ThiefHott Too much of everything

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

ChanBot i must have seen a different film!!

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Michael_Elliott Breakout (1975) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Jay Wagner (Robert Duvall) is convicted of a murder he didn't commit because his evil father-in-law (John Huston) wants him out of the way. His wife Ann (Jill Ireland) decides to try and get him out by going to the tough Nick Colton (Charles Bronson). Nick agrees to take the job and must find a way to break into a Mexican prison and get the husband out.BREAKOUT sounds like an exciting and fun movie but sadly it's pretty flawed and the end result isn't nearly as good as one would have hoped. It's really too bad because you've got a story that was based on a true story and you've got a terrific cast yet the screenplay is somewhat all over the place and even worse is the direction by Tom Gries as it is pretty laid back and there's really not too much style on display.What keeps the film slightly entertaining are the actors. This here is a rather interesting role for Bronson because he's playing the typical tough guy that his fans love but there's another side to this character as he's really a happy-go-lucky type of person. There are countless scenes throughout the movie where Bronson is smiling and having a good time, which is something we don't usually get to see the actor do. I actually thought it was a fine performance and yes it was interesting and fun getting to see him smile.The supporting players have some very recognizable names starting off with Duvall. The screenplay really doesn't do too much with his character because most of the time when we see him he's either in a hospital bed or attacking Ireland. As far as Ireland goes, she too is better than normal here as she does a nice job playing the concerned wife. It was fun seeing Huston in his small role, although, once again, the screenplay really doesn't do much for his character. You've also got Randy Quaid and Sheree North adding some entertainment value.The film's biggest handicap other than the screenplay is the fact that it's just not all that intense. The film takes a good forty-minutes or so to get started and then from here you're basically entertained because of the cast but there's just not enough action, thrills or adventure here. The most memorable thing about the picture happens towards the end when one man meets a plane in a way you wouldn't want to.

RealLiveClaude As Charles Bronson was one of the action stars of the 70s, this one pass well, however, as for the story, a bit of suspense but not very surprised, would have liked to see more substance. However, great to see Jill Ireland in a good role, and Robert Duvall doing what he does best.However, Bronson does the show here, wisecracking and outgoing guy, not wanting to do the job first (money talks, eh ?) but finally goes for the challenge, even if it's risky...Good to watch on a rainy night, especially for Charles Bronson's fans and typical 70s movie fare.

Bolesroor Before I discuss "Breakout," I have to discuss my love for Charles Bronson, specifically his action films of the 70's and 80's. To me, he was an entirely original movie star...his performances, which many dismiss as "wooden," were in my opinion brilliantly under-stated, especially at a time when characters in movies were forced to be increasingly- sometimes distractingly- complex. Bronson serviced the story; no worrying about what his protagonists were "feeling," or whether they had unresolved issues with their father... no tortured moralizing of a Shakespeare tragic hero- Bronson just Was. He showed up and the movie began, and what makes his movies so engaging and enduring is that you can focus on the story at hand. His films look deceptively simple, but they never fail to suck you in and take you away.Now for "Breakout"... as many IMDb reviewers have noted, it's not a perfect film. But Bronson is so natural, so charming, that he somehow makes it work. His scenes with Jill Ireland have a wonderful chemistry, and his being hired by this willful woman reminded me a little of Bogart in "The African Queen." He's also funnier in this movie than in any other… he has a silly charisma that helps him con his friends and seduce innocent people into his poorly-planned rescue attempts.The movie also has wonderful cinematography, and a "big" visual feel… especially the over-the-shoulder helicopter shots that include the car following on the road below. And Sheree North is a great as Bronson's friend who begs him to rape her. Since I try to be fair in my reviews about the positives and negatives in any film, I have to be honest about the flaws that drove me crazy.First, we are never given a clear explanation for why Robert Duvall's character is framed and sent to jail. John Huston's scenes as Duvall's evil grandfather seem chopped-up and out-of-place. It wouldn't surprise me to discover they were filmed by a second-unit director. And if Huston wanted Duvall in jail, why was he willing to finance Jill Ireland's efforts to get him out? The opening sequence is never explained, in which an anonymous prisoner pays off guards in order to escape and then is shot and killed by a fellow inmate after changing into street clothes and walking off. At one point in the film Duvall tries to smuggle out of prison in a coffin when the sadistic guards lower the coffin into a grave and bury him alive. In the next scene, Duvall is alive, with no explanation given (!) Later on Jill Ireland tells Bronson that Duvall is sick and confined to the prison hospital, but we had no way of knowing that before... also, we get no explanation of what his illness is, although he stays sick until the end of the film.Alright so I'm nit-picking. The fact of the matter is that "Breakout" is Charles Bronson at his best, and if you want to know why the man was a star, this is the film to watch. He's great in "Death Wish" and "Mr. Majestyk" but here he gives one of his most energetic, strong, and sweet performances. He serves the story and he makes the movie fun... and that's why I love Bronson. Catch it if you can!GRADE: B-NOTE: Watch during the frisking sequence near the beginning of the movie for the woman who is "molested" by the guards. She is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. She is not listed in the credits but I'm offering a thousand dollars to anyone who can tell me her name.

SimonJack Once in awhile I find a comment on a movie so close to the way I saw and would assess the film, that I couldn't contribute much, if anything, to it. So, I usually don't add my own comments. The few occasions when I have done so have been where the film hasn't had a large number of votes at all and where its average rating is considerably lower than I think it should be. Since I find the IMDb comments on movies very helpful for deciding films to watch or buy, I like to help give viewers a little more of a selection of comments when there isn't much offered. Such is the case with "Breakout," and the comments of July 9, 2002, submitted by Curtis Martin of Bothell, Washington. He's right on target in his assessment of Charles Bronson films over the years, and his take on the quality of this film for having some substance, with good acting from a stellar cast. I would just add that it's refreshing at times, I think, to see a film in which not everything is perfectly pulled off the first time. It makes it a little more real. And that's especially good in a film that is based on a true story. Even if Hollywood may fictionalize some of the characters and incidents. People make mistakes, things go wrong, and plans sometimes don't work. And people often don't give up. This film has such a touch of reality, and a great mix of humor, human- ness, stunts and action. A really fun and quality gem of a film that's better than the bulk of movies put out so far in the third millennium.