Haute sécurité

Off the bat, straight away, let's disregard those acting razzie's, unjustly earned. The thing about Lock Up, it's a fresh movie turn for Stallone, in between his bigger films. This one's not written by him, and like me, you'll see why he can act on emotional levels, as a low security prisoner, put away for a minor offence, whose last six months are upgraded to ones of hell, when he's transferred to a s..thole of a prison, run by a vengefully vindictive warden (Sutherland) really good, who's really got one hell of a score to settle with Stallone, which involves his standing of work place. He's not Stallone's only problem, as corruption seems to run high, through the not so through nice prison officers, some of the most merciless you'll see, as their treatment of Stallone, almost got to be too much. There are some tender, and thankfully gentler moments, as in Stallone's girlfriend (Fluegel, perfect) who really becomes a beacon of shining light, near the end, in that intimate visit, among the hell Stallone,has endured. The uncompromising officer make the ones in Chained Heat look tame. The other nicer moments, ones I really liked, were Stallone and score of buddies hanging out in the auto repair shed, really bonding, where convict, Sizemore's admittance, becomes quite a twist or a bad aftertaste. Sutherland's intention of course, is to break Stallone, and keep him there for an indefinite period. I really liked John (Good Times) Amos as one of the better, more humane, yet still stout headed guards, and his presence in this film, is a much welcomed grace. This is not your typical shoot em' up Stallone film, and there are some Rocky moments int his, but it does make a change of pace with an interesting structured story and really good performances from really capable actors, Sutherland's, you won't forget easy. Great cover poster and end credit song, make for great night, near two hour viewing. Go Sly.

Great… just look at the cast who director John Flynn gets us locked up with. Sylvester Stallone plays the ideal prisoner - a rock, Tom Sizemore an edgy inmate, Larry Romano the naïve kid, Frank McRae the friendly man mountain, Sonny Landham dominates with a snake-like turn, John Amos a hardened prison officer captain and finally Donald Sutherland looking down on them as the menacing prison warden using his inmates like chess pieces "That's no game man. It's a lesson". You'll love to hate him, as Sutherland is picture-perfect in his delivery. The cast are outstanding, as the performances of all simply engage. Also making the cut is Darlanne Fluegal, William Allen Young, Jordan Lund and Danny Trejo makes a brief appearance here or there. The story follows that of Frank Leone having only 6 months of his sentence to serve, but then one night he's whisked away and he finds himself in a high security penitentiary with a warden Drumgoole (who he shares a past with) that tends to break his spirit within that time by using brutality, intimidation and humiliation. However despite Drumgoole's grudge to see Leone's spirit smothered, he'll find out it won't come too easy. Habitual structure, but quite a tense, grim and barbaric prison-yard story with director Flynn's durably taut handling rising above the predictability. It does seem to move from one sadistic act to another (as the warden tries about anything to break his man), but the plot installs some genuine companionship's between the characters and provides a mind-set of how these inmates truly get through the days so to keep from sinking in to insanity. Unpleasant, but also affecting. Bill Conti strings together an effective music score.

"You won't break me."

The mechanic Frank Leone (Sylvester Stallone) is a model inmate in a low security prison and has only six months to serve. He intends to spend the rest of his life working in his garage and with his beloved girlfriend Melissa (Darlanne Fluegel). Out of the blue, Leone is brutally transferred during the night to the maximum security Gateway Prison without any explanation. Soon he learns that Warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland) is the responsible for his transference.

Leone had been sentenced to Treadmore Prison after beating the punks that hit his mentor and friend that taught him his profession of auto mechanic. When his mentor was dying, he asked permission to Drumgoole to go to visit his friend but the request was denied. Leone fled from Treadmore and his lawyer went to the press to expose Drumgoole's behavior. The result was Leone in a minimum security prison and Drumgoole sent to Gateway. Now the warden is seeking revenge and will do anything to keep Leone behind bars.

"Lock up" is an entertaining prison drama full of action with Sylvester Stallone after the successful Rambo trilogy. The story is flawed and shallow, and the viewer shall not think how a prisoner is transferred the way Frank Leone is and his lawyer simply does not exist in the story. The characters are not well developed and there is no explanation for the sadistic behavior of the prison guards. However this type of movie is not to think and entertains. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Condenação Brutal" ("Brutal Conviction")

This is probably Sylvester Stallone's best performance that wasn't in Copland or a Rocky / Rambo film.

