My tribute to Rutger Hauer is a spoiler free review of one of his lesser known films:
On On 19th July 2019 Rutger Hauer very sadly passed away aged 75. We lost a truly unique and gifted actor. For me it feels as if he was always part of my life, having first seen him in Nighthawks alongside Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams in the early 1980s. Then following that in the role of replicant Roy Batty in Bladerunner. Quite possibly his finest performance, certainly his most memorable. The role that would over the course of the next 30 plus years go on to define his career. Although it has to be said that since his passing many have been praising his best as the award winning performance in the 1988 German film The Legend of the Holy Drinker, which at this time I have yet to watch.
Not surprisingly, and rightly so, pretty much everyone has focused on Bladerunner and his incredible performance, particularly the “Tears in the rain” monologue. The fact he died in the same year as Roy Batty did in Bladerunner adds even more poignancy to his passing.
Horror fans have understandbly, and rightly so, focused on another masterpiece of genre cinema The Hitcher. However, I decided I would highlight one of his lesser known films Blind Fury, released in 1989.
I was extremely lucky enough to see it at the cinema on its original release back in 1990. A time when lesser high profile films such as this were given a wide cinema release.
Blind Fury is, in a very good way, a difficult film to pigeon-hole within one genre alone, which makes it a unique film in some respects. A character driven comedic martial arts action film with a heartfelt and spiritual edge that touches on themes of family, friendship, parenthood, responsibility, the perception of disability, and the effects of war on the individual. However, first and foremost it is a fun film elevated by a beautifully nuanced performance from Rutger Hauer. As would always be expected from him, but not so much in a seemingly generic action comedy film.
A very loose contemporary adaptation of Zatoichi Challenged (1967), one of the series of iconic Japanese chanbara (swordplay) films. A 10 year labour of love for actor turned producer and huge fan of the Zatoichi films Tim Matheson. The only feature film he has produced to date. He hoped this would be the first of a trilogy of films, but unfortunately due to a weak box office performance the other films were sadly never made.
The story follows Nick Parker, played by Rutge Hauer, with the film beginning during the Vietnam war where he loses his sight. The story then picks up 10 years later with him going to meet with his friend who he served with in Vietnam. Events then conspire to have him embarking on a road trip with his friend’s young son.
The film has always been marketed as a knockabout action comedy, and yes it has those elements but there is so much more to it than that. Most of the depth comes from a perfectly cast Rutger Hauer. He elevates what could have been a generic b-movie into something more than any other actor could have. He showed a comedic side that had been hinted at in Bladerunner. He so clearly had great fun making Blind Fury, balancing the serious aspects with the comedy and pulling off the action scenes beautifully. He spent months before, and hours everyday during the shoot, perfecting his sword skills. Helped in those scenes in no small part by the seamless editing of shots with his stunt double Jackson Burns. However, when he is clearly in shot he totally convinces as a master swordsman, and crucially as a blind master swordsman.
Rutger Hauer said “Blind Fury was one of the most difficult jobs for me because of the combination with the swordplay. I’m glad it does not show. I mean that is was so difficult. Trained a month with a blind man who taught me his handicap. He was such a nice man. First thing he said was, ‘I don’t get confused about what I see…’ Then I trained every morning at 4:30am before shooting for those seven weeks. Then Shô Kosugi was brought in for the swordplay. That was an additional shoot for a week or so. Wonderful.”
Blind Fury is superbly directed by Australian Phillip Noyce, whose previous film Dead Calm made a star of Nicole Kidman. The extremely solid and economical screenplay by Charles Robert Carnes is the foundation to the strength of the film as a whole which Rutger Hauer made the absolute most of it. For the eagle eyed there are some subtle references in the screenplay to Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch, Marvel Comics, and the Parker novels by Donald E. Westlake (Richard Stark).
Unbelievably the film is less than 90 minutes long. Within the opening moments and credit sequence of the film Rutger Hauer’s character is introduced and the story is set up, both perfectly. All achieved within only 6 minutes. A skill that has been lost in many mainstream films nowadays. A film like this nowadays would probably clock in at 2hrs, and maybe more, yet still not have the depth and heart Blind Fury has.
This heart and depth comes mostly from the scenes between Rutger Hauer and Brandon Call, who plays Billy the young son of Nick’s friend. Their interplay bouncing off of one another is superb, balancing the emotional and comedic elements. In the hands of any other actor other than Rutger Hauer the film would feel overly sentimental. However, they pull it off beautifully, giving their relationship a realistic and believable arc.
Their performances are backed up by a top notch cast of supporting actors who many will recognise, such as Noble Willingham, Lisa Blount, Randall “Tex” Cobb, Meg Foster, Nick Cassevetes, and a brief cameo by martial arts legend Sho Kosugi. Fans of the TV series Lost will no doubt recognise Terry O’Quinn. All of cast clearly had great fun making the film, that translates into the finished film.
The cinematography by Don Burgess, editing by David A. Simmons, production design by Peter Murton, music by J. Peter Robinson, and not forgetting the superb stunt work are absolutely spot on. However, the film belongs to Rutger Hauer and his brilliant performance that.
I had not see Blind Fury in over 20 years yet it was as much of a blast re-watching it as the very first time. I was grinning pretty much all the way through this thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying film. A film that perfectly balanced the levity with comedic to beautiful effect. Even the hardest and most cynical of hearts will find it difficult to not have their heart strings pulled at times.
While it is not a masterpiece like Rutger Hauer’s more highly regarded films, I really cannot recommend this gem of a film enough. It showcases aspects of his acting many may not have seen before.
Blind Fury is yet another addition to the lasting legacy of one of the greatest and most unique actors to ever grace the silver screen.
RIP Rutger Hauer.
You will be dearly missed.
MR GEEKY 