One of the most underrated films of the "80's. And Siskel's wrong. This film NEEDED to wallow in the sleaze to ram home the point of what a fully despicable, amoral character John Glover is in it.
Yep - the sleaze was important...it was like Roy Scheider's character had to stomach it as he went into this world that attacked him...he was also a tough and smart "foil".....John Glover and the rest of the bad guys are great too..
Siskel is totally off base about the sex and violence in this masterful thriller. First of all, the sex and violence is NOT over the top, in fact, I think it is rather tame even back in 1986. But that's subjective. Truth is, given the world to which these characters inhabit, the sex and violence NEEDS to be heighten so that the audience realizes who these people really are and what they are all about. It is not something that can just be implied. These are down and dirty bad guys who work in the porn industry and who deal in murder, rape and blackmail. And we, the audience, needs to be affected by their world just like Roy Scheider is. 52 Pick Up is truly a great movie.
Siskel usually is off. His criteria for a movie being good is if it will go over well with the wine & cheese crowd. Sex, violence, and car chases are oh-so low-brow, so it's an awful movie (to him).
I was in 8th grade when "52 Pick-Up" came out. I just passed on it, because all I could think was, "Who wants to see old-ass Ann Margaret in a movie?" But I saw it recently and it's great! Roy Scheider, Ann Margaret and Clarence Williams III gave stellar performances!
Me too. I was born in 1970 and figured this was a movie for old people. Ann Margret was born 3 years before my mother and was 45 years old in this movie. I just watched this because it came out on streaming and I was curious. Now that I'm in my 50s, I'm like, "What kind of idiot is screwing around when he's got Ann Margret at home?" That's like Chevy Chase in Vacation having a wandering eye when he's got 30 year old Beverly D'Angelo. Moron!!!! Whatever. If you're going to chuck your whole life for a 24 year old, Kelly Preston is the girl. Aside from all this, this was a damn good movie!
I like Siskels opinions about films in general. While I appreciate and respect the fact he is truly a family man, I don't like like the fact that any film that can't garner a G rating is instantly denegrated on that fact alone. The world is ugly. You don't have to like it, but you can't bury your head in the sand and pretend it's not there.
yeah and the fact that it's a bout a sleazy porno theatre operator, why take out the sleaze…just wouldn't make a lick of sense. i thought the more sex and sliminess the better, it kinda shows you what sorta seedy underworld scheider's character was introduced to by his mistress. that's what makes this a good movie in my mind: the introduction of this whole new underbelly of a world. it gives the villains weigh more weight and believability.
Makes me wonder what he thought about Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Shawshank Redemption, Fargo, and (mentioned in this video) Something Wild and Blue Velvet.
@@fromthehaven94 The funny thing is that Siskel really liked Blue Velvet and Ebert panned it. These guys sentiments were not always consistent. But they were very amusing and entertaining.
Nice to see how enthusiastic Rodger was to this underrated gem but they didn’t point out Robert Trebors performance as “Leo” one of the most obnoxious, slimiest villains in film history!
I always thought Siskel was the stupidier (intended) of the two. In his review of 52-Pick Up, he proved it again. This is a terrific drama from start to finish, maybe one of Schieders best movies imo. And maybe one of Glover's best. The opening 10 minutes is phenomenal!!
Nice movie, nothing wrong with it. What is Siskel talking about; cut out some of the explicit sex... he's exaggerating (by the way: Vanity looks hot!) I agree with Ebert on this one! R.I.P. Roy Scheider... Love your work!
Oh Gene!! I forgot how fucking ridiculous his reviews could be. R.I.P. I remember for years a buddy and I would see each other on the street and say. "Hey sport." LMFAO!!!
I remember watching Siskel & Ebert every week years ago. Whether you agreed with one or the other, if they both liked a movie, you could be pretty damn certain it was good. I just read the book where it takes place in Detroit. Looks like L.A. or something in the film. Can't blame them though. Who the hell wants to go to Detroit to film.
I absolutely 💯 love 52 pick up along with Fear city 1984 and Street smart 1987. There's definitely 3 of the best if not the best. Sleazy 80s gems 💎 and Body double 1984. I don't agree with Siskel the sex wasn't even over the top at all and it was important to the story of the porno industry and what lies under the surface.
I noticed how Siskel kept trying to cut Ebert off. I just bought this vhs movie at the goodwill over a week ago just because it's a great film and I haven't seen it nowhere in over 25 years.....
Siskel comes off as a prude here. The only sexually violent scene I can think of is Cini's on-camera moment, yet it's completely necessary to the storyline.
52 PICK UP IS A VERY UNDERRATED FILM!!!!!!!! Great performances all around, but that scene with that girl tied to the chair w/ a board tied on her and then she is shot is a little too much.
