Freeze Frame: A Snapshot Look at December Movies
By Lisa Collins, Hollywood.com Staff
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Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Hunger
Genre: Period, Biopic, Political, Drama
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham
Scoop: Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, 1981. The infamous H-Blocks is where Irish republican prisoners are on the Blanket and No-Wash protest. It is a living hell for both prisoner and prison officer as the H-Block leader, Bobby Sands (Fassbender), pursues various tactics to help his fellow republicans re-establish their political status. In order to create real change, Bobby leads a 'Hunger Strike' to protest for special category status for republican prisoners.
If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, We Say: Because we already saw the film -- and this isn't a spoiler -- we can tell you, that's not auburn paint adorning the walls behind these starving prisoners in revolt ... it's um, swirled fecal matter. Yes, this harrowing I.R.A. biopic goes there! And if you can stomach the harrowing, eye-popping, excruciating ride, it's more than worth the painful trip.
Snapshot Prediction: 4.5 out of 5 flashes
KEEP READING: Nobel Son