Customer Reviews

Firefox

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

In 1982, while the Cold War was yet raging between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in an exciting action film about espionage called "Firefox". Clint Eastwood plays Major Mitchell Gant, a retired pilot from the U.S. Air Force who suffers from delayed psychological stress disorder from when he fought in the Vietnam War. Being the only pilot qualified to fly Soviet Air Force jets who is also fluent in Russian, SIS agent Kenneth Aubrey (Freddie Jones) has U.S. AF pilot Capt. Arthur Buckholz (David Huffman) recruit Gant to be the primary operative in a U.S.-sponsored espionage mission. The goal is to steal a technologically superior, top-secret prototype jet fighter that is code-named Firefox out of the Soviet Union. Gant, of course, is not particularly interested, but returns to Washington with Capt. Buckholz. There he is given specific training that will enable him to enter the Soviet Union unnoticed. Once in the Soviet Union, Gant meets a Russian who works for the SIS, Pavel Upenskoy (Warren Clarke). The Soviet scientists who reluctantly developed the thought-controlled prototype fighter are a Jewish husband and wife team, Dr. Pyotr Baranovich (Nigel Hawthorne) and Natalia (Dimitra Arliss).

The film is fraught with tension, drama and excitement as Gant makes his way to infiltrate the Soviet AF base to steal the prototype fighter. Special effects used in the film were superb for the early 1980's, though some may regard them as being dated by today's standards. Other memorable characters in the film include Soviet General Vladimirov (Klaus Löwitsch), the Communist Party First Secretary (Stefan Schnabel) and Soviet AF pilot Lt. Col. Voskov (Kai Wulff).

The film is not perfect, but with a superb Cold War plot, good dialog, engaging characters and good special effects, I rate "Firefox" with 4 out of 5 stars. I am very happy that the film was released on DVD in widescreen format. Not everyone who watches the film will enjoy it, but technophiles, fans of sci-fi & action films and Clint Eastwood fans more than likely will.

Though my opinion of Clint Eastwood has lowered with the revelations in Sondra Locke's book, there is no disputing his abilities as an actor and director. One of his finest efforts comes in Firefox, Eastwood's taut, exciting adaptation of Craig Thomas' 1975 novel.

Eastwood plays Mitchell Gant, a burned-out Air Force Vietnam vet who is first seen jogging in the Alaskan wilderness. Gant occassionally suffers from bouts of Delayed Stress Syndrome - shown when, as an Air Force helicopter approaches his log cabin home, he flashes back to a harrowing experience of being shot down, captured by Communist soldiers, and being rescued.

Mitchell Gant's battle shock, though, is of little concern to the CIA and British MI6, for they want him for the most audacious intelligence mission yet. The titular Firefox is a Soviet superplane, capable of Mach Six, invisible to radar tracking, and possessing thought-controlled weaponry. Mitchell Gant's job - steal it.

But to get to it he must be infiltrated into Russia and ferried from Moscow to a Red airbase in the Urals, Bilyarsk. The first half of the film takes up the painstaking task by NATO's Russian contacts to infiltrate Gant to Bilyarsk and the efforts of the KGB detatchment assigned to Firefox security to figure out their plan and stop them.

Along the way Eastwood extracts quality performances from the huge cast assembled, notably from Kenneth Colley (Admiral Piett in the Star Wars films) as KGB Colonel Kontarsky. There is some excellent interplay between Gant and the various Russians willing to die to betray the country that has destroyed their lives, most notably when the Firefox project head, Dr. Baranovich, explains why he doesn't resent "the men in London who are ordering me to die" to a thoroughly puzzled Gant.

The second half of the film involves a dazzling aerial chase as Gant pilots the Firefox through the world's largest, most powerful air defense. The SFX work is excellent as John Dyxstra (from Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and the later Batman films) uses ultra-high-speed aerial footage to present a splendid view of Mach Two-plus speeds. Gant encounters missiles and eventually a second Firefox (piloted by Kai Wulff as the project's test pilot Yuri Voskov). The ensuing chase is among the finest in film, from thousands of feet in the sky to mere hundreds of feet from the ground. My favorite part is the admittedly implausible chase through a narrow Arctic canyon at Mach Two or more - yeah, it can't be done by jet fighters in real life, but it's still too good to pass up.

