A
depiction of the 1983 North of Ireland Maze prison escape gets the big screen
treatment this Autumn, and the lead actor/character is a familiar face from the
small screen.
Tom Vaughn-Lawlor will always be remembered as Nidge
from ‘Love/Hate’, and he fits seamlessly into tough guy roles. Here he plays an IRA prisoner, Larry Marley
in the Maze prison, and his home life and frustration at having his family
outside his reach is shown here. His
wife is brilliantly, but shortly played by Eileen Walsh, and that view shows
the other side of the IRA prisoner.
Barry Ward is a revelation as a Maze prison officer,
Gordon Close whose life mirrors that of Larry, in that he too is separated from
his family, albeit, because they left him over his dangerous career
choice. In a dramatic scene, Gordon is
shown avoiding an assassination attempt in front of his wife and young
daughter.
The movie, which
is quite atmospheric and where it succeeds is
that it has a ‘prison’ feel to it, and it would make an interesting stage play. The escape plan is riveting in its showing,
but overall the film is a disappointment.
It’s interesting to watch from a history
perspective, but you would want to know some of the history before sitting down
to watch the film, writes David Flynn.
The best thing about the film is the acting of Tom
Vaughn Lawlor and Barry Ward, and the interaction and relationship between the
two men from different sides of the wall.
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