F.I.S.T. is a well-intentioned movie that manages to be compelling and worthwhile despite having a significant shortcoming. Norman Jewison's direction, with some superb cinematography by Laszlo Kovacs, follows a warehouse worker in Cleveland named Johnny Kovak (Sylvester Stallone), who becomes active and surges through the ranks of a labour union named the Federation of Inter-State Truckers (F.I.S.T.). The role of Kovak is both challenging and demanding, requiring an actor to convey a sense of cunning, intuitive intelligence; sadly, however, Stallone's performance calls attention to why his lukewarm abilities are constantly the target of ridicule.
Regrettably, Jewison builds the film, the first major picture for Stallone after the success of Rocky, around the once in vogue star, and the screenplay bears…