Within a week I've watched a show about breaking out of prison and a movie about a guy breaking his wife out of prison (and I'm not talking about the prison break movie either). So in honor of this sub-sub-genre here are the ten best according to me.
10. I was a Fugitive on a Chain Gang
More about not getting caught after escaping, this is an impressive film even in today's standards. The ending is one of the greatest ending I've ever seen. (Darn I hate doing that, blowing something up but it really left me breathless.
9. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
Clint Eastwood stars in a Don Segal film based on true events. Three men plan the perfect escape. Will it go as planned or will something go wrong?
8. Papillon (1973)
Another true story about Henri Charrière, a man sent to Devil's Island and along with a friend try to escape. Steve McQueen is great in this film but it's Dustin Hoffman who shines.
7. Stalag 17 (1953)
Billy Wilder directs William Holden in a film about American G.I.s doing their duty of escaping out of a German Prisoners of War Camp. Excellent fun.
6. Chicken Run (2000)
The guys who brought us Wallace and Gromit take us on a Great Escape Spoof with chickens.
5. A Man Escaped (1956)
What's with these true stories? This one directed by Robert Besson is based on André Devigny's memoir.
4. Rescue Dawn (2007)
Okay, second to last true story: this one about Dieter Dengler and his times in a Vietnam prisoners of war camp. Christain Bale is in top form as is Steven Zahn. What do you expect from the director Werner Herzog, especially when he knew the real Dieter and made a documentary about the guy.
3. The Great Escape (1963)
With an all-star cast John Sturges takes the audience on a inspiring and gut-wrenching account of prisoners of war trying to escape the Nazis. While similar in plot ot Stalag 17, this one is more epic telling what is a true story.
2. Grand Illusion (1937)
What's with all these prisoners of war? This one deal with WWI Frenchmen and it really is a masterpiece. It's one of the greatest film ever made and still rings true with its themes.
1. Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The best is this adapation of Stephen King's novella. Frank Darabout directs what is in my eyes a perfect film. Tim Robbins stars as Andy Dufresne who is wrongfully sent to prison where he befriends Red played by Morgan Freeman. What's great about this story is that you forget that Andy is even trying to escape. The years fall by until you become as used to the characters as if you too were doing time with them. Remarkable.
Honorable Mention
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Inspired by many on this list, Pixar gives us all the goods with Woody and gang escaping a daycare center run by a dictator Bear. It's funny, it's emotional, and it's a perfect end to a great trilogoy.
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Paul Newman acts in one of his best performances. The egg scene is one of the great classic moments in American film.
No comments:
Post a Comment