Review By Troy Ribeiro (Rating: 3/5)
With a wafer-thin plot line and two iconic action heroes in one frame, “Escape Plan” offers a predictably rousing fare that could act as a tutorial for prisoners intending to break free.
The film begins in a very linear, clandestine fashion where a prisoner (Sylvester Stallone), after escaping from the tightly secured Bendwater Penitentiary Institution, Colorado, reveals to the officials that he is Ray Breslin, a consultant and security expert who exposes the vulnerabilities of the state prisons. He further gives the jailor a step-by-step detailed account of how he managed to break free.
While the jail officials are not happy with the revelation, the CIA approaches Ray Breslin and his team with an assignment to check the loopholes in one of the new facility for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The whereabouts of this facility are not disclosed for security reasons.
Lured with a promising fee, Breslin’s manager pushes him to accept the offer saying,
I am the numbers guy and you are the artist who can escape from any prison made by man.
Breslin concedes.
The flow of events doesn’t go as planned. Nevertheless, Breslin lands up in this tightly secured place and finds himself at the mercy of the prison’s sadistic warden Hobbes (Jim Caviezel). After evaluating his chances of escape as practically impossible, he reveals his true identity to Hobbes. But the warden refuses to listen, leaving him with no alternative but to try the impossible.
The first 30 minutes of the film drags, though there is ample action – both physical and verbal. The screen lights up only when Stallone hooks up with Schwarzenegger to collaborate against Hobbes and his cronies.
Though Mikael Hafstrom‘s film is spiked with intelligent analytical skills, bullets, brawls and wit, the film lacks the punch. While the actors punch each other, the entire action seems fake and anticipated in an especially drawn-out plot.
In fact, at one stage when Schwarzenegger mockingly informs Stallone,
You hit like a vegetarian
it just makes you realise how true he is.
Stallone and Schwarzenegger, both action heroes have intense harmony on screen. They complement each other with their histrionics and banter. While Schwarzenegger is charismatic and chirpy, Stallone broods with his constantly grumpy mannerisms. What’s more? The exposition of Breslin’s motive is lost in Stallone’s drawl, thereby killing the entire emotional spirit of the tale.
Jim Caviezel is sleek and polished as the sharp and wicked warden. His soft-spoken intellectualism contrasts well against the beefy pair.
The film is supported by a team of brilliant actors that include, Sam Neill as Dr. Emil Kaikev, Farhan Thahir as Javeed, Vincent D’Onofrio as Lester Clark, Breslin’s Manager and Amy Ryan as Abigail, Breslin’s colleague. They provide extra seriousness to the narration that the script doesn’t really deserve.
The production value of the film is good. The vertical cells with glass walls and frugal layout patrolled by identically masked men gives a very futuristic feel.
What’s good about Escape Plan is that it is clean and not at all contemptuous till the very end. Watch it if you are Stallone or Schwarzenegger fans.
Review by Faisal Saif (Rating: 1/5)
If Sylvester Stallone-Arnold Schwarzenegger combination The Expendables 2 was Rowdy Rathore, Trust me Escape Plan is RaOne and Trimurti of Hollywood. My first question is why this film is directed by Mikael Hafstrom. Mikael Hafstrom is a director who made some commendable Horror/Thrillers such as The Rite (Anthony Hopkins), Shanghai (John Cusack), Derailed and one of my favorite 1408 (John Cusack and Samuel L Jackson). 1408 still scares the hell out of me.
Take a close look at the film Escape Plan’s trailer and i promise you will know the entire plot of the movie. But a craziest fan of Arnie and Stallone (Like myself, Of course) you would like to watch the two biggest super action (Aging) stars on the screen.
Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone), an expert of breaking out of federal maximum security prisons who is hoodwinked into testing a new privately run facility for people who should not be allowed out in the real world. In the allegedly escape-proof prison (Which was designed with references from Ray’s book), known as The Tomb, he meets Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger – Appears exactly after 35 minutes of the Film). And together they plot their eventual liberation.
Just when you start to feel Escape Plan can become Stallone’s 90’s Lock Up and Arnie’s Terminator 2 (Both fantastic films of the stars respectively), The movie starts becoming easy and ill-logical. The Prison Doctor (Sam Neill) who get’s so easily convinced by Ray (In hardly few seconds), And arranges the Helicopter along with Guns etc for their escape. Ray’s partner’s involvement with Warden Hobbs (Jim Caveizel). And of course the hopeless climax which will definitely make you think what went wrong with Arnie-Stallone’s head while coming on board for this movie.
Oh? Did i miss the “Muslim” inmate who helps both Arnold and Stallone in their Escape? Gosh! That was so Bollywoodish!
Speaking of performances, Stallone is good but handicapped by a bad script. Arnold appears just how Jackie Shroff used to appear in films that were made after 2000. Stallone uses Arnold as a “Chai-Wala’ in the whole film and Arnold looked very comfortable doing this part (I am still surprised). Sam Neill is another example of any Kiran Kumar’s character from any Bollywood Film. Jim Caveizel is a wonderful talent wasted in this Multi Million dollar “Proposal”. Now, Why do i call this one as a “Proposal”? Because, I heard somewhere that Hollywood and Bollywood make such kinds of film to lure the Audiences and fails miserably.
Mikael Hafstrom, As i pointed out earlier is good at his Horror/Thriller works. He is not capable in making or executing an action flick which he proves with Escape Plan. The Production Value, Camera Work is good but doesn’t help a Bad Script. The Screenplay and Editing is jerky and boring. If you (Still Dare To) see the film, There are lots of unanswered questions.
Escape Plan does not even works for it’s Action, Because it does not have it. I will also not recommend you to rent the film on DVD or Blu Ray because such films are best on the Free Television Premiere which i guess will happen soon. I feel sorry for “Heroes” such as Arnold Schwarzenegger (Especially) and Sylvester Stallone!
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jim Caviezel, Sam Neill, Amy Ryan and Farhan Tahir
Director: Mikael Hafstrom
