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The Escapist

Play trailer Poster for The Escapist Released Apr 1, 2009 1h 43m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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).

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The Escapist

The Escapist

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Critics Consensus

A tense, smart prison break movie, The Escapist is a sharp debut from director Rupert Wyatt.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Times (UK) A satisfying nail-biter with a tricksy, time-jumping, twist-heavy plot, a refreshingly spare approach to dialogue and a fine all-male ensemble cast... Nov 18, 2022 Full Review Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review David Stratton At the Movies (Australia) This is a rather curious film, admirable in some ways but also strangely frustrating. Rated: 2/5 Jul 16, 2009 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Every scene is tightly bound to the next by concealed visual nods and restrained dialogue, which, coupled with the film’s naturalism, makes for raw, satisfying suspense. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 19, 2023 Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture The Escapist is not an easy movie to watch. Rated: 2/5 Oct 9, 2019 Full Review Kaleem Aftab The National (UAE) Unfortunately, the depiction of prison life is predictable and the inmates are extremely dull stereotypes. Nov 1, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Roger J Too many flashbacks to make it worthwhile. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review keith w This is not a run of the mill prison drama. Brian Cox is excellent in the starring part and there is a strong cast throughout. The intertwined parallel strands takes a bit of getting used to but they are soon explained. The locations - especially under Tower Bridge - are mesmerising as is the music. The conclusion left some loose ends - but this wasn't a straightforward drama so it fitted the film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Horrendous pile of cliched nonsense ..and some of the acting is beyond belief ..yes it's a pathetic script but the acting is so camp…is this supposed to be a comedy ..it's like an unfunny version of Porridge …Hardly ever write a review ..but felt compelled to after watching this piece of drivel .. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie that all comes together Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Just when you thought it's another escape film, it's not. :) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member "DRAMATIC | TENSE | WITTY | SOMBER | SUFFOCATING" (75-out-of-100) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Escapist

(L-R) Brian Cox as Frank Perry and Damian Lewis as Rizza in "The Escapist." Joseph Fiennes as Lenny Drake in "The Escapist." (L-R) Joseph Fiennes as Lenny Drake, Brian Cox as Frank Perry, and Liam Cunningham as Brodie in "The Escapist." Brian Cox as Frank Perry in "The Escapist." Damian Lewis as Rizza in "The Escapist." (L-R) Joseph Fiennes as Lenny Drake, Brian Cox as Frank Perry, Liam Cunningham as Brodie and Seu Jorge as Viv Batista in "The Escapist." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis 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).
Director
Rupert Wyatt
Producer
Adrian Sturges, Alan Moloney
Screenwriter
Rupert Wyatt, Daniel Hardy
Distributor
IFC Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 1, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.0K
Runtime
1h 43m
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