Rolling Thunder (1977)

Some people don't like "Rolling Thunder" very much, and while I can sort of see their viewpoint with some aspects of the movie, at the same time I can see some really good things. The movie is indeed very dark and downbeat, and there aren't any characters that we can totally sympathize with; even the main character played by William Devane has a few unlikable aspects. The pacing will also be a turnoff for some viewers. While I was never bored by the movie, I could see why some viewers will be wondering why the central character doesn't get down to business a lot quicker. And there is the fact that all the Vietnam vet characters in the movie are portrayed to be big losers and with diseased minds, a stereotype I am quite tired of seeing.But despite the movie not being perfect, there is enough good stuff here to make it worth a look. The acting (particularly Devane and Tommy Lee Jones) is very good, the action and violence still pack a pretty good punch more than three decades later, and Devane's character has some quirks that make his character interesting to study. While I wouldn't call this movie a classic, I do think it has enough to offer viewers who are up for a movie that doesn't have a slam-bang pace and is not wall to wall action.

Rolling Thunder is a very high quality grindhouse revenge movie with tight direction, solid writing and first rate acting. Rolling Thunder is also the first in a wave of films to use post Vietnam America as a backdrop, predating First Blood by five years. I really like the film that was made, but if the original writer Paul Shrader had his way he would have taken Rolling Thunder in another direction. Even with Heywood Gould's re writes, Rolling Thunder remains a powerful, raw, brutal film. William Devane really brings it here as Major Charles Rane, a down on his luck Vietnam war vet and POW. He comes home to find his wife is in love with another man and his son dose'nt know him. It gets worst quick when Roscoe(from The Dukes Of Hazard) and his group of thugs murder his wife and son, grind up his hand in the garbage disposal and leave him for dead. Down, but not out Major Rane, now a cripple with a hook hand goes south of the border to Mexico for revenge. Scooping up his war buddy John Vohden(Tommy Lee Jones) they go to a whorehouse in Mexico for all out revenge and slaughter. I do agree with writer Paul Shrader that The Wild Bunch styled everyone dies in a blaze of gunfire ending that he wrote would have been a much more powerful ending to the film. Even so, Rolling Thunder still resonates and is no surprise that it is a cult classic. Great film.

Rolling Thunder is directed by John Flynn and written by Paul Schrader and Heywood Gould. It stars William Devane, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Haynes, James Best, Dabney Coleman and Luke Askew. Music is scored by Barry de Vorzon and cinematography by Jordan Cronenweth.When Major Charles Rane (Devane) returns from being a POW in Vietnam, he finds the world is a different place. His wife has been unfaithful and wants a divorce, his son doesn't know him and not everybody appreciates his service in the war effort. When some sympathetic town citizens hold a ceremony and give him 2,555 silver dollars, it signals the start of violence that takes Rane into a new war......I'm just gonna sit here.When Quentin Tarantino proclaimed Rolling Thunder as one of his favourite movies of all time, it was both a blessing and a curse. It's great that this undervalued and under seen gem hit the press notices, even getting a new Blu-ray release in the process, but with Quentin's name comes the millstone of exploitation and cheap flea-pit cinemas showing grubby movies. Nothing wrong with that, many film fans, myself included, enjoy 70s exploitation films and spent time in the afore mentioned sticky carpeted and tobacco perfumed theatres. But Rolling Thunder deserves better than being part of this filmic cultured arc, to have interested new parties seek it out purely with expectation of a revenge driven bloodbath movie.You learn to love the pain.John Flynn's movie is one of the finest of all the revenge driven movies out there. It has rich characterisation and thoughtful insight into the pain and tragedy of post war adjustment. The performances of Devane (brilliantly understated) and Jones (haunted) really add a bite to the narrative, turning in sensitive portrayals of men who left their souls in the bowels of some Hanoi hell. Thus when the violence is unleashed in a whirl of shotgun blasts and hook handed carnage, it isn't for gratification, it's an extension of a tortured or guilty psyche. There's genuine realism in the characters during the build up, with director Flynn taking his time to let the plot unfold. From the Rane and Vohden family homes, to Linda Haynes' love interest, reactions ring true without histrionics.It's your time, boy.The violence is well orchestrated, especially for the finale played out suitably in a grubby brothel. Rest assured bloodhounds, you are well and truly catered for here as well. It's the perfect blend of exploitation and intelligence, with a good sense of time and place too. There's flaws for sure as some credibility is invariably stretched, there's a whiff of misogyny in the air (though I don't think it is intentional, just ignorance by the writers) and some may find the stereotypes afforded the Mexicans as being unappetising. But flaws be damned, this is a cracker-jack movie, a modern day Western just waiting to be discovered by a new generation of film fans. 8.5/10

