Review of Escape from Alcatraz (1979) by Sage H — 06 Aug 2013

Don Siegel's 1979 prison drama Escape from Alcatrez stars Clint Eastwood as the latest prisoner sent to the maximum security prison Alcatrez after his previous escapes from multiple prisons. He learns from the prison's warden (Patrick McGoohan) that no one has ever escaped from Alcatrez (alive at least). He is lucky enough to meet up with two of his pals (Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau) from back in the day and befriend (as well as make enemies with) many other inmates no problem. When he starts to discover that the concrete in his cell can easily be chipped away, he talks to his two close friends regarding a possible escape plan.

Based on what I've seen in most of Clint Eastwood's films, both before and after this specific film, I couldn't help but make a simple observation (even if it is a biased one at that). As far as the characters are concerned in the films Eastwood stars in, Eastwood has the distinction of easily having the most interesting character in the whole film. That's usually because no one in the supporting cast really seems to be trying to be as memorable as Eastwood. Maybe they're intimidated by Eastwood or maybe they weren't given much to work with in regards to their characters in the first place. In other words, all of the other characters in a film starring Clint Eastwood, with the exception of Eastwood, have the distinction of being a little too basic and plain.

I'm bringing up this specific observation since in this movie, Eastwood now appears to be on the same level as the rest of his supporting cast. However, the entire cast this time, including Eastwood, are all equally forgettable and average. So basically the tables have turned this time around. We've gone from one character (Eastwood's) stealing the show to every cast member being on the same level. In other words, there's consistency but there's also not much in terms of character development. Every character in this film is very basic but also pretty bland, which is sort of a letdown given that prison pictures like this should at least be entitled to some interesting and memorable character development. I mean there should at least be something else interesting going on other than the escape plan, right?

Speaking of the escape plan, yes, the escape plan is at least interesting enough to watch. I'm trying to resist making comparisons between older films and films that came out later when reviewing films like this. But for the sake of how forgettable this film is and how there isn't much else to say, I'm making a rare exception. The escape plan sort of reminded me a little bit of the way Andy Dufresne escaped in The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Both Andy and the characters here are picking at concrete and getting rid of the concrete through walking around outside in the dirt. Both Andy and these characters also find some way to hide their escape plan without the guards becoming even the slightest bit suspicious of any change in their jail cells.

Come to think of it, there's more than one similarity between this film and The Shawshank Redemption, isn't there? The main character in both films befriends an African-American who has at least been serving two life sentences. The main character in both films also befriends someone who found a pet animal. The main character in both films is also bullied and publicly harassed by a fellow prisoner as well. It's almost as if half of The Shawshank Redemption was inspired by this flick. I'm not penalizing The Shawshank Redemption by any means, but I'm just complimenting this film for inspiring that film in more than one way.

There really isn't anything else that I can talk about Escape from Alcatrez except for this. Aside from the fact that I'm making it sound like I hate it, I don't think that it's as bad as I'm making it sound like it is. What I am saying however is that Escape from Alcatrez is an average prison drama at best. There's nothing seriously wrong with it aside from the fact that it just isn't that memorable as a whole. I'm just saying in the end that it's just not a film I would honestly recommend seeing. But if you do go to see it, it's watchable at the very least.