Escape from Alcatraz

MOVIE #1,248 • 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 • 11.22.23 This is exactly what the title says: four inmates plot and attempt to execute their very detailed escape from Alcatraz. They don't actually put their plan in motion until the final fifteen minutes, but it's never boring. It benefits from the almost rote, matter of fact tone. I haven't really explored the heart of Eastwood's career as an actor — and I especially need to dive into his work with Don Siegel on four earlier films, including The Beguiled and Dirty Harry — but he's obviously excellent as the stoic lead. This is also the movie for you if you've ever wanted to see the old man from Home Alone chop off his own fingers with a hatchet and legendary goofball character actor Larry Hankin in a meaty, non-comedic role. It’s a good one.

It was fascinating reading about this true story (which is still a mystery as the bodies were never recovered). I was gonna goof on how the papier-mâché heads looked way too good for a random inmate to have crafted, but look at the real thing (!)...


Amazing! I love stories like this, that — while they're certainly taking liberties to craft the dramatic narrative and fill in the gaps — show the actual details of an historic event (that I was previously unaware of) as true to form as possible. I honestly thought this was pure fiction while I was watching it, and that’s probably the best praise I can give.

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CHRONOLOGICALLY
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Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 American prison action thriller film directed and co-produced by Don Siegel, written by Richard Tuggle, and starring Clint Eastwood alongside Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau, and Larry Hankin with Danny Glover appearing in his film debut. It was released on June 22, 1979.