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The Last American Hero
A young hell raiser quits his moonshine business and tries to become the best NASCAR racer the south has ever seen. Loosely based on the true story of NASCAR driver Junior Johnson.
Release : | 1973 |
Rating : | 6.4 |
Studio : | 20th Century Fox, |
Crew : | Art Direction, Property Master, |
Cast : | Jeff Bridges Valerie Perrine Geraldine Fitzgerald Ned Beatty Gary Busey |
Genre : | Drama |
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Absolutely Fantastic
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Blistering performances.
This movie is what any NASCAR fan should see.From the simple fact that not every driver comes with a clean background. You have to do what it takes to live. With that in mind and not giving the story away Jeff Bridges character Junior Jackson does what it takes to make the money. And that of course but racing. From the lower circuits to the higher ones This is kind of a fast pace movie, but its kind of dry. For the viewer that can sit threw the slow times and watch a movie for how a movie should be (for the story) you will enjoy it.A good underrated movie, and I recommend you see it.
Lamont Johnson directed this critically-lauded, though under-appreciated stockcar drama (often referred to as "Hard Driver") concerning a young hellion (Jeff Bridges) in North Carolina who's into racing cars and "hot doggin' the law!" It isn't Shakespeare, though the William Roberts script (adapted from Tom Wolfe's short stories) is literate and bracing, and the film has built up a cult-following in the last thirty years. Performances by Bridges, Valerie Perrine and Gary Busey are all solid, with Bridges' powerful scene in a recording booth the emotional centerpiece of the film. The soundtrack prominently features Jim Croce's song "I Got a Name". Interesting, well-made lower-budget item marketed as a quickie B-flick but actually offering something more substantial. **1/2 from ****
Very good acting performance by Jeff Bridges. He hit just the right note as the naive, in-over-his-head, but determined and aggressive stock car driver, Junior Jackson.His performance as a young country kid, trying to break into the big time, with small-time resources, is memorable.Valerie Perrine is equally good as Marge, the man-starved woman who takes a liking to Junior. She senses he's someone who may be on the way up, while her current beau, successful driver Kyle Kingman, is probably on the way down. To hedge her bets, she makes sure to warm both their beds, to ensure she will be with the guy in the winners circle.The movie looks, feels and sounds woefully dated, and the production and direction leave something to be desired. There are decent stars in this movie, but it looks like it was made on a shoe-string budget.Bridges, Perrine, William Smith (as Kingman) and Ed Lauter (as Burton Colt, Junior's car owner) make this work with excellent performances.A simply made movie, with outstanding characters.
This is what the Dukes of Hazzard could have been,or at least this help inspired the Dukes.Junior Jackson drives a Mustang fastback,he runs moonshine in it,he outruns the revenoors in it,he races it on the track (sorta like the General Lee?).When his racing ambition outgrows the Mustang,he buys a Chevy (ugg) and proceeds to move on to an established team.This is the story of Junior Johnson,long time NASCAR racer and car owner.His family runs moonshine,but is trying to conform to modern tastes.Juniors talent makes him a star,and catches the eye of cute in the face V Perrine.A very southern story,a very southern feel,a great big slice of a time gone by.Bridges is excellent as Junior.Don't think anybody could have done as well.His smirks and facial expressions (or lack thereof) are classic.Very underrated film.Should have been given more attention.