One of my all time favorites.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

From my favorite movies..

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

I liked it overall due to the lovely acting that really sealed home the emotional key points in most cases. They did have some unresolved subplots though. There's quite a bit more that they could have done with the film; however, they kind of skipped it. It's like they were trying to tell one story, but told another just because of the lack of development with some of the major characters. One example is Bailey. Beau was responsible for the deaths of both her parents and she took it all in stride. It was like she was slightly vapid, which didn't fit since her life was the one on the line. She knew something was wrong when that jerk with the muscle car (Ron) was going into the lady's house; however, she just stood watching. No one in their right mind would assume that the lady was having an affair with the jerk if they had ever met him. Basically, when she followed the husband in the house was the first time she was like "oh, something might be going on here." She had a working cellphone. She should have called the police. It would have saved her from getting shot; however, it would have negated the end of the movie. The ending at the substation was amazing though. Not just because of the spectacularness of Beau's resolution. It was also because he was finally making up for his mistake at the beginning of the film. All in all, I would watch it again.

This is an excellent film. It brings awareness and appreciation to those on the Line. It is unfortunate that it did not bring in the audience that have real appreciation for outstanding writing and actors. I am so glad I did not read the reviews before watching this film. Got to wonder how many movies I have missed by misleading critic and overall reviews. Truly worth watching.

Life on the Line is a straight to VOD movie with every cliché in the book and a bare bones plot from Armageddon but without a comet and a spaceship.John Travolta is Beau, a veteran lineman in Texas wracked with guilt after his brother got electrocuted and his brother's wife dies on the way to the hospital. Beau raises his niece Bailey (Kate Bosworth) as his own.Bailey is in love with Duncan (Devon Sawa) an aspiring lineman but Beau dislikes him. Bailey has also attracted a stalker with an ex boyfriend. The crew have a difficult task ahead as they are replacing worn out electricity lines, they need to ensure their safety especially with bad weather about.There is a subplot when new neighbours move in, the man is an Iraq war veteran with PTSD who reckons his wife is cheating on him. He is also a lineman and rather suicidal as well.Trouble ensues when the electric lines are down after a train wreck, complicated by a heady storm and improbable melodrama involving Bailey ending up at hospital with the back up power down. Beau need all his experience and skill to have the electricity flowing.We get a busy story but much nothing happens apart from a countdown to a deadly storm. You could not wait for the storm to arrive as it means some action but it is tepid at best.

There was a time when Hollywood chose to make movies about people from every walk of life. They weren't specially challenged, didn't toss about political agendas, most were not super spies tracking down the latest bad guy and very few were dressed in tights with super powers. Instead these movies celebrated the normal average Joe and on occasion focused on the tough jobs they performed, celebrating them in the process. John Wayne's HELLFIGHTERS comes to mind when I think of movies like this. Those movies are rare these days. Thank goodness that didn't stop LIFE ON THE LINE from being made.John Travolta stars as Beau, a lineman in Texas wracked with guilt after his brother dies of electrocution completing a job he should have done. On the way to the hospital his brother's wife is also killed when hit be a semi. This leaves their daughter behind with only Beau to raise her, a job he willingly takes with no qualms.Years go by and Beau's niece Baily (Kate Bosworth) has grown into an upstanding young woman. The two of them have worked hard with the intention of her going off to college. But Bailey has a problem to deal with first. She's still in love with Duncan (Devon Sawa), part of a family that Beau is not keen on. As a matter of fact he's not thrilled with Duncan either viewing him as a stumbling block for Bailey.When Duncan shows to take on the job of a new lineman Beau isn't pleased but works around him. At the moment they need all the men they can get. A set of lines is being replaced and needs done before the storm season kicks in. Face it, this is a movie and you know problems will arise with this task.Sub plots revolve around the new neighbors who just moved in next door, Eugene and Carline (Ryan Robbins and Julie Benz). Eugene is suffering from PTSD after returning from Iraq but not being treated for it. Carline is wishing her husband were the man he was and eventually searches for comfort elsewhere. Another subplot involves Ron, a young man obsessed with Bailey who refuses to take no for an answer, basically stalking her.As the film moves forward Beau and Duncan have their run in and both learn what the other man is made of. The eventual storm, which we know is coming since the movie continues to count down the days to the storm, trouble does arrive. With power out across the county the men must concentrate on bringing power back online. A suicide attempt and a confrontation in the dark from Ron just adds more to the story as the men who risk their lives to insure we all have power do so once again.I know some will discount this movie because portions of the plot seem like cut and paste moments from the standard melodrama playbook. The thing is if it works it doesn't matter. All the story lines on display here work well with one another and intercept at various times forwarding the story along. It is never a hindrance to what we are witnessing unfold.Others will shoot this film down because of the accuracy depicted of the men who work as linesmen. Rare is it that a movie gets a 100% accuracy level when it comes to things like this. The goal of a movie is to tell a story, not show the most minute details of the job being depicted. I read one review that complained that the depiction of the linemen showed them as boozing brawlers after work. I didn't walk away with that. Knowing several linemen in person I can tell you that coming home to a cold beer is not all that unusual.The film itself is entertaining and well-made on all levels. The cinematography, even during rain sequences is clear and sharp. The sound levels aren't such that we can't hear or understand the actors when they speak, a personal gripe of mine with most movies today. And directing is well done here too showing a talent for composition for the entire film and a coaxing of great performances from the entire cast.What most will watch this for is to see John Travolta. I will say that I think he does an amazing job here. Don't shoot him down for the accent he chooses, it works. Perhaps the best thing is to see him performing in a role that's closer to his real age 63 than those roles chosen by most actors his age playing characters far too young for them. He does it with such skill and ease that for the most part you never pay attention to it.On the whole I'm sad to see that this movie didn't warrant a major release in theaters. It deserves better than a straight to DVD release. Some movies I've seen in theaters were not near as good as this one and a large number of critically acclaimed films were not as enjoyable. So my suggestion is that you seek this one out, rent it, buy it and watch it maybe more than once. When you finish you'll find yourself not only entertained but with a much larger sense of gratitude for those who choose to make sure power arrives at your doorstep.