The Escapist
Short description
Frank Perry is serving a life sentence without parole and has been in prison for twelve years. When he learns that his estranged daughter is seriously ill, he becomes determined to reach her, and that means getting out. Since he cannot manage an escape alone, he gathers a group of fellow inmates who have little in common and no particular fondness for one another, but who share his wish to leave the prison behind.
The film is directed by Rupert Wyatt, who wrote the screenplay with Daniel Hardy. It was Wyatt's first feature, released in 2008, and he went on to direct four further films, including Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011 and The Gambler in 2014. Brian Cox plays Frank, with Damian Lewis, Joseph Fiennes, Seu Jorge, Liam Cunningham and Dominic Cooper among the cast. The production was a British and Irish venture, running 102 minutes.
On IMDb the film holds a rating of 6.7 from around 18,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 6.2 from roughly 271 votes. A critics' rating of 6.4 from 45 reviews places it close to the audience scores, suggesting a moderate but consistent reception across both groups.
What's left behind the scenes
- According to director and screenwriter Rupert Wyatt, the film's plot is based on Ambrose Bierce's (1842-1913) story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (1890). This book is read by a character played by Brian Cox and shown to the character played by Damian Lewis towards the end of the film.
- The role of Frank Perry was written specifically for Brian Cox. Rupert Wyatt, the director and one of the screenwriters, did this. He had previously worked with Cox and dreamed of working with him again. Once, Cox refused an offer to play a supporting role, which Wyatt had initially offered him, and in turn suggested that Wyatt write a screenplay with him, Cox, in the lead role, and Wyatt did so.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
