THE BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99

US, 2017, 132 minutes, Colour.
Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, Don Johnson, Udo Kier, Mark Lucas, Dion which she had to.
Directed by S. Craig Zahler.

This is a very tough and violent film, expertly made, strong performances. It was written and directed by S. Craig Zahler, who has made quite some impact with his films, starting with Bone Tomahawk, a revisionist and harsh Western, and the crime drama, Dragged across Concrete.

The latter film starred Vince Vaughn as does this one. He plays a mechanic who loses his job, is a drug mule. He goes back to his drug boss and takes on a number of missions, in one of which he is trapped by the police, the drugs thrown overboard, a shooting confrontation, another drug mule is killed, Bradley arrested and sentenced to 7 years in prison.

The prison is harsh, especially as ruled by the warden, played rather sadistically by Don Johnson.

Bradley and his wife, Jennifer Carpenter, have initial difficulties with her infidelity but have reconciled and she is pregnant. Messages come to the prison, especially in the form of the sinister Placid Man (Udo Keir) making demands on Bradley with threats to the unborn child and his wife.

There are various complications in the prison, the cells of which are disgusting, and a message that he has to get himself to Cell 99. With the help of a guard, he finally reaches this destination only to find the drug bosses there and his being tortured.

Using some ingenuity to minimise the torture, he is able to turn the tables on the bosses – and the Placid Man is killed.

While the film can be admired, it is a very strong experience to watch.

1. The title? A warning about prison films, violence?

2. The title, the film better than the title? Yet audience sensibilities about violence, extreme violence, especially with violence on faces and killing?

3. Vince Vaughn as Bradley, strong presence and performance, age, experience, his work, his marriage and love for his wife, the miscarriage and its effect, his work in the garage after the drug deliveries, his being fired, his stern and smiling appearance, the tattle of the Cross on the back of his head, bought? His reaction to his wife, her confession, smashing the car, the confrontation the house, yet they’re taking a new chance?

4. Going back to drug deliveries, his friend and the setting up of the situation, his wife being pregnant again, needing the money? The drug lord, his guards and thugs, tough, his authority? The episode, the boat, Bradley in charge, asserting his authority, the criminals, the diver, the recovery? The raid, the police, the shootings, Bradley and his decision to shoot, the deaths, his surrender, his arrest?

5. Bradley being interrogated, honest, but not giving any information? Sentenced to prison, the processes of entry, giving up his ring, the demand for stability? The old criminal in prison for a long time, helping him settle, the range of wardens, the cell, not wanting any food, the old man giving him the food? Life in prison? The Garden the issue of wanting him to box? The news of the visit, hope for the doctor, the pregnancy, the sinister visitor, the explanations and threats, the abduction of his wife?

6. The visuals of his wife being abducted, held? Bradley and his decision, morality, murder, saving his wife? His tactics, the brutal bashings of the guards, his transfer?

7. His being transferred, hard and harsh stances, the new warden, his style, the confrontation is, the ridicule, the physical torment? The disgusting cell, the humiliations? The other guards??

8. Bradley inquiring about the target, no information? The realisation that he was being set up? The boss and his associates in jail, very easy life, wanting revenge? The torments for Bradley, the Taser and his being shaken, his being bashed?

9. Bradley and his decisions, tying up the guards, the confrontation, the brutality of his foot stomping on faces and heads?

10. Forcing the boss to phone, getting his wife freed? His associate, the shooting of the sinister man and the abortionist?

11. Bradley, prepared to give up, the arrival of the warden the guards, discussions, negotiations, the phone call in the time? Reassured by his wife?

12. Willing to give himself up, his death?

13. A tough film, strong in its portrait, issues of justice, issues of prisons, issues of violence? And the moral dilemma for Bradley about saving his wife?