This is potentially one of the most overestimated films in the last decade. It is visually attractive, modern and stylish with interesting choice of colors but everything else seems to be a result of poor choices and even worse logic. This film is not a thriller and most certainly not an action film, as some of the reviewers have noted. It is a misery inducing exercise in bad drama that will leave you feeling just short of suicidal. To begin with, there is the "jumping back and forth in time" element. This is usually used in films sparingly, so that the time sequence either starts in the past and then finishes in the now or the opposite. This film jumps back and forth so many times and so often that you end up having no clue whatsoever what part you are actually watching. Not only is this irritating, but it also makes it impossible for you to actually follow the attempted escape as, just as soon as they start running, a couple of minutes later you find yourself back in prison. Secondly - character development. There is none. Full-stop. Films about escape are all about characters, that's what provides the element of suspense. The film becomes important when you start sympathizing with the lead character. None of that whatsoever. Also, the film advertises itself as a story about a band of misfits. Being a misfit to me means a person of a certain character - puzzling or interesting in some way, but certainly non conventional. In this film, however, you learn nothing about the characters apart from their names. Thirdly, the plan is developed in like 3 seconds. The main part of the film, the part that actually makes you invested as it tickles your intelligence and sense of imagination is just missing. No character development, no plot development in a film that has a difficulty deciding whether to be a drama or a thriller, but ends up being misery porn. See this movie if you want to irrevocably cast away an hour and a half of perfectly good time that can be used for a host of other, more interesting things.
Review of The Escapist
