From Michael Cimino, the legendary director of The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate and Year of the Dragon comes this bold, witty and tough crime-thriller starring screen icons Clint Eastwood (A Fistful of Dollars) and Jeff Bridges (Winter Kills) as a pair of modern-day outlaws. Thunderbolt (Eastwood) is a former thief whose razor-sharp wits and steely nerves made him a master of his profession, but he’s about to re-enter the criminal world with a new partner: Lightfoot (Bridges), a brash young drifter whose energy and exuberance give the veteran a new outlook on life. Their target: the seemingly impenetrable Montana Armored Depository. After forming an uneasy alliance with Thunderbolt’s former partners in crime, Red Leary (George Kennedy, Cool Hand Luke) and Eddie Goody (Geoffrey Lewis, High Plains Drifter), they launch an amazing scheme that will test the limits of their endurance, and the power of their friendship. Fueled by explosive action, fascinating characters and a powerfully moving climax, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is an adventure of the highest caliber and the directorial debut for Cimino, who also wrote the original screenplay. Wonderfully shot in Scope by Frank Stanley (The Eiger Sanction) and featuring a wonderful supporting cast that includes Catherine Bach (The Midnight Man), Gary Busey (Lethal Weapon), Jack Dodson (The Getaway), Burton Gilliam (Gator), Roy Jenson (Framed), Bill McKinney (Deliverance), Vic Tayback (Bullitt), Dub Taylor (Junior Bonner) and Gregory Walcott (Prime Cut).
For thoughts on Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/LyoMrkNRyV4?si=5xpHO03rN1qCLZQB&t=3399]
Video Quality
Kino Classics presents Thunderbolt and Lightfoot with a top-tier 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The film was released on Blu-Ray by the company four years ago in 2019, and it appears that the release was derived from this same 4K master. The included Blu-Ray is sourced from the 4K scan, and you can still find some meaningful enhancements when compared to the 4K UHD disc. This is easily the best the film has ever looked on physical media and fans will be grinning from ear to ear after witnessing this one.
The Dolby Vision brings out a tremendous depth of color with the rich, earthy hues of the fields of grain starting the movie on a nice note which it continues with with a delicious vibrancy. The film gets even more impressive hues to show off as the story moves along with certain cars, clothing, and lighting conditions. There is a level of nuance that makes this feel like the definitive home entertainment presentation of the film. Black levels are mighty impressive with nothing lacking in shadow detail and in resolving crushed blacks. Highlights are bold with no evidence of blooming, and the stability of the overall picture is consistent throughout. The encode runs at a consistently high bitrate which helps with cleaning up many issues you might worry would show up on this disc.
This presentation honors the original aesthetic of the film with the added resolution making numerous elements seem more crisp and fully realized. Detail and clarity excel with the perfect amount of natural film grain intact. The thick grain is a common trait from this era of filmmaking in the ‘70s, but everything resolves well from what we observed. You will not find much in the way of jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This transfer has eliminated nearly all rogue specks which allows this film to truly shine. The texture on display in the costumes and within the landscapes is a standout, and you will appreciate the facial details that present with stunning clarity. This presentation is a grand effort from Kino Classics.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track in English that both handle this material capably. Most fans will want to opt for the original 2.0 track, but those who want more from their speakers will find that the 5.1 track does not dishonor the source. The environmental sounds such as the roar of the car engine and the din of certain crowded areas are a prime part of the experience, and every element is rendered favorably in relation to competing elements. The film springs to life when the title characters are mixed up in the action from the opening car speeding off to exchanges of gunfire.
There are not any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear as elements radiate out without issue. Music is an essential element of the story which flows through with impeccable fidelity. This track handles every sonic element with care and precision throughout the duration of the experience. You do not encounter moments where the music comes close to overwhelming competing sounds, and it maintains a perfect balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Kino Classics has delivered in a big way.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Critic Nick Pinkerton delivers a new informative commentary track in which he discusses where this film fits into the careers of Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges, the direction of Michael Cimino, the tone of the feature, how the movie subverts conventions, the background performers and more.
- For The Love of Characters – Featurette with Director Michael Cimino: A 29-minute audio interview with Cimino is provided in which the filmmaker discusses the development of these characters, the production history, working with Bridges and Eastwood, his inspirations, and more that is well worth a listen.
- Radio Spot: There is a minute-long radio spot provided for the film.
- TV Spot: There is a minute-and-a-half collection of TV spots provided for the film.
- Trailers: There is a two-minute trailer provided for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. There are also trailers provided for The Eiger Sanction, Escape From Alcatraz, Winter Kills, Blown Away, 3 Days Of The Condor, The Groundstar Conspiracy, and Marathon Man.
Final Thoughts
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a really fun pairing of Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges, and the latter very nearly steals the movie away from the former with his firecracker personality. Michael Cimino was not a familiar face for Eastwood at this point, but the star plays very well with his directorial vision. At just under two hours in length, this movie breezes by thanks to the easy chemistry of the two leads before leading to a finale that forces you to reconsider some of what you just experienced. Kino Classics has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a five-star A/V presentation and a good assortment of special features. Fans of the film will find this to be a worthy upgrade. Recommended
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
