
The Escapist
2008, Drama, 1h 43m
45 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A tense, smart prison break movie, The Escapist is a sharp debut from director Rupert Wyatt. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch
The Escapist Photos
Movie Info
Fourteen years into a life sentence, convict Frank Perry (Brian Cox) plans to escape from prison after learning his daughter nearly overdosed from heroin. With the help of fellow prisoners, Frank begins digging tunnels that will lead to the outside world. As Frank and his friends dig, he fends off Rizza (Damian Lewis), a fearsome gangster who runs the inside of the prison, and his brother, Tony (Steven Mackintosh), a junkie with designs on Frank's cellmate, Lacey (Dominic Cooper).
Cast & Crew
Brian Cox
Frank
Frank
Joseph Fiennes
Lenny
Lenny
Liam Cunningham
Brodie
Brodie
Seu Jorge
Viv Batista
Viv Batista
Dominic Cooper
Lacey
Lacey
Steven Mackintosh
Tony
Tony
Critic Reviews for The Escapist
Audience Reviews for The Escapist
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Oct 29, 2014For those who have seen more than two or three prison break movies in their lives, this mediocre film won't offer anything new even if it believes to be doing something pretty smart and profound with an annoying flashback structure and a silly Ambrose Bierce twist in the end.Carlos M Super Reviewer
-
Nov 30, 2012Set in a British prison, filled with all the usual convict suspects (including Damien Lewis and Steven Mackintosh woefully miscast as sadistic underlords!), this is unusual primarily for Brian Cox being the lead (which he fills capably), the setting, and the twist at the end (borrowed from a famous Ambrose Bierce tale). Nothing unusual then, but well done for the main part.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
-
Jul 04, 2012really well made prison escape movie full of interesting characters. Brian Cox is the driving force behind the film and offers a performance that is criminally underrated. great direction if only a few to many unnecessary flashbacks. Wyatt is a filmmaker to watch for the future.Brendan N Super Reviewer
-
May 07, 2012A very well executed, original, and ambitious prison drama, full of great performances all around, especially from the criminally underrated Brian Cox. The prison atmosphere is captured well, dark, gritty, and depressing; the film did a great job conveying a sense of realism. The filmmakers do perhaps become too self indulgent at the end, but the middle 2/3 are so strong, that the ending is more of an interesting misfire than something that really takes away, significantly, from the film. Above all, it's tense throughout, smart, and done well. 4/5 StarsJeffrey M Super Reviewer
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