Juggernaut
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Movie Reviews of Juggernaut
Movie Review: Nautical Juggernaut
Summary: 4 Stars
Richard Lester's 1974 thriller JUGGERNAUT has often lumped together with the "disaster films" of the era. I trust it's not too much of a spoiler to say that it would be more accurately termed a "disaster narrowly avoided" film. Come to think of it, what's WRONG with calling it a plain old "thriller." "Disaster film" has always implied hundreds, even thousands dead or maimed. In a movie like THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE--so emblematic of the genre--a mere handful of survivors live to tell the tale. The body count in JUGGERNAUT is substantially less. The tension, however, is actually higher.
For viewers in the new millennium, a film JUGGERNAUT may even hit harder than a "forces of nature" or "failure of technology" type disaster flick from almost 40 years ago. The film revolves around an act of terrorism, and even if this particular perp's objective is plain old extortion, and NOT some twisted ideology, he proves just as cold and calculating as any brand of political terrorist familiar to us today.
And, as it turns out, he feels just as aggrieved, and am I alone in sensing that the filmmakers seem to demonstrate something like sympathy for the would-be extortionist's plight. I really don't want to go into great detail and once again be the spoiler I am wont to be. So let me just say that there's a brief, but fascinating moment in which one of the main characters hurls a version of the then still popular bromide that society itself may be at least somewhat to blame. 1974 might well be the last time a scriptwriter could get away with that one. In fact, had the film been an American (and not a British) production, that kind of 60s sentiment would probably not have been articulated at all. The Nixon/Agnew "Silent Majority" years had pretty much put the kibosh on all that kind of thinking.
Of course, all Lester and his writers are really saying is that sometimes heinous acts are, at least on some level, comprehensible. We can understand motives, even when we are appropriately appalled by the crime. Heck even we Americans are at least THAT sophisticated.
It's actually a bit frustrating in fact that we never really get to know what makes this mad bomber, uh, tick. But then, the filmmakers admittedly have a fine line to tread. They don't want to tip their hand plot-wise. On the other hand, when we do finally find out who the villain is, his psychological and personal history are presented all too hastily and way too sketchily. It's the kind of rushed psychological profile movies tend to hand us (usually voiced by "an expert in the field") when they haven't actually introduced us to the character sufficiently well.
In Richard Lester's defesne, I will say that the fact that there is no obvious suspect for at least the first half of the movie does add to the suspense. I had some fairly off-the-wall guesses re: Juggernaut's true identity. Suffice it to say that just because a given actor went on to play one of the most sinister villains in movie history--and just because he has a few moody moments in this film--doesn't necessarily mean that he's anything more than the honest Joe he's first presented as.
Richard Lester still had some clout at this point in his career, and the top flight cast he was able to assemble for this film is evidence of that. Richard Harris, Omar Sharif, Ian Holm, David Hemmings and Anthony Hopkins are all fine. The supporting cast includes such talents as Shirley Knight, Roy Kinnear and Roshan Seth(the latter two providing some genuine comic relief sometimes, while simultaneously suggesting something much deeper below the surface). As your not-so-atypical -70s anti-hero/hero, Harris is really quite good, but you may find yourself wishing that even his character had been a bit better developed. We learn way too late that he and the bomber have a history--one that could have been played off of significantly better than it is here.
Back stories don't get in the WAY of a good story. They help flesh `em out, and make you care about the characters. The screenwriters for JUGGERNAUT either disagreed with that premise, or some of their best scripted scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. You may find yourself caring about the fates of these people because of the sheer enormity of the threat. But it's much less likely that you'll care about them as individuals.
Sort of a shame, because with just a little tinkering, it could have been otherwise.
Movie Review: "Of course there's a God" - Goldfish
Summary: 4 Stars
This '70s disaster thriller has been rather unjustly forgotten over the years, while it is in fact far superior to other films of it's kind - such as the Oscar-winning megahit "Airport." The dry realism of "Juggernaut" is one its most winning elements - there is a relative lack of soap opera melodrama, with the focus kept squarely on the tense drama.
Basically this is a precursor to "Speed 2," as others have pointed out, in that it involves an act of terrorism carried out on a cruise liner. Instead of the over the top nonsense of that more recent movie, the filmmakers behind "Juggernaut" go to great pains to craft a meticulously detailed suspense thriller. Richard Lester - who, contrary to some accounts, directed the entire movie after two different directors were replaced during preproduction - allows for many quieter moments that help establish the great amount of work being invested by both the police and the crew members on board the ship. The result is a story that may seem slow-moving by today's standards. Make no mistake, this is not an action movie but rather a suspense thriller. That said, the initial boarding of the bomb experts (who must first parachute into the stormy ocean waters) is a prime example of some of the excitingly staged sequences.
