First Blood (1982)

Directed by Ted Kotcheff. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, Jack Starrett, David Caruso, Chris Mulkey, Michael Talbott, Bill McKinney. [R]

Stallone is traumatized Vietnam vet John J. Rambo, now a drifter making his way through the Pacific Northwest when he’s picked up by an intolerant small-town sheriff (Dennehy) and subjected to abuse…but the law picked on the wrong man, and before long, a manhunt is underway and the “prey” is dropping his hunters left and right. Well-made action pic is pretty good for a while, with scenic forest locales and suspenseful chases and cat-and-mouse games, but even with credibility being abandoned early on, the filmmakers push things too far in the lead-up toward the conclusion. Stallone’s climactic speech aims to strike an emotionally powerful note, but just comes off as hammy, didactic posturing (and hard to decipher through the star’s signature mumble). Until said moment, Stallone gives an earnestly restrained and physical performance; Dennehy and Crenna (as Rambo’s former commanding officer) have some effective scenes together and individually. Based on David Morrell’s novel; followed by four sequels, not to mention a parade of video games, comic books, animated series, etc.

64/100