Siskel is usually pretty good but he is off base in this film. He's desperately trying to throw the baby out with the bathwater. This film wasn't too over the top in its use of sex and violence. And for a Cannon film,that's saying something. The plot calls for the sleaze it depicts in this film. Never once does it overshadow the plot of the great cast in this film.
I agree with Gene. They went too overboard, and I thought Glover is way too unlikeable and unbelievable for the audience to actually care. It is worth seeing for Clarence Williams the 3rd's so over-the-top performance! I mean Frankenheimer is a great director; this does not rise to anywhere near the level of his better films.
the ending is a rip off of the mechanic from 1972 with Charles Bronson and John Michael Vincent this 52 pickup was a good movie but I don't like the blatant rip off of a better movie The mechanic
"Something about your face makes me want to slap the shit out of it." Great film, very underrated.
Lol- I used to say that to my brother when I was pissed when we were kids...Yes, we watched this brilliant sleaze fest when we were like 10..lol
One of the most underrated films of the "80's. And Siskel's wrong. This film NEEDED to wallow in the sleaze to ram home the point of what a fully despicable, amoral character John Glover is in it.
Yep - the sleaze was important...it was like Roy Scheider's character had to stomach it as he went into this world that attacked him...he was also a tough and smart "foil".....John Glover and the rest of the bad guys are great too..
I know. I forgot how milk toast that dude was. Loved the movie day one.
John Glover's villain "Alan Raimy" is the best part of this film. It's an entertaining flick, but Glover steals every scene he's in
Yes he was a good villain. He got his just deserts at the end. Locked in his car and being blown to bits. May his character rot in hell.
If you haven't seen it-- see night of the running man.
Glover is fantastic in that too, in a similar way. lol
@@RecoveringGenius i'll check it out, thank you!
Siskel is totally off base about the sex and violence in this masterful thriller. First of all, the sex and violence is NOT over the top, in fact, I think it is rather tame even back in 1986. But that's subjective. Truth is, given the world to which these characters inhabit, the sex and violence NEEDS to be heighten so that the audience realizes who these people really are and what they are all about. It is not something that can just be implied. These are down and dirty bad guys who work in the porn industry and who deal in murder, rape and blackmail. And we, the audience, needs to be affected by their world just like Roy Scheider is. 52 Pick Up is truly a great movie.
Siskel usually is off. His criteria for a movie being good is if it will go over well with the wine & cheese crowd. Sex, violence, and car chases are oh-so low-brow, so it's an awful movie (to him).
Wow......just saw this for the first time. Great cast,especially Vanity and Clarence Williams III. Agree 100% with Roger.
..RIP...CLARENCE WILLIAMS III...(1939-2021)
John glover was top drawer in this pic. I enjoyed this film thoroughly.
I miss these guys! Love the movie.
Awesome movie with an awesome cast! But, I believe EVERYBODY...... Way underrated, Sport.
Clarence Williams is a spooky dude.
52 Pick Up: One Of My Favourite Films!
Interesting compression artifacts in the video. It's like watching Siskel slowly get third degree burns.
I was in 8th grade when "52 Pick-Up" came out. I just passed on it, because all I could think was, "Who wants to see old-ass Ann Margaret in a movie?" But I saw it recently and it's great! Roy Scheider, Ann Margaret and Clarence Williams III gave stellar performances!
Me too. I was born in 1970 and figured this was a movie for old people. Ann Margret was born 3 years before my mother and was 45 years old in this movie. I just watched this because it came out on streaming and I was curious. Now that I'm in my 50s, I'm like, "What kind of idiot is screwing around when he's got Ann Margret at home?" That's like Chevy Chase in Vacation having a wandering eye when he's got 30 year old Beverly D'Angelo. Moron!!!!
Whatever. If you're going to chuck your whole life for a 24 year old, Kelly Preston is the girl.
Aside from all this, this was a damn good movie!
52 pick is severely underrated .Terrific film.
I like Siskels opinions about films in general. While I appreciate and respect the fact he is truly a family man, I don't like like the fact that any film that can't garner a G rating is instantly denegrated on that fact alone. The world is ugly. You don't have to like it, but you can't bury your head in the sand and pretend it's not there.
yeah and the fact that it's a bout a sleazy porno theatre operator, why take out the sleaze…just wouldn't make a lick of sense. i thought the more sex and sliminess the better, it kinda shows you what sorta seedy underworld scheider's character was introduced to by his mistress. that's what makes this a good movie in my mind: the introduction of this whole new underbelly of a world. it gives the villains weigh more weight and believability.
Makes me wonder what he thought about Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Shawshank Redemption, Fargo, and (mentioned in this video) Something Wild and Blue Velvet.
@@fromthehaven94 The funny thing is that Siskel really liked Blue Velvet and Ebert panned it. These guys sentiments were not always consistent. But they were very amusing and entertaining.
Nice to see how enthusiastic Rodger was to this underrated gem but they didn’t point out Robert Trebors performance as “Leo” one of the most obnoxious, slimiest villains in film history!
