Convoy (1978)
Guest Reviewer: Sam Lowry
Sam Peckinpah’s ‘Convoy’ is a wet, sloppy, tongue kiss from that grumpy next door neighbor who always told inappropriate jokes in-front of the children and brought his own liquor to parties. If you’re looking for the sort of insight that Peckinpah offered in the classic ‘Warren Oates is drunk and hanging out with a Mexican hooker’ movie ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia,’ look elsewhere. This ain’t ‘The Wild Bunch 2: Even Wilder.’ Cinematically, ‘Convoy’ a mess. The plot is ripped off from ‘Smokey and the Bandit,’ then dumbed down (if that’s possible) for the drive-in sect, and shot by a former great director with a growing cocaine habit. (On top of his already large and looming alcohol problem.)
The acting is what you would expect from a production that casts a singer as the lead. Kris Kristofferson, (Best known for writing ‘Me & Bobby McGee’ and who, I am told, is a sweetheart in person) stars as ‘The Rubber Duck,’ a trucker who just wants to deliver the goods in his truck as soon as possible, even if that means breaking the speed limit and, possibly the sound barrier. Ernest Borgnine, plays the sheriff, the Rubber Duck’s advisory, determined to stop him, no matter the costs. Allie McGraw is the plucky reporter, first tagging along with the Duck to get the story, but quickly becomes part of the story as she finds herself falling for him.
The shooting of the film was reportedly a disaster, with Peckinpah so strung out, close friend and actor James Colburn reportedly directed the helicopter shots since no one thought it a good idea to have a guy coked to the gills hanging out of an open flying machine with whirring blades. ‘Convoy’ is a prime example of a great director tackling material way out of their strike zone simply to pick up a check, thereby paving the road for such luminaries Martin Scorsese, (‘Cape Fear’) Neil Jordan, (‘Interview With a Vampire’) and Stephen Soderbergh. (‘Erin Crock O’… I mean, Brockovich’)
Peckinpah may have been on the decline in his career, (and would go much lower with 1983’s ‘The Osterman Weekend,’) but one can catch flashes of Peckinpah’s brilliance. Namely, the action scenes. The plot may be thread-bare, the acting, not exactly top shelf, but damnit if Peckinpah doesn’t deliver the goods when it comes to blowing up a few cars. The spark that makes ‘The Wild Bunch’ and ‘Straw Dogs’ so incendiary is dulled around the edges in this one, allowing you to enjoy the action like a Fourth of July fireworks show without worrying about such things as the sanctity of life, the value of property or how we should all just get along and love one another. Peckinpah’s usual punch to the genitals is now a tap on the arm, a nod and a wink to what he’s given us before. Peckinpah doesn’t seem to sweat the mayhem and destruction, why should we the audience?
As many faults as this movie has, it’s a fun ride. Don’t look for anything close to award-winning and you’ll dig it. If you’re in the mood for a beverage while you watch, I’d recommend Pabst Blue Ribbon. Straight out of the can. As much as I tear this movie a new one, ‘Convoy’ does, however, top one list in my book; Best movie based on a hit pop song. (And before you ask, yes, I am including ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ when I make this statement.)
Sam Peckinpah’s ‘Convoy’ is a wet, sloppy, tongue kiss from that grumpy next door neighbor who always told inappropriate jokes in-front of the children and brought his own liquor to parties. If you’re looking for the sort of insight that Peckinpah offered in the classic ‘Warren Oates is drunk and hanging out with a Mexican hooker’ movie ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia,’ look elsewhere. This ain’t ‘The Wild Bunch 2: Even Wilder.’ Cinematically, ‘Convoy’ a mess. The plot is ripped off from ‘Smokey and the Bandit,’ then dumbed down (if that’s possible) for the drive-in sect, and shot by a former great director with a growing cocaine habit. (On top of his already large and looming alcohol problem.)
The acting is what you would expect from a production that casts a singer as the lead. Kris Kristofferson, (Best known for writing ‘Me & Bobby McGee’ and who, I am told, is a sweetheart in person) stars as ‘The Rubber Duck,’ a trucker who just wants to deliver the goods in his truck as soon as possible, even if that means breaking the speed limit and, possibly the sound barrier. Ernest Borgnine, plays the sheriff, the Rubber Duck’s advisory, determined to stop him, no matter the costs. Allie McGraw is the plucky reporter, first tagging along with the Duck to get the story, but quickly becomes part of the story as she finds herself falling for him.
The shooting of the film was reportedly a disaster, with Peckinpah so strung out, close friend and actor James Colburn reportedly directed the helicopter shots since no one thought it a good idea to have a guy coked to the gills hanging out of an open flying machine with whirring blades. ‘Convoy’ is a prime example of a great director tackling material way out of their strike zone simply to pick up a check, thereby paving the road for such luminaries Martin Scorsese, (‘Cape Fear’) Neil Jordan, (‘Interview With a Vampire’) and Stephen Soderbergh. (‘Erin Crock O’… I mean, Brockovich’)
Peckinpah may have been on the decline in his career, (and would go much lower with 1983’s ‘The Osterman Weekend,’) but one can catch flashes of Peckinpah’s brilliance. Namely, the action scenes. The plot may be thread-bare, the acting, not exactly top shelf, but damnit if Peckinpah doesn’t deliver the goods when it comes to blowing up a few cars. The spark that makes ‘The Wild Bunch’ and ‘Straw Dogs’ so incendiary is dulled around the edges in this one, allowing you to enjoy the action like a Fourth of July fireworks show without worrying about such things as the sanctity of life, the value of property or how we should all just get along and love one another. Peckinpah’s usual punch to the genitals is now a tap on the arm, a nod and a wink to what he’s given us before. Peckinpah doesn’t seem to sweat the mayhem and destruction, why should we the audience?
As many faults as this movie has, it’s a fun ride. Don’t look for anything close to award-winning and you’ll dig it. If you’re in the mood for a beverage while you watch, I’d recommend Pabst Blue Ribbon. Straight out of the can. As much as I tear this movie a new one, ‘Convoy’ does, however, top one list in my book; Best movie based on a hit pop song. (And before you ask, yes, I am including ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ when I make this statement.)
posted by Vatche at 8:12 AM
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