Day Ninety-One: Deliverance

DELIVERANCE

Starring:
-Burt Reynolds
-Jon Voight
-Ned Beatty
-Ronny Cox

Directed by: John Boorman

Screenplay credits: James Dickey

MPAA: R


Well, this was my very first time watching DELIVERANCE, and even though I had no idea what to expect, I certainly was not expecting that. The first thing that needs to be mentioned before we go any further is this: HOLY CRAP, wouldja get a look at Burt Reynolds' arms?!?!

I maintain that he looks strange without his mustache, but this does not make him any less of a manbeast.

The basic plot (for those of you weirdos like me who never sat down with the hillbilly version of BOURNE IDENTITY) is this: four dudes from the city decide to get in touch with their Jeremiah Johnson sides and go canoeing down this river. The whole area (including the local town of inbred citizens) will soon be flooded thanks to the imminent construction of dam.

The fellas roll out to the country and one of them strikes up a rousting performance of "Dueling Banjos" with one of the aforementioned yokels (here it should be mentioned that the "yokel" in question also appeared as a banjo player in Tim Burton's 2003 hit BIG FISH).

The foursome then embarks on their little trip, cruising the rapids and having a grand ole time. That night they stop to make a fire. Ned Beatty is mean to his inflatable mattress and the guys hear "something or someone" in the woods.

The next day is when things start to get serious. Jon Voight & Ned Beatty get separated from Burt and Ronny Cox and wind up held at gunpoint by a couple of toothless mountain men. It soon becomes very clear that these men are, um, interested in some of that hot city of Sodom action. Poor Jon gets tied to a tree with his own belt and it forced to watch Ned squeal like a pig. And it is freaky. Also, does anybody ever confuse Ned Beatty with M. Emmett Walsh, or is that just me?

Anyway, Burt comes up on the bad guys with his bow and arrow and pegs one right through the middle.

Nice shot, Burt. Wanna meet up later?

The men hastily decide to bury the body and get the heck out of dodge. The possible murder charges and other implications of this act have now become the white elephant in the canoe.

The men decide that since one of them has now been anally raped, the fun is now over. They start paddling like crazy and Ronny Cox inexplicably tumbles out of the canoe. All the men freak and crash and poor Burt breaks his femur.

One of their canoes has been destroyed and they're convinced that Ronny was shot from afar by The Man Who Got Away. They've no choice but to stop for the night and Jon makes it his mission to kill the second hillbilly.

The rest of the movie was tense, but it does kind of go down hill after the "you got a purdy mouth" scene. At the end of the day, I would say that i enjoyed it about as much as anybody could. Good performances, nice shots, beautiful scenery, S &M... you know, everything that makes a great film.

I especially liked the use of banjo music. The beginning "duel" between the outsider and the yokel set the tone for the rest of the film, and the subsequent banjo-related scenes are eerie reminders that these guys are way out their element.

This movie also adds to The List of Awesome People (fictitious or non) Who are Skilled with Bows and Arrows (list includes such venerable folk as Luke Duke - seriously, who would name their kid that?- Chuck Norris, and my uncle Paul).

Closing thoughts: Knowing very few mountain men personally, I have to wonder whether or not they are offended by this movie. Either that, or they consider it akin to watching "America's Funniest Home Videos."


FINAL GRADE: A

Off in search of a good banjo.

M.