One of the more conventional "disaster movie" aspects that "Juggernaut" adheres to is the all-star cast. Here you will find excellent performances from Richard Harris, Ian Holm, Anthony Hopkins, and Omar Sharif. As has been oft-noted, Mr. Harris in particular delivers srong work. One of the weaker plotlines involves the lead female character, portrayed by Shirley Knight. It is no fault of the actress, who seems to struggle with a rather ill-defined role. The problem lies in the "romance" between her character and the ship's captain (Sharif). Once we know the two are involved in a tryst, not much is developed throughout the film despite numerous scenes dealing with their involvement (or rahter, lack thereof as the captain appears utterly disinterested in the woman). Basically it seemed like a tacked-on attempt to appease the need to include a leading lady.
In a movie with such a palpable sense of realistic doom, there are still flashes of very sly humor. I particularly enjoyed the Titanic references that occasionally popped up. Roy Kinnear is highly amusing as the ship's activity director who must continue trying to bring good cheer to the 1,200 passengers who are well aware of the peril they face.
Definitely worthy viewing for fans of disaster movies (thrillers in general, really) OR of any of the distinguished actors that make up the excellent cast.
Movie Review: is it the blue wire...or the red wire...
Summary: 4 Stars
With the ever present ticking of a clock and nerve-wracking machine noises in the soundtrack, this is a taut, nifty disaster thriller, with the cruise ship HMS Britannic sailing to America, unknowingly with 7 bombs hidden aboard, set to explode; they have multiple booby traps, and the saboteur wants not only money but revenge against the system that in his twisted mind feels slighted him.
The cast is great, with Richard Harris as the head of a demolition team, David Hemmings as his right-hand man, Omar Sharif as the ship's captain, and Anthony Hopkins as the man in charge of finding the bad guy (whose wife and children are aboard the ship); Shirley Knight, Ian Holm, and Roy Kinnear round out the cast.
The direction by Richard Lester, better known for his comedic musical films with The Beatles and not thrillers, is fast paced, with some superb effects; I especially like the suspenseful moments when the demolition crew arrives on the scene, parachuting into the stormy sea.
The screenplay by producer Richard DeKoker is intelligent, raising this film up from the average production in this genre, and the cinematography by Gerry Fisher excellent. The score by Ken Thorne is also good, but mostly one can only hear the tick...tick...tick...of the bomb.
Total running time is 109 minutes.
Movie Review: An outstanding thriller!
Summary: 4 Stars
Like many of the other reviewers, this was a film that I recalled with great fondness.I had seen it when I was younger...not even a teenager...but I remember loving it.
I had been looking for it forEVER when I read that it was being released on DVD.
I happily popped it in my DVD player and put my feet up.
You know how some movies are not NEARLY as good as you once thought? They're not as funny, not as scary, often plain stupid.
Well I'm happy to report that this film is terrific. It STILL raises the blood pressure, and will still having you guessing by the end.
Richard Harris plays the quasi-heroic bomb defuser, Omar Sharif the beleaguered captain and a young Anthony Hopkins has a one-note performance as a stressed out Scotland Yarder.
Roy Kinnear is a painful hoot as the Ship's Steward (think Julie on the Love Boat) who tries to raise everyone's spirits EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE'S BOMBS ON THE SHIP.
Trying to get everyone to sing along to "Roll Out The Barrel"? Priceless.
The script is spare but witty. I loved the comment about "A Night To Remember".
This is among the best "disaster" movies ever made, and a terrific thriller.
Movie Review: Overlooked Disaster Film of 1974 showcases British Actors
Summary: 4 Stars
A taught tense adventure of a mad bomber who holds an oceanliner for ransom after he plants a series of bombs aboard. The villian is known, as each bomb has a signiture style. Richard Harris leads the team who attempt to defuse the bombs, only somewhat successful. As the countdown continues, the tension mounts, and it becomes more a cat and mouse game between the bomber and the police expert as they debate whether to cut the red or the blue wire. The final minutes are excrusiating.I saw this on the big screen in 1974 and could convince no one to go to a free showing in Lansing, Michigan with me on a Sunday afternoon. An overlooked gem, I recall this film fondly. The plot is somewhat predictable, but Richard Harris is surrounded with major British actors who give good support to this tension filled adventure. Try it. It has to be better than any of the US dissaster picts of the period.