Gotta feel for this due to the later emergence of 'The Shawshank Redemption' and even 'Prison Break', but 'Escape From Alcatraz' still merits its own props as a great film. I love a good prison escape flick, shown by my love for those two aforementioned productions which do improve on the formula; TSR - one of my favourite films, fwiw - particularly must've took a lot of inspiration from this, I noted a fair few similarities. With the cast, you have an excellent performance from Clint Eastwood. Patrick McGoohan fits his role nicely, while Paul Benjamin and Larry Hankin are the best of the rest. I would've liked more development for the characters of Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau, who felt a little tacked on. Elsewhere, Danny Glover makes his acting debut in a tiny, tiny role. I found the pacing to be very good, sure the story I guess is obvious in terms of its direction but I still got tense and edgy whilst watching the escape take place. The ambience of the film is a positive too, with the exception of one moment early on where there's an overly on the nose lightning strike as one of the characters mentions Alcatraz - nothing major, it's a nit-pick and it's my only one so that's a big plus. Interesting to note this was the final collaboration between Eastwood and director Don Siegel, take out 'Coogan's Bluff' and that was an extremely effective partnership - this 1979 release and 'Two Mules for Sister Sara' being my favourites.
Seen this one several times and still is a well done and straight forward, well shot, escape-thriller with fine performances all around. Nothing fancy and just enough character development to make you care. **4.0/5**
Clint Eastwood is at the top of his game in this thriller. He is bank robber Frank Morris, Incarcerated in one of America's most impregnable prisons, under the menacing gaze of warden Patrick McGoohan. He quickly concludes that he has little left to live for but escape. Together with twins Clarence and John Anglin (Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau) he puts together an intricate plan to escape their prison by using the utility tunnels to escape the complex then some makeshift inflatables to get across San Francisco bay. The facts of the story mean the ending is never in doubt - insofar as we actually know what the ending was/is! Now that rather detracts from any sense of jeopardy with the screenplay, but is one of the aspects that make Eastwood all the more compelling - his meticulous planning, ingenuity and sheer perspicacity is enthralling - ok, at times a little slow - to watch. He has to deal with the odd internal fracas, most notably from "Wolf" (Bruce Fisher) who would have some fun with him, if you get my drift... but none of that detracts him from his goal. Aside from this mission, Don Siegel offers us quite a detailed glimpse into life behind bars towards the end of this crumbling building's life; and we are exposed to the relentless tedium and despair of many which engenders some sympathy - however evil they may have been to be sent there in the first place. What Siegel doesn't really do, though, is use McGoohan to much effect. His usual less-is-more style of performance is certainly here, but all to infrequently to really build an sense of menace. Still, it's Eastwood's film and he is great...
An agoraphobic woman living alone in New York begins spying on her new neighbors only to witness a disturbing act of violence.
Movie Star Rating : 6 Read More
World War II, 1943. Mallory and Miller, the heroes who destroyed the guns of Navarone, are sent to Yugoslavia in search of a ghost from the past.
Movie Star Rating : 6.2 Read More
A romantic drama that charts the lives of three women from different backgrounds, forever changed when they emigrate to New Zealand as war brides.
Movie Star Rating : 7 Read More
A drama set in the 1920s, where free-spirited Janie Crawford's search for happiness leads her through several different marriages, challenging the morals of her small town. Based on the novel by Zora Neale Hurston.
Movie Star Rating : 5.6 Read More
An ambitious reporter gets in trouble while investigating a senator's assassination which leads to a vast conspiracy involving a multinational corporation behind every event in the world's headlines.
Movie Star Rating : 6.7 Read More
A fencing master in pre-revolution Spain is hired to teach fencing to a beautiful young woman. Although he has never taught a woman before he is fascinated by her and agrees. She wishes to learn a particular thrust which he is famous for. When a local nobleman becomes involved with her the intrigue begins.
Movie Star Rating : 6.4 Read More
After running away from her abusive mother, a streetwise teen seeks refuge with her father, but he rejects her when he learns that she's pregnant.
Movie Star Rating : 6.6 Read More
Françoise looks like a sexy kitten by day, but is a silent she-wolf by night, making very clever robberies of gold jewels. Despite the interest, and competition, from Bruno, she ends a lonely she-wolf.
Movie Star Rating : 0 Read More
Ray, a twelve-year-old boy, must confront the British legal system when he is accused of murder.
Movie Star Rating : 6.6 Read More
Zamindar Surya Kishore Chowdhury is a kind-hearted man who loves playing chess and is a fantastic singer. While he cares for his estate and the people, he is careless towards his wife, Indu's feelings. Dr. Bijoy Chakrabarty, who was helped by the zamindar during his student days, lives in his palace and one day, he successfully executes his plot to murder the zamindar while coercing Indu to keep quiet. However, fate takes a different turn and in the cremation grounds, a monk saves the life of the zamindar, who returns to his estate no more as an aristocratic noble but as a monk at heart.
Movie Star Rating : 0 Read More
A cinematographic account of the reprisal ordered by the ruthless Austrian colonel Kappler in 1944 in Rome. In Via Rasella (Rasella Street) ten Italian civilians were sentenced to death for each German soldier killed in a partisan attempt.
Movie Star Rating : 7 Read More
Uproar 2023 - Movies (Mar 28th)
Peter Five Eight 2024 - Movies (Mar 28th)
Windcatcher 2024 - Movies (Mar 27th)
The Truth vs. Alex Jones 2024 - Movies (Mar 27th)
Easter Evil 2024 - Movies (Mar 27th)
The Iron Claw 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Kung Fu Panda 4 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
The Book of Clarence 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Molli and Max in the Future 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Ordinary Angels 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Imaginary 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Easter Bloody Easter 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Snow Valley 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Drift 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Good One A Show About Jokes 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Sentinel 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Cessationist 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Tig Notaro Hello Again 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
The Peasants 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
My Acting Coach Nightmare 2024 - Movies (Mar 25th)
Night of the Hunted 2023 - Movies (Mar 25th)
Tipping Point Australia - (Mar 28th)
The Chase Australia - (Mar 28th)
Salvage Hunters- The Restorers - (Mar 28th)
Selling Houses Australia - (Mar 28th)
The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle - (Mar 28th)
Dateline- Secrets Uncovered - (Mar 28th)
The Cook Up with Adam Liaw - (Mar 28th)
The Ingraham Angle - (Mar 28th)
The Five - (Mar 28th)
Gutfeld! - (Mar 28th)
Tucker on X - (Mar 28th)
All In with Chris Hayes - (Mar 28th)
Alex Wagner Tonight - (Mar 28th)
The Last Word with Lawrence ODonnell - (Mar 28th)
Supa Girlz - (Mar 28th)
Teen Mom- Family Reunion - (Mar 28th)
Married at First Sight - (Mar 28th)
Booked- First Day In - (Mar 28th)
Court Cam - (Mar 28th)
American Pickers - (Mar 28th)