SummaryWhen a legendary escape artist comes up for parole after 30 years behind bars, a chance for freedom must be weighed against his infamous past.
Directed By:Gabriel London
Written By:Gabriel London
The Life and Mind of Mark DeFriest
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
82
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Available after 4 ratings
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
82
100% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Feb 27, 2015
91
It’s a curious, infuriating and haunting tale, and an accomplishment of documentary filmmaking.
Mar 3, 2015
90
What could have been an impossibly bleak viewing is actually made more unnerving through DeFriest's droll humor and acceptance of his fate — rather than being Zen-like, he's prickly and dark, with such dazzlingly high native intelligence that you mourn for potential needlessly wasted.
Feb 27, 2015
80
It’s a bizarre story not entirely clear in the telling — partly because we can’t be entirely sure when the subject is telling the truth — but absorbing nonetheless.
Mar 6, 2015
75
The rare documentary that gets more and more interesting as it goes along, even ending with an update on this still-unfolding story that just took place.
Mar 5, 2015
70
The indomitable personality and talents of the serial prison escapee Mark DeFriest outshine the weaknesses of this documentary that bears his name.
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Available after 4 ratings
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100% Positive
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0% Mixed
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Apr 1, 2015
8
This cable documentary is interesting on a number of levels. The penal system is often misguided. DeFriest is a good example. Importantly, it is not as though he has not made his own bed with years of bad decisions (mostly all about trying to escape), for he has. But the fact that part of what brought him to prison more than 30 years ago should not even have been a crime. Now I suspect that the documentarians are somewhat taking liberties with the facts. But that does not make this a tragic condemnation of a cruel, uncaring and thoughtless system.
Production Company:
- Found Object Films
- Naked Edge Films
- Thought Café
Release Date:Mar 6, 2015
Duration:1 h 32 m
Rating:TV-MA
Website:
Awards
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
• 2 Nominations
Golden Trailer Awards
• 2 Nominations
Key West Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