While the muscle dudes of the 80s did a lot of character-free action, this one is an action film with some character and drama.

I was surprised that the average rating was only 5.8. I would rank it among the best action films of Stallone's resume and also among the best action films of the 80s.

The supporting performances are quite good all around. Donald Sutherland is solid as always, and you get easily the best performance of Sonny Landham's career and Tom Sizemore showing why he became a bigger star about 5 years down the road.

This is the only big movie where Larry Romano got more than a few lines and he does a good job as "First Base." I was a little surprised he didn't go much further and generally only appeared in the future when the casting director needed someone to "look and sound Italian." I recommend this one even if you aren't a big Stallone fan. If any lesser known film will change your mind about him, it's probably either Copland or this one.

Lock Up (1989) is underrated Stallone Action prison Drama film. I would say this film is Rocky and Rambo two person's in one. When prison guards are Pushing Frank Leone in a Gateway maximum security prison, his team spirit is unbroken. When he was fighting Chink with the hat on it he definitely reminds me on Rocky. When warden Drumgoole was pushing him to far, he remind me on Sheriff Teasle from First Blood (1982) I love this film and is definitely my third best Stallone favorite film from the 8o's. After this movie action stars copied this film and make a prison action Drama film. Like Death Warrant (1990), Bloodfist III: Forced To Fight (1992) and Hard Justice (1995) they copied this film, just Death Warrant is different prison film with my all time favorite action star Jean-Claude Van Damme. I love Lock Up to death and I love Cobra and Tango & Cash (1989).

Watching it last night this movie become my favorite best action movies. I would put it right between Rocky and Rambo movies. Stallone is in prison and he keeps fighting for his life by a corrupt warden. Warden tried to break Stallone but he couldn't. Lock Up is a very underrated action prison drama that has a heart and I love it to death. He was just pushed to hard over the edge and he fought to stand alone in this prison action movie. Lock Up is similar to Victory another underrated films from the 80's Stallone also played alongside Michael Caine. Lock Up is fight for survival in this movie and I simply loved it I don't care what anyone else is saying about this underrated prison drama style film. Lock Up is my 3d best movie and I replaced it with Assassins instead. Also this movie become a copycat and rip off from Death Warrant that Van Damme played and Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight with Don The Dragon Wilson another action movie. Just those are all different movies with different story's just Bloodfist III does copy a little Lock Up only the main character does not come out from prison and uses his martial arts and fists to defend him self pretty good action prison movie.

RAPE THIS!!!!!!! My favorite Frank Leone quote.

Lock Up is a 1989 American prison action film directed by John Flynn. The film stars Sylvester Stallone and Donald Sutherland. The film was released in the United States on August 4, 1989.

With only 6 months left of his prison sentence inmate Frank Leone is transferred from minimum security to maximum security by a vindictive warden.

Sylvester Stallone as inmate Frank Leone did a wonderful job, he acted like he was Rambo and Rocky two in one. Donald Sutherland as Warden Drumgoole did a wonderful job as sadistic evil villain was really FANTASTIC. Darlanne Fluegel as Melissa Frank's girlfriend did a wonderful job. Frank McRae as Eclipse did awesome job as Frank's friend. Tom Sizemore as Dallas also did an Excellent job. John Amos as Captain Meissner captain of the prison guards was excellent his character was well written. Director John Flynn was also awesome and amazing he directed this prison flick and he directed actioner film with Steven Seagal two years later Out for Justice (1991).

I love the main theme form Bill Conti he also wrote theme for Rocky and The Karate Kid (1984) which I love those films. I also love the football game in this film and Eclipse was helping to defeat Chink and his gang.

Lock Up did poorly at the American box office, making $22,099,847 on a budget of $24 million

10/10 Grade: A Studio: Carolco Pictures Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Sylvester Stallone,Donald Sutherland,John Amos, Darlanne Fluegel, Frank McRae and Sonny Landham Director: John Flynn Producers: Charles Gordon,Lawrence Gordon Writers: Richard Smith,Jeb Stuart and Henry Rosenbaum Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 49 Mins. Released: August 4, 1989. Budget: $24.000.000 Box Office: $22.099.847