I always thought Siskel was the stupidier (intended) of the two. In his review of 52-Pick Up, he proved it again. This is a terrific drama from start to finish, maybe one of Schieders best movies imo. And maybe one of Glover's best. The opening 10 minutes is phenomenal!!
NO no no. Siskel was not stupid. He just didn't like the film. Sometimes he gets it, other times he does not. Thats all.
The ending of this movie is fantastic.
0:19 Their faces are melting! 2:40
John Glover as Rainy Great!!
Nice movie, nothing wrong with it. What is Siskel talking about; cut out some of the explicit sex... he's exaggerating (by the way: Vanity looks hot!) I agree with Ebert on this one! R.I.P. Roy Scheider... Love your work!
R.II.P. Vanity as well.
roy schieder has been dead a decade?
@@paulgardner5079 He died of cancer in 2008.
Oh Gene!! I forgot how fucking ridiculous his reviews could be. R.I.P. I remember for years a buddy and I would see each other on the street and say. "Hey sport." LMFAO!!!
I miss Siskel & Ebert.
a lot of us do
The fat dude and the skinny dude🤣 Hollywood shuffle talk yell
I remember watching Siskel & Ebert every week years ago. Whether you agreed with one or the other, if they both liked a movie, you could be pretty damn certain it was good. I just read the book where it takes place in Detroit. Looks like L.A. or something in the film. Can't blame them though. Who the hell wants to go to Detroit to film.
Well, back then Detroit wasn't like it is now. It was a thriving vibrant city.
No one could pontificate like Gene Siskel.
Great film !!!
I didn’t always agree with Ebert but I loved his reviews and he was always very progressive
This movie was great. Sorry Gene you are wrong on this one.
There are a lot of loopholes in the story but for a cannon film it is very good I would give it a thumbs up
This was a good film but anyone who read the novel this was based on will be disappointed.
I absolutely 💯 love 52 pick up along with Fear city 1984 and Street smart 1987. There's definitely 3 of the best if not the best. Sleazy 80s gems 💎 and Body double 1984. I don't agree with Siskel the sex wasn't even over the top at all and it was important to the story of the porno industry and what lies under the surface.
I noticed how Siskel kept trying to cut Ebert off. I just bought this vhs movie at the goodwill over a week ago just because it's a great film and I haven't seen it nowhere in over 25 years.....
ROCKNROLLFAN Netflix has it but not the ambassador
Get the bluray, dumb ass.
Siskel comes off as a prude here. The only sexually violent scene I can think of is Cini's on-camera moment, yet it's completely necessary to the storyline.
I always liked Siskel, but I think he's off base here.
52 PICK UP IS A VERY UNDERRATED FILM!!!!!!!! Great performances all around, but that scene with that girl tied to the chair w/ a board tied on her and then she is shot is a little too much.
This put Glover on the map!
Clarence Williams was so scary in this
As far as Elmore Leonard movies go I thought this one was pretty good. I’ve seen worse (big bounce, freaky deaky, cat chaser) were awful
The scene where they kill Roy's love interest was disturbing. Decent film.
Great scene….graphic
not 52 pickup the card game,but the amount of money agreed upon to pay in the blackmail scheme,damn fools,lol
It's named after the card game.
@@lenblack1462 Agreed but 52 pick up is not really a game
What violent sex was he talking about? I didn't notice any in it.
Siskel is usually pretty good but he is off base in this film.
He's desperately trying to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
This film wasn't too over the top in its use of sex and violence. And for a Cannon film,that's saying something.
The plot calls for the sleaze it depicts in this film.
Never once does it overshadow the plot of the great cast in this film.
EL writes like people talk not like a writer
Oh, so that's what the title was about.
sha11235 I use to play it a lot as a kid with my siblings.
Jimi Hendrix, I'm Zsa Zsa Gabor LOL
Cannon Film
old film gossip and wanting to be another man are not masculine traits
siskel being siskel....another moralist review based on violence ... really made him quite predictable
I agree with Gene. They went too overboard, and I thought Glover is way too unlikeable and unbelievable for the audience to actually care. It is worth seeing for Clarence Williams the 3rd's so over-the-top performance! I mean Frankenheimer is a great director; this does not rise to anywhere near the level of his better films.
I wanted to like this movie but the silly ending and a few of the choices made by Schneider throughout the film ruined it for me.
I mean, look at Ebert...lets get real people! This tells you what to watch!
the ending is a rip off of the mechanic from 1972 with Charles Bronson and John Michael Vincent this 52 pickup was a good movie but I don't like the blatant rip off of a better movie The mechanic
Possible rip-off but I love that extra bit of sadism that was in the 52 Pick-Up scenario.
Bad quality video.
Ebert is more like a 52 throw up
THIS is way better than STREET SMART that cops out with its shit ending.