Josh Olson on SORCERER 

A few months back, I watched *Wages of Fear* and *Sorcerer* back-to-back, and I think *Sorcerer* is one of those rare cases where the remake really does improve on the original. It's a marvellous film.

This has been one of my favorite movies since it first came out.

Josh Olson picks the most interesting movies and has the best commentary out of all the TFH presenters.

Agree completely, across the board. Sorcerer is a brilliant piece of film making worth multiple viewings.

The attention Sorcerer is getting these past 10 or so years was a long time coming. The one aspect of this film that still has not gotten mentioned much, if at all, is the brilliant pipe organ music by Keith Jarrett from his 1976 ECM album "Hymns and Spheres" used throughout the film. Sometimes used by itself, sometimes mixed in with Tangerine Dream's music. Although Keith Jarrett is one of the most talented and famous pianists in the world, playing jazz and classical, he deserves to be noted because the very original and brilliant use of his pipe organ music gives the film a very unique atmosphere to it along with Tangerine Dreams synthesizers. The film was so great and original, it transported people to a different dimension in 1977. When it opened I heard about the new film from Friedkin, who I was a big fan of already and also a fan of Jarrett and Tangerine Dream. But, I missed out seeing it because the multiplex theater it was showing played for only 1 week. It was pulled so they could have another screen to show Star Wars, a piece of crap movie that I truly hate, and the more so because I missed Sorcerer and had to wait 4 years to watch at 3:00 am on HBO on cable TV. My Dad and younger brother were lucky and got to see it and it blew their minds. It took some 30 years for it to become noticed for it's greatness and I would tell people about it and they never heard of it. But it's here and getting the praise it deserves. Even film critics are changing their minds about it, who I really don't care about. I need to get the Blu ray version. But I still hate Star Wars, a sorry piece of shit.

Great review ! William Friedkin was indeed at the top of his game on this film, thank-you. Sorcerer is such a masterpiece, so glad it's getting the recognition it so deserves!!

I've seen the movie and it's hypnotic but it would never ever be a hit. Not because it's bad but because its adult.

I had the misfortune of having to TC a truck carrying a lot of explosives to EOD in 1986 and I mentioned this movie and no one knew WTF I was talking about . . . .

Très bon film. Very good movie.

Sorceror is fabulous.

While Sorcerer is a masterpiece, it is the ridiculous attitude that Hollywood stopped making intelligent films after the '70s that has made people progressively stop caring about films in the last 30 years.

Great review. Amazing film, extremely underrated/overlooked! One of the best

Yep, I wont write an essay, just going to say totally agree. Great film (I say that acknowledging that Friedkin is an arsehole). Equally like To Live & Die In L.A by Friedkin.

Freakin Frieken gotta see this!

THE FRENCH CONNECTION THE EXORCIST and the 1977 “The Wages of Fear” remake SORCERER, the 70’s was this director’s extraordinary decade though his impact/ influence will remain timeless William Friedkin (August 29th 1935-August 7th 2023) May He Rest In Peace

Didn't Tangerine Dream score THIEF?

Saw this on its first run. Thought it was excellent. But remember the theater being almost empty.

I saw rhis movie this year ad part of a memorial for Willaim Friedkin. It's suspenseful as hell (only beaten by Uncut Gems in my books), well-direxted, well-acted. A wonderful and well-made film. I recommend it to anyone.

I saw it the weekend it came out - opposite of Star Wars. I didn't even knew ST existed at the time. I came out of the theature (at 17 years of age) sweating and drained. I was a fucking ride I wanted to jump on again! It has stuck with me to this day...... especially the final minute of the movie.

I think the movie suffered from its title, of all things. "Sorcerer" was misleading to audiences, who showed up thinking that it was some sort of follow-up to the Exorcist, or at least had some form of the supernatural in it. The only actual reference to "Sorcerer" in the movie itself was the name "Sorcerer" painted on one of the trucks. Audiences didn't get what they expected, and the movie bombed because of it. If the studio stuck with Wages of Fear, or some variation, it would have been much better received. (Speaking as someone who went to see it when it came out, and was surprised and disappointed at that time, by the plot.)

