Product Details

• Actors: Robert Redford, Yaphet Kotto, Morgan Freeman, Jane Alexander, Murray Hamilton
• Directors: Stuart Rosenberg
• Writers: Arthur A. Ross, Joe Hyams, Thomas O. Murton, W.D. Richter
• Producers: Gordon A. Webb, Ron Silverman, Ted Mann
• Format: Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: May 11, 2004
• Run Time: 132 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300247228
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,481 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Through solid dramatic impact and global exposure on cable TV, Brubaker gradually joined the ranks of all-time best prison movies. While preparing to direct Ordinary People, Robert Redford brought his considerable star power to bear on his title role as a prison reform warden, in an unnamed Southern state, who poses as an inmate to expose corruption, violence, and administrative abuse in Wakefield, a prison farm where trustee inmates are armed and encouraged to shoot at would-be escapees. Originally developed for director Bob Rafelson and ultimately filmed by Stuart Rosenberg, this rugged exercise in social commentary has undeniable power, even if some its characters--including Redford's--seem more like stick-figure ethicists than real human beings. It's also got a dynamite supporting cast including Yaphet Kotto, Jane Alexander, and Morgan Freeman in one of his earliest films. Bolstered by his Oscar-winning directorial debut, Redford didn't star in another film until The Natural ended his four-year hiatus. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not your average prison movie...., March 16, 2003

By 

Kyle Tolle (Phoenix, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brubaker (DVD)

Brubaker is based on a true story and tells of the events of one man's attempts to reform a prison system mired in corruption, brutality, and a lack of order to any general degree.

Henry Brubaker, as stated in the movie, gained his past experience in corrections working in military prison systems. Brubaker hatches the ingenious plan to insert himself into the prison population at Wakefield Penitentiary as an inmate to experience first hand all the problems inside the facility. What he uncovers is nothing less than barbaric punishment methods, no structured management of inmates, lack of medical care, and the penitentiary itself in advance stages of disrepair.

Henry Brubaker, after revealing his status as the new warden and assuming his duties, goes on to discover that there are no state hired corrections officers on the staff. Inmate trustees, armed with weapons, are given the responsibility of manning watch towers, supervising work crews, and keeping the peace inside of the prison. Furthermore, prisoners are farmed out to local businessmen in the community for work with no pay which amounts to slave labor.

Upon deeper investigation into all the activities in and around the prison, Brubaker discovers other illegal activities including theft of prison food supplies and equipment, inmates being charged fees for almost non-existent medical care, and the revelation that there are prisoners buried on the prison property that were the victims of murder by fellow inmates.

Brubaker confronts the state prison board with these problems only to find out that the prison board is not only aware of these incidents, they think the system should reamin unchanged because it has always been this way and should remain so. You can sense their unhappiness with Brubaker as the new warden who wants to come in and upset their system rather than tow the line.

Henry Brubaker is portrayed as a man of honesty, integrity, and professionalism and in defying the prison board's message to leave well enough alone, he launches his own campaign to reform the prison and correct the wrongs he has inherited as the new warden. Unfortunately, with the power of the prison board and the governor of the state against him, he is eventually removed as the warden and fired.

In the final outcome, many inmates saw the necessity of the changes attempted by Brubaker and were dismayed at seeing him removed and the new warden not making proper progress to reform the prison. This prompted many inmates to file lawsuits against the state for inhumane prison conditions resulting in the governor not being re-elected the following year.

This movie is a fine drama with a very good plot, great acting, and poignant conclusion. I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brubaker - A super movie, December 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Brubaker [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I've seen this movie at least 5 times and every time I seem to enjoy it more and more. Robert Redford is superb as warden Brubaker, a new warden sent in undercover to see all the corruption that has been going on at Wakefield Prison. Yaphet Kotto does a great acting job in this as well, and a very young David Keith (An Officer and a Gentleman fame)has a bit part. I certainly recommend this movie. I can't wait until it arrives on the DVD format

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gritty, even unnerving, but an excellent film, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Brubaker [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It is hard to watch Brubaker. The atmosphere in the prison is violent and crude, and the outlook is hopeless. Enter Robert Redford/Henry Brubaker as a man attempting to create an institution that punishes justly and retains humanity, a place of reform rather than one where murder, riot, and mayhem are the norm. Horrible things go on in this prison, and Brubaker combats the institutionalized system in the prison as well as the attitudes of the governing individuals. Redford does his usual great job as an ordinary man caught up in unusual circumstances, trying to make a difference and being prevented from this goal by those who want and benefit from a status quo. Lots of tragedy, lots of failure, this film is the story of an attempt that was defeated, not because the heroic effort was not up to the task or wavered, but because politics and politicians have to win. The film itself opens up a question, also, that may not be answerable -- where is the line drawn between compassion and just punishment when the criminals are incomprehensively violent.