Rating: 
Summary: VERY GOOD SUSPENSEFUL MOVIE, JUST A BIT SLOW...
Review: Sometimes, a good movie is the victim of inordinate amounts of praise and accolades by people who think it would be "uncool" of them to say anything negative. Heaven forbid these in-crowd wannabes would say anything to break from the pack. So, instead, they pile on the superlatives to the point of no return. As a result, new audiences end up feeling extremely disappointed when they finally do see the film because there's no way it can live up to the high expectations these reviewers have given it. Well, I'm not one of those, so I'll say it like it is: "Wages Of Fear" is a *very* good movie, but it's far from being THE suspense movie to end all suspense movies as some here would have you believe. The newly-restored director's cut clocks in at a whopping 148 minutes, of which the first 46 minutes go by very s-l-o-w-l-y. The characters are being set up and developed during this time, but some of it does drag and even then there are some unanswered questions as to who, what, where, and why. It's easy to see why parts of this film were censored for its US release back in 1954: the picture that Clouzot paints of American corporations and their heartless greed is not pretty indeed. Even today, the dialog used by the oil-company foreman in his decision to use non-union workers stings and shocks. The story's pace picks up once our four main characters get on the road with their charge of nitro. Most of the action is completely unexpected (a very good thing), some of it is boringly obvious (not so good thing), and a bit here and there just isn't explained very well (a bad thing). Bimba and Luigi are believable as characters and they endear themselves to the viewer immediately. You just love these guys. Jo and Mario, however, are the complete opposite. Jo's breakdown, fully plausible as a result of what they have to go through, is a bit too sudden and too early in the trip and renders his character uninteresting --except for the scene at the gushing pipeline where your heart will break because of what happens to him. Mario's selfishness causes him to do the unthinkable to get his nitro through, but it is this scene that is the most powerful of the entire movie and which will have you staring at your screen in complete shock. Without revealing anything, I found Mario's behavior at the end to be completely unbelievable and out-of-character and the story ended much too abuptly (did they run out of film?). A very disappointing end to such a good movie. The Criterion edition is bare-bones: no trailer, no dubbed audio track, no interview, nothing. There are English subtitles, but they are not all that accurate. The film has been remastered so it's clear, except for a vertical white line that appears on and off for what seems to be the major part of the film. It's not all that obtrusive, but considering this is a Criterion release it's surprising it's there at all! I give this 3 stars: 4 stars for the film (despite its several flaws, it is engaging and suspenseful and well worth owning) minus 1 star for the poor bare-bones Criterion edition (with a ... list price, you'd think they could give more).
Rating: 
Summary: Great Title, Terrible Bore
Review: A variety (from nationality to previous occupation) of down-on-their-luck vagabonds see a chance for a big payoff by hauling highly explosive cargo through dangerous South American roads. Sounds great, sadly it is not. The introduction to the characters is more interesting than the trip which is supposed to contain all the action. One line, "where there is oil, there is Americans" is memorable. As far as tension, drama, suspense...there simply is none. I cannot believe anyone at the time it was made would find this film hair raising and if viewers who are now over-exposed to eye popping special effects watch it I doubt they'll even view it to the conclusion. I wouldn't blame them.
Rating: 
Summary: funky chunky but not quite spunky
Review: Decently suspenseful movie in the classic French tradition, but it's a bit slow in the beginning. I wouldn't call it "the most suspenseful movie I've ever seen" by any stretch of the imagination, but it's an interesting story of these loons and their nitroglycerin-filled truck, and how they cope with their almost-certain death versus the hope of escaping the deadend town they're stuck in.
Rating: 
Summary: THE LAST WALTZ
Review: Three years before DIABOLIQUE, director Henri-Georges Clouzot had already asked his wife, Vera Clouzot, and one of the biggest stars of French cinema, Charles Vanel, to play together in WAGES OF FEAR. A young italian actor, Yves Montand, was chosen to face Charles Vanel in this movie which, in my opinion, is one of the 50 best movies ever filmed. Lost in a little south american town (Colombia or Venezuela ?), Montand and Vanel are ready to risk their lives to earn the US$ 2000 the local branch of an american oil company offers to those who have enough guts to drive two trucks, loaded of nitroglycerine, to nowhere land. The story is well-known. If you haven't seen WAGES OF FEAR yet, you don't know your luck. Be prepared for a wild ride not only through hellish landscapes but also through the purest and the lowest of human feelings. Wait for scenes of anthology which are already written in letters of fire in Movie History. Observe Vera Clouzot's dresses that reflect in black and white the destiny of the characters and listen to the final waltz ending one of the most pessimistic movies ever made. No extra features with this Criterion release. Great sound and above-average image transfer with, unfortunately, a white vertical line that will appear during long minutes on your private screen. A DVD for your library.
