Blue Collar
Whatever Became of the "American Dream"?
When Detroit auto workers Jerry (Harry Keitel), Smokey (Yaphet Kotto) and Zeke (Richard Pryor in a rare and brilliant dramatic performance) find bills piling up and pressures bearing down, they decide to rob their corrupt union office. In a cruel twist, their small haul becomes a nightmare when the heist goes horribly wrong and their once loyal friendship turns to fear, betrayal and murder.
Writer/Director Paul Schrader showcases the dark side of the American working class, creating a brutal vision of the low wage and huge debt that traps workers between big industry and big labor.
Member Reviews
On how far a friendship can go, among co-workers - Porkchop
Blue Collar (1978) is a hit in my mind, in the tradition of the
hard-hitting, dripping-with-reality yet artistic and entertaining
movies that Harvey Keitel has come to represent.
The real story, is how far can friendship go, among co-workers, when
by circumstances at work and in their personal lives, those decide
to burglar a union office in order to raise cash, to meet mounting
out of control consumer spending on credit, lack of budgeting, and
financial discipline.
The power of the mass media and American culture, controls minds and
emotions, as workers feel compelled to partake in escort services,
lines of powder, orgies in between their married lives and that on
the car assembly line.
Reality comes calling, in the form of tax evasion caught by the
IRS, and general ethnic and job class tensions, on perceptions of
fairness.
Not being a fan of Richard Pryor, in particular, I have to admit I
was taken aback by his maturity and presence, at least the one
captured on film, which had nothing comical in it, as well as his
senior role to Harvey Keitel, who, although having a mind of his
own, is presented with a "fait accompli" at one point in the
picture.
Another lesson, with Yaphet Kotto playing it, is that in a
workplace, too often the men in charge are egomaniacal and use only
that criteria in deciding who to cut loose and let go in the
company, as opposed to maximizing shareholder wealth.
As such, any and all strong, smart on their feet and wise
(potential) leaders among the grassroots force are immediate targets
from the higher-ups, keen on purging potential rivals early on, to
consolidate their hegemony.
Secrets are never secrets, so long as there is someone out there
with money, who is willing to buy them and someone attracted to the
gain.
The DVD has a standard wide-screen presentation, albeit
lacking subtitles.
Member Reviews
Read All...
On how far a friendship can go, among co-workers - Porkchop
Blue Collar (1978) is a hit in my mind, in the tradition of the
hard-hitting, dripping-with-reality yet artistic and entertaining
movies that Harvey Keitel has come to represent.
The real story, is how far can friendship go, among co-workers, ...