This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Sylvester Stallone was my childhood idol, mostly thanks to 'Rocky' and 'Cliffhanger' and his other action movies. It was later when I learned that the man had penned the screenplay of 'Rocky' (and some other movies) himself, and he also directed, and I thought, that is cool. Some time along the way I started to notice that Stallone is much more than a action hero - he is very good actor (and also writer). So, now I had the opportunity to see 'F.I.S.T.' - which was Stallone's first film after Rocky fame, and he also co-wrote the screenplay. The film might be a little boring to those who are used to see Stallone kicking ass, as it is serious drama about simple man's rise to the leader of labor union. The film is little slow and flawed at times, but Stallone gives one helluva performance as Johnny Kovak. Especially the first part of the film. In the later half, when Johnny Kovak is already an older man Stallone's limits as an actor start to shine through, as he occasionally goes pretty hammy. Nonetheless, still thoroughly enjoyable performance, and totally different than Rocky.'F.I.S.T.' is definitely recommended to those who are more interested in different sides of legendary action hero who has some real artist hidden under those muscles.

Continuing my plan to watch every Sly Stallone movie in order, I come to F.I.S.T.How do you follow up a movie like 'Rocky'?? A worldwide smash and winner of Best Picture at the Academy Awards.Stallone chose this Norman Jewsion produced and directed drama. Plot In A Paragraph: plays Johnny Kovak (Stallone) a Cleveland warehouse worker who becomes involved in the labor union leadership of the "Federation of Inter-State Truckers". He finds that he must sacrifice his principles and ideals as he moves up through the union and attempts to expand its influence. Stallone gives possibly one of the most under rated performances of his career, and is brilliant here. It's often forgotten that long before he became the action hero legend that people know today, Stallone was a very talented young actor. This movie gives a glimpse of what he could have been had he not gone down the path that he did!! It's a real hidden gem in his filmography, and I recommend everyone to check it out.Whilst Stallone carries most of the movie on his broad shoulders, he is ably backed up by Rod Steiger, David Huffman, Melinda Dillon, Peter Boyle, Kevin Conway, Cassie Yates, Richard Herd and Tony Lo Bianco. It could use a bit of trimming here and there to tighten it up, as it drags here and there and feels like it runs a bit longer than its two hours running time. But for me, this is in Sly's Top 10 non franchise movies/performances.This movie would be the first time Stallone meddled with things behind the scenes. He rewrote Joe Eszterhas' script, saying "Joe Eszterhas wrote a script that was nearly 400 pages and was more of a novel than a shootable screenplay. A great deal of work was done by myself, along with Norman Jewison, to hammer it into shape, but Joe had conceived a great concept."

This is in my opinion an almost forgotten kind of film which is itself is marvelous and unique in a way that for the first time it really showed the metal of Stallone 's inside acting talent which was later faded due to his personification of roles like Rambo , Rocky etc. Some how Sylvester Stallone really managed to throw some power performance in his serious complex character of this movie. I with very difficulty found this film , but before watching an old clip at the you tube i truly understood that it would be the movie containing Stallone s original acting capabilities. Now i wonder why Stallone did nt get any academy award nomination for his performance. Those who are his critics now must realize that Sly always had capabilities of being an actor , the thing happened was being labeled and stamped as a pure action hero after appearing in full action flicks like Rambo ,demolition man ,tango & cash.

F.I.S.T. is a film with two distinguished actors, Sylvester Stallone and Rod Steiger. Stallone is highly convincing in his role as a working man, Johnny Kovak, who becomes infuriated by the exploitation of truck-drivers, and makes a career in their union F.I.S.T. However the theme of the film may be even more interesting than the artistic achievement itself. In 1992 DeVito brought out a remake named "Hoffa", which was really vicious and an attempt to incriminate unionism. In fact Jimmy Hoffa actually existed, and was a highly successful and popular organizer and leader. Let me first summarize the story pictured by F.I.S.T. (I become dizzy with realism, and am inaccessible for hidden messages or psychological analyses). Kovak is asked to lead the local section of F.I.S.T., since he knows how to appeal to the truck-drivers. It is the roaring thirties, and the after-effects of the robber barons are still simmering. During his activities the tires of his car are punctured, and even worse, he is beaten up. However a real crisis evolves during a demonstration of the truck-drivers of the company Consolidated Trucking. The company has hired a private "security firm", whose thugs attack the workers using guns, iron rods and incendiaries. The police stands aloof, and several of the truck-drivers are murdered. This brings Novak to the conclusion that he needs a similar "push", and he starts to employ the services of his own admittedly not very respectable security firm. this includes the intimidation of scabs and the destruction of their trucks. Is this organized crime or derailed activism? I don't know. Kovak keeps pushing, against the orders of his national union board. Anyway, finally Consolidated Trucking caves in and signs the contract. Soon Kovak becomes the national leader of F.I.S.T. and a national celebrity as well. But he has to pay a price to his "securiy firm", among others granting loans from the F.I.S.T. pension fund to the people that previously supported his actions with their push. The loans are controversial, but illegal? He has to appear before a senatorial committee, that investigates the relations between trade unions and organized crime. One of the witnesses a charge is murdered, and Novak is urged by his former allies to step down. Being a fighter, Novak refuses and is eventually murdered himself and his body is somehow disposed of. It is a tale of a union leader searching for the boundaries of power, and IMHO surpassing them. Still the film justly leaves plenty of room for empathy with the man. And the makers had the tact not to slander the real Hoffa. Still, in view of the vicious remake "Hoffa" let us consider the true events. The real Jimmy Hoffa had an enormous success in organizing the American truck-drivers (with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters). During these endeavors he made a lot of enemies. For instance, the Teamsters were expelled by the CIO. Subsequently he also tried to organize the railways and airlines. It is said that this made him the target for the political elite, among others the Kennedy family, who feared that the organization of these branches would give Hoffa control over the whole USA. He was indeed brought under investigation by a Senatoiral committee, and also on trial. The first trial resulted in a hung jury voting 7-5 for acquittal. The judge declared a mistrial, believing that Hoffa was guilty and had bought the jury. The second trial resulted in a verdict of guilty and Hoffa was given eight years in federal prison. Hoffa was released on parole in 1971. In 1975 he mysteriously disappeared. There are several explanations circulating. One is that he had resisted the mafia and was subsequently liquidated. Another says that he had skipped off to Brazil with a "black go-go dancer". So it may be wise to reconsider before you believe the story of either "F.I.S.T." or "Hoffa". It is worth noting that in the union Hoffa was popular to such a degree, that his son has later been elected for president (which IMHO is rather unhealthy). If you are interested in collective bargaining or even sympathizer with unionism, there are definitely more informative and realistic accounts. Try Salt of the Earth, Norma Rae, Bread and Roses, Harlan County War, Matewan, Man of Iron. Or take a look at the other films about social action, that I have reviewed here on IMDb.