Wednesday 5 January 2011

The Breakout (1975)

***
"Sentenced to 28 years in prison for a crime he never committed. Only two things can get him out - A lot of money and Charles Bronson!"

With a cast that includes the likes of Charles Bronson, Robert Duvall, John Huston, Randy Quaid, Jill Ireland and Sheree North to name but a few, you can forgive me when I say that I went into this film half expecting an original Expendables type movie (of which I am not a fan) but I was wrong, and by some distance too. Although Bronson does speak like an aging Stallone, the movie lacks a little speed and action. Something which The Expendables does not lack, however poorly executed it was. That really is a crying shame as i'm sure it could have been great. As it turns out, it's just a very decent watch.
Bronson plays Nick Colton, a bush pilot who gets hired by Ann Wagner (Ireland) to help bust out her husband Jay (Duvall), who was wrongly imprisoned for 28 years for a crime he never committed.
Nick accepts a rather strange amount of money to help free Jay, 1200 to be precise. And 39 Dollars. And 52 Cents. Cash!
It then plays out with Nick making various attempts at rescuing Jay from his prison in Mexico, with the help of various people and the money supply from the mega rich Ann. The film also sees a young Randy Quaid play a drag queen in one failed breakout attempt. And look out for the sweatiest of sweat patches by Bronson too, that guy can perspire with the very best.
It's a good solid 70's flick which I liked, I just didn't love it.

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