This movie has a fine cast, a lot of suspense, and some very well-done scenes. But overall, it sucks.
Asnumerous viewers have already pointed out, it starts off fine but then gradually declines, and then really gets bad in the last half-hour or so. Far too much time is spent on the weekend antics (sex, drugs and mystery surrounding some angry and guarded people), and then the plot abruptly shifts and we learn of new motives and identities for many of the characters. There wasn't a good to lead-in to any of that, and then there's not a lot of time left to rectify everything, so Peckipah quickly throws a bunch of scenes together and we are left with a very unsatisfying, messy ending.
As the action speeds up, the title character ("Osterman" played by Craig T. Nelson of "Coach" fame) seems to transform from dark mystery figure to action-comedy actor, and he starts spouting lame one-liners that are very out of place.
Rutger Hauer is a bit out of place here as well. He's a good actor and he puts in a good effort, but I think he's just too much of an action-actor and too physically imposing to fit the role of smarmy expose TV-reporter.
Peckinpah has a habit of really repeating the same themes over-and-over again- whether it is the decline of the Wild West, the fusion of the north Mexican culture with that of the American Southwest, or climaxes featuring bloody altercations between a group of intoxicated tough-guys. Since this is based on a Robert Ludlum book, the themes are absent and it at least helps create a little more mystery.
If you like Peckinpah, you should see it, because this was his last film. It's interesting from that stand-point, but it's not a very good film.
Oh and "Convoy" is a fun film- but it's really bad too.
Asnumerous viewers have already pointed out, it starts off fine but then gradually declines, and then really gets bad in the last half-hour or so. Far too much time is spent on the weekend antics (sex, drugs and mystery surrounding some angry and guarded people), and then the plot abruptly shifts and we learn of new motives and identities for many of the characters. There wasn't a good to lead-in to any of that, and then there's not a lot of time left to rectify everything, so Peckipah quickly throws a bunch of scenes together and we are left with a very unsatisfying, messy ending.
As the action speeds up, the title character ("Osterman" played by Craig T. Nelson of "Coach" fame) seems to transform from dark mystery figure to action-comedy actor, and he starts spouting lame one-liners that are very out of place.
Rutger Hauer is a bit out of place here as well. He's a good actor and he puts in a good effort, but I think he's just too much of an action-actor and too physically imposing to fit the role of smarmy expose TV-reporter.
Peckinpah has a habit of really repeating the same themes over-and-over again- whether it is the decline of the Wild West, the fusion of the north Mexican culture with that of the American Southwest, or climaxes featuring bloody altercations between a group of intoxicated tough-guys. Since this is based on a Robert Ludlum book, the themes are absent and it at least helps create a little more mystery.
If you like Peckinpah, you should see it, because this was his last film. It's interesting from that stand-point, but it's not a very good film.
Oh and "Convoy" is a fun film- but it's really bad too.