One of the best films that William Friedkin directed in the 70's,,,,,,

Pre-ordered the blu-ray coming out in April, thanks for the heads up! I first heard of this film back in 77 or 78 on sneak previews when Siskel and Ebert reviewed it and showed the scene on the bridge it stuck in my 9 year old mind but I didn't remember the name of the film just the image of the truck years later around 84 or 85 I was into tangerine dream and I was look at the rental record store and found the soundtrack to sorcerer and I remember the image of the truck I bought the soundtrack and was completely blown away by it I couldn't imagine what images could be sent to this kind of music then around 89 or 90 the VHS tape was released and I watched the film for the first time.... I had been a fan of Friedkin's films for awhile but this was from a different universe and I couldn't believe I hadn't heard mor praise for this film. When I learned how panned it was and the fact that it was a flop I was stunned & set out telling everyone I could about this classic for years to come. I'm so glad it is finally getting the recognition it so richly deserves.

Josh thank you for the Video . I walked down to the Neighbor hood theater and saw this and thought it was a Good Movie . I also saw Star wars ( Just Once ) . Yes a lot of hype but I can not figure why this movie did not do better .

So Star Wars is responsible for all worlds problems? yeah, I agree with that.

FINALLY! Someone in the industry has acknowledged this fantastic film I love the 53 original and I agree this is at least it's equal and better in some small ways but regardless of the inevitable comparisons to the original it is definitely memorable and I would have to agree, I do think this is Friedkin's best film in many ways. if only we could get a decent Blu-ray release of this film...watch it anywhere you can it IS Friedkin at the top of his game

What I want for Christmas this year: A stargate to the alternate universe where Sorcerer was a hit, Star wars bombed, Heavens gate was never made and Hollywood never stopped making the type of incredible movies they made in the 70's.

I agree Mr. Olson, it is his best film (also "To live and die in L.A" Friedkin made his best film"s once he was no longer the "Golden Boy". The Excorest put me to sleep it was so slow and boring, and all people remember is the pea soup, and the spining head.

Goddamn this movie is great. The intensity and suspense of The Exorcist combined with the grit and realism of The French Connection. I truly wish we were currently debating whether Sorcerer: The Sorce Awakens was a strong new entry in the Sorcerer franchise or a blatant retread of the original.

Do you realize how good this would have been with Steve McQueen? Its good now but just imagine.

If it makes you feel any better, when I saw the trailers for Star Wars back in 1977, I totally wrote the movie off as "The Wizard Of Oz In Space" and did not watch any Star Wars until at least 10 years after Return Of The Jedi. I do remember Sorcerer then and was interested in it.

Love this film but my only problems with it is it's not filmed wide screen and the name of the film confused film goers.

I swear that's J.E. Freeman @ 0:57 seconds. He played the Dane in Miller's Crossing. I looked it up and this isn't listed as one of his credits. This clip is another reminder that the PG rating in the 70's meant adult movies that could be watched by kids, not kids movies that could be watched by adults as it is now.

Saw it in theatres when it came out. I was waiting for some freaky dude from the amazon to come out like a witch doctor. The sorcerer turned out to be a truck !Still enjoyed the film Very gritty like a lot of the movies back then.

I knew it was a classic back when I saw it in the theater ..... 🤙🏽😎

I'm with Josh... I think it's Friedkin's best movie. It is certainly in my top 10-12 movies. I was fortunate to see it in a revival house theater a few years back. The Oscar-nominated sound design can't be fully appropriated in a home theater setting. It's exceptional.

Tarantino doesn't like Scheider in this one!!, but i still feel that to have brillant actors instead of brilland and major stars is finally better for this film, add to the bleakness, but true,Steve McQueen, Lino Ventura and Marcello Mastroianni (i forgot the 4th planned)it would have been huge, but them guys here are more like strangers (except Sharkiller brady of course) ,i think it fits to this unknown foreign desolation.

This movie is so good, Barnard Rose gave commentary on this trailer too!

A fantastic movie, I recommend it to anyone who likes suspense.

Dude, you're comment at the end on alternate universes just made my day! Thank you!

