Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack

Released to TV in 1998, "Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack" (1998) is a crime drama based on the true story of Texas Rodeo star Jack Favor (Clint Black), who is framed for a double murder in 1967 and wrongly imprisoned in Angola prison, Louisiana. His wife (Lisa Hartman) works to apprehend justice while, on the inside, Jack uses his talents to inspire his fellow inmates.

The tone is a meshing of "The Onion Field" (1979) and "Brubaker" (1980), but of course with a different story and less polished production values due to the TV budget. Nevertheless, the drama is compelling enough and even moving in the second half.

I found both Clint and Lisa convincing and don't see where people say Clint's a lousy actor. He may not be Robert Redford, but he ain't bad. Yet he wasn't the best physical fit for Cadillac Jack since Clint is 5'9" while the rodeo star was 6'2". Then again, the same thing was done with Joaquin Phoenix playing Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line" (2005) so I guess it's not a big deal.

The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes and was shot in northeast Texas (Farmersville, McKinney & Cleburne).

GRADE: B/B-

Clint Black and his wife, Lisa Hartman, really "click" in this story about Cadillac Jack. I saw the movie for the first time on TV September 12, 2002. I had no idea that this was based on a true story. The story line was well written and Clint and Lisa are the absolute best couple that could have played these parts. Kudos to them both.

Here is a true redneck movie. The story about one of our own, played by one of our own, who is a great C&W singer with his beautiful wife co-starring. As an added bonus, the greatest redneck lawyer playing a judge. If this isn't one of your all time favorites, you most be from New York City. Clint Black does not have to act much in this movie. He just has to be himself, a Texas cowboy. Lisa and Clint are in love so I doubt if there was much acting in there scenes. Louisiana law is well known to us on the other side of the Sabine, so there wasn't much doubt in believing the validity of the movies. Clint's singing holds the movie together.

My wife and I enjoyed this movie more than any of the last ten movies we've watched from 2017 and 2018. It was a nice change to be able to hear and understand every word that was said be every actor, instead of straining to hear mumbling or whispering behind overly loud "background" music that is so prevalent in newer movies. There's nothing more annoying than trying to hear dialogue over an incessantly loud piano.. the common "cheap" choice for so many movies made in the 21st Century. As for the acting, Mr. Clint Black appeared to simply act as his natural self and was much more believable to me than are Stallone or Willis. What seems almost unbelievable is the depiction of justice system in the State of Louisiana, but after checking with Wikipedia, the movie turns out to be fairly accurate as to how it was in the '60s. Hopefully it's not like that anymore.

I'm sure they made this TV movie to cash in on the Clint Black name, but I think it would have been a more compelling movie had the screenplay been better written, and had it starred anyone but Black. The singer/actor crossover thing almost never works (Masked and Anonymous, starring Bob Dylan, is another example of horrid crash-N-burn. And that film had lots of REAL actors).

This goes both ways. In the early 1930's, John Wayne was making "Poverty Row" westerns and they decided to make him "Singin' Sandy". I love John Wayne movies, but the poor man couldn't sing a note. They dubbed his singing with a voice so far removed from Wayne's that it was ridiculous. (Check Riders Of Destiny on Youtube for THAT little chunk of dreck. The movie starts right off with a song.) Wayne became very embarrassed when he made personal appearances and children clamored for him to sing a song. He got rid of Singin' Sandy just as fast as he could, much to the benefit of all.

Cadillac Jack deserves a good turn on screen, but Clint simply cannot act, and the screenplay is a cliché-ridden mess. It looks like a huge mistake for all involved. If, in your eyes, Clint Black can simply do no wrong, then this movie might be up your alley. For everyone else, not so much. It's not "Monster A - Go Go" bad, but it's a pretty poor film.