Escape at Dannemora

Cafe Society
1

I’m surprised there isn’t a thread on this Showtime mini-series yet. I’ve had it sitting on my DVR for a while now and finally watched it over the last couple days. I thought it was excellent.

The performances of Benicio del Toro, Paul Dano, and Patricia Arquette were outstanding, as was the supporting cast. And I didn’t realize Ben Stiller was so skilled a director.

I don’t recall much about the real-life incident as it was happening, so I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, making it that much more compelling. It’s been interesting to learn more about it (including reading this Straight Dope thread). From what I can tell, it seems they got it mostly right.

I’m curious as to how they were allowed to do so much filming at the actual prison, which is of course still operational.

2

This one is in my queue but haven’t started it yet. Several folks have recommended it to me.

3

Add me to that list. Let us know what you think when you get around to watching.

4

I’d watch it. If I had Showtime. :mad:

5

It’s just sooooo depressing. I suppose it’s acted well and directed well. But.

6

Yeah, the cast intrigued me, but the plot was the kind of stuff I avoid.

7

I suppose so. And it’s not the sort of thing I usually spend my time watching. But I was engrossed from the beginning. It’s an interesting story, very well told.

Thinking back, one of the most impressive aspects of the storytelling was the fact that the penultimate episode is a flashback showing why Matt and Sweat were in prison in the first place, as well as revealing more about what makes Tillie tick. I sort of caught myself rooting for them to make it, then was snapped back into realizing that these are not nice people, lest you start feeling sorry for them when they get what’s coming to them. It was kind of brilliant, actually.

8

Actually,

[SPOILER]the flashback episode didn’t just show us the crimes committed by them but also what led Joyce to her employment at the prison and how she met the man she was married to during the later events. Basically, she came off as a serial cheater.

And watching that episode I didn’t realize at first that it was a flashback. At first I thought it was occurring in the same timeframe as the previous episodes.[/SPOILER]

9

I’ve been watching and really enjoying it. Great performances, great direction. Just watched the flashback episode last night. Just when you find yourself pulling for the two of them, you learn how they ended up there. I thought it was a brilliant move by Stiller.

Poor Lyle.