Bruton escapes from prison movie cliches

Like a player in a Monopoly game, the title character of Bruton earns a “get out of jail free” card, but only after spending more than 10 years in prison. His freedom comes by taking the time to reassess and realize that he needs a different approach to life. Inspired by the real-life Bryan Bruton, writer-director Vincent Grashaw breaks the story into two basic pieces. First: how a hustler can make prison work for him.  And second: how the hustler needs to find a better way and reconnect with the most important element in his life, his daughter. Using narration and fast clips for action, Grashaw clarifies how a low-tier criminal like Bruton uses wiles not just to get by, but to thrive in dangerous prison society. A semi documentary style delivers believable reality. While not painting Bruton as an innocent, the script shows varying levels of injustice as both staff correctional officers and inmates contribute to corruption. It comes to a head after a scheme to flee prison, with the film advancing to a different level as Bruton retreats into his mind for mediation and a different form of escape.  This leads to observations that give the film its rewarding emotional core. Actors enhance the scope, headed by Theo Rossi as Bruton.  With scowls turning to smiles, Rossi switches easily from menace to charm, maintaining his Sons of Anarchy and Emily the Criminal image as a smart and shady opportunist, an anti-hero more than role model. Strong support comes from Tammy Blanchard, dropping her impressive musical background to play a woman ready to risk her career for love. Others like Kelvin Hodge and Aron Quick Nelson play their parts so naturally they seem to come right out of a prison block. Solid work across the board lets Bruton escape the traps of standard prison films.