In all, Firefox remains a classic of the spy and sci-fi genres.

This was Clint Eastwood's second dip into the waters of the espionage thriller (the first was the awful "Eiger Sanction" back in 1975), and one of the few films he directed which relies heavily on visual effects. As a director, Eastwood seems uneasy with both modes, which go against the grain of his realistic, tough, and often stoic & silent directorial style. Nonetheless, "Firefox" works better than it should. Eastwood brings understated realism to what might have been a hopelessly hokey Cold War techno thriller, and the visual effects-laden last third is fairly exciting. However, the mixture of elements ultimately produces only an adequate film, a strange entry in Eastwood's long string of hits.

The plot is a Tom Clancy story before there were Tom Clancy stories (this is based on a novel by Craig Thomas). The Soviets (remember them?) have developed a super fighter jet, the Firefox, with thought-controlled weapons system. The Firefox threatens the balance of power in the Cold War, so NATO needs to get their hands on it, pronto. The only man who can do it is pilot Mitchell Gant (Eastwood). He speaks fluent Russian, can infiltrate the base with the help of Russian Jewish dissenters (played by Ronald Lacey, Nigel Hawthorne, and Warren Clarke), and has the skill to fly the Firefox. Only problem: Gant is highly unstable from his Vietnam experience, is prone is nasty flashbacks (a problem if you're flying a though- controlled plane!), and has done no undercover work before.

"Firefox" is overlong at 136 minutes, and tends to drag with far too many scenes of Russian and NATO boardroom arguments. The film works best in the early parts during the scenes with Lacey, Hawthorne, and Clarke, who all give fine, sentimental performances as double agents who know they are doomed but struggle on for what they know is right. In a few place, Eastwood shows traces of the later themes of the consequences of violence that would mature in "Unforgiven" and "Mystic River." Eastwood himself is fairly good in the role, avoiding any "Dirty Harry" clichés or relying too much on his tough guy image, but he does look rather silly in his undercover disguise scenes.

Nonetheless, it does seem to take forever until the last third, where the Firefox tries to blaze an almost hopeless escape trail out of the Soviet Union, with another Firefox prototype on its tail. The effects (by John Dysktra of "Star Wars" fame) are zippy and fantastic, but any human element left in the film pretty much bails out at this point. Enjoy the planes, enjoy the speed, enjoy Clint just staring out the window and not moving much. It's fairly exciting, but when it's all over, you'll feel a bit let down.

The DVD, like most Warner Bros. discs in the Clint Eastwood Collection, looks very good, and the sound is 5.1. But also like most Warner Bros. discs in the Clint Eastwood Collection, there are no extras.

I've seen this film at least seven times, and I enjoyed it just as much each time.
This is a very enjoyable cold war action/spy drama. Tense action carried out in Clint Eastwood style.
If you like Clint Eastwood. You'll like this film. Some have pointed out some continuity errors in the film, but these don't spoil the story. The characters are acted in such a way as to make you care about what happens to them.
It's looely based on the books. The movie ends in a way I won't spoil. But I will say that after you see this movie you should search out the books, Firefox, Firefox Down (they are selling on Amazon; as used for a penny)

Directing and starring in this classic spy thriller from the eighties is Clint Eastwood, more generally known as the gruff "Man With No Name" in several spaghetti westerns and American westerns of his own direction. In "FireFox," Eastwood takes on a more modern and quite different role for himself, playing a former Air Force pilot who is still suffering from some rather horrific personal demons. In the genre of spy/thriller films, Eastwood's name comes to the top in this classic that is arguably one of the best! Although the pacing of this film is slightly off, I believe that to be intentional and it adds to the suspense that is inherent to the plot and a sure sign of skill on the director's part.

The premise:

Clint Eastwood plays former Air Force pilot Mitchell Gant who was shot down over Viet Nam and captured. The American and British governments have learned of a new Soviet fighter plane that will ultimately tip the scales of balance to the hand of the Soviets and decide to steal the plane with the help of the Russian Jews who have been forced to design and build it. Given Gant's heritage, a Russian mother who taught him the language and the necessity of being able to speak Russian, the American government calls him back into service.

What follows from there is an extraordinarily intriguing and suspenseful plot that compels the viewer through the story as we see Gant make his way into the Soviet Union and on his way to the airbase in which he must infiltrate and steal this ultimate weapon of war. Of particular note is how well the characterizations of the Russians were played out and believable. I've never been to Russia and I don't pretend to know how things were there during the cold war and pre-glasnost but through Eastwood's direction and the actors efforts, they quite easily bring about a "suspension of disbelief" in the story.

One minor "gripe" would be in the beginning of the movie when Gant is going through a flashback and they show him flying an F-4 Phantom and then an F-105 Thud and then roll back to the Phantom, two very distinct and different aircraft. Simply because they both had the same camouflage scheme does not mean they're the same planes and directors "should" pay closer attention to these details. While this was a minor distraction for myself, it in no way detracts from the films overall plot.

Overall, "FireFox" is worth every penny and I highly recommend this DVD as an honored addition to your DVD collection! {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

- Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 - The sound quality for this classic is perfect!
- Making of Documentary: Clint Eastwood: Director - This is an excellent addition to the DVD with an interview from around the time of release "FireFox," covering more than just this film.
- Eastwood Film Highlights
- Theatrical Trailer

If you like 70-80's flicks, and relish an inexpensive movie, this is a great buy.

Made in 1982 with Clint Eastwood as star and director. Filled with the typical Soviet Era images: oppressive government forces, secret police constantly asking "where are your papers" and Jewish scientist forced to work on secret projects

Clint Easwood plays a troubled Vietnam Era veteran suffering from flashbacks (I hate that cliche) who speaks fluent Russian and is an experienced fighter pilot. He is pulled from retirement to steal the FIREFOX, a top secret Russian fighter plane that is more advanced than anything in NATO's arsenal.

The action sequences are a bit dated, but the plane is definitely cool. For the most part, they used good props. Makarov pistols and AK-47's are the standard weapons. At least they got that part right.

Overall, not a bad movie for $5. Worth watching if you are interested in pop culture of the Cold War Era.

Clint Eastwood hasn't done too many military or spy movies, and it was fun to seem him tackle the genre. Clint plays an ex-Air Force fighter pilot named Mitchell Gant who had some bad experiences in Vietnam and is enjoying his retirement on a ranch. He is recruited by a international espionage ring who already have a top-secret mission ready for him. He is to sneak into the Soviet Union and with the help of persecuted Russian Jews, steal the Soviet's newest and scariest fighter jet, the MIG-31, codenamed "Firefox". But the KGB is on his tail from minute one, only they don't know yet exactly why he is there. All heck breaks loose once they find out why, but it's too late. Gant is up in the air at the controls of the plane and it's telepathic weapons system. After a refueling stop on an ice sheet where an American sub is waiting for him, he takes off and has to contend with a Russian fighter ace flying the only other Firefox in existence. Will Mitchell Gant make it back to American soil? Watch the movie to find out!

