Clint Eastwood stars as Frank Morris, a man who attempts to break out from America's most feared prison, in Escape from Alcatraz.
This was the fifth and final collaboration between Eastwood and director Don Siegel, and they did a very effective job at dramatising the real-life prisoner escape from Alcatraz in 1962.
The fact the production was able to film at the actual Alcatraz island really helps in the film's favour as it obviously adds an authenticity to the proceedings. Every location around the prison immerses you into the setting.
Siegel's direction is reliable, as it is with all of the projects I've seen him helm, and the score from Jerry Fielding is used sparingly, yet evokes a eerie feeling in the right moments.
A variety of interesting characters is an element that works rather well. The narrative does a good job in making you sympathise with them due to the abuses they face in the prison system, such as Morris' unjustified punishment for defending himself from a dangerous inmate. Another inmate called Doc getting his painting privileges taken away for the most petty of reasons also hits home hard, as it was the only thing keeping him going, and leads to a quite shocking moment later down the line.
This gives Morris the appropriate motivation in wanting to escape, and leads to my favourite stretch of the story when he starts putting an elaborate plan together with a few other inmates. It slowly comes to fruition, yet still providing solid tension with the obstacles they have to overcome along the way, as well as accommodating a couple of clever reveals.
The actual escape still allows for some anxious moments, even if you know that they'll end up succeeding.
In terms of negatives, I have to say Frank Morris isn't a very compelling character, but Eastwood plays him with his usual gruffness and that is enough to suffice with a interesting story driving the intrigue.
The Warden also isn't a particularly memorable antagonist, but it's still satisfying to see the prisoners get one over him with their escape, due to the work done beforehand to sympathise with them.
Final Verdict
With reliable direction and a tight script, this last Eastwood-Siegel project is one worth your time.
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