Best movie of this year hands down!

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Travolta needs to do scruffy more often, this was a good look for him. Sharon stone was brave without makeup and she looked younger than in some of her other movies so kudos to her. This was a good movie and I don't know anything about linemen, so I don't know how accurate it was. But there was too much drama and not enough about the story of the job. Good to watch once on a boring Tuesday night.

Ever see a movie where you're rooting for the storm to win and everyone in the movie to die? This is it. But we need to find a way to take the writers, too.

Oh puh-lease nothing new. Put a kissing a male nanny on the stairs to his plane in there...hell people pay for that. Kathe Bosworth showing off her new face surgery is great, but still can't pass for a teen honey, just saying. Scientology members should be forced to watch this movie as a form of de-programming due to a perceived boredom.

There was a time when Hollywood chose to make movies about people from every walk of life. They weren't specially challenged, didn't toss about political agendas, most were not super spies tracking down the latest bad guy and very few were dressed in tights with super powers. Instead these movies celebrated the normal average Joe and on occasion focused on the tough jobs they performed, celebrating them in the process. John Wayne's HELLFIGHTERS comes to mind when I think of movies like this. Those movies are rare these days. Thank goodness that didn't stop LIFE ON THE LINE from being made.John Travolta stars as Beau, a lineman in Texas wracked with guilt after his brother dies of electrocution completing a job he should have done. On the way to the hospital his brother's wife is also killed when hit be a semi. This leaves their daughter behind with only Beau to raise her, a job he willingly takes with no qualms.Years go by and Beau's niece Baily (Kate Bosworth) has grown into an upstanding young woman. The two of them have worked hard with the intention of her going off to college. But Bailey has a problem to deal with first. She's still in love with Duncan (Devon Sawa), part of a family that Beau is not keen on. As a matter of fact he's not thrilled with Duncan either viewing him as a stumbling block for Bailey.When Duncan shows to take on the job of a new lineman Beau isn't pleased but works around him. At the moment they need all the men they can get. A set of lines is being replaced and needs done before the storm season kicks in. Face it, this is a movie and you know problems will arise with this task.Sub plots revolve around the new neighbors who just moved in next door, Eugene and Carline (Ryan Robbins and Julie Benz). Eugene is suffering from PTSD after returning from Iraq but not being treated for it. Carline is wishing her husband were the man he was and eventually searches for comfort elsewhere. Another subplot involves Ron, a young man obsessed with Bailey who refuses to take no for an answer, basically stalking her.As the film moves forward Beau and Duncan have their run in and both learn what the other man is made of. The eventual storm, which we know is coming since the movie continues to count down the days to the storm, trouble does arrive. With power out across the county the men must concentrate on bringing power back online. A suicide attempt and a confrontation in the dark from Ron just adds more to the story as the men who risk their lives to insure we all have power do so once again.I know some will discount this movie because portions of the plot seem like cut and paste moments from the standard melodrama playbook. The thing is if it works it doesn't matter. All the story lines on display here work well with one another and intercept at various times forwarding the story along. It is never a hindrance to what we are witnessing unfold.Others will shoot this film down because of the accuracy depicted of the men who work as linesmen. Rare is it that a movie gets a 100% accuracy level when it comes to things like this. The goal of a movie is to tell a story, not show the most minute details of the job being depicted. I read one review that complained that the depiction of the linemen showed them as boozing brawlers after work. I didn't walk away with that. Knowing several linemen in person I can tell you that coming home to a cold beer is not all that unusual.The film itself is entertaining and well-made on all levels. The cinematography, even during rain sequences is clear and sharp. The sound levels aren't such that we can't hear or understand the actors when they speak, a personal gripe of mine with most movies today. And directing is well done here too showing a talent for composition for the entire film and a coaxing of great performances from the entire cast.What most will watch this for is to see John Travolta. I will say that I think he does an amazing job here. Don't shoot him down for the accent he chooses, it works. Perhaps the best thing is to see him performing in a role that's closer to his real age 63 than those roles chosen by most actors his age playing characters far too young for them. He does it with such skill and ease that for the most part you never pay attention to it.On the whole I'm sad to see that this movie didn't warrant a major release in theaters. It deserves better than a straight to DVD release. Some movies I've seen in theaters were not near as good as this one and a large number of critically acclaimed films were not as enjoyable. So my suggestion is that you seek this one out, rent it, buy it and watch it maybe more than once. When you finish you'll find yourself not only entertained but with a much larger sense of gratitude for those who choose to make sure power arrives at your doorstep.