Escape from Alcatraz

It’s always a pleasure to soak in a good old movie; and even more a pleasure when it’s a real-life Crime/Drama. Written by J. Campbell Bruce and Richard Tuggle and Directed by Don Diegel, this 1979 film was written and re-enacted based on real evidence of the June 1962 escape from high security island prison ‘Alcatraz’. Starring Clint Eastwood (The Good,the Bad and the Ugly) as main mastermind behind the escape ‘Frank Morris’ and Jack Thibeau and Fred Ward as the ‘Anglin brothers’ this film was an excellent portrayal into the lives of men who won’t ever be forgotten. 

Each character brought something special to the screen but I think it would have been even more interesting if the director brought a little back-story to the real lives of the men who escaped, further widening the believability that indeed they were clever enough to pull off such an attempt successfully. Siegel did a magnificent job at really capturing the details that went into this escape. I felt that Eastwood’s interpretation of Morris was a good choice because someone with high IQ and gifted such as he would try to keep a low-profile and keep focused on what he needed to get done.

Definitely ‘JourneywithJair recommended’ for a night of incredible thrill!

Hereafter

There's something about Europe. There's something about the music…the people…how old it is…and the romance…something about love. There's something about life, and also about death. About the beauty that lives within all of us and the connections that stir if we allow it to be. The joy that radiates when it's right, the sadness that envelopes us when we feel loss and the truth that is the truth, that will always be the truth.

Clint Eastwood, a man that brought us American Western classics, with his charm, raspy voice and good-looks, swooning of many of our mother's hearts, and admired to our father's for his gun-slinging and brave ways; also now in his mature years continues to wow us, the children turning into adults, at his grand capability to captivate us with his story techniques; not only with his acting, but his writing, his directing and musical scores. We all know of Million Dollar Baby (2004) that showed where determination can take you and pivoted Hilary Swank into Hollywood's finest. Gran Torino (2008) which received 7 acclaimed nominations and 15 prestigious awards with some pretty hefty subject matter; well here is another beauty with much more controversial subject matter and it is expected that for a topic that we human beings still refuse to speak about that it would be such a hush-hush even among the film critics. Hereafter 2010 made me cry; not just with sadness but with incredible joy at the way Mr. Eastwood was able to combine historical events and the lives of strangers altogether explaining both life and death and in such a free way. Going where many fear to go and allowing skeptics to witness a glimpse of the truth within our grasps if we would only take time out to know it.

The soundtrack was adapted from the Lullaby of Sia Furler written by Samuel Dixon and Sia Furler. Although it made less than half back in America of its $50,000,000 budget, it grossed $103,800,000 worldwide. In this film the audience was given a vision of the next world, not just for our American star Matt Damon who plays George Lonegan that has the special gift, but we also follow Marie Lelay in France, played by expressive Belgium-born Cecile De France, as well as Marcus the small boy played by Frankie and George McLaren whom in my opinion stole the show with his placid and pining eyes.

A fine job done by the international crews, Warner Bros (America, Germany, France); as well as exceptional performances by all of the film's actors; one that I shan't forget along with native California born and bred American superstar Clint Eastwood!

Quite a delightful film if you're open to feel something out of the ordinary. Something real, something true, something that is and will always be. J