Deliverance (1972)

Please don't spend money on this.

Awesome Movie

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Four men from Atlanta, Lewis, Ed, Bobby, and Drew, have decided to canoe along one of the last unspoilt rivers in the state before the entire valley is flooded as part of a hydroelectric scheme. When they get to the place they want to enter the river they pay a couple of locals to drive their cars to the town they are heading to. Once they are on the water in their two canoes they enjoy the wilderness but not for long. The two parties are separated and Ed and Bobby wait on the riverbank; here they encounter a pair of less than friendly mountain men. Ed is tied to a tree and Bobby is brutally raped. As they prepare to assault Ed, Lewis arrives and dispatches one of the assailants with an arrow. The other one escapes. The four friends discuss what to do with the body; Drew things they must inform the authorities but Lewis is convinced that it would be far better just to bury him as they probably wouldn't be believed. When they continue they must pass through some particularly dangerous rapids. One canoe is destroyed and Drew disappears; Ed, who now has a broken leg, is convinced that Drew was shot. Believing that the shooter will pick them off when they move Drew climbs the wall of the gorge and in the morning encounters a man with a rifle. He kills the man but isn't absolutely certain that he had actually being shooting at them. As they approach the end of the journey they must concoct a believable story.This is a famously disturbing story; largely due to the infamous rape scene… even after forty five years that is a memorably shocking moment. It isn't the only disturbing moment; when they get on the river everything looks beautiful, totally unspoilt, but soon there are things that are just a little off. After the encounter with the rapist and his friend the tension is much higher; it isn't just the fear of more unfriendly locals. The rapids become more dangerous making it seem as though nature itself doesn't want them on the river. The scenes of the men going through these dangerous situations feels very real; I was not surprised to learn that the cast did their own stunts. The four leads; Burt Reynolds, John Voight, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox, as Lewis, Ed, Bobby, and Drew respectively, do an impressive job making the viewer believe in them and their situation. As things happen to them their characters develop nicely. The supporting cast are impressive too. Overall I'd definitely recommend this classic film but understand that it won't be for everybody.

It was shaping up to be the perfect weekend for a group of friends from Atlanta. Not only, they get to see the unbelievable natural beauty of the Cahulawassee River before it's turned into one huge lake, they also will get to canoe in it. However, things took a horrible wrong turn in the riverside, as the peaceful natural visit, turn into a deadly game of life or death, when the group find themselves, face to face, with a few unwelcoming locals, mountain men. This is the story of 'Deliverance', a movie that will leave you, with goosebumps. Without spoiling the movie, too much, you would think, a movie like this would stop people, from ever go river-canoeing in the American back-country, ever again. However, surprisingly, this wasn't the case, as the movie had a mostly positive effects on communities in Rabun County, where most of this film was shot. Local sites like Clayton, GA saw an increased in tourism by tens of thousands, just to go river-canoeing. Some tourists even built vacation and second homes around the area's lakes and riverbeds, just take in the beautiful sights. I can see, why, the movie does have gorgeous shots of the location from cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond. It even, make me, want to move there, at one time. I doubt the country people, there would complain. For the most part, the majority of locals around there is happy for the film, bringing businesses to their small towns, yet there is others, that still find resentment at how they were portrayed in this movie. I don't blame them. I would, too, be, a bit angry, if my neighborhood was portray as stupid, inbred, rapist, hillbillies. However, I would also be bit cheerful to see money, being pour into my communities, than nothing at all. It's a double edge sword. A Catch 22. Another thing that, probably made the locals, really happy, is the environmental protection message of the film. The opening text, really spells it out, on why author James Dickey was upset, with the lack of conservation in America in the 1970s. Still, it doesn't explain, why, during production of the film, James Dickey showed up inebriated and got into a bitter argument with producer-director John Boorman, for rewritten Dickey's script, when barely anything major was change. In my opinion, the film seem, very accuracy to the source material, but somehow, Dickey didn't see it, that way. It's suck to hear that both men got in a brief fistfight, which cause the director to have a broken nose, and four of his teeth shattered. Thank goodness, the two reconciled before the end of production and became good friends. It even cool to see that Boorman gave Dickey a cameo role as the sheriff. That was pretty nice for him to do, seeing how they hate each other, months earlier. Anyways, the film was a critical success with viewers, even being nominated for awards, despite having a notorious rape scene. Yes, I know, that this is a tough film to praise to anyone, due to the subject matter; and I wrestled with my own feelings for it long after seeing it, but I believe 'Deliverance' is still a movie, worth seeing after all these years, even parts of the film is a bit dated with its depiction of 1970s southerners. After all, it's still is a gripping, absorbing action-adventure film, full of fine actors, whom, for the most part, did one hell of a job, making the nightmarish sequences of the film, seem really intense. As much as I love Burt Reynolds, badass, presence as outdoorsman, Lewis Medlock with him, doing his own stunts. Mad props goes to Jon Voight for similarly doing his own stunts, but also portraying the everyman, Ed Gentry, in this encounter. The struggles of him, having to kill, is, a wonderful depiction, that most people would have, if face, with survival. Also, I have to give credit to Ned Beatty even if his character, was somewhat of a jerk. The viciously targeting and humiliated that the actor has to go, through for his film debut, was courageous. He also almost drown in other scenes. Most actors at the time, would had turn down the role, as a defenseless coward. Likewise, I have to say, Ronny Cox as Drew Ballinger was also good, even if he's not that memorable, outside of the famous "Dueling Banjos" moment. Just the sheer fact that both the hillbilly kid, (Billy Redden) & himself made it seem like they can play the banjo, when in truth, they couldn't play a tune, was impressive on its own. Honestly, I don't care, if there is a copyright dispute on how, originally, create the song. All, I know, is that it's one of the best tunes in American Cinema. Even today, when I hear banjoes. I have to think, about padding faster. That's how much of an impressed, that tune, has on people. It has often be looked upon as a philosophical or mythical allegory of man's psychological and grueling physical journey against the unknown, both within the conflicts of man vs man, and man versus nature. Overall: I love that this movie tests the character's personal values & exhibiting the conflict between country & city. I also like how the movie ends with the flooding of the valley. It alludes to the bible, when it comes to the purification and cleansing within of the sins of the world. Only to find out that not all sins can be washed away. It's a very powerful message. I also the movie leave open questions, like whether or not, they did the right thing. Did they kill the right person or not? Did one of them, really got killed? In the end, it's left to the audience to decide. Overall: while, this movie can be slow at times due to pacing. It's one film, worth paddling to. Its need to be seen. It's that damn good.

