The great actor Kurt Russell played the role of anti-hero Snake Plissken. Actors – Escape from New York (1981) Returning Russell as Snake was what every red blood American boy wanted to be and who every red-blooded American girl wanted to date. Generally well received at the time of release, I think this film is fantastic and influences post-dating films. It’s a toughly told, very tall tale, one of the best escape (and escapist) movies of the season.” “Escape from New York” is not to be analyzed too solemnly, though. Martin Luther King Jr.? The fact that he’s the film’s principal villain may not sit well with some audiences, but then perhaps they’ll respond to his style. Is it a coincidence that when he exhorts a crowd of followers about their coming freedom, he sounds more than a little like the Rev. Hayes very impressive as the flamboyant Duke. Stanton is fine as the emotionally unreliable Brain, and Mr. Borgnine is more or less the comedy relief, as well as the magical character who always happens to turn up with his cab when he’s most needed. Carpenter’s television film “Elvis,” is malevolently good as the fallen hero, a man who seems to have had a look into hell even before he lands in the remains of Manhattan.
Russell, who played the title role in Mr. New York Times film critic Vincent Canby said in a Jreview: On, the film has an 86 percent on the Tomatometer and 77 percent audience approval. Anyway, this remarkable film only has a 7.2 rating on.
Every time I sit down to write, I end up watching this great movie and seeing myself as Snake. Today on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on Escape from New York (1981).