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.

wmjahn Recently I saw BREAKOUT again (I think the 3rd time in app. 20 years) and I liked it even more than I did remember! It's a really pleasant lightweight action-"comedy" and it shows a side of CHUCK, which many people have forgotten over the years: that he's a humorous guy and loves a smile once in a while.When CHUCK made this one, he was the hottest ticket on earth. DEATH WISH I, the movie which defined the 70ies (alongside with THE GODFATHER), had drawn lines in front of cinemas and made millions and millions around the globe and the one he did right after that box-office smash was BREAKOUT. His status as # 1 box-office star also shows in this perfectly made movie, it has one of the best camera-works in any Bronson-movie and the supporting cast (Bob Duvall, John Huston, Randy Quaid, ...) is stellar and does a wonderful job, too. The music is composed by Jerry Goldsmith, who did quite a number of other scores for Bronson-movies, and Goldsmith is at the peak of his creative powers in the early to mid-70ies. The no-nonsense direction is delivered by veteran-director Tom GRIES, who made BREAKHEART PASS with CHUCK a little later (another nice one, but not as good as this movie).Of course the story is nothing special, just another prison-flight-movie, but that's not the point. Dismissed as lightweight entertainment, critics in the 70ies (when great action-pics were not uncommon, contrary to today) completely overlooked the above achievements and turned down the wonderful good-natured performance CHUCK delivers in this one.Just take the scene, in which nose-up Jille IRELAND arrives at his lot, Randy Quaid is just burning stinking fish (!) and a dirty Bronson with a smile (and a worthless cheque) engages in truly funny dialogue with his real-life wife. BREAKOUT has many such moments and the action scenes, which come in at a perfect timing, are also well-staged and well-delivered.Looking at this movie, one can't resent the idea that everybody on the set must have had a great time and any audience will have the same great time watching CHUCK smile and deliver a truly beautiful performance while kicking ass only once in a while in this rather untypical Bronson-movie.