Maze is a movie based on the biggest prison escape in Europe. A prison escape of 38 IRA members, a movie on how they planned and executed it. Even though the entire movie is in prison you really never have a dull moment. I doubt that there was not more tension between the Loyalists and the IRA members, like they portray it in this movie, but all in all it was not really about the hate towards eachother but more about the planning of the escape out of this maximum security prison. The cast was good, all the actors did what they were supposed to do. Maze is an entertaining movie that could have used a bit more violence and suspense to make it a better movie, but it's certainly worth watching.
16 Reviews
MAZE: TRUE PRISON BREAK
kirbylee70-599-52617924 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Based on the true story of the infamous 1983 prison breakout of 38 IRA prisoners from Her Majesty's Prison Maze. A maximum prison considered escape proof it proved otherwise when these men, convicted of taking part in armed paramilitary campaigns during in Ireland, did indeed escape.
Following a hunger strike in another prison that resulted in several inmates dying certain members were transferred to other locations. Larry Marley (Tom Vaughan-Taylor) is one of those transferred, looked down on by his fellow inmates who think he caved in on the strike. The fact is that he remained loyal to the cause and now wants to prove himself by planning an escape from the Maze.
Each member of the crew must put together bits and pieces of information that they then feed to Marley. By doing so they begin to piece together a map of the prison and understand why the term maze was used. But with this information about the various locations in the prison he is able to work out a plan that would allow them access from one section to the next.
The movie meticulously shows the process that Marley and his crew had to go through to make the escape happen. In so doing it makes for a slow moving film that offers little to no action until the final moments when the escape actually takes place. The thing is that while viewers today may be unused to films like this the reality would have seemed more as depicted here than a rough and tumble action flick.
Perhaps the one thing that will do the movie more harm than anything is the lack of familiarity with the background story being told here, that of the IRA and their battles in Ireland. It's a story that will be familiar to the Irish and the British but how many people around the world will understand which side to root for and which one to hold accountable? And will that decision lie in your loyalties to one group or the other?
The production values here are well done and the prison looks more realistic than many have in past films about prison breaks. Vaughan-Taylor does a fine job as the main character the story focuses around and brings him to life. Barry Ward as prison guard Gordon Close matches him scene for scene and offers some of the more dangerous aspects of being a guard against this group when his family is nearly bombed.
The end result is a movie that's good but at the same time incredibly slow moving. The final prison break is interesting and deadly. I have no doubt that the reality of the situation was much more intense than depicted here but once more not being well read in the war going on made the film a bit difficult to sympathize with one group or the other. Knowing more on the topic would make it a much better film so perhaps reading up on the subject would have made it better.
Following a hunger strike in another prison that resulted in several inmates dying certain members were transferred to other locations. Larry Marley (Tom Vaughan-Taylor) is one of those transferred, looked down on by his fellow inmates who think he caved in on the strike. The fact is that he remained loyal to the cause and now wants to prove himself by planning an escape from the Maze.
Each member of the crew must put together bits and pieces of information that they then feed to Marley. By doing so they begin to piece together a map of the prison and understand why the term maze was used. But with this information about the various locations in the prison he is able to work out a plan that would allow them access from one section to the next.
The movie meticulously shows the process that Marley and his crew had to go through to make the escape happen. In so doing it makes for a slow moving film that offers little to no action until the final moments when the escape actually takes place. The thing is that while viewers today may be unused to films like this the reality would have seemed more as depicted here than a rough and tumble action flick.
Perhaps the one thing that will do the movie more harm than anything is the lack of familiarity with the background story being told here, that of the IRA and their battles in Ireland. It's a story that will be familiar to the Irish and the British but how many people around the world will understand which side to root for and which one to hold accountable? And will that decision lie in your loyalties to one group or the other?
The production values here are well done and the prison looks more realistic than many have in past films about prison breaks. Vaughan-Taylor does a fine job as the main character the story focuses around and brings him to life. Barry Ward as prison guard Gordon Close matches him scene for scene and offers some of the more dangerous aspects of being a guard against this group when his family is nearly bombed.
