Change Your Image
Kelly Perkins
Reviews
Billy Jack (1971)
AS RELEVANT TODAY AS WHEN FIRST RELEASED
Every now and then a movie comes along that strikes a responsive chord in the conscience of the people. BILLY JACK is one such film. Filmed during the height of the Viet Nam conflict (but released several years later), this movie, along with EASY RIDER, touches upon the human psyche in a way that is rare among this medium. Film auter Tom Laughlin produced, directed, wrote, and starred in this tale of the underdog, coming to the rescue of the disillusioned youth of the Freedom School. Many people have misunderstood this movie's message: this is an indictment against violence, not for. Billy is a half-breed native American ex-green beret that comes home to find America is in as much turmoil and conflict as Viet Nam. But the conflicts here are of our own design. Racial hatred, intolerance, bigotry and narrow mindedness are abound in society and Billy tries to take the passive road but is forced to retaliate. The story is as much a tale about growth and development as it is an action saga. Billy soon learns that violence begets violence in his quest to find inner peace. Following Columbine and other tragedies, this movie is well-worth another look
Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)
AMAZING PREDICTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Tom Laughlin has an uncanny ability to predict future events. His movie BILLY JACK foretold the way action movies would go (ie. RAMBO, STEVEN SEIGAL, CHUCK NORRIS, etc.) In this particular installment of the Billy Jack Saga,the emphasis is on Washington and the way the special interest groups and power brokers have corrupted our government. It's really a prophetic film, in light of the present day situation on Capitol Hill. There is an eerie fortelling of the Vince Foster espisode.
BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON is a re-make of the Jimmy Stewart classic MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, except using nuclear reactors as the hub of the plot. Tom Laughlin, as the character Billy Jack, really has a chance to prove his acting skills in this one; there is more depth of character in his performance of the lead role. The sets were very intricate and the production values a lot higher than the previous espisodes. Plus, there is an excellent supporting cast: Delores Taylor (Laughlin's real life wife), E G Marsall, Sam Wanamaker, Luci Arnez, and Peter Donat. This is a definat must see!
Papillon (1973)
MCQUEEN'S FINEST PERFOrMANCE
This is one movie I never tire of watching. Steve McQueen gives the finest performance of his too short career in this most exciting tale of survival. This is the true story of Henre Charier, nicknamed Papillon, who was sentenced to a long term at Devil's Island in French Guianna. The movie deals with the many attempts at escape that Papillon executes. Dustin Hoffman gives a fantastic performance (as usual) as Papillon's fellow convict and friend Louis Dega. The chemistry between McQueen and Hoffman is nothing short of magic. Directed by Frank Schaffner (Patton, Planet of the Apes), this is a most compelling and edge-of-your-seat entertainment. The final scene on the cliff should go down as one of the classic moments of cinema history.
The Trial of Billy Jack (1974)
AS VOLATILE AS THE TIMES IT REPRESENTED
A lot of people just don't get the point of the BILLY JACK movies. They are not condoning violence, they are showing us other ways of getting our points of view across. Tom Laughlin was and is an expert in Jungian psychology and he weaves the elements of the Shadow and Persona in all of his films. This movie especially is a mini-dissertation in Jungian concepts. The title is ambiguous in that there is a court trial for Billy Jack because of the violence he is guilty of in the movie BILLY JACK (this is the sequal to that movie). But, the real trials are between Billy and his inner self. The constant struggles that Billy Jack undergoes mirrors everyone's own personal battles. In these days and times, we need a role model like Billy Jack.