I just spent a half hour writing about one of the BEST movies ever - I first saw it as a sophomore in high school, and watched it again on t.v. last night.Did they let 16 year old girls into R rated movies back in the early 1970's? Doubtful! My date must have been 18.As my first review, and as I'm not a bit good with computers, all that I typed earlier just went missing. However, I'll add this much and trust that viewers will take a chance with this exceptional movie. It's NOT to be missed! Very intense, very intriguing, and so much better than anything Hollywood churns out today. I can't even imagine that this movie would get an R rating in this day and age. Most likely XXXX or not made at all. What a pity.P.S. The previous review was spot on! I should have left well enough alone, but felt compelled to add a female perspective. (Not saying the previous wasn't a female . . . hope you know what I mean!)

Released in 1972 and directed by John Boorman from James Dickey's novel, "Deliverance" is an adventure thriller about four guys from the Atlanta area who take a canoe/camping trip in the Georgia wilderness. When they run into a couple of violent hillbillies their fun adventure turns into a disturbing test of survival.I didn't see "Deliverance" until almost two decades after its release. I didn't know anything about the film or anyone who had seen it, but it looked like a potentially good adventure story so I finally decided to rent it.The first Act plays out as you would expect, four guys escaping the shackles of urban life enjoying a canoe trip, and then -- WHAM -- Act 2 hits you like a ton of bricks. When I first viewed the movie I wasn't braced for this scene. In fact, it was so disturbing that it pretty much ruined the rest of the picture for me. I watched it until the end but - that scene - left me dazed and detached. Viewing it again recently I was fully braced and was therefore able to appreciate the film.MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS: Burt Reynolds is great as the macho protagonist Lewis, but he's largely missing during the third act and epilogue. The unassuming Ed (Jon Voight) takes the reigns as deliverer, with Bobby (Ned Beatty) lending a helping hand.The film was shot on the Chattooga River in NE Georgia, which borders South Carolina. The gorge is located in Tallulah Gorge State Park 15 miles West of Walhalla, SC (you can actually see it via satellite on Google maps). The dilapidated town in the epilogue is Sylva, NC, 45 miles north of the gorge. Needless to say, lush Eastern locations.After the disturbing scene a moral crisis takes place in the remote forest where the four members of the party must vote on a decision. Lewis (Reynolds) and Drew (Ronny Cox) make their cases and the other two must choose. Count me with Lewis. At first glance it would seem that Drew is arguing the side of the wimpy moralist, i.e. contact local law enforcement and allow the courts to settle the matter. Is this the real reason he takes this position or is it simply because he doesn't want to risk becoming an "accessory to a crime"? Actually, Lewis is no less the moralist -- after all, he makes a moral judgment and unhesitatingly acts -- it's just that he refuses to risk allowing the local authorities and a potential inbred jury (likely related somehow to the hillbillies) twist his just and necessary actions into a crime.Writer James Dickey effectively plays the towering Southern Sheriff in the epilogue.The Deluxe Edition DVD includes an excellent 4-part documentary that runs about 45 minutes. All principle cast members are interviewed, as well as director Boorman and the son of James Dickey. By all accounts Dickey had a forceful personality and intimidating presence. He kept calling the actors by the names of the people they were playing even while not filming. One night in a pub he kept referring to Reynolds as "Lewis" from across the room and Burt refused to answer him. Dickey came up to his table and got in his face. Angered, Burt cussed at him and told him to quit calling him Lewis. Dickey paused for a moment and responded, "That's exactly what Lewis would have said" and walked away."Wrong Turn" (2003) is a modern horror film that, generally speaking, tackles the same subject as "Deliverance." The problem with "Wrong Turn" is that it's full of horror clichés and cops an unrealistic vibe. Don't get me wrong, it's an entertaining film for what it is but I was never able to buy into the story as a potential reality; hence, I didn't find it horrifying at all. "Deliverance," on the other hand, is totally realistic from beginning to end and is successfully horrifying precisely because it COULD happen.Speaking of realism, Roger Ebert heavily criticized the scene in "Deliverance" where Ed (Voight) climbs up the rock gorge, arguing that it was totally unrealistic. Is he serious? He needs to get out more. I'm older than Ed in the film and could climb those rocks fairly easily (I'm not bragging, just pointing out that Ebert's criticism is not valid for anyone who's in remotely decent shape).Also speaking of realism, if you suffer from ADHD and need constant (unrealistic) action scenes and goofy one-liners to maintain your attention, skip this one.Lastly, "Deliverance" is about 45 years old and hasn't dated at all. This is a timeless picture.The movie runs 110 minutes.GRADE: A-