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- Blue Thunder Is Perfectly Out-of-Date
- Roy Scheider Gave a Classic Performance as Frank Murphy
- John Badham Was Ahead of His Time with Blue Thunder’s Themes
As a child of the ’80s, I can vividly remember the thrill that movies like Blue Thunder brought to our living rooms. The action-packed sequences, the pulsating soundtrack, and the stellar performances by legends like Scheider and McDowell were nothing short of mesmerizing.
In the 80s, it was simpler for audiences to let go of disbelief in movie theaters nationwide. This allowed movies like “Blue Thunder,” starring Roy Scheider, to be a huge success, earning $42 million in 1983 – twice its budget. The helicopter-centric action plot foreshadowed “Top Gun” and combined elements of fighter pilot films with the emerging helicopter and computer technology of the early ’80s. It was an intriguing period, sandwiched between times, as neo-noir films such as “8 Million Ways to Die” and “To Live and Die in LA” glamorized the ex-military LAPD officers who starred in many gritty ’80s crime movies. Directors like Hal Ashby, William Friedkin, and John Badham, director of “Blue Thunder,” were experimenting with a style popularized by 70s films like “The French Connection,” but with a less intellectual – and more high-energy – approach.
In Badham’s action movie, the helicopter scenes were unprecedented, not even dared in war films such as ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘Platoon’. To put it simply, such helicopter stunts had never been attempted before. The ’80s saw a surge of action movies integrating technology into brutal storylines. This specific Badham/Scheider production stood out by blending an aging action star from the 70’s (the incredibly talented Roy Scheider, known for his roles in ‘Jaws’ and ‘All That Jazz’) into a film set in a Reagan-era police state. The movie was filled with impressive stuntwork, aerial photography, and was made even more enjoyable today due to its nostalgic appeal as a relic of the daredevil period of death-defying feats on screen. This is a sometimes absurd, highly implausible ’80s action film, but it manages to be remarkably effective thanks to Roy Scheider’s performance and our modern fascination with this era.
Blue Thunder Is Perfectly Out-of-Date
Despite its dated humor, questionable comic relief by Daniel Stern, and certain problematic portrayals of gender and race, the film offers a raw, high-octane blend of intense action sequences and a well-crafted detective storyline – essentially, it’s an enjoyable dose of nostalgic action-movie charm. In simpler terms, while parts of Blue Thunder may feel outdated, it still manages to be delightfully entertaining “action cheese” at its finest.
In my opinion, John Badham could be one of the most underappreciated directors of his time, as he brought to life iconic films such as Saturday Night Fever and the tech-driven Cold War thriller WarGames. While Blue Thunder may not have tackled global politics like some of his other works, it offered a unique plot centered around an FBI program aiming to secure the 1984 L.A. Olympics using a cutting-edge, badass helicopter loaded with technology designed to detect suspicious activities… or perhaps even catch a glimpse of someone practicing yoga without clothes. Let me remind you that this was in the early ’80s!
Roy Scheider Gave a Classic Performance as Frank Murphy
Absolutely, I must admit that there are some outdated social depictions in Blue Thunder, but this could potentially make it even more captivating in today’s era, where action films often tone down for a younger audience. Stars like Scheider, renowned for their powerful acting abilities, are being overshadowed by actors who seem formulaic and lack depth. However, Scheider shines brilliantly in Blue Thunder, portraying a character that resonates with the audience by adding a human touch to his hard-edged persona. He seamlessly continues his exceptional performance from Jaws, playing a law enforcement officer finding himself in a predicament only he can resolve, as the top pilot in the LAPD’s Air Support Division.
In the cast alongside Scheider is Malcolm McDowell, famously known for his role in A Clockwork Orange, who portrays the federal agent who masterminds the sinister scheme that Murphy’s character, Frank Murphy, must solve. McDowell’s character was a stark contrast to Murphy, serving as an effective adversary with a menacing demeanor. Additionally, this film marked the final appearance of arthouse actor Warren Oates. Notably, Candy Clark, a former model turned actress recognized for her role in American Graffiti, delivers one of her best performances, particularly during a thrilling car chase scene where Murphy directs her from his helicopter overhead.
John Badham Was Ahead of His Time with Blue Thunder’s Themes
The film “Blue Thunder” was remarkably visionary in its portrayal of a dystopian Police State scenario in Los Angeles, a city that would erupt into chaos 10 years later during the L.A. Riots – an event heavily influenced by excessive policing in L.A.’s African-American neighborhoods. This prophetic storyline was acknowledged by director Badham as “a peek into a paranoid’s future,” where technology, rather than being beneficial, could open Pandora’s box, leading to unforeseen and alarming consequences. Intriguingly, the advanced surveillance capabilities of the “Blue Thunder” helicopter were either in development or testing phases by the military at that time. Today, we can see this as the early stages of our diminishing privacy and our initial reluctant acceptance of a force we would later come to know as… the Internet.
In light of the rapid advancement in technology, Badham assigned designer Mickey Michaels with the challenge of creating a multi-technology helicopter, essentially a super copter. Michaels chose to modify the cutting-edge French helicopter, the Aerospatiale SA-341G Gazelle, and integrated weapons based on the emerging technology. The helicopter becomes a key element in the film, along with the thrilling stunts. Schieder, Stern, and McDowell bravely endangered their own safety by flying in these helicopters to capture stunning shots as the pilots executed daring maneuvers with the actors onboard. The outcome is a movie worth watching, particularly for those who yearn for the practical effects and locations of the ’80s Era. Watch Blue Thunder on Tubi.
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2024-09-21 00:01