Inside

I did not expect too much when I saw the trailer to this film, but the fact that I have experience with the prisons system in Victoria, I was keen to see it for curiosity sake. I was pleasantly surprised by how good this film actually was. Very good in Fact. The Writer director has found much authenticity in this story that at first I wondered if he had once been in custody. Turns out he had family members who had, and his research over several years was spot on. This is not one of those melodramatic Hollywood crp prisons dramas with cliched stereotypes. This is gritty, real, and it took me back to my days when I was dealing with the Shepards and Murfett of this world. My only criticism I can offer, is that anyone convicted of an offence against a Child or female would already be in protection. Yet Mark Shepard was in mainstream. This would never happen. Kudos to the filmmakers for making an excellent Australian film and unearthing some new future stars in Vincent Miller and young Raif Weaver. (who is a Brad Renfro clone by the way). All in all a very good, well made film.

I say Guy Pearce my favourite actor since i saw him in my pretty much favourite film The Proposition (2005) nearly 20 years ago but everyone is good in this Aussie prison flick. Maybe because i'm Australian but most of our films doesn't seen like acting more like real life. Newcomer Vincent Miller is outstanding for someone so young playing a kid of 18 sent from juvenile to adults prison at 18. Pearce as a old lag kind of becomes a Father figure after he is rejected by his real son while on parole. And Cosmo Jarvis plays a twisted character while doing a good Aussie accent for a non local. Highly recommended if you want more than entertainment. Oh for Fantales days again.

Guy Pearce could be in the worst film imaginable and still put in one of the best performances of the human condition.

Inside is truly something to go and watch, for the emotional depth and an experience that stays with you way after you left the theatre.

The human spirit, the craft and the story truly makes this a movie that will do so well in the future and may become a sleeper hit.

I hope there is a much wider release for this film as it is gripping, emotionally draining and a film I would recommend someone to watch at least once.

It was also good to see some familiar faces in Tammy Macintosh, Guy Pearce and Chloe Hayden.

Realistic with a powerful message - that Australia, and the world needs to understand. It makes me realise that inside a lot of prisoners is a whole history of trauma, hurt and anger, and the despair in not knowing how to get out of it. Hurt people, hurt people.

The jail and routines in the film is apparently quite realistic, according to friends that have been in jail. The acting is fantastic. Thank you for this film. I really want more of these films to be made so the public won't stigmatise people in jails.

The trailer made this seem a pretty compelling viewing, but it is rather dull and though the plot is not quite predictable, it doesn't wander too far from where you expect it might go. The performances of the three leads are first rate and the supporting cast is strong. I suspect it's a reasonable snapshot of contemporary prison life and the difficulties of both the inmates and the impact of institutionalisation. The unspoken narrative on the frailties of the human condition are well captured too. Perhaps I'm being a little harsh as a critic... I think I went into it expecting too much and found myself let down.