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Lock Up

Lock Up

Action · Crime · Drama · 1989

Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison term for a relatively minor crime. Just before he is paroled, however, Warden Drumgoole takes charge. Drumgoole was assigned to a hell-hole prison after his administration was publicly humiliated by Leone, and has now arrived on the scene to ensure that Leone never sees the light of day.

Movie details

Lock Up

“How much can a man take...before he gives back?”

1989 Action · Crime · Drama 1h 49m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison term for a relatively minor crime. Just before he is paroled, however, Warden Drumgoole takes charge. Drumgoole was assigned to a hell-hole prison after his administration was publicly humiliated by Leone, and has now arrived on the scene to ensure that Leone never sees the light of day.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Lock Up?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Flynn

Written by

Richard Smith · Jeb Stuart · Henry Rosenbaum

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone

Frank Leone

Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland

Warden Drumgoole

John Amos

John Amos

Captain Meissner

Sonny Landham

Sonny Landham

Chink Weber

Tom Sizemore

Tom Sizemore

Dallas

Frank McRae

Frank McRae

Eclipse

Darlanne Fluegel

Darlanne Fluegel

Melissa

Court is in session

Put Lock Up on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Arthouse Gremlin

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.