A Snake, a Brain, a Cabbie, a Duke and the President Of The USA. It’s 1997, and Manhattan Island has become an isolated prison. During Air Force One's flight, terrorists seize control of the presidential plane, forcing the president to eject in a safety pod. Unfortunately, he lands right inside Manhattan. When soldiers arrive within the walls, they learn that the president is being held hostage and they need to escape this prison quickly. Uncertain about what to do next, officials decide to send one man alone: Snake Plissken, an ex-war hero turned criminal. He has to not only survive the dangerous prison environment but also deal with a time bomb implanted in his body—if he doesn’t rescue the president within 24 hours, it will detonate, ending Snake Plissken's life. Made in 1981 and set in 1997, it's clear John Carpenter isn’t very good at predicting the future. However, his idea of a future where America has banished all its criminals to one island, allowing them to build their own society away from the rest of the world, is an impressive achievement. The place feels harsh and dangerous; people from all walks of life are thrown together in this bleak and desolate area with clear class divisions. With his usual limited budget, Carpenter created a memorable science-fiction film that might be silly, but it’s full of cool style and delivers sharp satirical humor. Credit goes to the excellent production design by Joe Alves, who, along with Carpenter, has crafted this brilliantly gritty underworld of crime. Kurt Russell gives an outstanding performance as the central character, Snake Plissken; Tommy Lee Jones was originally considered for the role. Russell embodies Plissken’s attitude, making him one of the coolest and grumpiest characters of the eighties, and his work is excellent considering the film's apocalyptic setting. A talented group of actors supports Russell, each adding their own unique touches to this suspenseful story: Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasance, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, and Isaac Hayes all contribute significantly. Describing Escape From New York as an action movie would mislead first-time viewers because the action is minimal but impactful. The displays of masculinity feel more like a reference to the film's sense of urgency. I consider it more of a science-fiction adventure story with dark humor, and machismo added to emphasize the bleakness. It’s a fantastic combination. 9/10

Source on TMDB