Tyler's post yesterday about Paris Hilton potentially going to jail for being an idiot got me thinking of prison movies. So, in honor of Friday List Day below is a list of Pico's top 7 prison films and why they rock. Now the only criteria used here is that the bulk of the movie revolves around prison. Obviously there are great prison scenes (48 Hours for example), but most of the movie has to be in a prison.
1) Cool Hand Luke - "Hell, he's a natural-born world-shaker."
This is the epitome of chain-gang prison flicks. Luke is the quintessential anti-hero who resists authority and attempts to stick it to The Establishment. Plus, homeboy eats 50 eggs. 
2) Shawshank Redemption - "Hope can drive a man insane"
This dude Andy is incarcerated for murdering his adulterous wife (who clearly had it coming) and teaches the rest of the fellas a lesson in hope. That sounds simple and hokey but if you've seen it you know it's not, it's quite beautiful. If you haven't seen it then there is something wrong with you (you might be a communist, get that checked out).
3) Bridge on the River Kwai - "I'd say the odds against a successful escape are about 100 to one. But may I add another word, Colonel? The odds against survival in this camp are even worse."
My dad watches this on cable every time it comes on, and for that I used to make fun of him. A few years ago I actually sat and watched it with him and realized I'm an idiot. It's about a POW camp with British prisoners in WWII who are ordered to build a bridge to help the enemy. This won Best Picture in 1958 and has a stellar cast featuring Alec Guiness and William Holden. Prisoners + War Movie + Obi Won = Awesome!
4) Midnight Express - "Well it's not a train. It's a prison word for... escape. But it doesn't stop around here"
This is the true story of a man named Billy Hayes who is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and is thrown in Turkish Prison (so that pretty much makes it the scariest movie ever). He gets 30 years and I think it goes without saying that's just not gonna cut it. Apparently the movie was criticized for portraying the Turks to harshly or something, but I don't care if they all carried daisies around and sang kumbaya . . . . IT'S A TURKISH PRISON. Also noteworthy, Randy Quaid brings it in this movie.
5) The Great Escape - "I mean this cat is like Charles Bronson in the 'Great Escape', he's digging tunnels" Tarantino in Reservoir Dogs
A group of allied POWs led by Steve McQueen break out of an "escape-proof" Nazi camp. And when I say a group I mean like hundreds of them. This is based on a true story which makes it even more great because who doesn't like to stick it to Nazi's??
6) In The Name of The Father - "I'm a free man, and I'm going out the front door. "
Based on a true story Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day Lewis) is falsely implicated in an IRA bombing of a pub and sent to prison. If that doesn't just suck a big one, his dad is imprisoned with him. He spends 15 years in there attempting to clear their name.
7) Escape From Alcatraz - "Welcome to Alcatraz."
And . . . another true story about Frank Morris who attempts to escape from . . . well Alcatraz. The reasons why this movie is great are simple. 1. Clint Eastwood 2. It's about Alcatraz. 3. Clint Eastwood
Honorable Mentions:
Con-Air
The Rock
Victory
Aliens3
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