Breakout (1975)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Dreadfully Boring

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Robert Duvall must have felt like the Count Of Monte Cristo in Breakout. Not sharing in his wealthy grandfather's right-wing business type politics, Duvall is framed for a murder in Mexico while he's in Chile flown back and sentenced to a Mexican prison for 28 years. Only the fact that he's grandfather John Huston's blood saves him from execution. Or more than likely he would have been executed forthwith with all the problems he's causing.The thought that his own family could be responsible does not even factor into Duvall's wife Jill Ireland trying to free him. For that she goes to commercial pilot Charles Bronsonto get the job done. Bronson's good for a dishonest dollar if you have enough of them. He and assistant Randy Quaid will do what they have to and in Quaid's case it involves one attempt with Quaid in drag.Bronson proves to have a droll sense of humor in this film. The drag business with Randy Quaid is one example, another is his use of Sheree North who is married to deputy sheriff Roy Jenson and the girl needs some spending loot. Sheree has some of the best scenes in Breakout.Charles Bronson fans should be very happy with Breakout at how he beats some considerable odds stacked against him.

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.

Charles as Nick plays the character of Victor(Vic). Typically the movie doesn't follow the actual story so accurately. If you want the real story, Vic is still alive and well into his 80's. I haven't seen him in a few months but, he truly was the first to break anyone out of prison using a helicopter. Leave me a message on here, i am sure he would enjoy telling you the real story as he seems to get a bit bored now and then sitting in his office for hours on end. Anytime you see a helicopter in a move breaking someone out of prison, well, this is where it all started. Knowing him as well as i do, i am certain he wouldn't mind some conversation on the story, the movie, or anything for that matter.

This ready-made Charles Bronson vehicle with a better then expected cast (Robert Duvall, John Huston, Randy Quaid, Jill Ireland and Sheree North) doesn't really take flight and ends up being nothing much but ho-hum charades. Bronson's bright, casual performance and Lucien Ballard's scenically polished cinematography are what eventually carries this highly systematic, limp and basically no frills prison breakout get-up. The light, old-fashioned story stays direct, even with its muddled sub-plot involving why the captor is in prison, but in the long run it's by the numbers. There's nothing wrong with providing us something that's not original, but there's very little suspense and action drawn upon the cracking situation. Tom Gries' direction is static, and plodding, as the momentum slowly increases to end with a memorable climax with a plane repeller. Gries is well served upon striking up a rough appeal, but lacks a slam-bang attitude. It stays quite talkative, and the breezy script flows with humorous jibs that Bronson seems well suited to. The music score might not me be anything special, but Jerry Goldsmith does a resourceful job in orchestrating some titillating cues. The support cast of John Huston, Randy Quaid and a buoyant Sheree North are an enjoyable attraction of fun. Robert Duvall plays it dreary, and confused and Jill Ireland came across superficially bland. There's an interesting bunch of minor support parts by Paul Mantee, Alejandro Rey, Roy Jenson, Jorge Moreno and Alan Vint. Bronson is the major draw-card, and deservedly so as it's his well lit performance (and his constant urge for a can of beer) manages to keep you watching. Modest at best.