BRUTON Review

Bryan Bruton lands in prison after an unfortunate accident, where he discovers that through hard work, he can find a way to escape. This happened in real life, and Bruton does a great job serving as a biopic that gives us the full scale of the story.

Prison break stories can feel a little been there done that, but being a true story adds a level of intrigue that still makes the story exciting. The film does a good job with the set up, letting us get an inside look at who Bryan Bruton is as a person. He used to do a lot of hustling and crime, and that lifestyle got in the way of his relationship with his wife and daughter. He wants to put that behind him, until this incident happens that lands him in jail.

Theo Rossi is perfect casting. He commands the screen immediately and the personality of Bryan Bruton shines through. The character isn't always likable, but Rossi's presence always is, and makes you want to go on this journey with him regardless. He also cares about his daughter, even if his actions don't always show it, and that is one of the most important driving forces of the film. He loves his daughter and his daughter loves him.

In the early scenes of the movie, Alexandria Arnold plays Crystal, the daughter, and establishes the character perfectly. She sells the innocence of a young girl who doesn't understand everything about her fathers lifestyle and just wants her dad. It's sad knowing she's about to lose that when he gets arrested.

It's Kayden Brenna Tokarski, who plays the older version of Crystal later in the movie, that really steals the show. She hasn't seen her father in years, and is determined to. She's upset that her mother doesn't care about her perspective. It's heartbreaking, and that heartbreak shines through most in a scene where she's on a phone call. It's the most compelling scene in the film, and solidly places Tokarski on the list of young actors who whose future careers we should keep an eye on.

While the father and daughter dynamic adds a layer to the movie that makes it feel dynamic, the actual focus on what is happening at the prison is just as captivating.

Bruton's background of constantly hustling led him to figuring out how to work the system. With the help of Kai (Tony Hale), he gets access to a computer and figures out how to get internet access, which allows him to figure out how to get phones. He also makes a connection with one of the prison guards, Maura Willis, played fantastically by Tammy Blanchard. He uses these connections to come up with a plan to escape.

Even if breaking out of prison isn't something someone would root for, the film does a great job building up the action that pulls you in regardless. While the set up of the movie before he gets arrested can be a little overly slow paced, despite the necessary context, the prison scenes are much better paced, feeling like we're constantly building to the big break out. It's exciting all the way through.

Between that and the subplot with the daughter, the film has a nice balance of action and emotion, letting us get the full scope of everything going on in this guys life. Even if some moments of it feel familiar, other moments feel so enthralling. If this is the type of movie you enjoy, this is one to check out.

🍿SCORE = 80 / 100