Name: Escapes
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2017-07-26
Duration: 1 h 29 min
Rating: 6.8
Cast: Hampton Fancher

This documentary on the life and career of actor and screenwriter Hampton Fancher, directed by Michael Almereyda, is definitely not your standard doc. Early on it seemed so disjointed and weird that I wondered is this going to get any better? Fortunately, it did, at least in my opinion, but I believe it won't appeal to everyone.

Fancher, who is now 80-years-old and living in Brooklyn Heights, is best known for his co-writing the screenplay for one of the classic sci-fi movies of all time, the groundbreaking Blade Runner (1982). He also co-wrote the 2017 remake Blade Runner 2049, as well as writing The Mighty Quinn (1989) and co-writing and directing The Minus Man (1999).

Fancher's adolescence and young adulthood was so amazing and wild that I could only shake my head in disbelief at it. Most of the movie has Fancher recounting his life in his own words, and it is quite the life, to which I'll leave most of the details to the viewer.

Finally, in the last twenty minutes or so, Fancher recounts the backstory of his role in bringing Blade Runner to the screen, and it is quite the tale. Overall, viewers here are going to have to adjust to a different way of telling a life story, and, as I see it, the film got increasing coherent as it progressed, was filled with surprises, and I ended up rather engaged in it.

To note: there were no subtitles on my DVD copy, obtained at my local library, and there is explicit language throughout.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

A documentary chronicling the life of actor and Blade Runner screenwriter Hampton Fancher.

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office

John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office (2025)

Jon Hamm and Lois Smith in Marjorie Prime (2017)

Winona Ryder and Peter Sarsgaard in Experimenter (2015)

Ethan Hawke, Milla Jovovich, Ed Harris, John Leguizamo, and Dakota Johnson in Cymbeline (2014)

Vittorio De Sica: La vita in scena (2026)

Escapes

Videos1

Photos2

Cast1

User reviews3

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Box office

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed