Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Mike S

  
  Sharply written and elaborately conceived, <i>Escape from Alcatraz</i> has a well-earned spot among the great classics of its era. A predecessor to films like <i>The Shawshank Redemption</i> (the similiarites between which are quite striking by the way), it… More
  Sharply written and elaborately conceived, <i>Escape from Alcatraz</i> has a well-earned spot among the great classics of its era. A predecessor to films like <i>The Shawshank Redemption</i> (the similiarites between which are quite striking by the way), it blazed an impressive trail for future entrys in the genre. Knee-deep in myth, Alcatraz as a place also holds this amazing allure, which always seems to serve up some fascinating curiosities. Of course, that's not the only thing that makes this movie so brilliantly compelling. There's also the spell-binding performance by Clint Eastwood, in the role of bad-ass convict Frank Morris, as well as a phenomenal set of supporting characters, bringing weight to the story, which is a real killer in every sense. I have seen many of the kind, yet was so fully immersed, that my attention level could be mistaken for a first-time visit to the setting. And when I say fully, I mean hook, line and sinker! For this is nothing short of pure cinematic gold. Highly suspenseful throughout, with a great deal of nerve-shattering and shock value. Definitely not to be missed!

• AJ V

  
  Although it's based on a true story, that doesn't mean it'll make a good movie. You know how it will end from the beginning. There are some good scenes, and the actors are good, but other than that it's not a great movie.

• danny d

  
  a truly exceptional prison break film. there is something mysterious about alcatraz that makes films like this even more engaging, and the real time breakout sequence was masterfully shot. siegel shows his skill taking a simple premise and making it interesting for two hours.

• Conner R

  
  An escape movie without all the glitz and glamor, perfect in every way. It's suspenseful, smart and unbelievably true. Clint Eastwood does a great job and plays a great character that doesn't need to be all that nice to have you rooting for him. I'm glad they… More
  An escape movie without all the glitz and glamor, perfect in every way. It's suspenseful, smart and unbelievably true. Clint Eastwood does a great job and plays a great character that doesn't need to be all that nice to have you rooting for him. I'm glad they didn't try and dramatize the whole event, it was done in a way that you could take it seriously. The style of film making is perfect for the kind of movie it is, you couldn't ask for a more exciting time.

• Anthony L

  
  Good but not great. Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood have done better, this is an all round good film but nothing more.

• Jason O

  
  Based on a true story movies are nearly always captivating, and you put Eastwood in a prison movie, which are also usually supremely interesting to begin with, and you have one of the best movies ever made. Personally, this is my favorite prison movie of all time that I've seen… More
  Based on a true story movies are nearly always captivating, and you put Eastwood in a prison movie, which are also usually supremely interesting to begin with, and you have one of the best movies ever made. Personally, this is my favorite prison movie of all time that I've seen yet. I prefer it to The Green Mile and even Shawshank Redemption, which are also all-time greats. This one just seems more realistic.

• familiar s

  
  An amazing real life based movie you must see. I enjoyed this movie & it's worth watching once, at least. I wasn't bored even for a minute during the entire movie. Good performances by all actors. Obviously, Clint Eastwood was focused the most. Efficient screenplay. The… More
  An amazing real life based movie you must see. I enjoyed this movie & it's worth watching once, at least. I wasn't bored even for a minute during the entire movie. Good performances by all actors. Obviously, Clint Eastwood was focused the most. Efficient screenplay. The dialouges were extremely witty. Miss it and you miss one of the greatest real life based movies ever.

• Lady D

  
  A little slow moving and not quite in the league of ?The Great Escape?, but clever all the same. Leaves you wondering what happened next, but I guess we?ll never know.

