**Warning! Mild Plot Spoilers Ahead!**
When "No Escape" was pitched to a studio, I'm sure it sounded like a great idea. Once in a while during the movie, the excellence shines through. But for the most part, it's an average at best action flick.
The concept is quite interesting. In 2022, the prison reserved for the worst criminals is actually an island called Absalom. Within that island, a dominant chief (Stuart Wilson) has formed a twisted. In opposition to his brutality, a minority has broken away as 'freedom fighters' of an ilk.
The environment of the island is the highlight of the "No Escape." The flora is lush; the costumes are natural and rugged; the look of the prisoners is fitting. Unfortunately, not enough history of the island is provided. Rather than explain how the prison came into existence, the movie simply presents it as fact without exposition. Some movies have too much backstory, but this one needed more.
Stuart Wilson as Merak is the undisputed highlight of the cast. He gleefully oozes evil confidence throughout the movie, appearing to know that his situation borders on ludicrous. Ray Liotta is slightly above servicable as the action hero; he brings more cerebral qualities to the role, but in a part that requires a little bit of thinking, that works. Everyone else is adequate, providing what the role asks and not much more. Everyone except Kevin Dillon that is. He whines throughout the entire movie and serves little to no purpose. When he meets his fate, it's a relief, not a disappointment.
The storyline is typical. If you've ever watched a movie, you know more or less what will happen, especially over the last thirty minutes. There wasn't much else to do with the ending, given the situation, but the process of getting there isn't strong enough to support the cliches.
Bottom Line: Mediocre but fairly watchable entertainment. 5 of 10.
When "No Escape" was pitched to a studio, I'm sure it sounded like a great idea. Once in a while during the movie, the excellence shines through. But for the most part, it's an average at best action flick.
The concept is quite interesting. In 2022, the prison reserved for the worst criminals is actually an island called Absalom. Within that island, a dominant chief (Stuart Wilson) has formed a twisted. In opposition to his brutality, a minority has broken away as 'freedom fighters' of an ilk.
The environment of the island is the highlight of the "No Escape." The flora is lush; the costumes are natural and rugged; the look of the prisoners is fitting. Unfortunately, not enough history of the island is provided. Rather than explain how the prison came into existence, the movie simply presents it as fact without exposition. Some movies have too much backstory, but this one needed more.
Stuart Wilson as Merak is the undisputed highlight of the cast. He gleefully oozes evil confidence throughout the movie, appearing to know that his situation borders on ludicrous. Ray Liotta is slightly above servicable as the action hero; he brings more cerebral qualities to the role, but in a part that requires a little bit of thinking, that works. Everyone else is adequate, providing what the role asks and not much more. Everyone except Kevin Dillon that is. He whines throughout the entire movie and serves little to no purpose. When he meets his fate, it's a relief, not a disappointment.
The storyline is typical. If you've ever watched a movie, you know more or less what will happen, especially over the last thirty minutes. There wasn't much else to do with the ending, given the situation, but the process of getting there isn't strong enough to support the cliches.
Bottom Line: Mediocre but fairly watchable entertainment. 5 of 10.