Starred Up

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Starred Up is available in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla, and in the UK on Channel 4 Plus right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 1,022 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Jack O'Connell — one of the stronger performances out there right now. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Kanopy.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Starred Up is worth clearing space for. Starred Up trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. 19-year-old Eric, arrogant and ultra-violent, is prematurely transferred to the same adult prison facility as his estranged father. As his explosive temper quickly finds him enemies in both prison authorities and fellow inmates — and his already volatile relationship with his father is pushed past breaking point — Eric is approached by a volunteer psychotherapist, who runs an anger management group for prisoners. Torn between gang politics, prison corruption, and a glimmer of something better, Eric finds himself in a fight for his own life, unsure if his own father is there to protect him or join in punishing him. Jack O'Connell and Ben Mendelsohn lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2014. The performances in Starred Up do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Starred Up is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Jack O'Connell anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.