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On account of Sylvester Stallone's reputation for playing tough, invincible action heroes, the actor is often typecast as an action super-star incapable of proper acting or depth. 1982's First Blood, however, is evidence that Stallone can act with the proper material. Additionally, this first instalment of the Rambo franchise is not as brain-dead as most will assume it to be, as the movie acknowledges the possibility that movie-watchers may possess a functioning brain. The trio of writers who contributed to the screenplay (Stallone included) are adept enough to realise that the appeal of John Rambo is not limited to bulging biceps or the character's ability to massacre legions of bad guys with an arsenal of weaponry. First Blood is therefore a powerful character study rather than a brainless blockbuster, and it benefits from an immaculate mix of heart and action.
John J. Rambo (Stallone) is a disillusioned Vietnam veteran and ex-Green Beret who is reduced to the life of a drifter ostracised by a prejudice society. After learning that the last surviving soldier of his former unit has passed away, Rambo drifts to the small town of Hope where he is made unwelcome by the local Sheriff Teasle (Brian Dennehy). Rambo only wants something to eat, but is unfairly turned away. Unable to understand Teasle's hostility, Rambo defiantly refuses to leave town, and is consequently arrested for vagrancy. When the police officers mistreat Rambo at the station, he snaps, escaping custody and fleeing into a neighbouring forest with the entire police department on his tail. Employing his extensive knowledge of guerrilla warfare, Rambo begins a one-man war against the police and the national guard. Soon, Rambo's former commander in Vietnam - Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna) - is sent in to help the situation, and finds his loyalties divided between the man he trained and those seeking to bring him down.
First Blood is an adaptation of David Morrell's novel of the same name, though the material was heavily altered for its translation from page to screen. For starters, Rambo killed hundreds of police officers in the novel and was in fact the antagonist, whereas this film version posits Rambo as a mistreated hero who does not willingly kill anyone (the only death is accidental). Additionally, Trautman killed Rambo at the end of the book, yet the movie's ending deviates from the source material in this area as well (though the decision to alter the ending was ultimately made after initial test screenings). First Blood was initially intended as a standalone feature, but went on to gross enough at the box office to justify a few sequels. Considering the cash-cow that the franchise became, the executives at Orion Pictures must be thankful that Rambo was not killed at the film's conclusion.
In the hands of director Ted Kotcheff, First Blood is a picture of rousing action, compelling drama and gut-wrenching emotion. Pacing is superb, with bursts of intoxicating tension between the action sequences to keep viewers riveted throughout. Another memorable constituent of First Blood is the remarkable, heroic score by Jerry Goldsmith. Nearly as iconic as the muscular protagonist himself, the music complements the action, emotion and drama impeccably - every note enhances the visuals. Additionally, while this is primarily an action film, First Blood is at its core an absorbing character study about a man pushed over the edge who's coming to grips with a world that does not want him. When Teasle harasses Rambo, it's just another insult hurled at him for no reason. As he is physically abused by the police officers, flashbacks are triggered of Rambo's dark Vietnam days. Is it at all surprising that he reaches breaking point and reverts to doing what he does best? The sympathy the film generates for Rambo is commendable, as is the way that the film turns the police into antagonists whose comeuppance we crave. Once Rambo turns the tables on the police, we are thoroughly on his side.
Buried beneath the action is a powerful message about the awful treatment of Vietnam vets, and the plight of returned soldiers in general. After these highly trained men returned home, they were discarded by the government and country they risked their lives for. While a fictitious character, John Rambo is representative of many true stories. Additionally, for a character that's often perceived as an unstoppable force, Rambo is shown to have a vulnerable side: he bleeds, he screams, he feels pain, and he emotes. Interestingly, Stallone was not the first actor to be considered for the role of Rambo - he was only hired after thespians like Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman turned it down. In retrospect, it's impossible to imagine anyone other than Sly as Rambo, and the star's capabilities as an actor are on full display here. His extraordinary monologue towards the film's end should have earned Sly an Oscar nomination. In the supporting cast, Dennehy and Crenna are equally terrific - in particular, Crenna is perfectly cast as Colonel Trautman.
It's too easy and unfair to dismiss First Blood on the basis of what the Rambo series became: an over-the-top action franchise. First Blood is significantly different, and superior to its sequels in spite of a few credulity-stretching scenes (like Rambo surviving a large fall without injury). The dark tone and sombre subtext of this film was only matched by the third sequel in 2008. Those who enjoy an engaging action-drama with intelligence, poignancy and substance should find this to be a highly satisfying 90 minutes of cinema. The film was followed by four sequels, beginning with Rambo: First Blood Part II in 1985.
9.3/10
