.5/4 Jun 9, 2013 Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis I never felt that I was wasting my time watching 'Brubaker,' only that it could have been a more dramatic and taut prison movie-which is odd, because it's directed by Stuart Rosenberg ('Cool Hand Luke'). Rated: 6/10 May 15, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Superb, man against the system film that is one of Redford’s best. Brings up important issues regarding how to treat prisoners as wards of the state. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/27/24 Full Review Steve D Robert Redford's great performance can't save the over the top script. The true story was bad enough. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/12/23 Full Review Shioka O Better watch with Cool Hand Luke. This could be better, still a good film. Redford maybe too nice for this, but I liked he undercover and being an observer in the beginning. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/05/22 Full Review Audience Member A brilliant film on every level. Keen insight into the prison system, one man’s personal integrity…and perhaps integrity gone awry. A classic ‘man against the system’ film. Think of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” with grit and edge. One of Redford’s very best. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/06/23 Full Review deke p 1989. ROBERT REDFORD, male model, miscast as crusading warden investigating corrupt Southern prison. Actually 'based on a true' warden Brubaker. Yaphet Kotto stared also, as prisoner. Melodrama. Note to sef: want to watch the first part, agin. Never saw before on The Movie Channel, 2.15.22. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review scott m One of my favorite movies about prison life. It's actually based on a true story about a prison in the 1960's. Redford is excellent as warden bent against finding corruption. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Brubaker

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Brubaker

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Movie Info

Synopsis Posing as an inmate at a small Arkansas prison, the new warden of the penitentiary, Henry Brubaker (Robert Redford), witnesses firsthand the corruption and abuse inflicted upon the prisoners by the staff. After revealing his true identity, Brubaker brings much-needed reform to the prison with the help of supporters Dickie Coombes (Yaphet Kotto) and Lillian Gray (Jane Alexander). Yet when the benefactors of the old corrupt system are threatened by the changes, Brubaker's battles really begin.
Director
Stuart Rosenberg
Producer
Ron Silverman
Screenwriter
W.D. Richter
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 20, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2014
Runtime
2h 12m
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