Escape at Dannemora

Last updated
Escape at Dannemora
Escape at Dannemora poster.jpg
Genre Drama
Thriller
Created by Brett Johnson
Michael Tolkin
Directed by Ben Stiller
Starring
Composer Edward Shearmur
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producers
  • Ben Stiller
  • Brett Johnson
  • Michael Tolkin
  • Bryan Zuriff
  • Michael De Luca
  • Nicky Weinstock
  • Bill Carraro
Cinematography Jessica Lee Gagné
Running time51–98 minutes
Production companiesMichael De Luca Productions
Red Hour Productions
Original release
Network Showtime
ReleaseNovember 18 (2018-11-18) –
December 30, 2018 (2018-12-30)

Escape at Dannemora is an American crime drama television limited series that premiered on Showtime on November 18, 2018. It is based on the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape. The seven-episode series was created and written by Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin and directed by Ben Stiller. It stars Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, Eric Lange, and David Morse. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

The seven-episode series is based on the true story of the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape in upstate New York. The breakout sparked a massive manhunt for two convicted murderers, Richard Matt and David Sweat, who were aided in their escape by Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell, a married prison employee entangled in secretive and inappropriate relationships with both men.

The series opens after the recapture of Matt and Sweat, with Tilly under arrest. Dressed in a striped jail uniform, she is interrogated about her involvement in the escape. The district attorney questions her, pushing Tilly to reveal the full extent of her relationships with the two inmates, insisting the truth is already known and simply needs to be put on record.

From there, the story rewinds to Tilly’s life before the escape, highlighting her monotonous daily routine with her husband, Lyle Mitchell. Lyle is portrayed as a simple man with little imagination, minimal hobbies, and few ambitions. Both Tilly and Lyle work at Clinton Correctional Facility, like many of their friends and neighbors. Tilly oversees the prison’s tailor shop, where Matt and Sweat work under her supervision.

Early in the first episode, it’s revealed that Tilly is having a sexual relationship with Sweat, conducted in secret within the machine room of the tailor shop. The relationship, however, is not as clandestine as Tilly believes—most of the other inmates in the shop are well aware of what’s going on, setting the series up for the complex power dynamics and manipulations that drive the story forward.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Production

Principal production commenced in Upstate New York from August 2017 to March 2018. [1] [8] For their roles, Patricia Arquette and Eric Lange each gained 40 pounds. [9] Episode 6, the flashback episode, was filmed on 16 mm, unlike the rest of the series. Episode 6 was also filmed last so that Lange and Arquette could safely shed the weight they'd gained. Stiller later decided to shut down production for a month out of concern that they would not have enough time for weight loss. However, production was then further delayed three weeks to accommodate the birth of Lange's son. [10]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Part 1" Ben Stiller Brett Johnson & Michael Tolkin November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18)0.397 [11]
2"Part 2"Ben StillerBrett Johnson & Michael TolkinNovember 25, 2018 (2018-11-25)0.487 [12]
3"Part 3"Ben Stiller Jerry Stahl December 2, 2018 (2018-12-02)0.559 [13]
4"Part 4"Ben StillerBrett Johnson & Michael TolkinDecember 9, 2018 (2018-12-09)0.541 [14]
5"Part 5"Ben StillerBrett Johnson & Michael TolkinDecember 16, 2018 (2018-12-16)0.664 [15]
6"Part 6"Ben StillerBrett Johnson & Michael Tolkin & Jerry StahlDecember 23, 2018 (2018-12-23)0.586 [16]
7"Part 7"Ben StillerBrett Johnson & Michael TolkinDecember 30, 2018 (2018-12-30)0.719 [17]

Reception

Critical response

The series was met with acclaim upon its premiere. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 88% with an average rating of 7 out of 10, based on 60 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Escape at Dannemora's slow pace demands patience, but those willing to wait will be rewarded with a chilling mystery that provides the perfect showcase for its talented cast — especially a nearly unrecognizable and unbearably moving performance from Patricia Arquette." [18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 78 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [19]

Response from Joyce Mitchell

In a December 2018 interview at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Joyce Mitchell criticized some events portrayed in the miniseries. She claimed, "I never had sex with them", referring to Richard Matt and David Sweat. She also harshly criticized director Ben Stiller, calling him "a son-of-a-bitch liar just like the rest of the world. He doesn't care about the truth. All he cares about is making millions off me. He's an idiot." [20]

Awards and nominations

AwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Casting Society of America Limited SeriesRachel Tenner, Nancy Mosser, Katie Shenot, Bess Fifer and Charlene LeeNominated [21]
Critics' Choice Awards Best Movie/Miniseries Escape at DannemoraNominated [22]
Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Paul Dano Nominated
Benicio del Toro Nominated
Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Patricia Arquette Won [a]
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Eric Lange Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Limited Series or Television Film Escape at DannemoraNominated [23]
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Patricia ArquetteWon
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film Ben Stiller Won [24]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Ben Stiller, Michael Tolkin, Brett Johnson, Michael De Luca, Bryan Zuriff, Nicholas Weinstock, William Carraro, Adam Brightman and Lisa M. RoweNominated [25] [26]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Benicio Del ToroNominated
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Patricia ArquetteNominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Paul DanoNominated
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie Ben StillerNominated
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkin and Jerry Stahl (for "Part 6")Nominated
Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin (for "Part 7")Nominated
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series or Movie Rachel TennerNominated
Outstanding Contemporary Costumes David Robinson, Ann Bryant and Barbara Hause (for "Part 6")Nominated
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Edward Shearmur (for "Part 5")Nominated
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More) Mark Ricker, James Truesdale and Cherish M. HaleNominated
Outstanding Special Visual Effects Steven Kirshoff, Joe Heffernan, John Bair, Djuna Wahlrab, Matthew Griffin, Shannen Walsh, Joseph Brigati, Vance Miller and Min Hwa Jung (for "Part 4")Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Limited Series Television Ben Stiller, Nicholas Weinstock, Michael De Luca, Bryan Zuriff, Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkin, Bill Carraro, Adam Brightman and Lisa M. RoweNominated [27]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Patricia ArquetteWon [28]
TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials Escape at DannemoraNominated [29]
Individual Achievement in Drama Patricia ArquetteNominated
Notes
  1. ↑ Arquette shared the award in a tie with Amy Adams for Sharp Objects .

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References

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