JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonThunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) - Happy Birthday Clint
June 1st 2007 01:17
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
DVD Cover
Starring:Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine Bach, Gary Busey, Bill McKinney,
It’s Clint Eastwood’s Birthday today, so in honour of the man with the gritted teeth JD reviews one of his ignored gems.
You can’t talk about Thunderbolt and Lightfoot without a brief introduction to its Writer/Directors place in film history. As enigmatic and tumultuous as a Wachowski brother wanting a sex change, Michael Cimino is gifted in a way that has become a blessing and a curse.
"I don't make movies intellectually, I don't make movies to make a point, I make movies to tell stories about people." – Michael Cimino
The acme of his career was the multiple award winning juggernaut The Deer Hunter, which shot him to instant cinema god status. The label was swiftly admonished though with the reported excesses now notorious during filming Heaven’s Gate, a tragedy that governed everything he has done since.
"It was really a great trauma, as everyone knows. Since then, I've been unable to make any movie that I've wanted to make. I've been making the best of what is available." – Michael Cimino on the aftermath of Heaven’s Gate
Starting out as a writer for hire on the touching Sci-fi curio Silent Running then moving onto the Dirty Harry sequel Magnum Force. This against type Eastwood actioner was his debut as Director.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a fast moving and violent, character driven reality that will surprise with a tender under current of genuine friendship and loyalty.
The story begins in farmland U.S.A with Lightfoot(Jeff Bridges), a smooth talking kid, arrogant and cocky stealing a Trans Am in front of a salesman.
“In for a penny, in for a pound.” – Lightfoot
Driving to no particular destination, he runs into a preacher (Clint Eastwood). Before long discovering that this man of the cloth is actually Thunderbolt, a thief who can think on his feet and uses extreme firepower to make his entrance into bank vaults.
“You ain't no country preacher, Preacher” - Lightfoot
Thunderbolt is on the run from hitmen because of a heist gone wrong and the duo are forced to hit the road and soon they bond over women, booze and the quest for a lifetimes worth of loot.
“Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. That sounds like something.” – Lightfoot
The Smokin retro poster
John Doe Says:
Shamefully under estimated, this is a tough guy film that will break even the hardest macho exterior and its mainly because of the chemistry between the two lead performances. Bridges and Eastwood bring the same kinship as Newman and Redford playing Butch and Sundance.
The naturalistic filmmaking and feeling of spontaneity sweep you up with a surface of comedic fun and comradre. There is a 70’s cool to the look, all engrossingly shot and framed.
Boldly allowing the silence and stillness of the landscape to control the pace, this is where the talented young Director brings added depth to his own words. The action is dispersed with brutality and when flesh collides with bullets or fists it hurts. There is a pulpy quality to elements of the screenplay that has a lot to do with the entertainment value.
Clint Eastwood (Coogan's Bluff, The Beguiled, Fistful of Dollars) lets down his guard in this film and lets a naturalism that’s often dismissed in his acting add a freshness to some of the plot familiarities. The Director had instructed Jeff Bridges that his job was to make Clint laugh onset and on camera and this obviously allowed the more relaxed delivery to come through.
What it does is also allow Jeff Bridges (Starman, Big Lebowski, Fisher King, Last Picture Show, 8 Million Ways To Die) to run away with the film. Oscar nominated for his charismatic portrayal that pops with enthusiasm to make his antics and vulnerability irresistable.
Equally attractive for a totally different reason is a fresh faced, pre hazzard county Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke, Cannonball Run). George Kennedy (Cool hand Luke) and Geoffrey Lewis work well too as the disgruntled crew members who want a slice.
Keep an eye out for Gary Busey (Lethal Weapon, Buddy Holly)in an early foul minded role.
This is the first Clint Eastwood film John Doe has reviewed on his site. He chose Thunderbolt and Lightfoot because of it’s important curio value but also as a film that in a post Tarantino age can be appreciated for what it achieves.
Sure its got a vulgar side and caters to a certain demographic but there is also a much higher level of cinema technique going on that has stood the test of time well. Besides its the closest Clint Eastwood will ever get to his own personal Brokeback Mountain. (Now there I am catering to the E channel mentality)
The DvD:
Transfer 1:85:1 Widescreen/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras Trailer
Couldn't find any footage from the film online, so instead here is a fan made montage of Eastwood's career.
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Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
oh yeah, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, classic Eastwood machismo and Bridges' goofy yet touching awkwardness...
Great film, and an even better review!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
This is one of the few Clint Eastwood films that I have never seen. Now I'm going to have to watch it. It sounds great.
Great review by the way
Kylie
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Its worth watching just to see Clint laugh in the car...thanks for the compliment too
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
This is one of my favourite Eastwood's alongside The Beguiled, The Eiger Sanction, Play Misty For Me and Coogan's Bluff...all lesser discussed quality IMO.
Hope you come back and tell me what you think once checking it out.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I didn't know Cimino did it ... I caught this late one night on tv ...
Great poster too ...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Thought you might be fan of this one, you don't have to look to deeply to find the added substance...
That Thunderbolt poster just oozes gritty 70's cool doesnt it?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
nice review. i have not seen this, but after reading it will be sure to check it out.
i have to admit, i am a fan of watching clint throw the punches around. he isn't a slick, styled boxer type, but more so a grunty street fighter. it packs way more 'punch' and always comes off as looking and feeling real. happy birthday clint!
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Gee, don't you like Eastman in "Paint your Wagon"? I watched it just to hear him sing...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I think the Simpsons had it right with their send up.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
How about Brando singing in "Guys and Dolls"
HAHAhahahahahaha!!!
Comment by charliesgirl_992000
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
Comment by Adrienne
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Nice to see you, thanks for dropping by to wish Clint some Birthday wishes.
Hi Adrienne,
I can only assume you are joking but if not, most recently he won the Academy Award for Directing Million Dollar Baby.
he is an superstar who has appeared in too many films to name but Dirty Harry and The Good The Bad and The Ugly would be two of his most famous.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
But one day we're all going to be horrified when some kid asks us that in all seriousness...I can see it coming.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
My friend wrote, "At first I was taken aback--everyone knows who Bo Derek is! Did this kid live in a cave?
Then I put it into perspective; if someone 30-some years older than me told me I looked like Mary Pickford, they'd get the same blank look."
(She's a Saggi too--always funny, always blunt!)