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The Last American Hero , a review by samuelrichardscott

The Last American Hero (1973) - R2 UK DVD

Shortened Review:
Films that are loosely based on the true stories of people from underpriviliged backgrounds or of people being general underdogs going on to become successful sporting heroes are two a penny. Usually these films have some relation to Disney and include Coach Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), Glory Road (Josh Lucas), Remember the Titans (Denzel Washington) and Invincible (Mark Wahlberg). Usually these films relate to sports like basketball, american football, football and ice hockey but very rarely do we get a similar film related to motorsport racing. In fact, whilst the more imaginitive racing/car related films have a history of popularity, from The Cannonball Run to Death Race 2000 to The Fast and the Furious, the racing films that strive for seriousness are few. 1966's Grand Prix was one such film I enjoyed focusing on the lives of formula one drivers though this isn't based on a true story. I entered The Last American Hero knowing that I enjoy this particular genre and looked forward to watching it.

The Last American Hero is loosely based on a series of Esquire articles written by Tom Wolfe, telling the true story of Junior Johnson, a moonshine smuggler who became one of NASCAR's first champions and an American sporting hero. After Junior crashes into a police blockade whilst delivering his father's moonshine, the police arrest Junior's dad and he gets a one year prison sentence. To raise some cash to help his family, Junior enters a demolition derby, and then a stock car race. Realising he has a natural talent, he progresses on the stock car circuit until he meets a promoter (played by Ned Beatty) who gives him his break on the NASCAR circuit.

When I first hit play, the first scene put me off slightly. I felt like I had just put on a random episode of The Dukes of Hazzard, except this time Bo and Luke were driving a black car instead of The General Lee. Whilst I enjoy The Dukes of Hazzard TV show, I was looking forward to something different with this film. Thankfully, after the opening scene, I got what I was looking for. Jeff Bridges is excellent as the overly cocky racer who knows he has talent, forcing himself on to the stock car circuit as an independent driver by winning local and regional races. Ned Beatty is great in his role as the promoter and Gary Busey suits his as Junior's brother (even if his screen time is rather limited). Yes the story is sometimes contrived and yes, it is obvious what is going to happen, but this is an enjoyable racing film with spirit and determination with good performances all round and some fun and well shot racing scenes.

Full Review:
http://www.dvdcompare.net/review.php?rid=2501

Released 12th September 2011.

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on August 18th, 2011)

Road Games, a review by Jon

Road Games
3 out of 5



Stacy Keach is Pat Quid, driving a truck (but not a "truck driver"!) across the Outback. Prone to making up stories about his fellow road users, he begins to suspect one could be the serial killer he hears about on the radio. He picks up a hitchhiker, Jamie Lee Curtis, who feeds into his theory and tries to help. But then she disappears and the police think he may be the killer...

Another serial killer film that I took a chance on fitting in the "horror" genre and there's a couple of shocks and dark humour enough to count. I think.

This film is great fun, but caught me out somewhat. The first half is almost a comedy! Keach is brilliant as Quid, riding along making up stories about the other cars, chatting to his pet Dingo and quoting poetry. Does that sound weird? Well it does I suppose, but actually the mood is like a laid-back western and very enjoyable (If you're familiar with Aussie films beyond Mad Max, this balance between styles isn't unusual). Quid is just a well-read, friendly loner. And some genuine shocks and inventive camera work lift it well away from the mundane. I particularly liked the way the first victim is plucking at a guitar, which forms her own tension building theme.

Along the way he meets a variety of funny characters with their own oddities. Eventually he picks up a seriously under-used Curtis, although a running gag means we'd seen her twice already from behind, if you pardon the expression. Although while I'm bringing filthy innuendo into this, there is none at all in the film. Odd, for an early Curtis role. If you're not going to use the Scream Queen to scream, at least get her top off! I mean, it's almost slasher movie law!

After a roadside altercation with the two worst cops in film (just awful) and a campfire scene with a genuine spine-tingling shock worthy of any ghost story, she manages to get herself kidnapped by the suspected killer and Quid goes off in pursuit. Here, it all goes a bit wrong. It's like they were trying to reverse the vibe of Duel and that's just too high a target. Other variously good ideas will be bettered later by the marvellous The Hitcher with Rutger Hauer.

After a seriously daft chase the finale manages to involve all the same characters he met on the road in a sort of Cannonball Run cameo reunion. I really felt let down by that. Why would all these people be going to the same location? He's covered the distance between Melbourne and Perth. And so did everyone else?

It all finishes up in typical TV drama style and annoyingly never gives any kind of reason for what the villain is up to. Worse, the girl with the guitar is the only one killed on screen. So as a pure serial killer film, it's lacking. While it's certainly a film of two halves, the first being much better than the second, the whole thing has a tongue in cheek cartoon style that means it's never boring. And the final gag is bloody brilliant!

Note: I bought this DVD from Play.com and noticed a review from Ninehours (small world this Internet!) saying how awful the image quality was. It is bad. Sound too. I think it's just acceptable though and comparable with a lot of cheap bare-bones releases, but then thanks to Ninehours, my expectations were very low.

(From October Marathon: Horror! on October 16th, 2008)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

1.05 Pizzas and Promises (1994-10-20)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), David Shore (Writer)
Director: George Bloomfield
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Beau Starr (Lt. Harding Welsh), Daniel Kash (Detective Louis Gardino), Tony Craig (Detective Jack Huey), Catherine Bruhier (Elaine), Ramona Milano (Francesca Vecchio), Fab Filippo (Lenny Milano), Harvey Atkin (Tex Markles), Debra McGrath (Tammy Markles), Patrick McKenna (Gary Redfield)

The guy who played Buffy's short-time boyfriend Scott Hope guest stars as the Pizza delivery guy whose car gets stolen. Great scenes with Francesca. As usual some great one-liners.
This time something struck me: Fraser reminded me very much of Kryten from Red Dwarf.

Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on July 1st, 2009)