I think of the stereotypical views that the UK public hold about prisons. Great storyline - however unrealistic it may be but there are some startling realities between the films prison setting and some young offenders institutions in the UK. For example- Feltham and the "gladiator wars" in the 90s where the screws would put bets on which inmate would win a fight after padding them up together. There is a screw like the the main bad one in offender and a main bully like English frank in every jail. Maybe they go on a bit more subtle in reality but the hanging scene, the corruption, violence and drug dealing is all very real. Revenge to that extent is real. The probation officer storyline is a bit far fetched but hey it's a film n think english frank gives a gritty, edgy performance as a wannabe badman. I think the director captures the audience and keeps it watching regardless of how unreal the storyline gets. It's a sad ending and those kinds of situations to happen. Ppl go in on short sentences and end up dying or getting life's off. That's a big reality what some ppl find hard to grasp. The victim becomes the victor. The good man becomes the bad man like a flick of a switch !! Great film. Emphasis on the word film and I like English frank's acting he's a bad man yet funny n "what can they do to a man like me- NOTHING"!! Lol.
