I'm not a fan of film ratings systems per say, the thumbs up, thumbs down, five stars, four buckets of popcorn... I guess the rotten tomatoes system isn't too bad but it removes all insight to the film. If I had to create a system to distill my thoughts on a film I guess I would tell you how much to invest in it. Should you buy it, rent it, watch it, avoid it or burn a copy if come across one. With that system in mind I'd like to tell you about William Friedkins Sorcerer. Buy it. If you haven't seen it, buy it blind. I have that much faith in the quality of this film.
This film is about a group of five men who agree to transport nitroglycerin across the South American jungle. To say this film is tense is an understatement. This film is an exercise in white knuckled anxiety. Imagine the opening of Inglorious Bastards stretched out for over and hour and you might have an idea of how stress inducing this film is. That's not to say the film is gratuitous or wanton in anyway, no this a remarkably well crafted film that tells a simple but highly effective tale.
I'm not sure I could spoil this film by going into its specific details but the less you know before going in is always better in my humble opinion. This a film that has been woefully ignored for far too long and I just want people to see it. When I here people talk about the great films of the 1970's Sorcerer rarely makes it into the conversation. We need to change that. If you want to see Roy Scheider in a film that easily stands toe to toe with Jaws give Sorcerer a chance, you won't regret it.
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