We gots here a WWII movie from the front lines, and what we quickly find out is that it’s basically just the framing to a kind of heist movie, too. Just like that Cube/Clooney/Wahlberg total-not-ripoff Three Kings, but with Nazis! Lots of explosions, shooting, and the unfortunate sides of war. And the front line guys who get a glimpse of hope when offered a chance and say why the fuck not, let’s roll.
Big Joe is great by Telly Savalas. Clint Eastwood as the not-leader but kinda is, too. Working the front lines of a horrendous war. Past tired. So when an opportunity drops in Kelly’s lap, he says screwit. Odds aren’t great, but better than the shitshow they in now. So he starts...maybe...some caperings. Good thing it only involves a couple of people though, considering all the risks.
Pretty well done. This is definitely big-budget, from the cast to the full military regiments of soldiers, tanks, planes and locations. Eastwood’s the big star here, but filled with Telly Savalas as the hard-ass but decent leader of the American Unit who actually listens to his guys, Don Rickles (!) as not necessarily the comedic relief, as overall it is pretty seriously played out but the guy is just naturally funny, plus that All in the Family guy Carroll O’Connor, Harry Dean Stanton, Captain Stubing and Keifer Sutherland’s dad as the hippie/gypsy who-the-fuck knows considering it’s a 1940s flick shot in 1969. Good characters makin a good movie that, once it quickly gets into the second act, yeah, quite the ride til the finish.
