Skip to main content

More than just a revenge flick

The movie "Rolling Thunder" is one of those gems that you just don't hear about. At least I hadn't heard of it until my good buddy J.R. brought it over for us to watch. 


William Devane was perfect as the man who survived being a POW in Vietnam and is trying his god-damnedest to make it back in "the world". His wife has moved on and he doesn't really know how to relate to her anymore anyway. Tommy Lee Jones' character came back from captivity with him and he also has no idea how to lead a normal life. His wife and family are trying really hard to be loving and happy and are also trying to pretend that nothing is wrong. They are both completely numb, but go through the motions without complaint. 
It takes murder, torture, and mutilation to push these men into action, but once the action is needed, they both slide so easily into combat mode that you can actually see the relief on their faces that they are going into life-threatening battle rather than having to face another day of forced normality. 
Q. Tarantino called it "the best revenge movie", but it is so much more. My favorite moment in the whole damn thing is when Devane tells Jones that he's about to take on a whole bunch of baddies across the border and Jones replies simply, "I'll get my gear."
That's all he has to say and it speaks volumes. Young TLJ was amazingly skilled from early on. Compare him in this to his charming character in Eyes of Laura Mars. Both great but completely different multi-layered performances of complex characters. He's one of the few actors that can emulate pure visceral anger without changing his expression. Not one clench or furrow. 
The violence is hard and is neither 80's fun, 90's slick, nor 00's stylish. It hurts to watch. There's no way to watch it and feel that it glorifies violence. The men don't treat the women very well at all and you know it's because the war and the torture stole their ability to relate to anyone except for someone who's been through the same thing. 
I highly recommend this movie to fans of movies. 

Trivia: The opening theme, "San Antone" was also used in my favorite movie of all time, "The Ninth Configuration" AKA "Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane". 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mangaverse 7.1 Leiji Matsumoto tribute

 Here is the link for the latest Mangaverse zine, a tribute to Leiji Matsumoto who passed away this year: LINK I'm posting it here for the time being until it can be put up on the N3F website where all the other ishes are here . The cover One of favorite things I did for this ish Please check it out and tell me what you think! On twitter @patokon   or email (patokon(dot)com(at)gmail(dot)com CHEERS!

Tokyo Musume

In just a few days my first solo exhibition will open in Tokyo. July 16th to my birthday July 21st. I'm very excited and more than a bit nervous. The theme is Tokyo Musume (Tokyo Girls) . I'll also display several works from the 100 robots series which I have up on comicspace . I'm also a complete wreck trying to complete a design job for a big publishing company (logo for an online comic) and the opening to a tv show for another big company all while trying to finish more artwork for the show. The pic you see here is the postcard/flyer for the show. Also is a larger view of the map. If you are in Japan, you can find Gallery House Maya very easily. At Gaienmae station, take Exit 3 and go straight to the cross signal. Cross and turn right. You should pass a Family Mart on the left. Take the first left. After about 3 minutes you should see Maya on your right. It's a small house/gallery flanked by two large bushes. The gallery requests that no one sends flowers, but genero...

Art Exhibition - "Fighting!" @ Bartok Gallery

My next exhibition is called "Fighting!" and is at the Bartok Gallery in Ginza. It is a group show where everyone has been involved in the martial arts. We have wrestlers, kendoists, judoists, karateka, aikidoists, and myself - - secret ninja master. I have produced all original pieces and digital prints will be sold. Details: Oct. 5 (Fri) to 11 (Thu) [closed Sunday] 11:30 - 18:00 (last day -17:00) @ Bartok Gallery 1st Floor Ginza Tahei Bldg (銀座太平ビル) 1-18-2 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 Artists: aque ANAN Kashuu Kotaro Kozo Taya Tom Clouseau Patrik Washburn Sachie Watabe Access: *Tokyo Metro **Ginza Line: Ginza St. Exit A13 (8 min.) Kyobashi Exit 2 (6 min.) **Yurakucho Line: Ginza Icchome Exit 7 (4 min.) Shintomicho Exit 2 (4 min.) **Hibiya Line: Higashi Ginza (10 min.) Hacchobori Exit A3 (8 min.) *Toei Asakusa Line: Takaracho Exit A1 (1 min.) http://www.bartok-eye.com/map.html I'll be there on the 5th, 6th, and 11th so come one come all!