Firepower

Forgettable time-waster, without purpose or meaning. It proves that even a few wild car chases and large-scale explosions can't sustain a desperately uninteresting and uninvolving story. The large cast is largely underused. (*1/2)

Director Michael Winner was a very consistent director. His movies were almost always bad. Winner had a lazy style that always bothered me. He just seems to place his camera with very little thought. Getting good performances form his usually strong cast doesn't seem to concern him either. Winner's "Firepower" checks all of those boxes. "Firepower" has a good cast but it's none of their finest hours. The standout being a dreamy Sophia Loren. Loren has seldom looked better. The action is well staged, for the most part, but it's also boring. The tropical locations are nice and I'm sure the cast had a great time at whatever resort they were staying at. As far as "Firepower" goes, it's a borderline camp classic.

Director/Writer Michael Winner (best known for the "Death Wish" Series) is in Full-Throttle Mode in this Picturesque Satirical Blood-Bath.

Watch for a Boat-Scene where James Coburn is Literally Soaking a Bad-Guy with the Red-Stuff to Attract Sharks and Extract Information.

Roger Moore Bond Movies Take-Off that is an Enjoyable Grotesque.

A Sleek Presentation, the Best that Money Can Buy, Colorful and Calamitous, Colliding Confusion that is One Jaw-Dropping Scene After Another.

A Good-Looking Example of Sophomoric Bloat that Hollywood Churns-Out Routinely because it Sells.

A Fun Name-Cast and an Over-the-Top Crowd-Pleasing Picture that Wraps Up the 70's "Nicely" with an Explanation Point that Says "Having Fun Yet".

One of the Unintended Ironies is Watching O. J. Simpson Joking About Murder and this Joyful Guilty-Pleasure Never Stops.

Sophia Loren, James Coburn, O. J. Simpson, Eli Wallach, Anthony Franciosa, George Grizzard, and Vinnie Gardina all Think this is a Hoot.

And it is...

Worth a Watch.

Aging stars try to cash in before the new 1980s action landscape changes it all. Featuring a fickle Sophia Loren, this movie lacks any real passion from its actors - whether it's romance or anger. The actors don't seem to feel anything no matter if they are betrayed, shot, or blowing bad guys up. The signature traits of each actor is missing for some reason: Loren minus the allure. Colburn minus the physicality, Wallach minus the menace. Some great character actors but they don't have enough to work with. The result of pushing out product after Jaws And Star Wars brought broad appeal back to the box office.

Sophia Loren is out for revenge and the FBI wants to get one of the world's richest men who is a Howard Hughes like recluse. This guy put out a hit on her husband who was blown up in a laboratory with a mail bomb. What to do, but call in the FBI in the person of Vincent Gardenia.

But getting the Hughes like gazillionaire ain't easy so the FBI calls in a consultation with the Mafia as represented by Eli Wallach. Lots of Firepower will be needed, but even more brains. The best guy for the job is independent contractor James Coburn who sets out to storm the rich guy's fortress on Antigua.

The nice Caribbean location and the chance to see a few movie names are the only reason to see this ridiculous action thriller. Both Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson turned this one down and poor James Coburn was left holding the bag. Bronson, who worked with director Michael Winner on any number of projects, left this cold, so you know he was hearing the faint sounds of Thanksgiving.

Even Anthony Franciosa, one of the most underrated players ever, looks ridiculous in this as the doctor feel good to the rich and reclusive. Add to that Billy Barty as a midget mob boss and you get the idea how ridiculous this one is.

Unless you like all the stars like I do and want to see O.J. Simpson get what's coming to him, stay away from Firepower.