Rating:
Summary: *EXPLOSIVES*
Review: It is difficult to overstate what a terrific blend of suspense, biting images, and nihilistic philosophy this film is. It works at several levels, the most compelling being a thoroughly existential treatment of the action adventure movie. Clouzot layers his irreverent cynicism into every aspect of the film, but it is actuated by the tight interplay of the characters. They are the kind of fugitives, hucksters, fortune seekers, down on their luckers you'd expect to find at a squalid, end of the world drilling camp. The director portrays them all in a dour, brave light as they struggle with futility and fear. The corruption, exploitation and innocence, are brought to a boil by a raging inferno and a couple of truck loads of nitroglycerine. Three hundred miles of rugged roads are all that separates these desperadoes from a ticket out of town. Clouzot rolls his audience into the drama with ingenious visual cues, cables stressed to snapping, tobacco blown from its paper. He uses no gimmicks, though, to impose an artificial sense of spectacle. Everything is shown with a taut authenticity. The film never loses its devil-me-care bravado in spite of all its tension and pathos. Clouzot intersperses little milestones of grace, in a prayer or a dance, with images of death. Alternately-- ambivalence, compassion and admiration are elicited for characters pushed beyond human boundaries and endurance. It resembles Treasure of the Sierra Madre (another excellent film), but caves in to none of its happy endings, higher ideals, saving benedictions. All here is carried out in a quiet desperation as every vestige of hope, purpose, escape are systematically sabotaged. All that is left is the moment, and survival. The scenes on the bridge, the oil pond, the road, are among the most unforgettable in cinema. The characters strive for freedom but are continually confronted with their interdependence and frailty. The director's final gesture, in the face of potential victory, provides a seal of consistency to this sinister, masterful brew. Clouzot delves into motivations, relationships, doubt. He challenges pat assumptions of life and destiny. It is a remarkable and original film, even more so in the context of the conventions imposed on Hollywood films of that era.
Rating:
Summary: White knuckled, edge of your seat, excitement
Review: Easily one of the best ever thrillers made. Henri- Geroges Clouzot, the French Hitchcock has crafted an edge of your seat thriller. Although this movie was made in the 1950's Clouzot uses suspence (visualally and structurally) to grab the viewer by the throat and takes you on the ride of your life. Four losers are recriuted by an oil company for a suicide mission. The have to carry nitroglycerine over 300 miles of ragged road. Will they all make it? Who knows. A must for any thriller fans. (don't worry about the subtitles after the first hour you wont care)
Rating:
Summary: Riveting Suspense with Fascinating Characters!
Review: This is one of the most suspenseful films of all time. But also takes its time to develop every character and give them real 'reasons' to take such a dangerous job. The whole cast is perfect but Yves Montand stands out as Mario, his determination and tenacity are what makes this film gritty and tense. Nail biting suspense, you're literally just waiting for the screen to explode with nitroglycerine. The ending is also memorable and appropriate. A must-see. Also see Clouzot's other suspense masterpiece 'Diabolique'. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!
Rating:
Summary: A truly great film which gets deep into the human psyche
Review: This is one of the great films that eveyone should see. Stark images, intense scenes make it a true classic. In comparing the remake "Sorcerer" to this film it's obvious that Friedken went for the American audience but it's also a great film in its own right. I'd recommend seeing both films. The plot is the same but the storytelling is quite different.
Rating:
Summary: Taught and tense
Review: i got my dvd player only 2 months ago and have purchased FIFTY of the Criterion DVDS so far (thank God for online discounts!). Wages of Fear is essential viewing. And certainly the Criterion Edition of the film is the best, showing it all in its 148 min glory. Scroll to the top of the page, and order it.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie in 148-minute format
Review: I wanted to amend my earlier review. I reviewed the 148-minute VHS version, which I highly recommend. I strongly caution against getting the (less expensive) 131-minute VHS version. The picture quality is very poor and the subtitles are often almost unreadable, i.e. white writing against an almost white background. The full-length VHS and DVD versions are terrific, with clear, crisp picture and perfectly legible subtitles.
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