Escape from Alcatraz

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
Paramount Pictures
Directed by Don Siegel
Starring Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward, Larry Hankin

Escape from Alcatraz reteams director Don Siegel with Dirty Harry star Clint Eastwood. The film dramatizes the one possible escape from Alcatraz prison. Eastwood stars as Frank Morris, a convict who just arrives at Alcatraz and is determined to escape. He makes friends with other inmates Charley Butts, Clarence Anglin, and John Anglin, and the four decide to break out. Over time, they create an elaborate plan to escape the unbreakable prison. They use spoons to dig through their cell walls and over the course of a few months, three of the four men have broken through the walls. When it comes down to the night of the escape, Butts has not broken through, and Morris must leave his friend behind. They make it past the guards and into the freezing water using raincoats as a raft. In the morning, the guards or warden (McGoohan) search for the escapees, but cannot find any trace of them. Whether they escaped or perished is a mystery.

Clint Eastwood shines as Morris. As in every film he stars in, he is the man. Clint always plays the tough guy. Whether its Harry Callahan or The Man with No Name, Clint always embodies his characters and makes them legends. Morris is a rugged being, who is not afraid. He just wants to escape Alcatraz to prove he can. Besides Eastwood, the other supporting cast does a fantastic job. Everyone has believable characters that the audience wants to see escape.

Escape from Alcatraz is not an action film of any sort. Yes, there is some action towards the end, but overall, the film is a tight thriller. It’s nice to see that a well-done thriller can be made without an excessive amount of action. The final escape sequence is very thrilling and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The mood that the film portrays is very gloomy. The prison is grey, a color that represents dull and gloomy moods. This color also makes a point to show that the inmates have no chance or leaving the prison.

The film has strong senses of determination. Morris and his crew do not want to be stuck in the prison and are determined to escape. He is also determined not to be pushed around by the old inmates. Escape from Alcatraz is a realistic look at prison life in the 1960s. By having this sense of realism throughout the film, the story becomes more believable and emotionally connected to the audience. Especially in thrillers, it is important to have characters and a story that the audience can get behind. Escape from Alcatraz is an analogy for escapism. The prison represents the real world. Many people feel that they are trapped behind walls sometimes with work, family, paying bills, etc. What makes this story unique and emotional, is that the characters represent normal humans trying to escape the hardships of life. They manage to escape the prison, or the real world, and do what they want. This is a very popular social message because people can relate to it and usually wish for this opportunity.

In the end, the three inmates escape Alcatraz prison, but it is unknown if they escape the freezing waters. The film hints that they escaped, but the warden declares them dead to save his career. Its an open ending, leaving the outcome to your imagination. Personally, I was rooting for Morris to survive, so I believe that he did. Escape from Alcatraz is an escapism film that is very thrilling and features some believable and relatable characters. Because of the realism of the film, Escape from Alcatraz is a wonderful thriller that proves that action is not always needed to make a great thriller.

Rating: B+


July 4, 2010

Where Eagles Dare

Where Eagles Dare (1968)
MGM
Directed by Brian G. Hutton
Starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure

Written for the screen by action master, Alistair MacLean, Where Eagles Dare is a genre classic about infiltration during World War II. Burton and Eastwood star as British Major John Smith and American Lieutenant Morris Schaffer, respectively, who take on a daring mission to infiltrate a German base, high in the mountains, and rescue a captured American general. The script is thrilling and full of action. MacLean is known for these types of stories including The Guns of Navarone. This film is much more action-oriented and showcases the different acting styles of Burton and Eastwood. Both are known for their acting chops, with Burton portraying more “civilized” characters while Eastwood plays the “rogue.” In the film, Burton plays the double agent and head of the commando squad, while Eastwood plays the muscle of the group.

The best things going for Where Eagles Dare is the impressive action sequences by Yakima Canutt. They are gripping, fast paced, and very well choreographed. Once the film picks up pace during the lift-ride to the castle, the tension never lets go. It is a wonderful joyride that features a few twists and turns with several characters including Major Smith. Where Eagles Dare will keep you on the edge of your seat, and not let you go. The most intense scenes include a brawl on the lift going to the castle, and an impressive escape using hostages.

The cinematography of Where Eagles Dare is very dark, giving the film a gloomy feel. It starts off in the snow covered mountains at dusk. Right from the opening shot, the mood is set as a dark tale of espionage, treachery, and lies. The film never lightens up, but is never too dark to hide detail of the vast landscapes. The shadows in this film, from the bar to the castle, are strong and give a sense of mystery to the mission. Almost as if the mission is hidden in the shadows. This is especially true when Major Smith and Schaffer find that the rest of the British commandos have been killed upon arriving in Germany. Right from the beginning, the film starts off as a murder mystery and then turns into a commando mission film, while never letting go of the urgency or tension created from the opening sequence.

Where Eagles Dare is a well directed, well written action thriller that will not let go. It is a little slow at the beginning, but once the mission starts to take off, the film does so as well. Burton and Eastwood are well casted and create a sense of friction between the two leads. With their performances and MacLean’s script, Where Eagles Dare is a classic World War II film that perfectly balances action with thrills.

Rating: B+


June 20, 2010