Cebalord
Very best movie i ever watch
ShangLuda
Admirable film.
Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
Jonah Abbott
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
Wizard-8
As you no doubt know, the 1970s produced a number of American good ol' boy movies involving truckers. This particular one is somewhat different, because it had significant Canadian involvement, in order to take advantage of a tax shelter system that existed there at the time. If you are thinking that the end results are a kind of mishmash between two cultures, you are right. The movie often feels kind of strange, not coming across as either Canadian or American in tone or appearance. But the feel of the movie is not really one of the big problems with the movie. While other good ol' boys movies of this era were packed with action, there is very little action here, and what little there is happens to be choreographed and directed in a manner that's more often than not slow and sluggish. And while other good ol' boys movies had a lot of comic relief, the little humor in the movie is lame and passionless. In fact, the other parts of the movie also share a great lethargic feel. Maybe it was from the fact that most of the movie was shot in the cold Canadian winter (though strangely there are some scenes where there is no trace of snow anywhere on the ground.) Movies like this killed off Peter Fonda's drive-in career.
SnoopyStyle
A group of hijackers are harassing truckers. Iron Duke (Jerry Reed), and Pickup (Helen Shaver) are two of the independents worried about the situation as well as being pressured to sell by the ruthless trucking boss King Carroll. Visiting stunt driver Rane (Peter Fonda) is riding shotgun with his friend Duke when they are attacked.This is a Canadian action exploitation B-movie. The plot is pretty simple elevated by solid actors. Its action is reminiscent of gonzo Australian B-movies. There is a good amount of destruction. Camera work is not that imaginative but effective enough for the era. At various points, it takes its sweet time which is unhelpful in an action thriller. Overall, it's not aiming that high and it mostly its target.
lightninboy
Not much to see here. A couple guys swashbuckling with big Ken-Tool tire irons. At least this is a movie that accepts the existence of snow. Jerry Reed plays "the Iron Duke," a trucker who wants to make a few more runs and then stay at home. Peter Fonda perhaps should have played a trucker and not brought the biker element into this movie. After the chase with the racecar-laden auto transporter there isn't much to see. One memorable scene is Duke's poignant attempt to defend himself with nothing but a tire knocker. If you like trucker movies, it's your duty to watch High-Ballin' at least once, though. Isn't driving a truck in Canada exciting enough without a typical far-fetched plot? I guess the ultimate truck driving movie would have no plot at all and would be just one big roadeo.
blackxmas
If you think you might be getting into a jovial SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT type film thanks to HIGH-BALLIN's ad art, think again. What the film delivers is a dark, moody piece set in snowy Canada that doesn't seem to know what direction it exactly wants to go in. Reed plays Duke, an independent trucker who just happens to be next on the list of a bunch of local truck hijackers. Fonda is Rane, an old trucking buddy come to visit for a spell and ends up helping Duke take on the hijackers. Is it supposed to be a comedy? Well, there are some funny moments. Hard ass action flick? Well, there are some cool stunts. Romantic drama? Well, yeah, there are some tender moments. For some reason though, there is that aforementioned dark tone that somehow squeezes out any ounce of humanity and replaces it with an ominous aura that lays itself out on the characters and the landscape. Maybe it's 1970's Canada, as I got the same feeling watching Cronenberg's FAST COMPANY. It may sound as if I don't like this film but I do. It's different and odd, especially for it's genre. Definitely worth a look.
