Breakout

That crazy Charles Bronson is at it again (chuckle). Welcome to the world of the ‘bum in a funny hat’ as he helps a married woman bust her old man outta the joint. Bronson plays Nick Colton, a pilot eking out a meagre living on the American border with Mexico. With creditors a-knockin’, fortune smiles when some lady (Jill Ireland) turns up wanting her husband, convicted of a crime he (naturally) didn’t commit, snatched from the Mexican prison system. When his first attempt fails, due to the missus giving him less information than he needed, she hires him again and again until he gets it right.

It’s all at once a kind of pointless movie, with attempt after attempt failing and the con (Robert Duvall sporting a little hair) getting weaker and sicker. Colton and his chums have a strange relationship, particularly the local sheriff’s wife, with whom it would appear a younger Colton had relations with. Her comments upon arrival in Mexico near the film’s end are so offensively politically incorrect as to be ludicrous. I know it was 1975 when this was made, but come on! How could women find rape amusing, let alone men?

All that aside, this is a watchable film, though toward the end you may find yourself saying "Is that it?". It’s a rather lacklustre story with a brooding sexual chemistry between Bronson and Ireland vaguely hinted at, but never developed. A lot of the film is like that, actually. Around the end when things are getting tied up, a finalé fight scene seems stilted and tacked on. Then, the storyline regarding that guy isn’t even touched again, although there are still questions in the air and answers to be had. That’s just annoying. So not only have you endured this film with several dead ends and wasted celluloid, you don’t even get the whole story when it’s done. Sheesh!

Well, for a film of 28 years this one still looks pretty good. Delivered with a 16:9 enhancement of the complete 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the picture has stood the test of time fairly well. Produced by the awesome might of the Sony DVD Center, the film stock is practically devoid of artefacts. When I say that, sure they’re there, but they’re pretty tiny and there’s nothing too major. Charles Bronson’s seemingly inexhaustible supply of muscle shirts come through delightfully, giving us a sweet glimpse of his profuse sweating. The multitude of stereotypes within the picture all come across well too; The fat Mexican prison guard with mirror shades, the wasp-waisted, hot pants wearing trailer trash and even the comedy sidekick with the broken nose (played by Randy Quaid).

The shadows are all okay and show their details well enough and all blacks are true black. Colours are alright, though there aren’t a great deal of bright ones as it’s set in the desert. Still, what colours there are look okay. Flesh too is fine, though that Charles Bronson – was he born with wrinkles or what?

For the most part the dialogue is nice and clear, although some of the delivery is so hamfisted! It’s like some lines were given to the work experience kid or something. Like, maybe the coffee guy is walking through the set and the director goes, ‘Hey, what about that guy?’ and boom, you’re an actor. With ham fists.

The sound effects are all fairly nice, though some gunfire is stockish. Happily there isn’t a lot of gunfire, although it would have made the film a little more exciting. The music is alright too. It naturally has a Mexican feel, being set half the time in Mexico and the other half nearby, but it’s clear and well balanced with the rest of the soundscape.

Shock of shocks, there’s bugger all.

If you’re a fan of Charlie, you’ll no doubt enjoy this trip into banality with him. Perhaps if you once made out with someone during this film at the cinema, it may have sentimental value and could be worth picking up. However, for everyone else, this film is pretty much standard Bronson fare.

Brief glimpse of naked chick and all.