The end result is a movie that's good but at the same time incredibly slow moving. The final prison break is interesting and deadly. I have no doubt that the reality of the situation was much more intense than depicted here but once more not being well read in the war going on made the film a bit difficult to sympathize with one group or the other. Knowing more on the topic would make it a much better film so perhaps reading up on the subject would have made it better.
Engaging
larrys320 January 2020
Some may regard this movie as too slow-paced, but I thought it had enough suspense and tension to keep me engaged throughout.
The acting from the 3 leads Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Barry Ward, and Martin McCann was quite solid, and the film was ably written and directed by Stephen Burke.
In some ways, the movie reminded me of the 1963 classic "The Great Escape".
The acting from the 3 leads Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Barry Ward, and Martin McCann was quite solid, and the film was ably written and directed by Stephen Burke.
In some ways, the movie reminded me of the 1963 classic "The Great Escape".
An opportunity lost.
stuart-donaldson16 May 2019
The true events are far more compelling than the events depicted in this film. Why the producers went down this route is beyond me. As a fictional story it is quite a good film, but for anyone with knowledge of actual events it will be a disappointment.
Exit
kosmasp28 July 2022
No pun intended - also I don't think a prison escape movie has been called maze before. It does make sense though. This is based on a real story and there are a few things that happen that sound quite out there - no pun intended here either.
Well acted and really interesting ideas - well I reckon that most were from reality - but that there was still some heightened element to it. I did not study the real case, so I can't say if or what differences there are.
An escape thriller with quite a lot of suspense. Hopefully you can see it that way too.
Well acted and really interesting ideas - well I reckon that most were from reality - but that there was still some heightened element to it. I did not study the real case, so I can't say if or what differences there are.
An escape thriller with quite a lot of suspense. Hopefully you can see it that way too.
Not bad
Nevergivea106 March 2022
The future is already settled
nogodnomasters11 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is Northern Ireland's "Great Escape." It takes place in 1983 following a hunger strike in a prison called "The Maze". Larry Marley (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) if the IRA manages to talk his way into doing janitorial duties for the warden (Barry Ward). He maps out the facility and notices all the devices in place to monitor activity. He plans an impossible escape.
This is a prison drama based on a true story. The ones with Sly Stone as an old guy were better. Interesting as a history.
Guide: No sex or nudity. Don't recall any swearing.
This is a prison drama based on a true story. The ones with Sly Stone as an old guy were better. Interesting as a history.
Guide: No sex or nudity. Don't recall any swearing.
Disappointing
ventanasol13 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Plodding and unimaginative. It was obviously made on a shoestring budget. Even the excellent Tom Vaughan-Lawlor cannot overcome predictable action sequences and hackneyed dialogue. Both sets of prisoners - republican and loyalist - are presented as implausibly mild caricatures of the truly dangerous men they obviously were in reality.
Glad to get to see this
Melrosemiss29 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Not being involved, I cannot comment on what truly went on in Long Kesh but were escape my plan, I doubt I would have stirred up trouble to bring attention to myself. I will admit that it is a little plodding, but I doubt establishing the plan was a quick thing. The republican prisoners seemed to be trying to get along with some of the prison officials and actually had more trouble from the Ulstermen in the facility, in the same block, who wanted to don orange suspenders and bang things while parading through the republican section. That is a move just asking for trouble and they got it - the republicans stayed and the Ulstermen were moved out. Once they got civilian clothes and the family visits they desired, they seemed to be model prisoners while quietly making arrangements for escape. This does not have the action and drama of "In the Name of the Father" but well worth seeing. BTW, I have heard the Region 1 DVD will not be made available in the US, but if you have the Comcast X1 platform, it is available for rent or purchase. I believe it became available on 6/25. A different and slower pace, with names not as well known as Bobby Sands and some of the other hunger strikers, but a worthy view anyway.
I wanted to learn more from this film
thejdrage10 April 2022
I am disappointed, as an American, that I did not learn more about the Troubles from this movie. It's one of the reasons I watched it. Everything seemed to be skimmed over as if every viewer already had the knowledge needed. Wrong.
