The Gauntlet

source: The Gauntlet

The Gauntlet

Possible spoiler - As the bus drives through Phoenix, police line up on either side of the street to empty thousands of rounds into the bus. Literally dozens of policemen are in the line of fire (across the street from each other) and nobody seems to notice. Also, at the courthouse, as they're again surrounded by dozens of police on ALL sides, Clint gets shot by the bad guy (police standing next to & behind everybody) and NOBODY flinches - apparently certain that bullets at close range don't go through people. Finally, as everybody is lying there bleeding (but not dead) not ONE policeman offers assistance or bothers to start taking all the guns away. Could be the dumbest &^%$%#$#ing movie ever.

There's only one small problem with this movie. It couldn't possibly happen. What am I referring to specifically? EVERYTHING! Not one scene, not one line, not one event, not one moment of this movie, from the first frame to the last, is credible. None of this stuff could happen in the real world. Hey Clint, if you wanted to give your lady friend an expensive present, you should have just bought her a car.

I don't have enough room here to list all the faults in this show. It was written as a serious police movie, and came off as a boring, totally unrealistic shoot-em-up. Eastwood played his usual tough, maverick cop part, but not with the flair he has in some of his better films. This junk has been done and done and done. He needs to search for a better script, I know he deserves much better. I think my main objection to this movie was the ending. I expect realism when I pay for a film like this. What I got was a thoughtless mishmash. 1/10th of a star.

This film is one of the dumbest ever. Spoilers If Clint fixed a few Grey Hounds in Black Hawk Down, I am sure all the troops would have made it. This is a 70's the system is bad movie, too the extreme. How corrupt can a police force be to have hundreds of cops shooting at an armor plated bus with a mob informant witness in it. I like escapism, but this is unbelievable! There are a few good scenes in it, like when the house collapses from bullet holes, but nothing, and I mean nothing could save this one. Even Rambo! I give this a 4/10.

Theatre of the absurd -- Clint-style. This fast-paced, mindless, often silly film always remains true to itself, and thus succeeds on its terms. Excessive violence is used repeatedly as a metaphor for absurdity. William Prince and his protege who plays Federspiel are two of the most memorable malevolent bureaucrats in film history. Supporting cast members are all in on the joke, and play it for all its worth -- even the usually uptight Sondra Locke scores wonderfully in this one. I usually abhor excessive violence, but this film really uses it for laughs. A guilty pleasure.

Clint Eastwood plays a Phoenix cop sent to Las Vegas to bring a witness back to testify at a mobster's trial. The witness is a tough, smart prostitute, played by Sondra Locke. The two clash instantly but soon find they have to rely on each other to survive because nobody seems to want Locke to make it to Phoenix alive. Underrated Eastwood movie that blends road trip comedy, romantic comedy, action, and drama all into one. Gritty and violent with an epic amount of gunfire for a '70s movie. Today that would all be CGI and lame. Clint's great. Sondra Locke has probably her best movie role here. Very good supporting cast of familiar faces. Like I said, this one's pretty underrated. If you're an Eastwood fan, you definitely should check it out.

The Clint Eastwood fans already know what fun action they can expect, for those people yet unknown with Clint Eastwood, one can expect shoot-out after shoot-out. The story is about a corrupt police chief trying to kill a witness before she can testify to his corruption. The good: terrific action, however silly and over the top, it is still incredibly enjoyable. Great role by a lovely Sandra Locke, who provides a bit of budding romance. And there is an excellent bad guy as well. What more could I wish for in a dirty cop action movie? Any bad? Well, the story is completely NOT credible up to RIDICULOUS, because at many moments it makes no sense whatsoever. For those who want a realistic story, pass this one by. For those (like me) who first most want to see full blown fun action, this is definitely worth the watch...