This 1980 prison drama exposed Arkansas' almost medieval criminal justice system. Stuart Rosenberg's stark direction is fraught with tension and inhumanity, rendering a dark, bleak view of prison life. The film merges the realism of a documentary like Scared Straight with the social commentary of Cool Hand Luke. When Robert Redford commandeers the warden position and attempts to uncover the grossly dehumanized prison protocol, Brubaker becomes an in-depth look at the politics of the penal system. Creeping inside the grimy corridors of a penitentiary, Rosenberg focuses on the dynamics, hierarchy, and uncomfortable balance of power that motivates prisons. With an eclectic supporting cast including Morgan Freeman, M. Emmet Walsh, and Wilford Brimley, the film is as authentic as it is gritty.