Straight-up, I’m not a big fan of Eric Roberts. I question his acting skills and his presence in the Hollyweird industry. I have a feeling he’d do anything to get the role. But offset that with Jon Voight here, who is pretty stellar. And a strong recommendation from my bro. Not a black guy, my actual brother. So when the appropriate theme came up, cool. I’ll watch it. And I am glad I finally did.
Not only a maximum security prison, but one in the frozen wastelands of Alaska. Fuuuuuck that shit. Not exactly a place you want to escape from, but you still do, because yeah, it’s a shit-hole. And Manny (Voight), welded into his cell in solitary for 3 years. Courts finally decide, yeeeah, that’s not cool. Manny is done. Manny is getting the fuck outta there . Punk fighter (Eric Roberts) tags along. It’s a hard way, but the only way. Too bad their method of escape goes...I’d say sideways but the train really doesn’t travel in that direction so the expression really doesn’t apply here. Damn. Well, if trains COULD go sideways, that’s what happens here.
While yeah, the plot’s a little contrived, it is actually a good telling of the tale. Some good drama, some good tension, and a lot of cool shots of a crazy train barreling through a frozen tundra. Credit where credit is due, Eric Roberts does good playing the insecure whiny bravado he usually does. Damn, that guy is annoying. But appropriately annoying per the character. Jon Voight is the King here though. Bad-ass and takin shit from no one. Rebecca DeMornay as the other character? She doesn’t suck. Pleasantly surprised with this one, Cannon pictures could be a little hit or miss with the Cheesitudes but this one is pretty solid.
