Rolling Thunder
United States
1977
95 Min
Color
1.85:1
English, Spanish
Synopsis
When Major Charles Rane (William Devane) returns home to San Antonio, Texas, he is given a true hero’s welcome. He and his friend, John Vohden (Tommy Lee Jones) have endured 8 years of physical and mental torture in a POW camp.
However, the adjustment isn’t going to be easy. His wife has fallen in love with another man, and his son, whom he adores, no longer remembers him. In Rane’s own mind, he is a walking dead man – he died the day he was taken prisoner.
However, what Rane doesn’t know is that his experiences as a POW are nothing compared to the ordeal he is about to face.
The unthinkable happens and Rane, subdued and more distant than when he returned, is forced to plan out his own justice, with the help of his friend Vohden. But there is no sense of pleasure in his task; only the ice cold determination of a man who has suffered too much and refuses to be stopped.
Director
John Flynn
John Flynn (March 14, 1932 – April 4, 2007) was an American film director and screenwriter known for making efficient, no-nonsense crime-thrillers The Outfit and Rolling Thunder.
Flynn was raised in Hermosa Beach, California and served in the Coast Guard, It was during this stint that he studied journalism with Roots author Alex Haley. Flynn received a degree in journalism from UCLA.
He began his cinematic career as an apprentice to director Robert Wise on Odds Against Tomorrow and worked as the script supervisor on West Side Story. From there, Flynn worked as a second unit director on Kid Galahad and The Great Escape. He made his debut as a director with The Sergeant starring Rod Steiger.
Flynn’s substantial commercial success was with The Outfit starring Robert Duvall. The filmmaker achieved a dedicated cult following with the gritty revenge thriller, Rolling Thunder starring William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones.
In 1994, he directed the cult classic Brainscan… read more
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Pierluigi Puccini
21Apr13
B-movie heaven. An unjustly neglected revenge classic with a simple but compelling plot that sets up William Deveane and Tommy Lee Jones in low key, no nonsense performances, leading up to a bloodbath reminiscent of "The wild bunch". As gritty and heartbreaking as almost anything written by Paul Schrader.
HKFanatic likes this
Jason Callen
27Mar13
Another angry Vietnam vet film from writer Paul Schrader, and while it was released after Taxi Driver, my guess is that this one was written first. Like that film, this one straddles the line between art and exploitation, this time leaning more toward exploitation. Entertaining and well acted.. It is also a very good looking film, with cinematography by the dependable Jordan Cronenwelth. 3.5
ElTigreNegro
6Mar13
Taxi Driver's ignored little brother is another film about a man angry with a society that has nothing to offer him.
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By David Hudson on February 4, 2012
Also: Elizabeth Taylor, accidental feminist? And John Malkovich revisits Les liaisons dangereuses.
UK Blu-ray Review: ROLLING THUNDER
By Twitchfilm.com on January 22, 2012
Part hard-nosed revenge flick and part moody examination of a damaged psyche, John Flynn’s Rolling Thunder is one of the very best Vietnam ‘coming home’ movies. It’s also the sort of period piece that
Seldom Seen review | ROLLING THUNDER
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Always quick to feed off real-life tragedy, the film world has only within the last few decades dared to critique with these early responses instead of simply spouting propaganda and waving flags. Wide
Seldom Seen review | ROLLING THUNDER
By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
Always quick to feed off real-life tragedy, the film world has only within the last few decades dared to critique with these early responses instead of simply spouting propaganda and waving flags. Wide
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Reviews
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KILL KILL KILL!
By Ademption on January 9, 2010
THE revenge flick. After a thorough torturing in Vietnam, POW Major Rane can’t seem to readjust to small-town American life. Fortunately, before ennui sets in, he is tortured and his estranged family… read review
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