Convoy (1978).

Review #2252: Convoy (1978).

Cast: 

Kris Kristofferson (Martin "Rubber Duck" Penwald), Ali MacGraw (Melissa), Ernest Borgnine (Sheriff Lyle "Cottonmouth" Wallace), Burt Young ("Love Machine" / "Pig Pen"), Madge Sinclair (Widow Woman), Franklyn Ajaye (Spider Mike), Brian Davies (Chuck Arnoldi), Seymour Cassel (Governor Jerry Haskins), Cassie Yates (Violet), Walter Kelley (Federal Agent Hamilton), Billy Hughes (Pack Rat), and Jorge Russek (Texas Sheriff Tiny Alvarez) Directed by Sam Peckinpah (#590 - Ride the High Country, #591 - The Wild Bunch, #944 - Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, #1439 - Straw Dogs, #1685 - The Deadly Companions, #1936 - The Getaway)

Review: 

Sure, one might think of Smokey and the Bandit (1977) first when they wonder about Convoy. But actually, there is a tiny bit of things to think about beforehand. Bill Fries Jr was interested in music but more so in commercial art, which eventually lead to Bozell & Jacobs for art direction. In the 1970s, a character called "C. W. McCall" was created to aid in advertising for...bread, which because of the nature of transporting it through trucks, well, why not making a truck-themed ad and character. The ads (played by Jim Finlayson) were a hit, and Fries used it as a way to come up with a song, which he wrote with Chip Davis (with Donald Sears as producer). Played over the winter of 1975 and early 1976 to interested airwaves, the song (an ode to renegade truckers) was a hit to people in an era where CB radio and trucking were a thing to talk about (McCall wasn't exactly a one-hit wonder, he merely just found other things to do besides singing songs for long, which actually included being mayor of Ouray, Colorado for six years; he died in 2022 at the age of 93). I think you can understand how it might've made sense for United Artists to go out for a film based on the truck stuff. The film was written by B. W. L. Norton, who had wrote/directed Cisco Pike [1972], the somewhat noted cult classic that had starred Kristofferson in his first go at being an actor. Sam Peckinpah had directed these three films before this one: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974), The Killer Elite (1975), and Cross of Iron (1977). Suffice to say, he needed a hit, and he went with it while fiddling where he could in the script that found a bit of time to cast someone like Ajaye in an apparent attempt to add some social commentary. Apparently, he used James Coburn not so much just for second unit work but also to direct certain sequences due to his furthering addiction to drugs and alcohol. Evidently, the original cut of the film was over three hours long, but editing resulted in a 114-minute film, complete with a new rendition of McCall's "Convoy". The production of the film resulted in a commercial hit, but he did not direct for a while (doing second unit work on Jinxed! [1981] before his final film with The Osterman Weekend [1983]).

Admittedly, you could probably say the film sure smells like it has a substance in its body with how it actually makes one appreciate the fine art of enjoying a dumb-as-hell movie. You thought Smokey was hokum? You haven't seen anything yet. It is the staging of chaos like you have probably seen before, but it is kinetic enjoyment (complete with stunts you can't quite tell are staged or just part of the "go with it" show) that I can't help but admire even in average enjoyment. Besides, the casual average qualities of his prior 70s work such as Straw Dogs and The Getaway make one appreciate the pedal-to-the-medal ridiculousness that looks like if a Western was deep-fried (what else could one say about a line in which Kristofferson refers to him and Borgnine as being part of the "there ain't many of us left" department). Kristofferson drifts in and out as the inadvertent hero for the people that you probably have seen before, but there is a lean confidence in his charm that you can practically have a beer with. MacGraw may have been fine for Peckinpah's Getaway, but she doesn't really have anything of note to do in this film (cut because of the edits or not, you decide)., particularly when one focuses more on the goofy dynamic between Kristofferson and Borgnine anyway,. There is something delightfully enjoyable about Borgnine in how he cuts through the film in terms of smarmy authority that is the kind of played-out entertainment worth sticking around for as the film gets further absurd with the introduction of a Governor character that really believes a convoy of truckers (comprised of a chunk of folks who probably don't even know why they are going along with it all) can be the key to reaching "the people", which is pretty amusing. Rounding out the interest is Ajaye and Young, who make quality character presences in the salt-of-the-earth nature that comes from people wrapped up in essentially the grind of their lives (the off-screen assault of the former in particular sticks out). The ending is probably easy to see coming when it comes to "man of the people!", but it does ring amusement in the actual reveal and lasting laugh, so that works out. The film is clearly not any better than the fried ridiculousness that arose in low-budget / B-movie enjoyment in its wake, but Peckinpah and company managed to grind out a curious movie filled with chaotic engagement anyways. It wouldn't be the first one to recommend in the work of Peckinpah, but it sure would garner curiosity for those who love to see vintage 1970s entertainment with the staging of real-scale effects and stunts to go with a catchy song.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Rocky Balboa.

