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16 out of 16 people found the following review useful: Tough, 25 July 2002 Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK
Three workers in a car plant take it onto themselves to rob the safe of their Union office. They come away with only $600 but they find themselves with information that they can use to blackmail the union. However the union plans to kill the men and turn them against each other.From the writer of Taxi Driver comes this tough little social piece about how the working man is screwed by the `system'. The plot follows three men trying to make out (admittedly illegally) and the way the system uses them against each other etc to shut them up. The plot is very clever and the writing is superb.Pryor is great – he could have been his comedy self but his acting is really sublime. Likewise Keitel and Kotto are on top form and the support from Begley et al is really good. The film will engross you and the final shot and line will stay with you for years.Overall – an underrated classic that deserves as many viewers as possible.
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Memorable film, 31 December 2004 Author: john andrews from Australia
Certain films remain at the back of one's mind for many years. The first time I saw the film, on television, I was impressed by the realism of the situation and honesty of acting. The film is enhanced by the driving power of the theme music. Years later, I again saw the film on television and was reminded of it and how good it is. The lead actors, Yaphet Koto, Harvey Keitel and Richard Prior, must have enjoyed much critical acclaim from fellow actors for their performances. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story without too obvious predictability and easy options, especially those who think that all American movies are romanticism floss.
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful: A seriously underrated movie. One of the last Hollywood movies exploring the lives of the working class., 30 December 2002 Author: Infofreak from Perth, Australia
Paul Schrader is often overshadowed by his more famous collaborator Martin Scorsese, which is a shame, because despite Schrader's own movies being wildly uneven, when they are good they are very good indeed. 'Blue Collar' is one of his very best works. A funny, sad and powerful look at three working class guys in a Detroit car factory, it is one of the last Hollywood movies to seriously look at your average working joe and the problems he faces on a daily basis. The three leads are all wonderful, and despite rumoured off screen problems, show a lot of genuine rapport and comaraderie. Harvey Keitel ('Mean Streets', 'Bad Lieutenant') is one of the finest actors of his generation, and Yaphet Koto ('Alien', 'Live And Let Die') is a well respected character actor, but the revelation here is funny man Richard Pryor ('Silver Streak') who displays a depth of talent few would have thought him capable of. The three buddies are joined by a first class supporting cast including Lane Smith ('Over The Edge'), Cliff De Young ('The Hunger') and George Memmoli ('The Phantom Of The Paradise'). Also keep an eye out for a brief cameo by future 'Repo Man' star Tracey Walter, who Schrader also used in a bit part in his next movie 'Hardcore'. 'Blue Collar' is a fine movie, one of the most underrated of the 1970s, and still relevant and powerful twenty five years later. Don't miss it.
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful: It's Well Worth Your Time., 31 July 2003 Author: phillafella from Nashville, TN
Excellent urban drama depicting the lives of three friends who work at a car plant, and plan revenge on their boss. Pryor is great in the lead role, which is probably his best performance in a movie. Schrader does a fine job in his directorial debut and makes this film a pure enjoyment. Bravo for Keitel and Kotto in their supporting roles. A highly underrated film that deserves much better than it got.4 out of 5
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Watch this movie, 18 June 2005 Author: bc001c8994 from United Kingdom
I first caught sight of this at 1am, in the usual late night films that normally send you straight off to sleep. Not this film. I was still awake at 2.30 when it ended.Richard Pryor deserves more credit for this role than he has received. By that I mean he's received no credit for a great performance and just shows that the man had more talent than was given credit. I urge any person thinking of a union career to watch this and then do the opposite of the characters.A gritty union drama that you can't stop watching from beginning to end.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful: An unjustly overlooked classic!, 4 January 1999 Author: cinefan from California, USA
This is a great film. I knew little about it going in, other than it was supposed to be a very well done, searing drama (this according to several film books, including Leonard Maltin's yearly tomes). I was not disappointed. Paul Schrader - writer of "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," and writer/director of "Affliction" - delivers yet another gritty, working-class drama. But the film is not without liberal doses of humor, provided chiefly by Richard Pryor in what I consider to be the best performance of his career. C'mon, people! How can you go wrong with Pryor, Harvey Keitel, and Yaphet Kotto (answer: you can't). The films hooks you right from the great opening credit sequence and doesn't let go 'til the final freeze-frame. I won't give the twists and turns of the plot away, but the film centers on three desperate Detroit auto workers and their corrupt union. It's very disappointing this film is so overlooked today (it also flopped when released)... the level of acting and direction (this was Schrader's directorial debut) is astonishing. See this movie!
