I kept thinking about poor Gene Hackman and his sad death as I was watching this. He really was one-of-a-kind; a legend.
This is heavy on plot and not much on character. It's gritty as hell (which I loved) and the action/chase scenes really deliver. And that ending has to be one of the most memorable movie endings I've ever seen.
But was the forced heroin addiction/cold turkey sequence really necessary? What did it add to the film?
3.25 stars.
The first third or so of this one felt a little poky to me. I was much more interested in Penelope Milford (Oscar-nominated)'s character and her story with brother Robert Carradine - than Fonda.
Things picked up once Voight's character gets a wheelchair, then his own place. And the last 5 minutes or so definitely hit hard.
3.25 stars.
Sitting through this repulsive movie is like being trapped on a five-hour flight next to a man who picks his butt, eats his boogers, scarfs down Twinkies then vomits all over the seat -- all while playing horrible Hee Haw music on a boombox.
Some reasons why this film rules:
1. Woodstock building a chair lift and ski chalet on top of Snoopy
2. Peppermint Patty asking "Where are the huevos rancheros?"
3. Schroeder hanging his piano on a clothesline to dry
4. The sign saying "THIS WAY KID"
5. Woodstock dancing with himself.
6. Franklin making the most of the two lines he's given in the whole movie.
