Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Catherine Bach, Geoffrey Lewis, Gary Busey
Directed By: Michael Cimino
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: Feb 11, 2014
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Personally, I am not the biggest fan of Clint Eastwood at all. I never really got the whole fandom surrounding him. I am though a huge fan of Jeff Bridges and I read that he showed Eastwood up in this film, so that was a real draw for me. I really enjoyed this movie and it still holds up today already 40 years after it was made, which is just crazy to think. Frank Stanley did an amazing job showcasing Montana’s Big Sky country in the film. I am a score guy, I love film scores. This film packed a great score by Eastwood regular Dee Barton. If you are a Bridges or Eastwood fan, this is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray and it is a must purchase.
Official Premise: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) marked the directing debut of screenwriter Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate), working under the meticulous guidance of star/producer Clint Eastwood. Eastwood plays a typically laconic loner, a big-time thief in hiding who hooks up with a goofy young drifter (Jeff Bridges, giving an Oscar®-nominated performance). First attempting to escape from a couple of vengeful former partners (George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis), then joining forces with them to pull off a risky robbery, Eastwood and Bridges give us an ultimately touching portrait of masculine friendship.
This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. The 1080p transfer looks amazing for a film like I said that is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Jeff Bridges did not need CGI in this film, like in “TRON Legacy”, to make him look 25 again 😉 The DTS-HD MA 1.0 is solid and works with the action and the score. Speaking of the score, the special features include an Isolated Music Track for Dee Barton’s amazing music. There is an audio commentary with Film Historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo, and Nick Redman. It is not the most exciting commentary track but it is certainly informative. Lastly there is the Original Theatrical Trailer included.