Escape from Alcatraz [Blu-ray]

I watched this earlier tonight....unplanned...on Prime. I didn't even know Clint Eastwood was in it until it started playing. He did a great job. Everyone did. It was riveting. Great movie, based on the true story. The movie didn't drag at all....it was very interesting, & spellbinding to the end.Definitely a great movie, I'll be watching again & again.

I really like this film. Personally I think while the movie is based on a true story, it's somewhat fictional portrayal of an actual event. Ultimately, I don't think anyone know really what went through the minds of the escapees but this movie does a great job at building up the crew that ultimately made the escape. The Alcatraz escape is probably one of the greatest mysteries of our time as their bodies were never found and no trace of them ever came up. By now they would surely have passed away. The oldest escapee Frank West, that Clint Eastwood plays, was born in 1926 putting his age at 94 (he was born in September) at the time of this review. It's very well possible that he's still alive but I would imagine he'd need assisted living by now and surely the facility would find out that they're dealing with Frank West, one of the escapees.With that said, the film does a very good job at the elaborate escape attempt. Clint Eastwood character, Frank Morris, one day discovers the salty corrosive nature of the sea softens the metal and building material in his cell. So throughout the film Frank discovers way to dig out of his cell and conceal the work. He relays what to do to other cellmates who are in on the escape attempt.The film has a story of the harsh prison life, living with other cellmates and the realities of an unfair system that continues to punish people well beyond their redemption. But the core of the movie, about the escape is rather interesting. The prison has everything they need to escape, but the prisoners, especially Frank, is able to improvise with the equipment they have by doing research. He's reading popular mechanics and other technical books that explains how to do things like build rafts, make drill bits, etc and Frank is able to understand all that and be able to use that skill during his escape. The most elaborate is the fake head that he used to make it appear like he's sleeping in his bunk until daylight exposes the dummy.Overall the movie is very interesting. However, I would be hesitant to say it is entirely true in how they improvised and figured out everything. I think most of it was probably just Johnny on the spot situation where they wanted to escape and tried any way they could think of. I would think, given the technical expertise of research, that Frank would have also thought about the temperature along with his crafting of the raft. I think Frank read it but didn't really understood the dangers beyond simply building an improvised boat that he read about in a magazine.I also find the movie's take to be the most accurate portrayal of the entire escape. Every film I seen always talk about whether the individuals could survive the swim from Alcatraz to the San Francisco mainland. In this film, it seems to be the best case on the technical aspect of it where the escapees applied what they learned to make the escape.A great movie to watch. It is a good film and probably one of the better "prison" movies out there. It's on par with Shawshank Redemption and it doesn't get too violent or bad for the entire family to watch.

Classic

Kinda slow moving with very little dialogue but still fascinating. 3 guys escaped from Alcatraz, the prison from which no one could escape, and apparently were successful. Terrific story.

If you watch enough stupid commercials -- you know, the ones where the dudes hang out in the "man cave" and "reminisce," if reminisce is the right word -- the guys will always watch sports, do high fives, and tell each other "You da man!" even though, in reality, none of them are "da man." Of course, nowadays, since the media wants to make men look bad -- and conversely, make women look good -- you'll always see that the white guys are fat and stupid (and usually balding), while if there is a guy with any redeeming qualities, he will always be a minority. Hey, I don't make the rules, I only observe and report, just like Paul Blart. Another guy who isn't "da man," even though he's a nice guy.But if Clint Eastwood were to star in one of these commercials -- he's way too white and he's way too cool and he's way too smart to do that -- and if another actor were to say to him, "Clint, you're Da Man!" that other guy would be right! Mr. Eastwood IS Da Man. And "D" and "M" must be capitalized, for effect. Man, I tell you, Mr. Eastwood has played the good guy, the bad guy, and the ambiguously good-or-bad guy, and he plays all those guys better than any of those other guys. Heck, he's even cool talking to a chair. (I would rather talk to a chair than Obama myself, but I digress.)And in this film, Mr. Eastwood plays kinda the bad guy -- Frank Morris -- but he plays that character straight. He's not too bad, and he's not too good, just like most people are in the real world, even many criminals. And I really liked the fact that the guards and warden were pretty mean too, but not TOO mean. From interviews that I've seen with guards nowadays at San Quentin (yes, a different prison, but right up the bay), supposedly, guards don't want to be mean to prisoners, unless they absolutely have no choice. Those guards want respect both ways, to make everyone's day easier. I understand. When you work with "Dead Men Walking" on Death Row, you don't want to become a "Dead Man Laying" at the end of the day. (Or is that "lying"? I always struggle with this construction.)I saw this film not long after it initially released in the theater and liked it. After watching it again -- digitally remastered for streaming in 1080P -- I loved it this time. I guess that I've grown to appreciate terrific acting over the years. No one overplays his hand in this film, in particular Mr. Eastwood. Watch the subtle movements of Da Man. He has a real economy of movement here, and it makes sense; if you were in prison, you wouldn't want to bring too much attention to yourself.Did the prisoners actually make it out alive, something that the warden said was impossible for anyone on "The Rock"? Well, maybe, but that's not the point. The point is: Clint Eastwood is Da Man. If he's the good guy; if he's the bad guy; if he's the in-between guy. He'd be cool even if he died trying. And he'd be especially cool just talking to a chair. Something that I'd rather do myself than talk to some people. Hint hint.(BTW: I thought about John Madden while writing this review. I really miss him as a color commentator; I wish he'd unretire. But I tried to write this as if he were saying it, although I added my own political leanings.)

