I've not had the opportunity to spend any time in a British prison, but I doubt that the prison life is as nice in reality as it is portrayed here. But I think that's part of the comedy, part of the suspension of disbelief, for a bunch of happy-go-lucky prisoners who encourage the prison warden (called 'governor') to perform the stage musical "Nelson" that he has written, while at the same time plotting an escape. It stars James Nesbitt, an Irishman who is remarkably similar to George Clooney with a thick accent, as Jimmy Hands, inept bank robber. A very entertaining 103 minutes, I enjoyed this movie more than such British comedies as 'The Full Monty' and 'Brassed Off.'
some SPOILERS follow, please read no further. Jimmy and his partner, playing cops and robbers since kids, attempt a bank heist that will set them up for life, bungle it badly, and are sent to prison. Jimmy is nice but headstrong, spends most of his time in 14-day solitary stints, but finds (1) that the old chapel happens to be the ideal place to stage a break and (2) the warden would like to perform his musical in the old chapel because acoustics are ideal. So Jimmy encourages the warden, feeds his ego, while they devise a plan to use a rope ladder prop to go over the wall during the play. When a new prisoner, a violent man, shows up, and tells Jimmy he will be included, smart Jimmy devises a misdirection which ends up with the violent criminal being caught, while his three friends escape, with the help of the pilot wife of one of them. They simply dressed as theater-goers and walked out in the dark with the rest of the audience.
At the last minute Jimmy stayed behind, to serve out his two years, and be with the pretty prison anger-management psychologist who was his leading lady in the musical. He eventually got out, she was there for him. As credits roll we see the former chief prison guard patrolling a parking garage for a living, two of the escapees and the pilot wife partying in Rio, and the final escapee selling "maps to the stars" in Hollywood. This film is primarily a comedy, but there are commentaries on love and devotion, plus a tragic suicide after the gentle inmate finds out his wife may be running out on him.
A decent DVD with a good soundtrack, no extras worth mentioning.
some SPOILERS follow, please read no further. Jimmy and his partner, playing cops and robbers since kids, attempt a bank heist that will set them up for life, bungle it badly, and are sent to prison. Jimmy is nice but headstrong, spends most of his time in 14-day solitary stints, but finds (1) that the old chapel happens to be the ideal place to stage a break and (2) the warden would like to perform his musical in the old chapel because acoustics are ideal. So Jimmy encourages the warden, feeds his ego, while they devise a plan to use a rope ladder prop to go over the wall during the play. When a new prisoner, a violent man, shows up, and tells Jimmy he will be included, smart Jimmy devises a misdirection which ends up with the violent criminal being caught, while his three friends escape, with the help of the pilot wife of one of them. They simply dressed as theater-goers and walked out in the dark with the rest of the audience.
At the last minute Jimmy stayed behind, to serve out his two years, and be with the pretty prison anger-management psychologist who was his leading lady in the musical. He eventually got out, she was there for him. As credits roll we see the former chief prison guard patrolling a parking garage for a living, two of the escapees and the pilot wife partying in Rio, and the final escapee selling "maps to the stars" in Hollywood. This film is primarily a comedy, but there are commentaries on love and devotion, plus a tragic suicide after the gentle inmate finds out his wife may be running out on him.
A decent DVD with a good soundtrack, no extras worth mentioning.