With
a
wafer-thin
plot
line
and
two
iconic
action
heroes
in
one
frame,
Escape
Plan
offers
a
predictably
rousing
fare
that
could
act
as
a
tutorial
for
prisoners
intending
to
break
free.The
first
30
minutes
of
the
film
drags,
though
there
is
ample
action
-
both
physical
and
verbal.
The
screen
lights
up
only
when
Stallone
hooks
up
with
Schwarzenegger
to
collaborate
against
Hobbes
and
his
cronies.
Though
Mikael
Hafstrom's
film
is
spiked
with
intelligent
analytical
skills,
bullets,
brawls
and
wit,
the
film
lacks
the
punch.
While
the
actors
punch
each
other,
the
entire
action
seems
fake
and
anticipated
in
an
especially
drawn-out
plot.
In
fact,
at
one
stage
when
Schwarzenegger
mockingly
informs
Stallone,
"You
hit
like
a
vegetarian",
it
just
makes
you
realise
how
true
he
is.The
film
is
supported
by
a
team
of
brilliant
actors
that
include,
Sam
Neill
as
Dr.
Emil
Kaikev,
Farhan
Thahir
as
Javeed,
Vincent
D'Onofrio
as
Lester
Clark,
Breslin's
Manager
and
Amy
Ryan
as
Abigail,
Breslin's
colleague.
They
provide
extra
seriousness
to
the
narration
that
the
script
doesn't
really
deserve.
The
production
value
of
the
film
is
good.
The
vertical
cells
with
glass
walls
and
frugal
layout
patrolled
by
identically
masked
men
gives
a
very
futuristic
feel.
Story
The
film
begins
in
a
very
linear,
clandestine
fashion
where
a
prisoner
(Sylvester
Stallone),
after
escaping
from
the
tightly
secured
Bendwater
Penitentiary
Institution,
Colorado,
reveals
to
the
officials
that
he
is
Ray
Breslin,
a
consultant
and
security
expert
who
exposes
the
vulnerabilities
of
the
state
prisons.
He
further
gives
the
jailor
a
step-by-step
detailed
account
of
how
he
managed
to
break
free.
While
the
jail
officials
are
not
happy
with
the
revelation,
the
CIA
approaches
Ray
Breslin
and
his
team
with
an
assignment
to
check
the
loopholes
in
one
of
the
new
facility
for
the
world's
most
dangerous
criminals.
The
whereabouts
of
this
facility
are
not
disclosed
for
security
reasons.
Lured
with
a
promising
fee,
Breslin's
manager
pushes
him
to
accept
the
offer
saying,
"I
am
the
numbers
guy
and
you
are
the
artist
who
can
escape
from
any
prison
made
by
man." Breslin
concedes.
The
flow
of
events
doesn't
go
as
planned.
Nevertheless,
Breslin
lands
up
in
this
tightly
secured
place
and
finds
himself
at
the
mercy
of
the
prison's
sadistic
warden
Hobbes
(Jim
Caviezel).
After
evaluating
his
chances
of
escape
as
practically
impossible,
he
reveals
his
true
identity
to
Hobbes.
But
the
warden
refuses
to
listen,
leaving
him
with
no
alternative
but
to
try
the
impossible.
Performances
Stallone
and
Schwarzenegger,
both
action
heroes
have
intense
harmony
on
screen.
They
complement
each
other
with
their
histrionics
and
banter.
While
Schwarzenegger
is
charismatic
and
chirpy,
Stallone
broods
with
his
constantly
grumpy
mannerisms.
What's
more?
The
exposition
of
Breslin's
motive
is
lost
in
Stallone's
drawl,
thereby
killing
the
entire
emotional
spirit
of
the
tale.
Jim
Caviezel
is
sleek
and
polished
as
the
sharp
and
wicked
warden.
His
soft-spoken
intellectualism
contrasts
well
against
the
beefy
pair.
Verdict
What's
good
about
Escape
Plan
is
that
it
is
clean
and
not
at
all
contemptuous
till
the
very
end.
Watch
it
if
you
are
Stallone
or
Schwarzenegger
fans.
Cast:
Sylvester
Stallone,
Arnold
Schwarzenegger,
Vincent
D'Onofrio,
Jim
Caviezel,
Sam
Neill,
Amy
Ryan
and
Farhan
Tahir
Director:
Mikael
Hafstrom
IANS