Trailer—Blue Collar

Blue Collar

I first caught sight of this at 1am, in the usual late night films that normally send you straight off to sleep. Not this film. I was still awake at 2.30 when it ended. Richard Pryor deserves more credit for this role than he has received. By that I mean he's received no credit for a great performance and just shows that the man had more talent than was given credit. I urge any person thinking of a union career to watch this and then do the opposite of the characters. A gritty union drama that you can't stop watching from beginning to end.

Another great film from Paul Schrader. Snappily written, intensely realistic and telling another union story as good as the ones in ON THE WATERFRONT and THE IRISHMAN. The pace starts off slow, which is great because it draws you into the story and the working class lives of the three men; needless to say, all three actors are great in their very different roles. The second half becomes entirely unpredictable, leading to some unexpected and affecting set-pieces. It all hangs together very nicely as another relevant and powerful slice of 1970s filmmaking.

Certain films remain at the back of one's mind for many years. The first time I saw the film, on television, I was impressed by the realism of the situation and honesty of acting. The film is enhanced by the driving power of the theme music. Years later, I again saw the film on television and was reminded of it and how good it is. The lead actors, Yaphet Koto, Harvey Keitel and Richard Prior, must have enjoyed much critical acclaim from fellow actors for their performances. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story without too obvious predictability and easy options, especially those who think that all American movies are romanticism floss.

After years of reading about this Paul Schrader drama, I finally watched Blue Collar on Netflix Streaming. It stars Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, and Yaphet Kotto as three auto assembly workers who feel let down by their bosses and the union rep they don't trust. While Pryor does have some comic moments, he's allowed to be more serious when the film takes a route that challenges these three friends' loyalty to each other. Keitel and Kotto are also very compelling especially when the story concerns the latter's fate. And the score by Jack Nitzsche and Ry Cooder really pours the blues on. So on that note, I recommend Blue Collar. By the way, having noticed that the movie is produced by Norman Lear's company of T.A.T. Communications, he certainly wasn't above plugging his shows "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times" by putting some long clips in when the characters are watching television!

Excellent urban drama depicting the lives of three friends who work at a car plant, and plan revenge on their boss. Pryor is great in the lead role, which is probably his best performance in a movie. Schrader does a fine job in his directorial debut and makes this film a pure enjoyment. Bravo for Keitel and Kotto in their supporting roles. A highly underrated film that deserves much better than it got. 4 out of 5

This 1978 Universal release is one of raunchy comedian Richard Pryor's best films and it's a highly serious drama. Pryor successfully goes for a major change of pace in this tale of a trio of auto assembly workers (Pryor, Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto) who are all having some major home, work and family problems and how they decide to solve them by developing a scheme to rob the union for which they work. When they put their plan to work, things eventually go from bad to worse. It may sound like a crime comedy caper with Pryor portraying his usual con man role but it's far more serious than that and Pryor proves that he doesn't have to get laughs in order to deliver a good film performance.

Blue Collar is a breakthrough for writer Paul Schrader as a director, but also for comedian/actor Richard Pryor. Before this, he was known for his stand-up, co-writing for Blazing Saddles and once in a while comic acting role, but here he shows his true colors of being an exceptional actor of talent. Here, he plays one of 3 auto workers (including great performances by Harvey Keitel and Yaphey Kotto) who are tired of getting ripped off by there company and (surprisingly) there union. So, they fight back, with some bad results. The plot is unfolding, which helps, but it is overall the performances by the 3 leads that give this film it's gigantic kick (and what a kick). Most likely filmaker Michael Moore's favorite film ever made, but for other people it is entertaining drama nevertheless. A+

Three workers in a car plant take it onto themselves to rob the safe of their Union office. They come away with only $600 but they find themselves with information that they can use to blackmail the union. However the union plans to kill the men and turn them against each other. From the writer of Taxi Driver comes this tough little social piece about how the working man is screwed by the `system'. The plot follows three men trying to make out (admittedly illegally) and the way the system uses them against each other etc to shut them up. The plot is very clever and the writing is superb. Pryor is great – he could have been his comedy self but his acting is really sublime. Likewise Keitel and Kotto are on top form and the support from Begley et al is really good. The film will engross you and the final shot and line will stay with you for years. Overall – an underrated classic that deserves as many viewers as possible.