Film Review: Tank (1984)

in Movies & TV Shows2 years ago

(source: tmdb.org)

Certain films allow more perceptive viewers to easily reconstruct creative processes behind it. In case of Tank, 1984 action film directed by Marvin J. Chomsky, it is obvious that script writer Dan Gordon wanted to make a film about armoured vehicle leaving the trail of destruction in town while making its driver the protagonist the audience is supposed to root for.

The protagonist in question, played by James Garner, is Zack Carey, Command Sergeant in US Army, recently assigned to military base in rural Georgia. He arrives there with wife LaDonna (played by Shirley Jones), teenage son Billy (played by C. Thomas Howell) and his own WW-2 era Sherman tank, which he had meticulously reconstructed in spare time. His plans to await retirement are wrecked during the incident in local bar when he defends local teenage prostitute Sarah (played by Jenilee Harrison) from sadistic deputy sheriff Euclides (played by James Cromwell). Zack easily wins that fight but Euclides’ boss, Sheriff Cyrus Buelton (played by G. D. Spradlin) see that as a challenge to his authority. Since he lacks jurisdiction to arrest Zack, he retaliates by arresting Billy on false drug possession charges and sending him to notorious prison farm. In desperation, Zack decides to put his beloved tank and his military skills for the purpose of setting his son free.

The obvious way to make tank rampage something acceptable for the audience is using it as a plot in simple populist action comedy. Gordon’s script is trying to keep things simple by lacking any kind of subtlety in characterisation. Zack is portrayed as superb military professional, loving husband and father and always willing to help those in need. Sheriff is portrayed as corrupt and sadistic monster. This, to a certain degree, works because those roles are played by great actors. James Garner is perfect as the no-nonsense protagonist with great deal of charm, while veteran character actor G. D. Spradlin portrays despicable villain in one of the more memorable roles of his career. This concept is, on the other hand, compromised by inept direction of television veteran Marvin J. Chomsky in his last theatrical film. Even worse are unsuccessful attempts to add dosage of seriousness in this film, which includes subplot of Zack being traumatised by the death of his older son, subplot about military servicemen abusing their wives and children, explicit threats of prison rape and really unpleasant scene in which Sheriff forces Sarah to strip and beats her. All this makes Tank closer to drama than to comedy. Yet, despite that seriousness, Tank in the end succumbs to Hollywood fairytale approach with Sarah becoming functioning member of Zack’s tank crew and Zack becoming folk hero who would be rescued by masses of his enthusiastic fans at the end, when he tries to reach relative safety over the state line. Such fairytales are difficult to reconcile with real life, at least for those who, like the author of this review, experienced certain unpleasant historic events, marked by iconic images of armoured vehicles smashing civilian cars.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/21871-tank
Critic: AA

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