GetPapa
Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible
Derry Herrera
Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
Ortiz
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
punisherversion1
Life on the Line: Directed by David Hackl and written by Chad Dubea, Primo Brown, Marvin Peart and Peter I Horton. Tomatometer rating is at 0%.Week 7: John Travolta plays a lineman during a serious storm trying to keep things going as nine hundred and fifty three subplots swirl around this disaster of a movie. Oh man what an insult to actual lineman. It's an insult to the real people that they show the pictures at the end of the movie with the sappy and silly country song. This movie is just plain awful. I mentioned it has a ton of subplots. It is convoluted to get to the point where John Travolta has to make a big sacrifice. It's so obvious where all of this is going. We have a stalker subplot, a pregnancy subplot, a cheating subplot, a PTSD subplot and a haunted past subplot. It's too much. It make sense since there are a bunch of writers credited and not enough sure how many more that were not credited. The actors are all one note. They are playing caricatures of "people". I mean come on these were real people and lived real lives. I wouldn't be making this note only because they made it the point. They try to pull at your heartstrings but can't do because none of this syrupy nonsense is real. It has the swelling music. It has a schmaltzy country songs trying to make you feel like they're good hearted hard working regular folks. They're just trying to live their life, their very overly melodramatic soap opera life. They try to make fixing power lines as dramatic as possible. They fail miserably at it. Stay away from this one. It is a huge waste of time and the worst one I've seen yet. I give this movie an F.
dkent213
If you don't want to waste your life away by watching an awful movie that sucks in so many ways, with poor acting and a very weak plot then DO NOT watch this movie... even if you do like John Travolta.Nothing in the movie is at all funny nor is it remotely interesting. Even the biggest scene with the storm was only about 15 minutes long.IT'S POOP I TELL YA, IT'S POOP!
Mark Turner
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.
shareplayfox
Watched this tonight - Watt a treat, its absolutely shocking, electrifying and keeps pylon on the suspense, it really amps up towards the end, and manages to fuse and splice current day tech with raw acting power, if you want a film that makes you go "ohm my god" you cant do better than this John Tra-volt-a charged joule of a movie. This really sparks the imagination and overloads the senses, worth the watch. Follow it up by watching the new program on the documentary channel about power workers searching the top floor of abandoned power stations for old valuables - Cash in the static.
