Customer Reviews

The Escape Artist

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Francis Ford Coppola formed Zoetrope studios with the intent of offering offbeat fare that otherwise would not have received financing by the major studios. This was an eminently noble goal but ultimately it was films like this that did not find an audience or widespread distribution that bankrupted Coppola. This should not be an impediment to any adventurous viewer in checking this film out. Though highly imaginative in part the film's central premise is somewhat slight involving a young magician (Griffin O'Neal) who picks the pocket of the ne'er-do-well son(Raul Julia) of a town's corrupt mayor(Desi Arnaz). What elevates the film is terrific performances by the actors not the least young O'Neal. O'Neal in the title role is magnetic and projects a worldliness that betrays his youth. I can't recall O'Neal in any subsequent films but I do recall his involvement a few years later in a tragic boating accident that took the life of Coppola's son. Julia is terrific as well in a part that a lesser actor would have overplayed. Interesting supporting roles include Jackie Coogan("The Addams Family") as a magic shop owner and Gabriel Dell(the Dead End Kids as O'Neal's uncle. Teri Garr, however, is criminally wasted in the role of Julia's girlfriend.

One of the first films I saw as a child and I loved it - a true masterpiece. I only ever saw it once and I made a lifelong promise to myself to see it again. Now I hear it may soon go to DVD and the suspense of such a prospect is almost too much to bear! It's a fantastic film, a real treat and a classic well worth adding to any DVD collection.

Well what do I have to say about this gem?It is a journey of our five senses into the realms of funny,imaginative,nostalgic,and infinite magic.Five stars are not enough.

The Escape Artist is a fascinating story about a boy who uses his skills as an escape artist and magician to get revenge on the small town that imprisoned and killed his father. The cast include Raul Julia, Teri Garr, and Desi Arnez, all of whom turn in rich performances. Griffith O'Neal, son of Ryan O'Neal, actually trained with magicians and performed the tricks shown on camera. The music score is worth buying by itself.

The Escape Artist has several things going for it. Teen actor (at the time time in question) Griffin O'Neil gives an excellent performance as the "escape artist", a teenage magician skilled in such nice things as magic tricks and not-so-nice things as lock picking, burgulary, safe cracking, and pickpocketing. Movie legends Desi Arnaz and Raul Julia also have starring roles. Unfortunately, the plot sputters to a standstill midway through the movie and winds up going no place fast.

It is based on the book of the same name and follows the plot of the book very closely which leads to its fatal flaw - not enough time being spent on the screenplay adaptation. The secret in creating a movie from a book is realizing that the audience will be seeing a movie, and knowing which parts of the book to include and which ones not to. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Harry Potter movies and Silence of the Lambs are excellent examples of proper book to movie adaptation.

The Escape Artist, regretfully, is not.

I was excited to see this film because it dealt with escape artists. Not true.This movie slow, dull,and never comes to any conclusion.The kid is interesting, but they don't develop his charactor much.The storyline is totally unbelievably and acting so-so. Don't waste your time or money on this grooner!