The Escape Artist Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Escape Artist Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 17, 2014

It’s difficult to tell if “The Escape Artist” is meant to be a singular three-episode event or the pilot for a series to come. Either way, the program has its appeal, embarking on an extended arc of suspicion and revenge that teases stiff legal reasoning, only to give in to traditional thriller mechanics. It’s a courtroom thriller with a side of respectable rage, and it mostly works, thanks to a superb lead performance from David Tennant, who holds “The Escape Artist” together when it occasionally rides off the rails, giving in to obvious performances and screwy plot turns. At the very least, it would be fun to see Tennant inhabit this character to solve a crime every year, with this introduction creating a credibly broken character whose fight for justice emerges from a rattled headspace, not an intellectual need to dominate the legal system.

Following the story of Scotsman Will Burton (David Tennant), a lauded, cocky defense barrister who’s transformed into a criminal after several run-ins with serial killer Liam Foyle (Toby Kebbell), “The Escape Artist” isn’t shy to toy with cliché. Screenwriter David Wolstencroft has his influences, but he also has a need to deviate from the norm, permitted three hours to flesh out supporting characters, including Will’s cheery wife Kate (Ashley Jensen), and Maggie Gardner (Sophie Okonedo), a rival barrister who can’t stand how revered her competition is, almost relishing an opportunity to disturb the man’s perfect existence when she becomes entangled with Foyle. Personalities and allegiances are crisply defined, allowing the show to develop a real understanding of stakes, unafraid to reach emotional bottoms to motivate Will’s pursuit of justice. “The Escape Artist” is quite dark at times, but it retains a certain snap, with the first hour alone a tight offering of suspense that launches the endeavor on an incredible note of terror.

Again, Tennant is the reason to watch “The Escape Artist,” working diligently to keep Will approachable at his highest point as a legal mind and his lowest as a protective father. It’s nuanced work that commands attention, but also plays well with others, bouncing off his costars admirably. It’s Kebbell who gets a little carried away, taking the opportunity to play a madman as a way to show off his skills of indication. There’s no gray area to Foyle, he’s a beast from his introduction, robbing the effort of some mystery as multiple trials are explored and the character’s inability to stay behind bars due to sharp legal maneuvering grows frustrating. The tone of “The Escape Artist” is hopelessness, with actual guilt and innocence coming secondary to courtroom dueling, but Kebbell makes Foyle too easy to jeer, while everyone’s tolerance of his obvious propensity for violence is a too bit hard to swallow.

Episode 1 (59:57)

Will Burton (Tennant) is a wildly successful defense barrister, recently voted the top choice in legal affairs by a magazine, angering his rival, and number two, Maggie (Okonedo). Making a home with wife Kate (Jensen) and pre-teen son Jamie (Gus Barry), Will is hoping to unplug from his day job, taking an overdue vacation, only to find his attention pulled to the case of Liam Foyle (Kebbell), an anti-social man accused of a brutal, ritualistic murder. Having doubts about Foyle’s declaration of innocence, Will continues on with his duty, eventually finding a way to free the accused due to lack of evidence. However, his dismissive attitude toward Foyle has put Will in the line of fire, with his family soon terrorized by the lunatic, who lands back in jail, now represented by Maggie.

Episode 2 (60:55)

Forced out of the new case against Foyle, Will tries to remain in the informational loop, with his colleagues circling the wagons as they attempt to piece together what little evidence exists. Out on bail, Foyle returns to his normal routine of suspicious behavior, attempting to keep his alibi, lovesick Eileen (Monica Dolan), complacent, indulging her romantic desires as she grows anxious over renewed law enforcement interest. For Maggie, her attempt to remain steely around Foyle is tested with waves of paranoia, unsure of her unstable client after dark. And as DNA evidence surfaces that could convict Foyle, Will takes the stand, forced to admit that his eyewitness testimony isn’t enough to put the monster away.

Episode 3 (59:54)

Once again, Foyle is set free, and this time it appears to be for good. Having resigned himself to a life of disappointment, Will tries to rebuild what was lost with his son, even entertaining a job offer in Scotland, where he makes a terrifying discovery that puts him in legal hot water. And Maggie is confronted with specialized horrors when she realizes what type of creep Foyle actually is, rattled by the experience as she seeks a way to converse with Will after facilitating his worst legal nightmare.

The Escape Artist Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation works well with the HD-shot feature. Contrast does have its moments of muddiness, and some motion blur is detected, but the basics of detail are quite nice, offering a crisp look at skin particulars and interior decoration, while costuming also remains fibrous. Colors are stable and direct, favoring a colder palette to reflect the grim British mood. Lots of dark blues and grays here, but they're natural and defined. Skintones appear exact. Blacks are generally quite communicative, while normal PBS Blu-ray hurdles such as banding aren't a problem here.

The Escape Artist Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix allows for some mild but welcome directional activity in the surrounds, with the presence of automobiles contributing to movement, while atmospherics with crowds and street life also show some life in the rears, generating a circular listening experience with noticeable energy. Dialogue is the primary concern for the track, and it's handled well, with crisp, clean voices and approachable accents that never tangle. Emotionality is managed well, nicely blended with fresh scoring cues, which carry a heavy pulse of bass that gives the low-end some moments of throb.

The Escape Artist Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (11:36, HD) with screenwriter David Wolstencroft is a hushed conversation with the mastermind of "The Escape Artist." A fan of Hitchcock and American legal thrillers, Wolstencroft strived to liven up the British courtroom drama with a splash of the unexpected, going on to discuss creative intent and his admiration for the cast.

• Interview (13:19, HD) with star David Tennant is a customary run-through of motivation and character, sharing his perspective on Will's mindset and the trouble he's found himself in. Love is also spread around to co-stars and production personnel, giving the chat a less than stimulating EPK-style ambiance.

The Escape Artist Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Escape Artist" doesn't sustain suspense throughout the episodes, occasionally caught up in distractions that feel like filler, leading to a conclusion that's certainly unpredictable yet slightly disappointing and laborious in its details, especially compared to its merciless opening act. There's still plenty to embrace here as the program develops an askew cat and mouse premise that winds through legal showdowns, acts of home invasion, and professional difficulties for the lead character. "The Escape Artist" retains flavor and tension, and while it's unclear where the whole endeavor supposed to travel after the end credits, it's strong enough to support a single interaction with Will Burton and his newly reformatted mind for justice.