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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Surround ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: Scottish filmmaker Gillies MacKinnon directs the revenge thriller The Escapist. Escaped convict Ricky Barnes (Andy Serkis, Gollom in the
...The Escapist
...The Escapist
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I had never heard of this film, but do like Jonny Lee Miller so purchased it and was not disappointed. It is a brilliant film, really on the edge of your seat stuff.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What if you lost what you loved most, and legal justice wasn't enough revenge?
That's the question that spawns "The Escapist," a gritty, taut little thriller that gives a new spin to the revenge quest. No Hollywood-style love interests or high-octane chases -- just a trio of excellent actors, a solid premise, and musings on why revenge will never bring you satisfaction.
Denis (Jonny Lee Miller) has it all -- a gorgeous house, a plane, a wife he adores, and a baby on the way. But one night Ricky Barnes (Andy Serkis) breaks in, and murders Denis' wife. The baby narrowly survives, and Barnes is sent to a maximum-security prison on a remote island -- but Denis is still consumed with a need for revenge against the man who destroyed four people's lives.
So he fakes his suicide, puts a few dents in a cop car, and receives a brief sentence -- then escapes. With each escape he receives a stiffer sentence, is sent to a higher security facility, and is forced to create ever more daring escape plans. But as he approaches Ricky Barnes' prison, Denis finds himself trapped in Ricky's own plot to escape...
"The Escapist" is a welcome change from your average Hollywood thriller -- a little indie movie, with no explosions or gun battles, lots of nasty little prisons, and a main cast of only three people. It has a stripped-down, raw feeling that gives a big contrast to the polished direction.
Basically the movie tracks Denis' descent into hell, with the knowledge that no matter what happens, Denis won't have won because his wife will still be dead. Gillies MacKinnon takes us from idyllic seaside villas, grey seas and sanitary little jails to the savage side of civilization, where there's no hope and no escape. And MacKinnon knows how to surprise us with an ending that leaves you wondering what is next.
Miller gives an overall good performance as a man with nothing to lose, and only revenge to gain -- he gets over-the-top in some of the scenes, but he's brilliant when Denis is ice cold. Jodhi May gives a lovely performance as his traumatized sister-in-law, and Serkis is simply chilling as a grinning, soulless murderer with a sadistic streak as big as Panama. I swear, he's creepier than Gollum in this movie.
"The Escapist" is a revenge thriller stripped down to the bone, but it's far better than many such movies are -- especially since it never loses sight of the fact that revenge can't make you happy.
That's the question that spawns "The Escapist," a gritty, taut little thriller that gives a new spin to the revenge quest. No Hollywood-style love interests or high-octane chases -- just a trio of excellent actors, a solid premise, and musings on why revenge will never bring you satisfaction.
Denis (Jonny Lee Miller) has it all -- a gorgeous house, a plane, a wife he adores, and a baby on the way. But one night Ricky Barnes (Andy Serkis) breaks in, and murders Denis' wife. The baby narrowly survives, and Barnes is sent to a maximum-security prison on a remote island -- but Denis is still consumed with a need for revenge against the man who destroyed four people's lives.
So he fakes his suicide, puts a few dents in a cop car, and receives a brief sentence -- then escapes. With each escape he receives a stiffer sentence, is sent to a higher security facility, and is forced to create ever more daring escape plans. But as he approaches Ricky Barnes' prison, Denis finds himself trapped in Ricky's own plot to escape...
"The Escapist" is a welcome change from your average Hollywood thriller -- a little indie movie, with no explosions or gun battles, lots of nasty little prisons, and a main cast of only three people. It has a stripped-down, raw feeling that gives a big contrast to the polished direction.
Basically the movie tracks Denis' descent into hell, with the knowledge that no matter what happens, Denis won't have won because his wife will still be dead. Gillies MacKinnon takes us from idyllic seaside villas, grey seas and sanitary little jails to the savage side of civilization, where there's no hope and no escape. And MacKinnon knows how to surprise us with an ending that leaves you wondering what is next.
Miller gives an overall good performance as a man with nothing to lose, and only revenge to gain -- he gets over-the-top in some of the scenes, but he's brilliant when Denis is ice cold. Jodhi May gives a lovely performance as his traumatized sister-in-law, and Serkis is simply chilling as a grinning, soulless murderer with a sadistic streak as big as Panama. I swear, he's creepier than Gollum in this movie.
"The Escapist" is a revenge thriller stripped down to the bone, but it's far better than many such movies are -- especially since it never loses sight of the fact that revenge can't make you happy.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Escapist did not get released, it escaped while no-one was looking. Sad because it's a really good and novel thriller. The beginning is less than great while it sets all its ducks in a row. Once that plot establishing stuff is all out of the way as Jonny Lee Miller fights his way from minimum security to maximum security prisons to get close enough the kill the creep who killed his loved one its takes off. Miller is a bit too soft to play the hardman but Andy Serkis is a grand villain, like Chopper Read in a bad mood. And hasn't Jodhi May filled out nicely now she's all grown up! Maybe more of a renter than a buyer but still a damn good thriller.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A little known gem of tension and revenge
Gillies Mackinon directed Small Faces and several Trial and Retributions, so he's good with character, and especially characters under the brutal strain of crime and bereavement. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Benminx
Top Brit Stuff
This is a thoroughly good purchase. When there is nothing on TV, (a frequent occurence these days), watch this. Read more
Published on 16 July 2008 by L
Keeps you on your toes right the way through...........
This was one of those little gems that you look at in the shop, pick it up, think to yourself "shall I - shan't I" see who's in it ,read the back of the DVD and take the chance. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2008 by Inmi Opinion
Ingenious revenge thriller
The Escapist is one of those films that has little going for it at first sight: a constantly underachieving director and a bland leading man in yet another of that seemingly... Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2007 by Trevor Willsmer
Awsome Revenge Film
Have you ever pondered what you would do if you had a major injustice done to you and the person was aprehended and locked up?
Could you leave it there? Read more
Could you leave it there? Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2007 by C. Hardy
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