ESCAPE PLAN

US, 2013, 115 minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel, Sam Neill, Amy Ryan, Curtis Jackson, Vincent D’ Onofrio.
Directed by Mikael Hafstrom.

All those going into see Escape Plan will have presumptions about Sylvester Stallone co-starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger: it’s probably going to be just a variation on the brawn and brawn action series, The Expendables. It isn’t. In fact, it is far more interesting, combining brains with brawn.

Sylvester Stallone plays a prisoner who organizes an escape from a Colorado prison. At least, that’s what we think for the first few minutes. In fact, he is the top expert in the United States, and probably in the world, of discovering how prisoners could escape from the most maximum of prisons. He is invited to go into a beyond-maximum security facility and advise how escape-proof it is.

There used to be those films in the 1990s about isolated prisons with Ray Liotta or Christopher Lambert, films with titles like No Escape or Fortress. Escape Plan becomes a variation on that theme, except that the prison has used all kind of devices to become absolutely escape-proof - and there are several interesting revelations throughout the film. But Stallone, as Ray Breslin, is determined to escape and is helped in his quest by a fellow prisoner, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in a more subdued manner than usual, though not with some bruising battles. With a beard, Schwarzenegger seems rather different, and even more benign – and speaks some German.

While the film does offer the opportunity for audiences to see Stallone and Schwarzenegger together, hostile at first, becoming friends, doing battle together in order to facilitate a daring escape plot and plan, there are quite a few other character actors in the cast which bring it to a higher dramatic level. And that is despite the presence of Vinnie Jones, always a brutal presence in violent shows, and not blessed with the gift of acting. He gets the chance to throw his weight around, mostly a caricature of this type of prison guard.

On the other hand, there is Jim Caviezel, dapper and deadly sinister as the sadistic warden of the prison, not against brutality, but never soiling his hands in this; his approach is psychological threats and clash. Also on hand is Sam Neill as the prison doctor. And, in charge of the security company, there is Vincent D’ Onofrio as well as Curtis 50 Cent Jackson and Amy Ryan.

Our heroes do get that chance to show their capacity for brawn and action, but with the ingenuity of the prison security schemes and the sometimes ingenious plans for escape, they have to use their brains as well. Which makes the screenplay much more interesting,-with a couple of twists at the end.

It seems as though the action fans have been pleased with the pairing of the two super-heroes. Those who come across Escape Plan looking for a more thinking thriller than might be expected, will also be pleased with watching the plans go into action.


1. The two stars, their careers, action performers? Expectations? Acting skills/not? Age? Still tough?


2. A prison drama, ordinary and extraordinary?

3. The title, Ray and his expertise, testing prisons? The twist and his being employed, used?

4. The introduction to Ray, in prison, tough, his senses, the authorities, the plan and the execution, his getting out – and the revelation of who he was and what he did?

5. His team, office meetings, Lester and Abigail? Being clients? Writing his Manuel about escapes? his expertise?

6. The visit, challenge about the prison, test, the difficulties – and the revelation of the end, the daughter and her wanting to rescue her father, setting up Ray, the deals?

7. His going to prison, not knowing the location? Land or sea? The discipline? The range of convicts? Tough, the guards? Control, routines, severe punishment, the treatment of the prisoners?

8. Ray, his plan, the tough punishment, his isolation? The warden and the conflict with him?

9. Emil, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his appearance, the beard? HIs reactions to Ray, behaviour, discussions with him, with the warden? His agreement to undergo the tortures to help Ray (the realisation that this was his own escape)? The waterboarding, his freaking out in solitary?

10. The warden, his manner, agent personality, ruthless, his officials, the prisoners, the meetings, the punishment? Phone calls to Lester?

11. Dr Kyrie and his presence in a prison, Ray talking with him, the doctor’s own fears, moral dilemmas, helping Ray?

12. The audience expectations of prison and prison life? As exemplified?

13. The plan, the trust between Ray and Emil? Emil his cover, the pain, the endurance? Ray and his own endurance?

14. His getting out of solitary, discovering the prison was at sea? His making the contacts, Abigail, the squads? The riots and the escape?

15. The revelation about Lester, that he was after Emil’s money, the betrayal of Ray? Abigail and her loyalty?

16. The attack, the melee and the fight, the confrontation with the warden?

17. The revelation of the truth, Emil being the thief, his daughter arranging the escape?

18. A satisfying action show with the two stars – plus a bit of intelligence?