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Entertaining drama, one of the best of the 70's dramas, 27 September 2000 Author: MisterWhiplash from United States
Blue Collar is a breakthrough for writer Paul Schrader as a director, but also for comedian/actor Richard Pryor. Before this, he was known for his stand-up, co-writing for Blazing Saddles and once in a while comic acting role, but here he shows his true colors of being an exceptional actor of talent. Here, he plays one of 3 auto workers (including great performances by Harvey Keitel and Yaphey Kotto) who are tired of getting ripped off by there company and (surprisingly) there union. So, they fight back, with some bad results. The plot is unfolding, which helps, but it is overall the performances by the 3 leads that give this film it's gigantic kick (and what a kick). Most likely filmaker Michael Moore's favorite film ever made, but for other people it is entertaining drama nevertheless. A+
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Pryor does his thing., 9 January 2006 Author: thump85 from United States
I was extremely impressed with the acting of the 3 main characters(Pryor, Kotto, and Keitel). Since I grew up in Detroit and my Dad and uncles worked for the big 3 the Auto Industry angle caught me. In the scene where Keitel was on the Belle Isle Bridge, I spotted in the background the Uniroyal Tire Company, where my Grandad worked for over 40 years. Yet Pryor's performance was terrific. The scene with the IRS agent was CLASSIC and a perfect example of blending comedy into a not so funny situation for Zeke's somewhat straight character. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and seeing some old landmarks and areas the way they were was a treat.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Richard Pryor Proves That He Can Be A Fine Dramatic Actor, 2 November 2002 Author: soranno from Las Vegas, Nevada
This 1978 Universal release is one of raunchy comedian Richard Pryor's best films and it's a highly serious drama. Pryor successfully goes for a major change of pace in this tale of a trio of auto assembly workers (Pryor, Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto) who are all having some major home, work and family problems and how they decide to solve them by developing a scheme to rob the union for which they work. When they put their plan to work, things eventually go from bad to worse. It may sound like a crime comedy caper with Pryor portraying his usual con man role but it's far more serious than that and Pryor proves that he doesn't have to get laughs in order to deliver a good film performance.
Should be mandatory viewing., 2 December 2009 Author: JetMechNA from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This movie is an "informing of the methods." It's NOT just about union corruption, because the company is at the core of the corruption. It is comparable to the more recent movie "Devil's Advocate" with Al Pacino as the Devil and Keanu Reeves as his young protégé. The Devil ultimately entraps the young lawyer and like all cases of entrapment by the devil, the devil can not do it unless the victim goes of their own free will. Keanu Reeves character protests angrily and insists that he's not a bad person. Then the devil replays every instance where he TOLD him to drop the case because the client was guilty....he TOLD him to go home to his wife. Of course in each instance he was weak and gave in to evil of his own free will. Blue Collar is EXACTLY the same morality play. It is up to the workers to get involved in their union in a responsible way. It is up to THEM to keep it honest. It is up to THEM to go home to their wives instead of staying out. The corrupt union rep TOLD them to do the right thing...before he offered them corruption. In the end, they did it all themselves...with a little help. The cryptic message at the end summarizes it all and makes it clear that we are being kept at each other's throats and enticed into acting immorally, but how it is our own weakness that plays into the hands of those with evil intentions. But you must watch until the very end...until the message plays. As one commenter said, under-rated film. It's a must see.
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