“He Has No Power” Review of “Dead Lift” Leaving the sport and setting a new goal (the career of a movie star), Arnold Schwarzenegger very carefully chose his roles. It was logical to assume that Mr. Olympia would willingly accept most of the offers exploiting his fitness. But Arnold did not just want to act for the sake of money and the role of “pumping”, but wanted to become a great actor, already in the first films seriously declaring himself. Of course, the debut tape “Hercules in New York” was exclusively a pen break in a new field. But the next picture is the drama “Stay Hungry”, the already purposeful main supporting role, for which Schwarzenegger received a Golden Globe. Further, despite the flood of applications from various filmmakers, Arnold reappeared on the screens only a year later, finally choosing another project. This was the series “Streets of San Francisco”, namely a specific novella – “Lethal Weight”.
In fact, it was the last season of the detective telehit, losing popularity due to the departure of its main star – Michael Douglas. But the series with Schwarzenegger was one of the most unusual of his works in the context of his later career. After "Stay Hungry," Arnold once again played a serious dramatic role, with some bias in the thriller. His hero Joseph Schmidt is an Austrian bodybuilder who has difficulty adapting to foreign lands. Joseph has an explosive temper, reacting sharply to any criticism and irony in his address. And one day, Schmidt, not controlling power, throws a girl who laughed at his body.
There is no intrigue to the viewer in Deadweight, as it is known from the very beginning who killed and why. We alternately watch the police investigation and the life of Joseph, who is very sorry for his irreversible act. And the de facto series is devoted to the outlandish for many in those years professional bodybuilding. The film is a kind of confession of a loser athlete who has all the data to become a champion, but mental problems drag him to the bottom. And in this character, Arnold invested a lot of himself, knowing firsthand how difficult it is to achieve mass recognition in the once unpopular bodybuilding. “Rocking” for most of the then generation are just freaks, monkeys with a mountain of muscles, who are strangely respected for their achievements. Schwartz in reality, like his hero in “Wes”, with all his might destroyed this sad stereotype, proving that bodybuilding is a real sport, and not the whim of minorities. In the film, Joseph was hurting others while Arnold was doing good. But one way or another, the hero and the original are really similar in life philosophy, including why Schwarzenegger is so convincing in the image of Schmidt.
In his autobiographical book, Remember Everything, Arnold says he felt uncomfortable playing a killer for the first time, but it’s hard to deny that he’s got a creepy and pathetic character. This is not a monster villain, but a sick person, quick-tempered and unwittingly dangerous. There is no excuse for his destructive outbursts of rage, but at the same time it is difficult to restrain anyone who has been subjected to silly ridicule and the label of “brainless clubs”. Often people are too careless and arrogant in their words and actions, insulting others simply because they do not understand them. Therefore, in the triumph of justice from the point of view of the law, history carries a edifying message regarding respect for people and their way of life, when it does not spoil the lives of others.
That’s how Schwarzenegger began his film career, absolutely beyond the role of an action hero, promoting bodybuilding and demonstrating its positive features. And now, when bodybuilders around the world are full-fledged athletes and role models, you understand that Arnold is not just an action star, but also an outstanding motivator of a healthy lifestyle and achieving great goals. And his forgotten participation in “Streets of San Francisco” is also an important component of an inspiring mission.
8 out of 10