I loved "Firefox" the novel and the sequels which return the great charachter of Mitchell Gant. Unfortunately, Gant's charachter (and Thomas' writing) doesn't transfer well to film. In "Firefox" Gant has been plucked by the CIA out of retirment after suffering physical and emotional scarring in Vietnam. (Readers from the novel will remember that Gant had been plucked out earlier to fly captured Russian warplanes in mock combat, but the film streamlines the details). When the Russian Air Force develops a super-advanced fighter plane that is a) invisible to radar; b) capable of mach-5+ speeds; c) armed with a thougt-controlled fire-control system and d) way ahead of anything available in the west, the CIA and British SIS collude on a foolhardy and almost plan to send Gant into Russia to steal it. With the help of Jewish dissidents and the virtually imprisoned scientists working on the plane, Gant breaks into the Russians' high-security test site in a mad rush to steal the plane. Like the novel, the film is split into two parts - getting to the Firefox and then getting it to the west. The second half - dominated by pre-CGI special effects - seems pretty weak, although knowing how cartoonish CGI can be, I've learned to appreciate it. The first half - in which Gant steals his way through the nightmare of the police-state of Russia - is very slow, and probably of little interest if you didn't read the book. "Firefox" (both book and film) excel though because they don't try to follow your typical technothriller routine - steely eyed heroes and all. When confronted by a bullying KGB agent in a subway, and informed that his papers aren't in order, Gant kills the man. For your stock secret agent, this would be a moment of pluck and quick thinking, but for Gant, it's a moment of outrageous stupidity: the KGB man was reaching, not for his gun (or a wallet) but for his cigarettes. ("Ofcourse your papers aren't in order!", Gant is roundly drubbed by his Russian co-conspirator, "nobody's papers are in order, this is Moscow!!"). Every aspect of the plan goes awry, although that was clearly in the minds of the planners who, knowing the odds, thought they'd be sweetining their chances if they made included self-destruction at every juncture. It's a thrill ride, and made during the darker days of the cold war (Reagan's 2nd year, the USSR ruled by a sucession of dying old men) and populated by almost bloodless charachters, the movie at times looks like a documentary. The meat of the book doesn't really translate well because, like most of Thomas' books, the prose are based on high speed pulses of self-loathing and second guessing running through the minds of the central charachters' minds, and that doesn't make for scintilating dialog (or any dialog, really). It's like those superhero cartoons when Superman must actually orate all those things that, in comic books) stay in thought baloons. The film makers are game though, especially Eastwood who makes the Mitchell Gant charachter his own (I can't read any of the Mitchell Gant novels like "Firefox Down" or "Winterhawk" and substitute a more appealing visage for Gqant's scarred one). The film also has Kenneth Colley as the ill-fated Col. Kontarsky, the man responsible for securing the super-plane that Gant steals. Star Wars fans will remember him by site as the similarly bad-lucked Admiral Piett, the guy who keeps losing the Millenium Falcon thruought "Empire Strikes Back" (which came out 2 years earlier). The way he looks, you'd think Yuri Andropov would materialize out of nowhere and zap the dark-side at him.

This movie is one of my favorite movies. Eastwood is absolutely fantastic in his role as Mitchell Gant, and the scenes for Russian locales are very much how I thought the USSR would be like. The first half of the movie, with Gant sneaking into Russia, and the base where the Firefox is, is very suspenseful. The sleek, black, Firefox aircraft itself is an incredibly cool looking design, and one of the most realistic looking movie aircraft I've ever seen, both when it's on the ground, and flying in the air. The aerial sequences are great, and the dogfight at the end of the movie between the two Firefoxes, Gant's and a pursuing, Russian pilot's, is incredible, and as realistic as the ones in Top Gun. With all these great qualities, Firefox is a great movie that deserves far more than 5 stars. I would recomend this movie to any aircraft, espionage, or Clint Eastwood fan, and anyone who likes great movies.

FIREFOX (1982) Directed by Clint Eastwood. Based on the novel by Craig Thomas. Score by Maurice Jarre. Special effects by John Dykstra.

Starring Clint Eastwood, Kenneth Colley, Nigel Hawthorne, Ronald Lacey, Hugh Fraser, John Ratzenberger, Stefan Schnabel (as Leonid Brezhnev), Wolf Kahler (as Yuri Andropov) and Freddie Jones.

