1974

#140RVW

Cimino’s directorial debut is 2 weird movies. Part 60’s counter-culture road flick, part 70’s crime/action pic. Result uneven but not bad…

What’s more:

There must have been a memo that went around to all film studios in the 1970’s concerning the mandated amount of grittiness, meanness, and depressing endings required in all films of that time period.

It probably directed studio heads, “Celebrate the bloodless anti-hero, ignore any woman who isn’t currently naked, make sure to have any slightly hopeful character buy it by the third act and get some folky/pop song that can be used as a single. Make sure it’s catchy, because we’re going to use it uninterrupted three or more times.” What a hopeless decade…

While Clint Eastwood’s career has spanned many decades, he may arguably be most associated with the 70’s, and his tough visage is certainly the face of the era. He plays very slightly against type here as the interchangeably named Preacher, John Doherty and the Thunderbolt. Based on my reading, he gives an excellent performance in this; I must have missed it. He was his usual: fine.

Jeff Bridges, on the other hand, steals the movie as Lightfoot, a charming, ever-ready free spirit whose enthusiasm can’t be kept down. Bridges was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, and deserved it; he is fascinating to watch.

Written & directed by Michael Cimino, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is the story of two buddies on the road. No, it’s the story of an old con getting back in the game. No, wait, it’s a heist picture. No, it’s an action movie with lots of car chases. What is this movie? This is the 1970’s…

If the movie doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, it’s at least entertaining, though overlong by my watch. The first hour follows the wild antics of these two men as they are thrown together by a series of chases and escapes. Lots of time is spent on watching these well-matched actors with great rapport build a partnership, if it’s a touch unclear why. The scenes with these two in the first half are the best in the picture. In fact, if they had stayed in this direction, it might have made a very good buddy / chase movie.

George Kennedy, who has been trying to kill them, finally catches up and they reach détente in the best scene in the film. From there, it rapidly turns into a straightforward crime movie. Not a bad one, just not as engaging as the first half.

The film itself is gorgeous; DP Frank Stanley sure knows how to film in Big Sky Country, Montana – leave the lens open and just don’t screw it up. The aforementioned pop song is “Where Do I Go from Here”, composed and sung by the otherwise great Paul Williams.

Poster:

Trailer:

Bechdel Test:

Fail

The Representation Test Score: D (3 pts)

(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)

Main Cast	Clint Eastwood Thunderbolt, Jeff Bridges Lightfoot, George Kennedy Red Leary, Geoffrey Lewis Eddie Goody
Rating	R
Release Date	Mon 02 Sep 1974 UTC
Director	Michael Cimino
Genres	Comedy, Crime, Drama
Plot	With the help of an irreverent young sidekick, a bank robber gets his old gang back together to organize a daring new heist.
Poster
Runtime	115
Tagline	Thunderbolt… the man with the reputation. Lightfoot… the kid who’s about to make one!
Writers	Michael Cimino (written by)
Year	1974