7 February 2022

Escape from New York

 Escape from New York 1981

  • Director: John Carpenter
  • Based on novel: no
  • Cast: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernst Borgnine, Donald Pleasance, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau
  • Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
    • Kurt Russell – Once upon a Time in Hollywood, The Hateful Eight, Overboard, Silkwood, Swing Shift
    • Ernest Borgnine – something, I’m sure
    • Donald Pleasance - something, I’m sure
    • Harry Dean Stanton – many
    • Isaac Hayes – his music
  •  Why?  Sci fi classic
  • Seen:  3 February 2022 

Manhattan has become a high-security prison. The president (Pleasance) has been kidnapped and there are nuclear weapons involved and the world is in danger. Snake (Russell), war hero and major thief, is coerced into rescuing the president within 22 hours.

The concept is mildly appealing, but Snake is an obnoxious macho type with a fake tough-guy voice and the story is boring with lots of holes in the logic. Simple-minded puerile rubbish. There are some nice gloomy visuals and Kurt Russell has pretty hair but otherwise, no way the masterpiece some fans would have it. 

1* of 5

 

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