Based on true events. In Texas Lou Jean Poplin (Goldie Hawn) breaks her husband Clovis (William Atherton) out of a pre-release house. It seems their baby was taken from her and she is determined to get him back. They kidnap a police car with its patrolman (Michael Sacks) and order him to drive to the town of Sugarman where their child is. Head of police Captain Tanner (Ben Johnson) wants to settle this without any blood or shooting...but can he?
Steven Spielberg's first theatrical film is still largely unknown...and it's easy to see why! The basic story is OK but the film just gets more bizarre as it goes on. At first it was kind of fun but then it got annoying. I mean are we supposed to take seriously the entire force of Texas police following this one car? After a while it just became an endless series of car chases and shootouts. By the end I could have cared less if they got the kid or not. Also Atherton (a wonderful actor) gives a rare bad performance here (but his part WAS difficult to play). There are some good points about the film--Sacks (who has since retired from acting) is good in his role, Goldie was charming in hers and Johnson is just incredible. The stunning wide screen cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond and great direction by Spielberg help--but they fail to totally cover the fact that this is an overdone car chase film. Also the veering from surreal to reality at the end is jolting (and depressing). Worth a look if you're a fan of Spielberg and Hawn but overall a disappointment.
Steven Spielberg's first theatrical film is still largely unknown...and it's easy to see why! The basic story is OK but the film just gets more bizarre as it goes on. At first it was kind of fun but then it got annoying. I mean are we supposed to take seriously the entire force of Texas police following this one car? After a while it just became an endless series of car chases and shootouts. By the end I could have cared less if they got the kid or not. Also Atherton (a wonderful actor) gives a rare bad performance here (but his part WAS difficult to play). There are some good points about the film--Sacks (who has since retired from acting) is good in his role, Goldie was charming in hers and Johnson is just incredible. The stunning wide screen cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond and great direction by Spielberg help--but they fail to totally cover the fact that this is an overdone car chase film. Also the veering from surreal to reality at the end is jolting (and depressing). Worth a look if you're a fan of Spielberg and Hawn but overall a disappointment.