I tried to figure out how I would make this movie better and I can't - because I am not Northern Irish (Scottish). I do think this was a lost opportunity.
That's why the average score. None of the characters had depth, so we didn't really care about them. Maybe the Guard whose family was almost shot, but that's about it. Otherwise, can't tell you a thing about anyone else. How sad. How very sad for a missed opportunity to educate people to a VERY important period in Irish history.
I tried to figure out how I would make this movie better and I can't - because I am not Northern Irish (Scottish). I do think this was a lost opportunity.
That's why the average score. None of the characters had depth, so we didn't really care about them. Maybe the Guard whose family was almost shot, but that's about it. Otherwise, can't tell you a thing about anyone else. How sad. How very sad for a missed opportunity to educate people to a VERY important period in Irish history.
Best I have seen in a while
scottk-7776328 April 2019
No explosions or cartoonish special effects so I won't be surprised if it doesn't play well in the US. Factual learning experience, only wish they would have spent more time explaining the situation at that point in history for the younger crowd.
Holes aplenty captured doing bird.
chumgriffin21 January 2018
I was hoping this would have moved irish cinema forward a bit.
Unfortunately it succeeded in doing the exact opposite.
There was a great lack of authenticity regarding the prison atmosphere, the supposed northern Ireland accents of some of the actors, the location( shot in Cork southern ireland and didn't care to hide that fact in the film). You would expect a prison drama to be a bit gritty and claustrophobic and maybe even instill a sense of menace. This felt more like an adult day care center where you could sit and drink a cup of tea with your custodian. Some performances worked but overall the film was embarrassing to watch as the amateurish holes appeared one after another.
There was a great lack of authenticity regarding the prison atmosphere, the supposed northern Ireland accents of some of the actors, the location( shot in Cork southern ireland and didn't care to hide that fact in the film). You would expect a prison drama to be a bit gritty and claustrophobic and maybe even instill a sense of menace. This felt more like an adult day care center where you could sit and drink a cup of tea with your custodian. Some performances worked but overall the film was embarrassing to watch as the amateurish holes appeared one after another.
No suspense
Leofwine_draca9 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
MAZE is an Irish true story based on an incident in which no less than 38 IRA prisoners escaped from the notorious Maze prison. The premise is certainly a winner but the film itself is surprisingly dour and thus only so-so. It plays out with a matter-of-fact realism, but that means no attempt is made to make any of the characters remotely likeable, and the escape itself takes place with a minimum of fuss and absolutely no suspense.
Very F bad
ccc-982797 October 2019
Compelling.....
s327616919 December 2017
Maze is an adaptation of the true story of the escape of IRA political prisoners from British captivity in Maze prison, Northern Ireland.
There's a thread of quiet tension about this film that's drawn ever tighter as the prisoners plans to escape intricately come together. At the same time there's a human tale on offer about the connection between people who on initial inspection appear to be on different sides of the bars.
The reality of course is everyone in Northern Ireland is in one way or another held prisoner by the larger conflict. This includes the warden and his family who has a friendship of sorts with the prison break mastermind Larry who is, in turn, obligated by his bonds with his fallen IRA comrades.
The acting in this film is understated but frankly quite excellent. Not for one moment was this film dull or boring and believe me, it could have been given the film takes place in the confines of the Maze prison.
One to watch. 8/10.
There's a thread of quiet tension about this film that's drawn ever tighter as the prisoners plans to escape intricately come together. At the same time there's a human tale on offer about the connection between people who on initial inspection appear to be on different sides of the bars.
The reality of course is everyone in Northern Ireland is in one way or another held prisoner by the larger conflict. This includes the warden and his family who has a friendship of sorts with the prison break mastermind Larry who is, in turn, obligated by his bonds with his fallen IRA comrades.
The acting in this film is understated but frankly quite excellent. Not for one moment was this film dull or boring and believe me, it could have been given the film takes place in the confines of the Maze prison.
One to watch. 8/10.
Disappointing
tlarraya14 June 2018
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