Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? No.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? If you like thrillers.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 103 minutes (~1.75 hours)
“No Escape” is an action thriller. It revolves around a father’s attempt to escape a war torn foreign country with his family. It stars Owen Wilson (Jack Dwyer), Lake Bell (Annie Dwyer), Pierce Brosnan (Hammond), Sterling Jerins (Lucy Dwyer), and Claire Geare (Beeze Dwyer). It is rated NC-16.
“No Escape” is a fairly mundane film that doesn’t push any envelopes, nor does it give you amazing insight into human nature. While it does have a decent amount of action, that alone is not enough to carry the film through. It also presents a hackneyed, xenophobic attitude to differing cultures, which is puzzling and anachronistic in this day and age.
Highlight
Gritty violence
If there’s one thing this movie has for it, it’s the unabashed violence of the antagonists. They shoot with wild abandon, and bodies literally litter the sets. There’s blood and pain everywhere, with our protagonists getting increasing hurt as the movie goes on. This helps to highlight the danger that the main characters are in, since the villains of the movie are wanton killers seeking to right a perceived injustice. And anything that raises the stakes will result in increased tension, stronger conflict and a more compelling reason to root for our heroes.
Letdowns
Shaky camera shots
There’s nothing wrong with handheld camera shots – they feel more authentic and serve to immerse you in the word of the film. And some level of imperfection adds to the gritty realism of the movie. The problem is that during the action scenes, the shaky shots go into overdrive, making it hard for you to see what’s happening – especially in small, crowded scenes. It feels like the director is out of control and they’re using those shots for lack of something better.
Owen Wilson isn’t convincing
His speech patterns still, unfortunately, are those of a comedian. So when he delivers important exposition or crucial information, you’re not quite sure how you should take it. Yes, in the context of the film you know he’s serious, but his portrayal just doesn’t make it seem like he’s taking it seriously. As a result, you’re not quite convinced that he’s in real danger or the the threat of the film is genuine.
Portrayal of Asia
They don’t even mention the country until more than halfway through the film – it’s just references to “Asia” and how it’s not even a third world country, but a fourth world country. And even then, it’s the neighbouring country they mention, not where the movie takes place. No wonder the bad guys are out to kill all Americans. With such stereotypes, coupled with the portrayal of Asia as only a step away from barbarism, this cliched representation of an entire continent that irks and frustrates.
Antagonists are faceless
There’s no single villain to focus on or to build an enmity with. Instead, they’re an unreasonable hoard of unintelligible mooks that are just waiting for our heroes to mow down. They feel more like an obstacle than an actual antagonist, and this dehumanises them all.
“No Escape” makes a significant attempt to rise above its bland premise and miscast stars. Ultimately, it fails to overcome these flaws, and results in a film that excels in action but is mediocre in every other aspect.
“No Escape” opens in cinemas 27 August, 2015 (Thursday).
This review was also published on Yahoo.
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