365 Movies Day #78 "Wisdom"

Long before "Falling Down" and it's letdown of an ending, there was "Wisom". The film stars Emilio Estevez as John Wisdom, an ex-con who is struggling to find his place in the world. On a personal note, I think it's appalling how we treat our "rehabilitated" criminals. If you're let out of prison it should only be because you are fixed. Taking away your right to vote, own firearms and forcing you to put your past on your job applications forever is utter stupidity and is probably a high contributor to a high rate of repeat offenders. Putting away my axe now.

Unable to live a normal life when he's even fired from a burger stand for lying on his application (by his brother Charlie Sheen), Wisdom turns back to crime, but in a very Robin Hood sort of way. In the 80s, before all records were kept electronically and when farmers were losing their land left and right to foreclosures, John decides to take matters into his own hands. He robs banks, but takes no money. He does, however, destroy all records relating to the farmer's debts, hampering the bank's ability to take away their land. He becomes a hero outlaw with his girlfriend played by Demi Moore.

The ending of this film is one of the most beautiful left hooks have ever seen. Things go very wrong and the final confrontation and resolution is just fantastically executed. This was also the directorial debut for Estevez at the age of 24, which, according to IMDB made him the youngest person ever to write, direct and star in a major motion picture.

WISDOM ON IMDB