Very well executed

Good concept, poorly executed.

Excellent but underrated film

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

As noted by previous reviewers, the thread of court logic is threadbare. However, the set design, direction, casting & soundtrack are spot on. Given that the "artist" is a murderer who gets away with murder, it would have been nice to see more of his macabre character explored. Of course, Mr. F is no Alice Morgan, but he is multifaceted in ways that are only alluded to by the writers.The jealous up & coming barister also has many character opportunities that we, as the audience are left wondering. For 180 mins, prepare for slightly suspenseful courtshow antics. Be entertained & don't wait for the the frown furrow to leave your brow.

Will Burton a junior barrister defends a man who charged with a brutal murder. This series becomes a white knuckle, tension filled drama. It is not a typical, predictable series. Extremely well written. Not only is David Tennant superb, each actor in this 6 part series delivers a great performance. The lighting, photography and sets are simply top notch. The special features (interviews) are well worth watching. They are short and informative. If you only watch American productions you will notice British productions are vastly different. In my humble opinion, British productions are superior. I'd watch this series again, which I rarely ever do! Keep an open mind if this is your first time viewing a British production. I'm sure you will become a convert after watching this riveting drama.

Unfortunately not all efforts can be crackerjacks and this painfully true aphorism certainly applies to The Escape Artist. In all literature, plays, teleplays, and large screen movie releases etc., there is credible suspension of belief and there is also incredible suspension of belief. The latter describes what is necessary to take this particular 'escape' ride. It appears many of the writers nowadays reflect much of the fantasy universe they grew up playing in, with their games and hand-held devices. One can write well and not feel compelled to banish all commonsensical behavior on the part of essential characters. Whether this behavior stems from major characters being shocked and taken aback when confronted by an unexpected and repugnant evil. Or worse, whether it stems from a jaded apathy and more than implied complicity with evil. But nowadays common sense and right thinking are largely absent from teleplays and Movies of this kind. I guess it is the only way for many of them to make things work anymore, such is the state of creative writing.The ending, and I mean the actual last 30 seconds of the teleplay, to my mind, are the only truly clever and revealing moments in this work, leaving the observant viewer to question his eyeballs and hit the replay button on the DVR. Something of great importance is on-screen for a very few seconds. There is a purposeful director's close-up which brings an insight and some measure of finality to the story ... and at the same time, has the obvious potential for raising more intriguing questions about complicity and who just may be involved in this intrigue. The actor's attention to something and subsequent inexplicable physical movement in these few seconds conveys a good deal. Perhaps an Easter Egg? I'm surprised no review before me has drawn attention to this. But considering the low ratings maybe I shouldn't be as it really doesn't make up for the lost 3 hours preceding it. Oh well.

This series is well acted and directed in the sense that the scenes work.However, the story is completely implausible and relies on ludicrous contrivances to try to force out the main theme - the conflict between justice and moral right.The British legal system has many faults and judges and lawyers can be manipulative,self seeking and make errors, but not to this degree.It seems that the Director and writer think the use of some excellent actors and plenty of gratuitous violence can cover up these flaws.Doubtless it will be successful as audiences can be easily taken in, eg by David Tennant's equally well acted but ridiculously plotted Broadchurch.