4. Hunger (2008)

“I have my belief, and in all its simplicity that is the most powerful thing.”

An unflinching take at defiance and conviction by that other Steve McQueen (Shame) to appear on this list (a director this time), frequent collaborator Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave) stars as convicted IRA activist Bobby Sands, who was elected to Parliament while incarcerated and famously staged a hunger strike to demand the return of his and his fellow inmates’ rights as political prisoners, ultimately dying after 66 days of defiance. Gorgeously lensed, the film won that year’s Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and made a star of Fassbender, who committed to the role by losing 42 lbs. to portray the emaciated Sands.

3. On the Job (2013)

“Madaling pumatay pag may rason, pag may pinanggalingan…Ang pagsaksak ay mahirap, malapitan. Ramdam mo ang pagpasok ng blade sa laman. Kita mo ng malapitan ang sakit sa mata ng biktima mo.”

With the bulk of our national headlines currently revolving around corruption scandals at the highest strata of government, it would seem that the plot of On the Job has become increasingly relevant—if not outright prescient—in a roundabout sort of way. At any rate, Joel Torre’s turn as a prison inmate who moonlights as a hitman-for-hire is chilling as directed by Erik Matti (Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles) in his trademark pull-no-punches style. The supporting cast, including mainstream actors Joey Marquez, Gerald Anderson, and Piolo Pascual, turn in uniformly superb performances.

2. Bronson (2008)

“How would you feel waking up in the morning without a window? My window is a steel grid. I have to put my lips against that steel grid and suck in air…that’s my morning.”

Bronson is about “Britain’s most violent prisoner”, Michael Gordon Peterson, a man known for spending nearly his entire adult life in prison and doing 2,500 push-ups a day to keep in shape. In the lead role, Tom Hardy (Inception) is virtually unrecognizable under director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive), delivering a tour de force with a surprising amount of humor. Famously, the actor disappeared into the role, putting on 42 lbs. of muscle (completely the opposite of what Fassbender did in number 4) and going full method, to the point of wearing the real-life Bronson’s mustache after the latter shaved it off upon being impressed by Hardy’s performance.

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

“I believe in two things: discipline and the Bible. Here you’ll receive both. Put your trust in the Lord; your ass belongs to me. Welcome to Shawshank.”

A Frank Darabont (once again adapting a Stephen King story) film starring Tim Robbins (Dead Man Walking) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby), The Shawshank Redemption is a story about the power of faith and friendship in impossible circumstances, and rightfully recognized as one of the greatest films of all time. But this wasn’t always the case: despite critical acclaim and seven Academy Award nominations upon release, the film was underappreciated by audiences during its theatrical run, only finding its audience through repeated cable TV screenings and positive word of mouth powering home video (yes, that was a thing back in the day) sales and rentals. Trust us, this is a flick well worth checking out.

Got any more to add to this list? Do tell us about them in the comments section!

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