Review #1163: Rocky Balboa.

Cast: 
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Burt Young (Paulie Pennino), Milo Ventimiglia (Robert "Rocky" Balboa, Jr), Geraldine Hughes (Marie), James Francis Kelly III (Stephenson), Tony Burton (Tony "Duke" Evers), Antonio Tarver (Mason "The Line" Dixon), and Pedro Lovell (Spider Rico) Directed by Sylvester Stallone (#047 - The Expendables, #277 - Rocky II, #340 - Rocky III, and #597 - Rocky IV)

Review: 
Admittedly, the Rocky series has certainly had its share of ups and downs. The first three films are all pretty good sports dramas (with the first being the pinnacle), although I will say that it could've ended after Rocky II (1979) or Rocky III (1982) without any objection. Rocky IV (1985) was the pinnacle of ridiculousness, but again - end it there, and that's okay. Rocky V (1990) was (and still is) the worst of the bunch, and even Stallone expressed disappointment with the final product. Honestly, it really is a surprise that there is even a sixth film at all, considering that it was released sixteen years after the last film and thirty years after the original. It has been said by Stallone upon doing this film (for which he wrote and directed) that he would rather "...do something that he enjoyed badly, than feel bad about not doing something he enjoyed." In that respect, I find that the end result is a movie that is just fine. It isn't anything great, and it doesn't really have too much reason to exist, but it is ultimately a decent piece of entertainment that will prove itself to the audience it is trying to reach without too much struggle. It loves to do callbacks to previous films and hark back to the days of yesteryear from the series (particularly with flashbacks of scenes with Talia Shire), and it comes off more poignant than over-reaching in the final result. It is the kind of movie that perseveres just as much as the other films in part because of the pull from Stallone in the title role. With the pull of having to play a role now filled with loneliness and the search for having meaning, he steps up just fine to the task of making this character as compelling and believable as he can, being as entertaining as ever. The film does sometimes teeter on the edge of collapsing to the problem of self-parody, but it does manage to steady itself enough with some fine supporting performances. There are a few returning actors from the previous films, such as Young, Burton, and Lovell, and they are fine for the brief time they show up on screen. Ventimiglia and Hughes also do decent with their roles, being people worth following for short bursts with their interactions with Stallone while not being clunky or too cliche. Tarver (an actual boxer) is okay for the parts required of him; obviously he does better in the boxing sequences than the parts involving trying to pull a bit of drama with his character, but he at least isn't too wooden for the film nor does he make you wish someone else was in the role, for the most part. Much like before, the fight sequence proves to be the biggest punch the film has going for it, and it certainly comes out well, executed with a look and feel that reaches levels that the other films hadn't dared to try - namely, realistic sound effects and a fight that certainly feels up to the task. At 100 minutes, the film doesn't overstay its welcome too much, having a decent pace that builds to its final fight without leaving too much at the door. On the whole, it may have been a bit strange to have a sixth film to begin with for this aging series, but the end product justifies itself enough to make for a fine installment without too much objection or regrets.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Rocky V.

Review #895: Rocky V.