Rolling Thunder isn't better known because it needs to be sought after. It's a very powerful film. One of the best role of Tommy Lee Jones & one of the very best revenge pictures ever conceived.Devane's character is pure testosterone.What it is: A Definite must see for any fan of 70's sinema,"GRINDHOUSE/ /Drive-INN/,road-movies/, Strange 70's dramas/, or any A film for fan of seriously intrepid film making! Or anyone looking for an uncompromising vision in all it's ugly glory, & honest story telling.I'm truly amazed at the cinephiles who love 70's style insane character dramas,revenge,horror,gore,etc."grindhouse-a word thrown around a bit too much of late.) I don't exactly categorize this film as "grindhouse". Though no doubt I'm sure it had it's run. But these films i always imagine to relate more in style to the "southern" drive-Inn style of action pictures.-(Dirty Mary,Crazy Larry, Gaitor Bait & tons more.) This film has little relation to Gaitor Bait, other than violence & bright southern scenery in parts,does have a great: " Dirty Mary, crazy Larry" feel towards the end.Rolling Thunder isn't better known because it needs to be sought after. It's a very powerful film. One of the best role of Tommy Lee Jones & one of the very best revenge pictures ever conceived.Devane's character is pure testosterone.I was around ten when my father 1st showed me the film,& I remember being somewhat confused/uncomfortable as to why the hero was trying to get his "friend" to hurt him. My father then explained: "Devane" has had no real contact, in war people tend to seal up & they become machines or they brake apart. -*(My father fought in the Korean war.I only mention his part because I thinks it's a very brave choice to leave the scene in, where i can see a studio/producer wanting the scene out due to the fact it shows a damaged part of the psyche of our hero/anti-hero-Brando-personified & then mixed up again.*(Elements of "The Wild One" of course are present even if only subconsciously).I feel as if parts of this film, can only be truly understood by those who've seen the true horror of war. These scenes have that very dual nature Very brave & honest characterization scenes.Building like a roller-coaster, the film opens with our hero returning from a war, more scarred than only a veteran could understand. Met with praise for slaughter & mental anguish. The only thing he knows is war. Not love for his wife as she seems to have forgotten any hope. a mere stranger to his son.His eyes are cold, Devane really pulled the darkness from his soul for this role & you will feel it! It's heartbreaking to watch the silent dynamic unfold between a lost little boy & his yearning father whose not even a memory to his son. The boy shyly wants to know his father & The couple decides to divorce, he keeps getting social praise as the things that matter slip away all, but the love for his son. He's then rewarded, as gangster types get involved-not to give too much away, but he ultimately loses his son & his hand & wife in a horrific, scenes that have to be seen.The game is on!Cherry Red Cadillac,Reflective Sun-glasses & the open road, not to mention enough hate inside & artillery to take down the terminator.The soldier takes over & it's a road movie to hell at all costs. With nothing to lose he heads towards Mexico where he mets a beautiful woman who gets involved & it becomes just a man hunting down his own demons, in the flesh & the ones in his soul. Few movies really compare with the dynamic portrayed by the characters, in most revenge movies before & definitely after. (not that they were bad, just they didn't take the time to really suck you in get to know just how dark the character is. But this is where Devane shines. Righting wrongs that can never be healed. just like the scars of war.