“There’s no such thing as a bad Brian Cox movie and The Escapist (2008, 15, Vertigo £15.65) proves no exception. A stripped-down, prison-break thriller with echoes of The Shawshank Redemption, Rupert Wyatt’s lean, mean B-movie blends satirical spiritualism with tough-as-nuts action. Apparently, Cox landed the lead role after telling Wyatt he was fed up with playing cameos, so he’s centre stage where he belongs.”

“…little slice of near-perfection. Two shades shy of a masterpiece…Wyatt has made a movie of absolute stellar visual originality… The direction, the sense of assurance in its set-pieces and the performances all make this very much worthy of your time. The title cards and music create a confident, fully realised tone that puts you in the exact mindset you need to be in for the film and Brian Cox leads the charge with a performance that just confirms him once and for all as one of the most consistent, great actors working in the industry right now…”

Damian Lewis’s birthday is February 11th and his fans are making a special effort to perform a kind or charitable act in his honor to celebrate the event; click here for more information.