Cast:
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Talia Shire (Adrian Balboa), Burt Young (Paulie Pennino), Sage Stallone (Robert "Rocky" Balboa, Jr), Richard Gant (George Washington Duke), Tommy Morrison (Tommy "The Machine" Gunn), Burgess Meredith (Mickey Goldmill), Tony Burton (Tony Evers), and Paul J. Micale (Father Carmine) Directed by John G. Avildsen (#003 - Rocky)

Review:
Ah yes, this one. It has been a while since I talked about the Rocky franchise (#003, #277 - Rocky II, #340 - Rocky III, #597 - Rocky IV, #760 - Creed), so it only makes sense that I review the one that attempted to return Rocky to his roots...and does so with minimal results. It's not the fact that it inverts the formula as it the fact that it's just not that entertaining. Neither Rocky IV or V are good, for varying reasons, with one being ludicrous and the other feeling hollow. The way that the film resets Rocky's status seems cheap, with the brain damage part somehow not clicking, in part because Rocky seems the same anyway, and the climax is a fight in the streets (which goes down the way you expect, sans any idea of Rocky getting more damage). Probably the easiest problem with the movie is the fact that it tries too hard to return to the grit of the first film (while doing an inverse of the rags-to-riches story), without much of the heart of what made that movie entertaining. Obviously this is a movie that tries to end the series with some sort of dignity that the fourth film didn't have, but it all comes off as a throwback with some mold on it. The two stories (Rocky training Tommy and his family drama) don't mesh well, in part because they just feel unfocused.

It only makes sense that Stallone cast his son to play (are you ready for this): his son, ignoring the age difference from previous films. Obviously the two have father-son chemistry, but I didn't really find the son's narrative to be particularly interesting enough to care about. Of course the solution to his problems is fighting (literally every problem in these movies can be solved by fighting), but it just feels superficial. Heck, he even befriends the dude he beats up, because I guess that's how things work in Philadelphia in the 90's. As for the main Stallone, he does a fine job as always, continuing to make Rocky a likable character, though he does have some moments where he experiences some sort of depth, like when he is talking to Adrian about having meaning in his life again by training Tommy. Relating to that, Morrison (an actual boxer) doesn't have much screen presence, never really seeming like someone to care about, with Gant taking most of the villainous role...while playing it as over-the-top as one could do it. I didn't find him to be that great a villain (in part because half the time his pleas for Rocky to fight are rejected by Adrian), and his scenes with Morrison aren't anything special. He definitely doesn't help when the movie is trying to return to its roots. Young is fine as usual, with a bit more importance this time around (for better or worse). It is somewhat nice to see Meredith (playing Mickey again in a flashback) again, even if his scene is there mainly to speed the plot up.

There is a climax, culminating in a street fight...and some messy editing, where it flashes back at times to Rocky's other fights (which occurred numerous times already), which just makes me want to watch any of the other films instead. There really isn't a way to end the movie without the status quo (Rocky still being broke) still being the same unless you kill off Rocky, which apparently was the original plan, before it was changed...and it's easy to see why. Seeing Rocky die would be the ultimate downer in a series all about perseverance and heart. Sure, he wins the fight. So what? The movie's ending can be questioned with that phrase, and there really is no answer. The previous films had some sort of meaning with the way the fights go (even the fourth one, with Rocky's speech at the end), but this one just doesn't feel right. The last scene with the two Stallones (and a credit sequence that takes images from the previous films) is somewhat good, but by then it's too late to make any real kind of impact. At the end of the day, Rocky V just doesn't click right. There's no real punch to it, and it certainly doesn't feel like a proper finale to the series.

Countdown to #900: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rocky IV.

Review #597: Rocky IV.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago), Talia Shire (Adrian Balboa), Burt Young (Paulie Pennino), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Brigitte Nielsen (Ludmilla Drago), Tony Burton (Tony "Duke" Evers), and Michael Pataki (Nicoli Koloff) Directed by Sylvester Stallone (#047 - The Expendables, #277 - Rocky II and #340 - Rocky III)

Review
When did the Rocky franchise went over the top? Rocky IV? I say that because Rocky III was the first movie where Rocky didn't fight Apollo Creed, instead he fought Mr. T. Oh, and Mickey dies because you know, reasons. But that argument goes out the window when the robot is introduced. Yes, a robot, which I guess would be fine except 29 years later, we're still waiting for robots. The foundation of silliness is cemented by James Brown and then planted fully into the ground with Ivan Drago, if that even makes sense. Going into this, I knew it would be silly, that it would probably the weirdest of the franchise. That, and it would have montages. Many, many montages. This is what parodies are made of, especially this movie. But is the movie any good? Probably. Look, it's a silly film with a lot of cheese and a lot of effort, and the performances are what they are, the good and bad. At this point, you know these characters and what they'll do and not do. You know Rocky will fight Drago despite people telling him not to, because reasons. The movie is like processed cheese: It's American, it can be used for almost anything, and it's easier to poke holes at it than Swiss cheese. Take this film for what it's worth: the silly, the silly and the bad.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rocky III.