Classic...that's all I have to say!

Vintage Clint !!

A good story

Perhaps one of Clint Eastwoods lesser appreciated films. But this film is a cracker, and in my top 10 best films Eastwood has ever made. I am a massive fan of Eastwood and own every single one of his films and the Raw Hide collection. I have multiple copies of his films on DVD and Bluray, including limited editions, box sets etc. I even have many of the movie sound tracks and recently went to his ranch in Carmel By The Sea and had a wonderful meal. Anyway that's enough showing off, but I just wanted to clarify how much of a fan I am.Escape From Alcatraz is true story about inmate Frank Morris, played brilliantly by Eastwood, who is mastermind escapest with a very high IQ. He is sent to The Rock, and immediately starts planning his escape. Also joining in the escape are brothers, John and Clarence Anglin. They devise a plan by slowly digging away at the vents at the back of their cells which are now damp and corroding with the salt air. The Rock had been a federal prison since 1934 and this film takes place from 1960 to 1962 when the escape takes place on June 11th. The building was completed in 1859 as used as a fort until turned into a military prison in 1907 before becoming a federal prison in 1934 but was closed in 1963 due to high maintenance costs. In 1972 the island was claimed by the National Parks and opened to the public. In 1996 Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage stormed the island to save the San Francisco bay area from being blown up by Ed Harris. OK the last part is fiction, but what a great film The Rock is.Back to the review. But I hope you liked a bit of history of Alcatraz. Eastwood looks lean and menacing in the role of Morris but without being macho. The way the escape is slowly set up with gathering the required tools to bust out is realistic. The shower scene is good when Morris is approached by another inmate wanting to hang out the back of him. Come on man, you can't mess with Clint. Patrick McGoohan plays the warden with a slightly eccentric maner which really works.The film was shot mostly on location at Alcatraz and you can't really tell what are sets and what is the real thing. It's that good, which contributes massively to the mood of the film. I have visited Alcatraz recently and can say 100% how authentic the film is and how the story is portrayed. There are no heroes in this film, just honest, real people who are pretty likeable despite being crims.This film was the last time Eastwood and director Don Siegal worked together. The other films he directed with Eastwood were Coogans Bluff, Two Mules For Sister Sara, Dirty Harry and The Beguiled. Oh and Siegal is the barman in Clints directorial debut, Play Misty For Me. A great team together, who made brilliant films. Eastwoods own style also shows through in the films he has directed and has clearly been influanced by Siegals own style of film making.Escape From Alcatraz is a film everyone should see. Spread the word and get the film more noticed. Just to finish, my top ten Clint Eastwood films, he has been in anyway are:Dirty Harry.The Good The Bad And The Ugly.The Outlaw Josey Wales.Unforgiven.Escape From Alcatraz.Million Dollar Baby.Gran Torino.The Bridges Of Madison County.Play Misty For Me.Thunderbolt And Lightfoot.

Clint Eastwood has the leading role on this fantastic movie. This movie challenges big movies like Shawshank of Redemption and The Green Mile. The story is thrilling and full of action. Its a very harsh and very hard life inside Alcatraz, the warden is a very vindictive person too. Frank( Eastwood) is having none of it. The escape plan takes shape bit by bit and the intensity of making it outside is portrayed in the movie really well. This amazing classic captures the prison life in Alcatraz extremely well. Other have tried years later but this still remains one of the most originally done prison movies. Now the blu ray looks good for its age. Don't expect 10/10 as this a 25+ year old movie but the upgrade is well worth it. The detail is all there. A good job indeed.If you yet are sceptical about the blu ray conversion you don't really need too as you will enjoy it even more on blu ray. Just get it as you won't be disappointed. I certainly I am not. I love the movie and my eyes agreeing with me.

Alactraz 1962, this film is based on a true story of the escape of 3 convicts, Frank Morris (Eastwood) & brothersJohn & Clarence Anglin, from the island prison on the rock, with a series of ingenious manoeuvres that took a year to complete, & out foxing the cruel warden, played here by "Danger Man" himself Patrick Mcgoohan who suspects anybody & anything, the film covers everthing that the trio did, including paper mache' dummy heads with hair to fool the nightime patrols.But the question is did they survive or drown ? they were officially never seen again,I also got the documentary DVD "Breakout from Alcatraz" for the real "true story" with rumours of a waiting boat that picked them up & whisked them to foreign climes, with sightings reported, the story is compulsive viewing & you do wish there was a happy ending for them, but you will have to make your own choice.

A film featuring an escape plot from a high security prison titled Alcratra starring Clint Eastwood as one of leaders of the four gangs, Frank Morris. It also featured Fred Ward (later of Remo fame) as one of the Anglin brothers. It provides fact or fiction insights on life in the prison in San Francisco Bay back in the early 1960s prior to the breakout.

'Clint Eastwood' gives a gritty and convincing performance as bankrobber 'Frank Morris'He's sent to serve out his remaining term of imprisonment at theinfamous 'Alcatraz' penitentiary.'Frank' has a history of escaping prison, however 'Alcatraz' has areputation to uphold......nobody escapes.compelling viewing.the film is based on factual accounts leading up to the escape.also filmed on location at 'San Francisco's' notorious prison.unlike many of the Blu-ray transfers of 'Clint's' movies some efforthas been made in terms of picture quality, though still some ways short ofwhat I believe could be achieved when the film company's have the will to do so.