Rent Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

Terrific - Tucker: The Man and His Dream review by sb

FILM & REVIEW Coppola has had a real roller coaster of a career from the genius work of the 1970’s but over reached himself and bankrupted his own studio forcing him into the jobbing director for hire status. Occasionally he was allowed to return to something he wanted to do and with the backing of George Lucas revived this idea for a film. It’s the true story of Preston Tucker (Bridges) a maverick engineer who in post war America devises a new kind of car that would revolutionise auto manufacturing. Of course this pits him against the vested interests of the US car manufacturers (the big 3 in Detroit) who set out every obstacle in his way to stop him using politicians, the press and the legal system to bring him down. It’s the classic American tale of the little guy against the system and a real Labour of love for Coppola who obviously sees parallels between Tucker and his more recent difficulties in the movie business. Bridges is just superb in the role, a real force of nature with boundless enthusiasm who bounces back regardless of the setbacks. Terrific support from Allen as his loyal wife, Landau as his long suffering investor and an straight out of high school Slater as his son,. It looks fantastic all primary colours and gleaming chrome shot by Vittorio Storaro and Coppola jokes it’s his only feel good movie. Terrific stuff - 4/5