Escape From New York (1981)

 

Holy fudge, look at that cast! No really: look at it! Filled to the brim with character actors. And all that for a sort of post-apocalyptic action film in a derelict New York. 

No real surprise it took John Carpenter to make this work, but still.

Fudge.

In the near future of - well - 1997, the United States is pretty much a fascist state and the entire island of Manhattan has been turned into a supermax prison. You get dropped in and you can never get out. But when the president's plane crashes smack dab in the middle of the city with some delicate documents, there is cause for concern. The officer in charge of security (Lee Van Cleef) decides that the best way to get the president back is to send in a prisoner, but not just any prisoner. No, this is Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces trooper who has turned to crime and basically doesn't give a rat's arse about anything.

Yep, we're talking bad boy stereotype here, but it is played so gleefully by Kurt Russell you can't help but root for the guy. Some actors try to be cool in a role such as this and overdo it, Russell seems to have been born to do this.

So Plissken is sent into Manhattan, but he only has roughly 20 hours to find the president, as he is implanted with microscopic bombs that are on a timer. Now he he has to contend with the denizens of the prison and even though some are sympathetic, his largest hurdle will be the self proclaimed Duke of New York who, like pretty much everyone else, wants out and sees the perfect opportunity by kidnapping the president in the first place.

Don't expect massive action sequences, as the budget did not allow for such frivolities. In fact, there are surprisingly few explosions, but what you do get in spades is oodles and oodles of atmosphere, helped by a riveting soundtrack courtesy of Carpenter himself and a plethora of great actors all doing their best with what is in essence a silly action/sci-fi plot. Yet, it works as all the parts neatly click into place.

Oh, and Snake Plissken is an action hero for the ages. Food for the cult aficionados out there!