one-nine-eighty Part road trip movie, part Heist movie "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" brings together Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. The film could be rolled out in two distinct chapters because the first part is getting to know the characters, while the second part is the juicy stuff. An accidental meeting brings together a preacher with a young careless tearaway, Eastwood is Thunderbolt and Bridges is Lightfoot. With the help of his new friend and potential sidekick, Thunderbolt - a bank robber in hiding, decides to come back out of his 7 year retirement for one last score. His biggest regret is the last job he was part of, some of the gang got locked away and some have passed away. After doing the last job the money was hidden and since remains unclaimed, which is an even bitterer pill for Thunderbolt as it means it came to nothing. It's suggested that the last thing the authorities will expect, is the same job, at the same location, using the same methods - so plans are made to do just that. Geoffrey Lewis (Goody) and George Kennedy (Red) join Thunderbolt and Lightfoot to set the record straight and do the job that didn't get finished off properly last time. This Michael Camino debut film is great fun and stinks of the 70's, both from a content and narrative point of view. There is plenty of character development and the plot is enough to keep you going right to the end with plenty of twists and turns as well as thrills and spills. It's tragically romantic, funny, tense and filled with good times for all - albeit with a little bit of harmless 70's sexism in it too. From the start it looks like Lightfoot's rebellious nature is due to a lack of father figure, or a brother in arms, which he finds in Thunderbolt - thus adding to the romanticism. Clint Eastwood is cool but distant, much like some of the other characters he's played before - a standard performance. Jeff Bridges on the other hand, is youthful, rebellious and full of spunk - his energy carried and drove the film. There are some random and pointless situations in the movie which don't get answered, and at times it looks like Camino just wants things that look cool rather than that are part of the story. Take for example how Goode and Red manage to keep finding Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, despite them having changed cars and locations. Another example is the drunk redneck that picks them up - why does he have a racoon, why does he have rabbits - wtf is it all about? If you ignore all the random oddities then the film is good, complimented by a lovely soundtrack which fits the beautiful scenery on display. I guess this is a classic Americana film - brotherly love, open roads, middle-finger up to the law, beer, women, and cars. You won't be disappointed if you stumble across this one weekend and I'd recommend it to film fan new and old, whether you are looking for a heist movie, a road-trip movie or just a buddy movie. 8 out of 10.

Steph P If everyone would just follow Eastwood's Thunderbolt in this film, then they would all be alive and rich. But, that can't happen, of course. Eastwood made a few films where older reluctant criminal teams up with a young sidekick with fresh ideas and this formula always seems to work. The story in this film is predictable. The protagonists' team comes together for a heist, the good guys in the group prevail, while the bad elements get what they deserve. Once you think that Thunderbolt and Lightfoot have gotten away and can enjoy their hard-earned loot, the story shifts. Lightfoot has received what turns out to be fatal internal injuries during the heist, and Thunderbolt must witness the true cost of a life lived on the wrong side of the law. The Thunderbolt must end up alone. He does not deserve a life well lived. What does he do with the money after he drives down the highway and his car disappears over the hill? One can imagine he buries it in an unmarked grave with Lightfoot. The money made the younger man feel like a hero, For the Thunderbolt, it brought nothing but grief. The story is predictable, but well told and satisfying. I recommend!

MartinHafer One of the more enjoyable and bankable genres are heist films. And, if you think about it, there have been some truly memorable and amazing films in the genre as well, such as "Rififi", "Dog Day Afternoon", "Grand Slam" and the original "Oceans Eleven". However, "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" has some things going for it that make it different...in good ways as well as bad. As for the good, there's more story and it's not just about a robbery....so you see more character development. But on the bad, no one is anyone you can like or really care about...something you really NEED in order to make a great caper flick.The biggest reason I wanted to see the film is because I'd only seen one tiny portion...the bunny scene. It's amazing...it's awful...and it's kinda funny...but in a sick way! See the movie...you'll see what I mean!Also, according to IMDB Clint Eastwood felt he deserved an Oscar nomination since his co-star, Jeff Bridges, received one. I would beg to differ. Eastwood is fine but essentially plays his usual tight-lipped character and isn't much of a stretch. I am not saying he is not capable of great performances...this just isn't one of the better ones (like "Grand Torino").

AaronCapenBanner Clint Eastwood & Jeff Bridges star in this peculiar crime/road picture as they portray a veteran crook/thief and his willing/free-spirited young partner who reunite with Clint's(Thunderbolt) old partners(George Kennedy & Geoffrey Lewis) to finish a heist job they had committed seven years earlier, but were unable to collect the loot. They formulate an elaborate plan to get it back from where it is still hidden, but of course they can't quite trust each other either as personalities clash.I say peculiar because(despite the good actors) three of the lead characters are unsympathetic crooks, and the fourth seems too immature to care about. Being quite profane at times doesn't help matters either, nor does the over length. Michael Cimino directs in his debut.