: :How far would you go for a brand-new, fully loaded pickup truck? Would you go as far as the 23 contestants in
Hands on a Hard Body, who entered a contest in which the last one standing with his or her hand on the car drove off with it?
S.R. Bindler documents the contest that takes place each year at a Nissan dealership in Longview, Texas. And what a contest it is. Twenty-three names are drawn at random and these lucky folks get the opportunity to participate. The rules are simple: one hand must remain on the truck at all times; no leaning or squatting allowed; if the hand is raised even momentarily, the contestant is out. 0ne 5-minute break is permitted every hour, and one 15-minute break every 6 hours. The last three survivors--excuse us, contestants--must be tested for drugs. The results are hilarious. The gloves irritate hands (sweat could ruin the truck's finish), legs go numb, people get on each other's nerves. Strategy is involved, cheaters are accused, competition is fierce. 'lt's a contest, they say, of stamina, but it's who can maintain their sanity the longest,' we're told by 1992 winner Benny Perkins, who competes once again. This offbeat film shows the quirkier side of human nature while providing a thoroughly entertaining watch. Each contestant represents something, but which will win out: desperation (a woman tired of riding her bike everywhere but who can't afford car payments), determination (a toothless woman who 'tr[ies] to finish everything l start'), God (a woman's church holds a prayer chain for her as she communes with Jesus by the truck), endurance (a former Marine who once stayed awake for five days), or experience (Perkins is sure he knows all the tricks)? Who finally makes it through the 78-hour ordeal? You'll have to watch this comical film to find out.
--Jenny Brown
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An incredible slice of Americana. Invaluable to anyone interested in East Texas culture and the diversity of peoples in this country.
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It's an endurance test; a contest of wills.
To the uninitiated, HANDS ON A HARDBODY may vaguely sound like it's a porn film or perhaps a film about a "fluffer" or someone involved in oiling up muscles in a body building contest. To those more familiar with vehicles, a "hardbody" is the term for a Nissan pickup truck. The "hands" fit into S. R. Bindler's documentary courtesy of the 1994 "Hands on a Hardbody" competition. This annual contest at a Longview, Texas Nissan dealership has contestants place a hand on a well-equipped truck. The last person to take their hand off the truck wins it.
It's an endurance test; a contest of wills.
Director Bindler does a terrific job, introducing the audience to the contestants, the rules, the attitudes, and the strategies. We hear the voice of experience via Benny Perkins, the winner of the 1992 contest who has returned to earn a second truck. Perkins describes his mindset and the course of action he used during his first attempt; "If you eat something like [a hamburger] it'll bring you down."
In a tournament of time and endurance, HANDS ON A HARDBODY has nary a dull moment. As the hours tick by, Bindler interjects interviews with participants and contrasts them with on-the-spot insight. We see attitudes shift and fortitude fold or fortify. As the twenty-three entrants dwindle, friendships are forged and rivalries arise. The contest acts as a personality magnifier; artifice fades as fatigue kicks in. More than swollen joints and numb feet, time takes its toll on the minds of these resolute combatants. Some become comatose while others fall into fits of hysterical laughter.
I only watched the final episode of the first season of "Survivor." I could see the appeal of the show: the personality conflicts and physical duress. However, HANDS ON A HARDBODY condenses that intensity into a terrific, taut, 90-minute work of absurd human drama.
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"It's a human drama thing"
This quote from one of the featured contestants sums up this documentary. I'm not one who often watches a film more than once. However, I've seen this at least 4 times and have been fascinated each time.
For a person who enjoys documentaries, this is a great one. The filmmaking is not as professional as some others, but that's probably part of the appeal. Some of the personalities are definately amusing, just because they're such unique individuals and are without pretense.
By the time the contest and film are over, you almost feel as though you had been a participant and are ready for a long rest.
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Infinitely better than reality TV!
Okay, I admit...I'm a sucker for documentaries. Give me a documentary anyday over what passes for 'reality' on television. I love the raw quality of docs and the emotion of the people in them. "Hands on a Hard Body" is a little gem of a movie. Sure it was cheaply made and many of the camera shots are rough, but the people in this little film are amazing! And hilarious. I certainly don't mean to poke fun at them because I think their honest-to-goodness need and desire to win a truck is so real and touching. I love how some of them trained for the contest (by eating "energy" food like oranges and 'snickie' bars) and the side stories that transpire throughout the film. It's funny, it's touching, it's a little bit sad, but I loved it. "Hands on a Hard Body" is reality! Check it out at your local video store. I think you'll be glad you did.
