Review of Lockout

Lockout (2012)
7/10
Solid prison-break-in-space action
12 June 2022
It is the year 2079 and the worst offenders are sentenced to serve their time in stasis aboard the orbiting MS-1 prison. Emilie Warnock, the US president's daughter goes to the facility to investigate claims that stasis damages the prisoners' mental stability. She is allowed to interview one prisoner but things go badly wrong... he disarms her bodyguard, injures her and soon frees the other prisoners. The only thing protecting her is that they don't know who she is. Back on Earth a CIA operative named Snow is being interrogated on suspicion of treason; he is sentenced to thirty years on MS1 but when news of Emilie's situation breaks he is asked to undertake a rescue mission; he isn't keen but the one man who might prove his innocence is also there. Getting in, finding Emilie and getting out safely will not be easy.

This might not be the greatest of films but if you can suspend your disbelief it provides plenty of thrilling action. The plot is basically a version of that used in 'Escape From New York'... so much so that the makers of that film successfully sued for plagiarism; that shouldn't be a problem for the viewer though as is a solid plot device that works in both films. The cast is solid; most obviously Guy Pierce and Maggie Grace as Snow and Emelie. Also notable are Vincent Regan and Joe Gilgun as the leader of the prisoners and his psychotic brother and Lennie James as CIA officer Harry Shaw. The special effects are more the most part really impressive. Overall I'd say this film is definitely worth a watch if you enjoy action is a sci-fi setting.
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