Director: Mikael Håfström
Writers: Miles Chapman (screenplay), Jason Keller (screenplay)
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 50 Cent, Jim Caviezel
Synopsis: When a structural-security authority finds himself set up and incarcerated in the world’s most secret and secure prison, he has to use his skills to escape with help from the inside.
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DIRECTION
Mikael Håfström kept things pretty simple for Escape Plan. Håfström let the story speak for itself and he let the actors carry the movie and the action in the ways you thought he would. There are a few shots that showcase the prison well and we get a unique glance at how the prison is built and why it’s so unique. When we finally get to “the reveal” of what’s happening, it was handled really great. Håfström’s biggest win though? This movie is fun. It’s the typical action you’d expect and the fun you’ve always had with these actors in the past.
Grade: B+
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SCRIPT
The script is mostly pretty straight forward, although it does have a few (and probably unnecessary) complications in the middle of the film. The story follows Breslin, Sylvester Stallone, who escapes prisons for a living and is now having to escape a prison he essentially built himself, via a book he wrote. The reasons he is captured and in a new prison will involve spoilers and is also the part that could of been a little less complicated. Outside of that small subplot, Breslin meets up with Rottmayer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who become friends and now work together to find a way out. That’s pretty much it. There are a few twists but it’s fun and what you’d expect for a movie like this. It has cheesy dialogue but lines that you’ll be able to repeat over and over again. In other words, it’s a Stallone and Schwarzenneger movie.
Grade: B+
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PERFORMANCES
The performances are pretty solid. One of the most amazing things about Escape Plan, is that they managed to turn 50 Cent into the most gangster computer geek of all time. And I mean that. He didn’t have much to do, but he was awesome. You got to give a lot of love to Jim Caviezel here. He was incredible as the bad guy and pulled it off extremely well. Faran Tahir and Amy Ryan gave descent supporting roles as well. Sam Neill was also great and I wish he had more to do. His role was very small, but crucial to the story which was pretty great. And what you gonna say about Stallone and Schwarzenneger? They are who they are and it’s awesome. This is a much better movie and story than the movies they both had earlier this year. The characters are deeper, more fun and in a situation that would be awful. But that’s why we enjoy watching these guys’ do it.
Grade: A-
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SCORE
Alex Heffes get’s the score here and it’s not bad. It’s typical action-fare score but it’s good for what the movie needs. It doesn’t stand out in any particular way but it also doesn’t detract.
Grade: B
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FINAL THOUGHTS
Before I get any comments, don’t be confused with my final grade and the title of this review. The action is grade A and it’s what we’d expect from these guys. However, it’s not something we have a section for in our reviews. Overall, it’s fun, it’s cheesy, it’s chaotic and it’s good. You gotta love these guys together.
