'No Escape' aka 'Escape From Absolom' is a 1994 venture into prisons run by corporations and all about profit. It's a theme that's been done in other films, but not this exact same way. Prisoners who can't be rehabilitated are sent to this island in the middle of nowhere with almost no chance of escape.
Newly arrived ex-military man Robbins (Liotta) quickly learns about the two factions. The obvious evil group of criminals who would fit right at home in a Mad Max sequel with Marek (Stuart Wilson) as their pseudo leader. Violent, dirty, dark costumes, etc. Then there's the Insiders. A more peaceful group of cons who are massively outnumbered and lead by Father (Lance Henriksen). They try to live a normal existence of necessary tasks and defense from their foes.
It's primarily an action flick - with an emphasis on hand to hand combat - but also the regulatory prison-break yarn (especially for Liotta's character). It's really a case in what you see is what you get. Robbins isn't a hard guy to route for or understand, but he's one note (like most of the movie). Some unnecessary stunts he pulls I guess to show how fearless, cool or tough he is.
He goes through most of the story having perfected the thousand mile stare too. Marek is a decent bad guy with some flair, but isn't new territory. Father (Henriksen) provides a moral compass while a bunch of familiar faces in the cast - Ernie Hudson, Kevin Dillon, Kevin J. O'Connor and Michael Lerner - provide color or cliché moments.
'No Escape' works on a basic level. It's certainly made well. Nice production values. However it doesn't have anything new to say. Everything felt like it was going through the motions. Fellow fans of Liotta or Henriksen will be satisfied though.
Newly arrived ex-military man Robbins (Liotta) quickly learns about the two factions. The obvious evil group of criminals who would fit right at home in a Mad Max sequel with Marek (Stuart Wilson) as their pseudo leader. Violent, dirty, dark costumes, etc. Then there's the Insiders. A more peaceful group of cons who are massively outnumbered and lead by Father (Lance Henriksen). They try to live a normal existence of necessary tasks and defense from their foes.
It's primarily an action flick - with an emphasis on hand to hand combat - but also the regulatory prison-break yarn (especially for Liotta's character). It's really a case in what you see is what you get. Robbins isn't a hard guy to route for or understand, but he's one note (like most of the movie). Some unnecessary stunts he pulls I guess to show how fearless, cool or tough he is.
He goes through most of the story having perfected the thousand mile stare too. Marek is a decent bad guy with some flair, but isn't new territory. Father (Henriksen) provides a moral compass while a bunch of familiar faces in the cast - Ernie Hudson, Kevin Dillon, Kevin J. O'Connor and Michael Lerner - provide color or cliché moments.
'No Escape' works on a basic level. It's certainly made well. Nice production values. However it doesn't have anything new to say. Everything felt like it was going through the motions. Fellow fans of Liotta or Henriksen will be satisfied though.