User Reviews

This slow paced prison escape drama is well shot with a talented cast and authentic setting. The film chooses to explore the more technical aspects of the escape rather than the psychological trauma of such isolated incarceration.

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. 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.

The safest prison in the world at the time; you can enter but not leave. Or if? Without making them look like heroes and taking the necessary time, it narrates the efforts of three reckless convicts for an escape that was believed impossible. To kill about two hours without pain.

O filme não se preocupa muito em romantizar o que está acontecendo. Ele dá o contexto, e faz isso bem. Logo depois deixa as coisas fluírem. A caracterização dos personagens é boa. Mesmo sem saber do passado de vários, é possível simpatizar - mesmo que eles sejam detentos. A visão da administração do presídio nos ajuda bastante nisso. A personalidade do protagonista, inclusive, é facilmente consentida. Ele é inteligente, esperto, astuto e um homem de poucas palavras. O diretor deixa isso claro desde o início, e a cada momento que ele fica em silêncio, nos questionamos sobre o que ele está pensando. A execução do plano é ótima. O suspense ocorre de maneira orgânica, sem muita forçação por parte da OST ou de momentos inoportunos. Toda inteligência do protagonista é posta em prática, e o final é bem satisfatório. Acredito que seria interessante um desenvolvimento por parte dos personagens que escaparam por ele, mas no fim não faz tanta falta.

Massively slowburn but still watchable and Eastwood elevates it just enough.

Siegel's brooding nature and almost household methods is the only way out of this strictly confined prison. Escape From Alcatraz Siegel's brooding nature and almost household methods is the only way out of this strictly confined prison. And boy what a work he has put through in here to narrate the sweat and blood inducing hard work that these character goes through. Siegel has always used the set and the environment where the storytelling revolves around, into the narration so smoothly that you are practically escaping along with these characters. And using such body language and a three dimensional perspective on how such a process and plan is implemented the second act completely thrives upon the performance and execution where their barely resides any verbal sparrings. This doesn't suggest that it is better than the first half. Contrary to popular belief, the first half is what molds the movie into a more human nature. It resonates mistakes and flawed characters that is celebrated into the narration through driving and sharing emotions among the cell mates. It is not also your typical head to head rivalry script that is of scoreboard nature, all scores are settled in the last swing by Eastwood's home run. Aforementioned, the performance relies upon the narration and vice versa and portraying such a gritty bold character has always been Eastwood's charm. And this time following the instructions and leading the instructions into unanticipated trajectories, he soars above all from his group in both the physical and emotional aspects of it. The second half of the film is basically a series of close calls and it is upto Siegel to not let that euphoric energy wear off which he does hold up to. Escape From Alcatraz has managed to live up to the expectations from the collaboration of Eastwood and Siegel and even though it fumbles on the dodgy surface, it manages to escape.