Review #340: Rocky III.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Mr. T (Clubber Lang), Talia Shire (Adrian), Burt Young (Paulie), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Burgess Meredith (Mickey Goldmill), Tony Burton (Duke Evers), Ian Fried (Rocky Balboa, Jr), and Hulk Hogan (Thunderlips) Directed by Sylvester Stallone (#047 - The Expendables and #277 - Rocky II)

Review
The previous two Rocky films were like a two-parter, with the first being about Rocky's rise to the top and the second culminating with just that, but with heart and soul. The third is not as deep as the last two, but I don't think that's a bad thing necessarily. Third films do have some good as well, like Return of the Jedi, Die Hard 3, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, even Revenge of the Sith. Pardon for being off topic, but oh well. How is the film? It's...80's. 80's good. Stallone tries his best, and Shire and Young do a fine job as usual. Then there's Mr. T. I love the performance. It's so...fun in how simple it is, and it works well. I pity the fool. Weathers and Meredith also do a good job. It is weird at times (especially with Rocky fighting Thunderlips...) , and it may be the turning point of the franchise, but it does provide some good quality with effort. Countdown to 350 Reviews: 10...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rocky II.

Review #277: Rocky II.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Talia Shire (Adrian), Burt Young (Paulie), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Burgess Meredith (Mickey), Tony Burton (Tony Evers), and Sylvia Meals (Mary Anne Creed) Directed by Sylvester Stallone (#047 - The Expendables)

Review
It's a new month, a month washed away from the horrors of October and into something anew. And I what do I review for the first of the month? A sequel to a film I've reviewed here. How long has it been since my review of Rocky? Really, really long, back in December. December 2010, to be exact. (#003 - Rocky) 274 reviews later, here I am. So how is the sequel? It is without a doubt...A good film. I think it rivals the first film in terms of quality, as it springs more character development, more emotional issues, and more...Stallone, who wrote along with directed (doing the latter until the fifth film). The acting is good, Weathers gets more of a chance to just be angry, but you do feel for him and why he is angry. The boxing here is a bit more tense here, and in the end it has a good conclusion for a film that still lives on to this day as a strong sequel to an already strong first film.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Back to School.

Review #245: Back to School.

Cast
Rodney Dangerfield (Thornton Melon), Sally Kellerman (Dr. Diane Turner), Burt Young (Lou), Keith Gordon (Jason Melon), Robert Downey, Jr. (Derek Lutz), Paxton Whitehead (Dr. Phillip Barbay), Sam Kinison (Professor Terguson), Terry Farrell (Valerie Desmond), and M. Emmet Walsh (Coach Turnbull) Directed by Alan Metter.

Review
It firgure to come back from a six day hiatus of not reviewing with a film title like this (and if you want to add to it, a few hours ago I was in school, so there). Last time I reviewed Rodney Dangerfield was in Caddyshack (#208), and I forgot to menton his role in making that film and this film a success. The way he pops out at you (especially with the eyes) gives you a sense of confusion that turns to gigles soon after. While the plot may not be a sight for the ages, the film is at least useful in its own right. Dangerfield truly was good at what he did. Countdown to 250: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rocky.

Review #003: Rocky.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Talia Shire (Adrian Pennino), Burt Young (Paulie Pennino), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Burgess Meredith (Mickey Goldmill), Thayer David (Miles Jergens), Joe Spinell (Tony Gazzo), Tony Burton (Tony "Duke" Evers) and Pedro Lovell (Spider Rico) Directed by John G. Avildsen.

Review
Well this is a pretty alright film. It is a little slow for the first 30 minutes as the plot and the romance takes a while, but after that, it gets much better with Rocky being a comeback in training, and Shire acts like a shy but lovely girl (who would change in the sequels). Young does a fine job as a tough guy with issues (particularly with Rocky III). Carl Weathers plays a boxer who apparently takes the fight with ease, but he gets what he didn't ask for. Anyway, this film has a nice feel of heart that makes it great.

Overall, I give it 9 out 10 stars.