Review of Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) by Brent S — 24 Sep 2007
Robert Stone's brilliant early seventies thriller "dog soldiers" was as lean and sharp as a bayonet, a direct stab at the blood red heart of America's habit for patriotic carnage. The film version, indiscriminately retitled as "Who'll stop the rain" is just as spare and almost as sharp.
The central performances by Nick Nolte and the great Tuesday Weld, (One of the few actors who raise the level of the art to that of near genius), more than hold the picture together, they keep it poised on the dangerous edge.
Set in the time just after the divisive quagmire that was Vietnam, Nolte plays "Ray Hicks", a stoic, soul-searching drug dealer being pursued by some nasty men he's double crossed. Weld is the woman "along for the ride".
Both are well aware the trip is doomed to failure. This self-awareness acts as a melancholy form of empowerment in the wake of what their country has been through. Modern audiences, accustomed to "Die Hards" and "Lethal weapons" may have a difficult time adjusting to both the pace and the realism of the action sequences.
This review of Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) was written by Brent S on 24 Sep 2007.
Who'll Stop the Rain has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