• Aaron N

  
  John Anglin: Hey, how's it going, Frank? Frank Morris: Well, the Anglins. What are you guys doing, just dropping by? Clarence Anglin: Yeah, thought we'd pay you a visit. Frank Morris: Gonna stay long? John Anglin: Nah, not long. Only about fifteen or twenty years. Frank… More
  John Anglin: Hey, how's it going, Frank? Frank Morris: Well, the Anglins. What are you guys doing, just dropping by? Clarence Anglin: Yeah, thought we'd pay you a visit. Frank Morris: Gonna stay long? John Anglin: Nah, not long. Only about fifteen or twenty years. Frank Morris: Why the Rock? Clarence Anglin: We were going over the wall in Atlanta when we encountered a minor problem. Frank Morris: Such as? Clarence Anglin: They saw us. Frank Morris: Yeah, that do present problems. A very entertaining prison thriller based on true events, starring Clint Eastwood in complete cool mode. Eastwood stars as Frank Morris, a new inmate to Alcatraz prison. Upon arriving, he meets the warden, played by Patrick McGoohan (a few points for anyone who can see the joke their), and is told basically that his life no longer means anything and he should get used to having his life suck. As Morris begins his time he meets a few characters. Some are good, such as English, a black librarian, Doc a painter, and Litmus, a man with a pet rat. One is bad, a big guy who wants fresh meat. After dealing with some of the issues of prison life, Morris teams up with a few other inmates and they work on a complicated and daring escape plan. From their, the story portrays the various elements that make up the plan and the eventual outcome. The two best things about this movie involve how cool Eastwood is and the fact that this movie moves along very well. Eastwood not only delivers every line in the coolest way possible, he is basically liked by everyone. Everyone enjoys his no nonsense style and dry humor. The movie, which was directed by Don Siegel, helmer of other Eastwood flicks, such as Dirty Harry, treats this movie as a well paced thriller, while managing to inject some feelings into the portrayal of prison life. Of course, their are a number of elements that give this a guy movie quality, keeping it back from being greater. The focus on story leaves little in way of characters. Two of the escapees are literally placed into the film without giving us any sense of who they are, however, it does help that one of them is played by Fred Ward. The basic meanness of the Warden is also just that - mean. However, the fact that the events depicted are for the most part true, excluding facts obviously put in for dramatic effect, makes this even more enjoyable. The film as a whole is very enjoyable, emphasis being on Eastwood's cool. Warden: Morris, I understand there was an accident in the workshop the other day? Frank Morris: Accident? Oh you mean Doc. Yeah it seems someone didn't like what he was painting so someone wouldn't let him paint anymore. Warden: Well someone should have warned Doc to be careful about what he painted. Frank Morris: Your absolutely right sir, there's always the possibility some asshole would be offended. Isn't there?

• Chris W

  
  Atmospheric, and very well done.

• James A

  
  A pretty good retelling of the actual escape. Straight forward with some solid acting.

• xGary X

  
  A very watchable escape movie made in the days when prison movies were about camaraderie in the face of adversity and patiently executed, ingenious escape plans rather than skinheads and buggery. It's refreshing to see Clint acting without the use of his fists and the scenes… More
  A very watchable escape movie made in the days when prison movies were about camaraderie in the face of adversity and patiently executed, ingenious escape plans rather than skinheads and buggery. It's refreshing to see Clint acting without the use of his fists and the scenes involving Patrick McGoohan's coldly evil warden confiscating an ageing lifers art materials for his own petty reasons is a highlight. Maybe a little uneventful for the action junkie, but suspenseful and atmospheric with some well written dialogue.

• Lafe F

  
  A realistic visit to Alcatraz when it was a prison, and a fascinating escape tale. I guess they couldn't tack on what became of the escapees, because that hasn't really been determined yet.

• Khris N

  
  NEAT! - best story of escape ive seen.

• Kalel J

  
  A lifeless and hollow film that never motivates the audience through conventional film qualities; qualities such as story and characters. Escape from Alcatraz is a film that sticks too hard to it's root of the escape of these characters, as eighty percent of the production is… More
  A lifeless and hollow film that never motivates the audience through conventional film qualities; qualities such as story and characters. Escape from Alcatraz is a film that sticks too hard to it's root of the escape of these characters, as eighty percent of the production is simply watching them go through the motions. Next to this aspect, there is no story to the picture, except to simply get out of the prison and avoid detection from guards and avoid the violent intentions of fellow inmates. The film tries, hard, at points to get a sense of sideplots through various external characters, and this has proved successful in other prison productions, but in the case of this film it simply comes across as a shallow attempt to make for a more endearing script....but then we are immediately thrust back into watching Eastwood scrape away at his cell wall. The film works on the merits of it's escape plot, but otherwise it is a very flat film that holds up no where for repeat viewings.

• Dean M

  
  Clint Eastwood's flinty and abdurate charisma makes one feel he would be better cast as the prison itself rather than as the convict trying to escape.

• Jeremy S

  
  Hello they are criminals not heros!

• Dannielle A

  
  I really enjoyed this movie for the second time. (I have permanent images etched in my mind from seeing it as a youngster.) The movie is very interesting, telling the true story of the three men who possibly escape with their lives. The details are a little off from what actually… More
  I really enjoyed this movie for the second time. (I have permanent images etched in my mind from seeing it as a youngster.) The movie is very interesting, telling the true story of the three men who possibly escape with their lives. The details are a little off from what actually happened in real life, but it's mostly accurate. I'm really curious if they made it out alive or not because their bodies were never found.

• Nicolas K

  
  A thoroughly enjoyable film about THE escape from the famous Alcatraz prison.

• Mike T

  
  It's an excellent action film, but its character portraits fall flat and come across as being a little silly. Overall a very good film.

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