Counter Culture

• Director: Mikael Håfström
• Writers: Miles Chapman (screenplay), Jason Keller(screenplay)
• Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 50 Cent
• Runtime: 115 min
• Argentina:16 / Australia:MA15+ / Canada:14A (British Columbia) / Denmark:15 / France:U / Germany:16 / Hong Kong:IIB / Hungary:16 / India:A / Ireland:15A / Japan:G / Malaysia:18 / Mexico:B15 / Netherlands:16 / New Zealand:R16 / Peru:14 / Philippines:R-13 / Portugal:M/16 / Singapore:NC-16 / South Korea:18 / Sweden:15 / Switzerland:14 / UK:15 / USA:R (certificate #48233)

A master of breaking out of prisons for a living to test security,Ray Breslin played by Stallone, is ‘disappeared’ into a secure facility that isn’t known to officially exist. The man running this facility (Hobbes) is played by Jim Caviezel.

An old timer, played by Schwartzenegger, befriends Stallone’s character while inside the secure lock-up. Together they hatch a plan to escape. This part of the film is almost as interesting and entertaining as the start of the film which shows Stallone’s character breaking out of a high security prison using a toilet roll.

There are more innovative uses of household items later on in the film but I won’t spoil it for you by telling you about them.

The beginning of this film is promising and the middle still holds interest but I have to say I was let down towards the end. I’ve seen a few prison movies and this one isn’t as good as say, Fortress starring Christopher Lambert. Another good prison related film, starring Jim Caviezel again but as the prisoner (not a screw like he is in Escape Plan) is of course The Count of Monte Cristo.

Now back to Escape Plan. I think, the writers came up with a great beginning and middle of a film but that they struggled to figure out how to bring it to a climax and draw it to a close. Stallone’s character gets a very raw deal and although there is closure at the end – it’s not satisfying enough and it’s rushed. The film could have done with being 20 minutes longer to really explain everything properly and give viewers more satisfaction.

Reviewed by Alistair Martin