The Escapist review

A consistently entertaining jailbreak thriller, The Escapist marks an extraordinarily assured debut by British director Rupert Wyatt who has fashioned a gripping and exciting tale and put a new spin on familiar territory. It may well be the best prison film since The Shawshank Redemption.

Brian Cox is Frank, a lifer who gets by inside by keeping his head down and playing by the rules - both those of the guards and of the prison's real boss Rizza (a convincing Damian Lewis). But when Frank gets news that a family member may be about to die, he decides that he needs out.

Enlisting the help of a typical motley crew (including the tough guy, the prison drugs provider and Frank's raw new cellmate, played respectively by Joseph Fiennes, Seu Jorge and Dominic Cooper), Frank sets about his task, which is compellingly told thanks to some judicious editing and greatly enhanced by a powerful score from Benjamin Wallfisch.

With the authorities barely getting a look-in, Wyatt shows how it's the petty feuds and the camaraderie that makes prison life run and it is all extremely well portrayed by the ensemble cast. The bonds that develop between the gang are part of the film's fascination, with the planning and execution of the escape providing the rest of the excitement.

Another major character is the prison itself - also used to house Noel Coward's Mr Bridger in The Italian Job - whose grimy nooks and crannies only add to the atmosphere and authenticity. All in all it's a surprising treat of a film and one which more than adds to the genre.

Paul Hurley