When Communist Russia creates a super fighter--the MIG 31 code named Firefox--which besides being able to fly six times the speed of sound--is also invisible to radar and thought controlled by its pilot---the freedom of the world is threatened. The CIA and MI6 send in a tortured Vietnam War era American pilot named Mitchell Gant, who speaks russian and is thoroughly trained in Red aircraft, on a desperate mission to steal one of the two prototypes.

Through the sacrifice of a group of dissidents, Gant manages to get into the MIG 31's cockpit but whether he will be able to fly the Firefox out of the Iron Curtain remains to be seen as the Soviet Union extends the iron fist of the Revolution to swat him from the skies.

One of the tiny sub-genre of Anti-communist historical films that have an almost peripheral science fiction element thus causing the film to be grouped in that genre where is is usually recieved with hostility by the majority leftist fanboys while, in reality, belonging to the historical genre where it is usually welcomed once its existence is discovered. Like the germ warfare in THE WHIP HAND or the enzyme in THE CHAIRMAN, the Firefox is pure sci fic but, like those films, it is also completely superfluous to the plot. It might as well be the thingamajig. Instead what the film is is actually an examination of a specific historical subject. With THE WHIP HAND it was the communist infiltration of American society. With THE CHAIRMAN , it was Mao Zse Tung and the Cultural Revolution. Here it is Communist Russia under Leonid Brezhnev and Yuri Andropov.

Besides the general fellow traveler nature of the average sci fic fan, there is a justifiable annoyance factor when one watches a film expecting to see Godzilla or lasers and instead gets a historical epic. Rather like sitting down to watch NIGHT OF THE IGUANA expecting to see a giant iguana attacking at night and instead getting Tenessee Williams.

However for the history fan, these films can frequently provide a unique, insightful and rare handling of its subject. Hence THE WHIP HAND handles something almost never touched upon by Hollywood and THE CHAIRMAN still remains the best film about Red China in the late 60s and one of the few films to have Mao as a major onscreen character. And this film is probably the only chance you will ever have to see sustained screen portrayals of Brezhnev and Andropov..and Schnabel is very good as the former. Almost the entire first 90 minutes of this 136 minute film concerns Gant's journey through Brezhnev's Russia in a very lean and to the point esionage sequence. Eastwood was still heavily influenced by Don Siegal at this stage in his career and this is much to the film's credit. While it would drive anyone expecting a wookie insane, this first section is thrilling, engaging and, with two sequences, intensely moving. There are two exchanges Gant has with two seperate dissedents who are assisting him where they explain just what it is like for someone to live in a socialist state, the oppression, the anti-semitism(One of the characters is a Jew) and the soul destroying nature of the society that give the film its heart and sends out an expression of sympathy that was and still is practically non-existent in a Hollywood film(And this one was viciously attacking by the Establishment when it was first released). The scenes also give the last section of the film where Gant steals the plane with the Reds in hot pursuit a genuine suspense beyond that on the surface with the admittedly impressive special effects and spectacular action. Gant must succeed in stealing the Firefox or the hell he leaves behind could begin to spread like the plague it is. This is not just the usual pointless Cold War Hollywood hyjinks where it could all be resolved if only we gave peace a chance. The plot in this film means something.

There is also a subplot involving the Vietnam War that probably annoyed liberals no end but everything annoys liberals no end so who cares? The subplot is both subtle and satisfying. Like everything else in this film, it is both courageous and highly subversive of the Liberal Though Police regime that currently dictates what will be and what will not be in a Hollywood film. FIREFOX would never be made today.

Eastwood's direction is solid. The acting especially Jones, Colley(I love how he pronounces the word "immediately"), Hawthorne and Schnabel is superb. The pre CGI special effects are thrilling and filled with a sense of wonder. The Firefox itself-----looking very much like a Cobra Night Raven---is cool. The history and surprisingly the geography not only of Russia but even Moscow itself is correct. Jarre's score struck this viewer as being trite and condescending but it barely intrudes upon the viewer's consciousness until the end credits.

The type of film that was perhaps average when it was released but has since grown retroactively stature and is now, in this viewer's opinion, an unsung classic.

Highly recommended.