Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Maniac-9 This is one of Sylvester Stallone's most well developed and acted role of his early career. Stallone plays a character named Johnny Kovak which ought as well be Jimmy Hoffa.Kovak is a character who starts as a small time worker but after feeling him and his fellow co-workers are getting the shaft by management sets out to improve their working conditions. Soon he is working for the F.I.S.T.(Federal Interstates Truckers) union. As the years go by he's worked his way up to being the head of the union.The movie is unofficially basically the rise and fall of Jimmy Hoffa, I think it's a much better done movie then the movie Hoffa with Jack Nicholson in the title role.

wrongboyo F.I.S.T. is one of the few films out there that illustrate Sly Stallone's great acting talents. Stallone really brings his character, Johnny Kovak, to life and gives one of his most memorable performances. This film shows that, having gone a different route, Stallone could have become a much better actor. After this film, Stallone had a few other good films but the majority were crumby sequels, cliché action films, and poor attempts at comedy. It's really a shame he didn't put his talents to better use like he did in his earlier work like Rocky, and Nighthawks.The film begins in the Great Depression of the 30's and follows the life of Johnny Kovak, a labourer who works at unloading trucks. Who, with his coworkers after being severely mistreated, and underpaid fights back against the company. This leads to Kovak becoming a member of the Union F.I.S.T, the Federation of Innner-State Truckers. At first idealistic, Kovak's morals and values are challenged when he has to get organized crime groups involved to get what's fair.My only complaint with the film is, in the later scenes were Stallone plays an older Kovak, his portrayal is a bit weak given his limited acting abilities at the time. This, however is only a minor complaint, he still gives a great performance.The script is good, all the characters are realistic and well fleshed out,and the great director, Norman Jewison puts his talents to good use in F.I.S.T. Also, filled with a fantastic supporting cast (including, Peter Boyle, and Rod Steiger) all these elements come together to make F.I.S.T. a film that is definitely worth seeing.

Emil Bakkum F.I.S.T. is a film with two distinguished actors, Sylvester Stallone and Rod Steiger. Stallone is highly convincing in his role as a working man, Johnny Kovak, who becomes infuriated by the exploitation of truck-drivers, and makes a career in their union F.I.S.T. However the theme of the film may be even more interesting than the artistic achievement itself. In 1992 DeVito brought out a remake named "Hoffa", which was really vicious and an attempt to incriminate unionism. In fact Jimmy Hoffa actually existed, and was a highly successful and popular organizer and leader. Let me first summarize the story pictured by F.I.S.T. (I become dizzy with realism, and am inaccessible for hidden messages or psychological analyses). Kovak is asked to lead the local section of F.I.S.T., since he knows how to appeal to the truck-drivers. It is the roaring thirties, and the after-effects of the robber barons are still simmering. During his activities the tires of his car are punctured, and even worse, he is beaten up. However a real crisis evolves during a demonstration of the truck-drivers of the company Consolidated Trucking. The company has hired a private "security firm", whose thugs attack the workers using guns, iron rods and incendiaries. The police stands aloof, and several of the truck-drivers are murdered. This brings Novak to the conclusion that he needs a similar "push", and he starts to employ the services of his own admittedly not very respectable security firm. this includes the intimidation of scabs and the destruction of their trucks. Is this organized crime or derailed activism? I don't know. Kovak keeps pushing, against the orders of his national union board. Anyway, finally Consolidated Trucking caves in and signs the contract. Soon Kovak becomes the national leader of F.I.S.T. and a national celebrity as well. But he has to pay a price to his "securiy firm", among others granting loans from the F.I.S.T. pension fund to the people that previously supported his actions with their push. The loans are controversial, but illegal? He has to appear before a senatorial committee, that investigates the relations between trade unions and organized crime. One of the witnesses a charge is murdered, and Novak is urged by his former allies to step down. Being a fighter, Novak refuses and is eventually murdered himself and his body is somehow disposed of. It is a tale of a union leader searching for the boundaries of power, and IMHO surpassing them. Still the film justly leaves plenty of room for empathy with the man. And the makers had the tact not to slander the real Hoffa. Still, in view of the vicious remake "Hoffa" let us consider the true events. The real Jimmy Hoffa had an enormous success in organizing the American truck-drivers (with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters). During these endeavors he made a lot of enemies. For instance, the Teamsters were expelled by the CIO. Subsequently he also tried to organize the railways and airlines. It is said that this made him the target for the political elite, among others the Kennedy family, who feared that the organization of these branches would give Hoffa control over the whole USA. He was indeed brought under investigation by a Senatoiral committee, and also on trial. The first trial resulted in a hung jury voting 7-5 for acquittal. The judge declared a mistrial, believing that Hoffa was guilty and had bought the jury. The second trial resulted in a verdict of guilty and Hoffa was given eight years in federal prison. Hoffa was released on parole in 1971. In 1975 he mysteriously disappeared. There are several explanations circulating. One is that he had resisted the mafia and was subsequently liquidated. Another says that he had skipped off to Brazil with a "black go-go dancer". So it may be wise to reconsider before you believe the story of either "F.I.S.T." or "Hoffa". It is worth noting that in the union Hoffa was popular to such a degree, that his son has later been elected for president (which IMHO is rather unhealthy). If you are interested in collective bargaining or even sympathizer with unionism, there are definitely more informative and realistic accounts. Try Salt of the Earth, Norma Rae, Bread and Roses, Harlan County War, Matewan, Man of Iron. Or take a look at the other films about social action, that I have reviewed here on IMDb.

dwissba This film proved that Sly could really act in lead dramatic role. What has happened since have been sub-par performances (although big grossing films) from Sly. This film is about Johnny Kovak, a blue collar factory worker during the 1930's who rises to the top of a national union called F.I.S.T or Federation of Interstate Truckers. It was said it was loosely based on the life of Jimmy Hoffa who like johnny's character vanishes at the end of the film. This film really captured what it must have been like in the days before there was such a thing as worker safety, and that sticking your neck out to support a union would have gotten you killed. No one could have played this part better than Sly with his street smart looks, and tough guy persona which works in this film and does not lead to cheesy moments as his other films did. In this film it was about survival. Also what is interesting about this film is how it shows how power corrupts even the best of people when they are giving too much of it. Johnny Kovak rose to the top and gained a lot of power but in the process made enemies with the men who helped get him there. In any case if you are familiar with the story of Jimmy Hoffa you will understand when you see this film.Too bad Sly never stayed with these types of roles....he really could act...