A great ,great film. I saw it and was bitter that people were going nuts over Star Wars.

Production design by Oscar-winning John Box (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, OLIVER!, NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA).

So....when are the blu-ray reviews gonna start coming? I've seen nothing so far.

I saw the movie when I was young, through a poor quality dvd in two parts (we had to change dvd in the middle of the movie) thanks to a friend of my brother 15 years ago, on a 4/3 TV and it blews my mind and was looking for it for years. I finally bought the same poor dvd and heard about problems with Rights. I saw it again in a little French Festival in Lyon, a rare copy but still very poor on quality (4/3 and a lot of scratches). Then, suddenly, one day, it cames out in cinema un Paris, fully restaured ! And I run to see it again. Really happy to have the blu-ray now, even if I found they've been heavy on color saturation, but I can't be difficult on this case ;) One if my all-time favorite movies, with French Connection !

Thank you. Best wishes.

Great movie. What a ride.

Hmm....bare bones...I thought Friedkin said on Twitter he had already recorded a commentary. Odd. Still, the movie with a restored pristine OAR transfer is the only extra I need.

Wow I just got the bluray in a few days ago & it looks and soundsINCREDIBLE. Even though the disc doesn't even have a trailer or anything except for the liner notes it's worth every penny, this movie looks fantastic well worth the money. Get it if you're a fan...hell even if you're not a fan.

Love this Movie

My dad took me to see this when it came out. Maybe I was a little young for it, but I found it thrilling. I haven’t seen it since, and sometimes have wondered if I imagined it, but here’s proof. I’ll never drive a truckload of nitro over a rotting wooden bridge in the jungle...

I worked on the New Jersey location part of the shoot in June 1976. An interesting few days!

Wow, I must see this film!!!!!

a 22 million dollar budget didn't help

You know it's funny seeing this got me to thinking about during the 90s and early 2000s when I visit my favorite movie sites you know like home theater forum etc. whenever I bring this movie up you always had a large portion of people that would put it down insult it & say it was "subpar" "substandard" "Meh, it was an okay action film" etc. etc. I always came away from these discussions wondering have we seen the same film where was just coming from then I started reading the actual reviews from so-called film snobs from back then who compared to the 53 French film and refused to give it even a chance because it was not from their beloved French director then I started to realize that these people that were putting it down or pretty much parodying all of those snobbish reviews from back then I seriously doubt that any of these people actually had seen the film they simply repeated what they had read their hero critics had to say. Funny how many of those critics have reassessed the film and realized they "had their heads up their asses" LOL

Great movie, although I'm pretty sure they could have just taken the explosives by helicopter. Traveling by air can't have been any rougher than that terrain they drove through.

Saw this upon its first release. A lot of impressive scenes, but overall slightly disappointing. (Seeing the German re-edit with additional scenes does help flesh out the characters a bit.) Choppy editing hurts the film (the bridge crossing ends SO abruptly).

added to my 'must see' list!

Fun movie

Oh, this film in my feed again. This film is horrible. There is no real point to the story with a meaningful resolution. It's a day in the life of criminals fleeing their circumstances to save themselves only to end up in the worst place on earth and then decide it's worth risking their lives to get out of that pointless hell. I suppose it's one of those films that seemingly looks good on paper but fails miserably in reality. It baffles me how some people think this has some artistic genius to it. I see why it's risky to let directors off their leash and have cart blanche to make a movie. They're immersed and in love with the technical aspects of movie making, caring less about the story. Watching lorry trucks struggle on dirt roads doesn't make for gripping cinema.

It's not just because of Star Wars. There were other summer movies that year that were big hits: Smokey and the Bandit, The Deep, Black Sunday, Greased Lightning. The reason Sorcerer failed was because of it's inappropriate and misleading title. There is no sorcerer in the movie at all. Since Friedkin had earlier made The Exorcist, people expected this to be another horror film; consequently, they were disappointed. I agree with you though: it is a very well made film (Friedkin said it's his personal favorite movie that he directed) that's loaded with suspense. It deserves a much bigger audience that it got upon release.

You don't need to pretend that Star Wars is a bad film in order to praise this one.