The Escapist

When in Los Angeles a few years ago, I went to talk to an agent who represented Brian Cox in America and since then have followed his career more keenly. His translation from English heavyweight theatrical to an international film actor is unusual and he gave us a bit of an insight into this when he chatted to the audience after a screening by Popcorn Taxi recently.

They said he liked a chat and he does. His phone conversation from New York, full of theatrical anecdotes told us about his decision to go to America where he believed he would be a 'character support'- but this film came about after he had expressed a desire to be more. When Rupert Wyatt came to him with a script, he asked him to go back and write him a leading role and, when Wyatt did so he joined the movie as exec. producer and helped get finance for it.

It is beautifully shot and edited and, though full of violence suppressed and real does not step over the border that runs between unbearable and bearable. The camera drifts away when something nasty looks like happening to the beautiful Dominic Cooper and we only cop an eyeful when the most loathed character is roundly thumped and left for dead.

The plot lives on several different levels and in our world of many escapes, it can be taken on all of them. I liked the changes in tense and the weird intercuts between what we hope and what we see. I loved Damian Lewis in another fantastic variation of himself...the first I have seen since the telly production of 'Life'. A very loathsome reptile he can be too. Stranger than that is the Joseph Fiennes character. Fiennes has to go a long way to stop me seeing him as a Siamese cat and cast as he is as a physical heavy complete with scary hood, he does a great job of it.

It is set in the goal which was used for Noel Coward's scene in the original 'Italian Job.' But now it is not bright and chatty as it seemed when Coward sat there in glory, stroking a cat. Dark and claustrophobic, the impression of caged testosterone is palpable.

When this movie was reviewed on Tuesday night on ABC radio, it was described as 'not a Chick Flick' by two cheerful chappies. Well, I suppose that depends on what sort of chick you are. I loved it. Hurry along.

To see a trailer of 'The Escapist' click here: