This entry was posted on Thursday, April 12th, 2007 at 7:27 am and is filed under Action, E, Thriller/Mystery, True Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Director: Don Sigel
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom, Jack Thibeau, Fred Ward, Paul Benjamin, Larry Hankin, Bruce M. Fischer, Frank Ronzio
This prison action flick is based on a true story from J. Campbell Bruce’s book, and it is classic Clint Eastwood to be sure. Veteran director Don Siegel knew his craft by this point in his career and though the setting and many of the characters here are common to the genre, the gripping story and effective mood make this is decent effort, though I find the ending lags a bit.
Clint Eastwood plays Clint just as we like him, here; a tough, smart man of few words with a secret soft spot. His character’s name here Frank Morris and after proving difficult to contain in other institutions, he is sent to the dreaded escape-proof Alcatraz, and makes friends and enemies, before deciding that there is a way to escape. Working with three partners, Frank sets into motion, a clever and daring escape plan. But will it work?
This is a worthwhile film for fans of shower fights, desperate heist movies and Clint fans of all ages. It has its flaws, but Clint gives his fans exactly what they expect from him and that is enough to make it worth seeing once on TV or as a cheap renter.
