With America going through an understandable flag-waving frenzy, this couldn't have come along at a better time - if morale boosting is what you want.

A grizzled Robert Redford - fresh from taking on corrupt government in Spy Game - is the three-star general who has seen action in Vietnam, the Gulf and Bosnia.

However, he finds himself court-martialed for disobeying orders which led to the loss of lives and sent to serve his time at the notorious Castle.

In charge of the maximum high security prison is Colonel Winter (Sopranos star James Gandolfini), a hard-nosed disciplinarian who will brook no opposition.

A weary Redford has it in his mind to keep his head down, serve his time and get out to enjoy the last few years of his life.

However, the prison's mix of army regulars gone-off-the-rails see him as leadership material and soon he is suffering a battle of wills with the hardline Winter.

The prison chief's resentment is soon made plain with Redford forced to haul around stones to build a wall for the sadistic Winter.

But it doesn't stop there - it's not long before revolt is in the air, and there's only one man for the job of taking on the bullying Winter the American way.

The renegade prisoners rally to Redford, and what was once a battle of wills becomes a battle to the death.

Director Rod Lurie was the man behind The Contender, a potentially superb political thriller which badly let itself down with a tacked-on PC ending.

Here he is fortunate to have a star like Redford, who carefully fleshes out the character of the mythical commander.

However, the plot is too muddled to convince and, although Gandolfini tries to make Winter a well-rounded creation, it's an under-written part. The Shawshank Redemption it ain't.