How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Michael Cimino's screenplay and debut as a director is a back-road road movie and heist caper underpinned by a light-hearted relationship of bonding and joshing between two men. Eastwood and Bridges have a good onscreen chemistry and the film in the first act is light of foot as they evade two other criminals giving chase. The tone turns darker through the plot when an eleborate bank robbery plan is hatched which brings a brutal George Kennedy into the fray. Although the build up is dynamic it is arguably too long. The dialogue is amusingly vulgar at times. Bridges' fun-loving grifter pitched against the more world-wise criminality of Eastwood and an unforgiving Kennedy makes for good contrast, but it is tragic in the end.

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!

Thunderbolt And Lightfoot is the directorial debut of Michael Cimino(who worked as a screenwriter on Magnum Force and later directed Deer Hunter). The film is a very interesting and well done heist movie with a good amount of action and interesting characters. This is an early appearance for Jeff Bridges, who gives a great energetic performance as Lightfoot. Some reviewers think Bridges' performance blows away Clint's. I would not go as far to say Jeff steals the show from Clint, but he does give him a run for his money. Clint gives a solid performance as antihero Thunderbolt and the odd chemistry of Eastwood/Bridges works well. George Kennedy and Clint regular Geoffrey Lewis are strong in their support roles and rise to the occasion here. Overall, Thunderbolt And Lightfoot is a great, well done film that is well performed, looks great and has a lot of outlaw grit.

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is one of those films that Hollywood and the people of today have forgotten. This film is more than a caper and road comedy film. It is also A film about it's characters who are played wonderfully by a grade A cast starring Clint Eastwood as the laconic loner, also starring Jeff Bridges who gives A wonderful Oscar nominated performance as Lightfoot, with wonderful supporting actors George Kennedy as the violent and menacing red Leary, and also Gregory Lewis as Eddie Goody. The whole cast gives wonderful performance's that are to be praised and remembered. The other thing worth praising is the direction of Michael Cimino, who also did the writing for the film which made it a very memorable winner and the editing by Ferris Webster was excellent also the cinematography by Frank Stanley is gorgeous, the images will stay with you long after the film ends.Overall this film is one of the best classics that movie goers of today have nearly forgotten.