Leonard Maltin's blurb in his home video book goes like this...
'Unusual, engrossing saga of Junior Jackson, North Caronlina moonshiner and racing fanatic piting his ability against the System. Three-dimensional, believable charcters enhance cynical point of view.'
What exactly do you think he means by cynical point of view?
Just for the sake of accuracy, the main character's last name was Johnson, not Jackson.
shareI haven't read the Maltin (correct spelling) book but the cynicism comes from a few directions. First, the Johnson family, especially Junior, is cynical about the motives of those pushing the Bridges character. Second, those pushing Bridges are of the belief, a cynical, if condescending, one, that the Johnson's are too dim to explore alternatives to the one they opt for in the movie. Last, thematically speaking, is the idea that the only chance people (uneducated Southerners) like the Johnsons have to find a place in 20th Century America is to compromise their ideals. This is not only cynical but probably true--even more so in 2006. This leads to a whole Pandora's Box about whether people like the Johnson's ever had a real opportunity to begin with; or when they had a chance, say through education, and passed on it so they could run moonshine. The filmmakers, especially the screenwriter, make this a pretty complex argument by painting the Johnsons as uncultivated but still possessing enough savvy to be considered more than just your NASCAR-loving redneck.
This is a very good, forgotten film. If you like Bridges here I'd recommend Thunderbolt and Lightfoot or for a film presenting a similar dynamic to the one here the more recent Junebug which is a superior film. Also, Spike Lee's He Got Game is a very underrated film in my opinion and it presents virtually the same dilemma except the characters are black. All three films are worth pursuing and taking a close look at.
Just 1 guys thoughts...
nice analysis, and I would add to that the arc of Junior's love life:
he meets Madge and the attraction Junior feels grows into real emotion. It hurts him that she is with Kingman, and he eventually "wins" her from him. After he wins the last race, he finds out that Madge is actually going away w Baer, and that scene is pretty powerful. He's crushed and she's ashamed of hurting him.
She can't seem to help herself. Recall that scene where Madge talks about the Fraternity "Pig Party" and how her "date" won second place for bringing the second most ugliest girl? She said she was 180 lbs back then, but now she's "hot." She's truly enjoying herself sexually now -- nothing wrong with sleeping around if you're honest -- but she's toying w emotions in doing so, particularly Junior's, the rookie who still has a lot to learn about the businesses of racing and love.
Madges pig party story and how Jr reacts to hearing another mans voice on the phone are two great scenes in a very underrated film, the character of Madge gives the film an adult edge I think although nothing is ever explicit (got into this film from when Sky Movies cained it everyday at 10am).
The final shot of the film is great, as is the soundtrack, need more songs in films written about the main character.
Find it very interesting that He Got Game got reccomended, interesting.
I don't know about Leonard Maltin, seems like every movie I think is exceptionally good, he labels a BOMB.
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