He received critical praise for films such as F.I.S.T. ( 1978 ) , a social , narrative styled drama where he plays a warehouse worker who becomes involved in the labor union leadership . In Paradise Alley ( 1978 ) , he plays one of three brothers who is a con artist and who helps his other brother who is involved in wrestling . He received critical praise for films such as F.I.S.T. ( 1978 ) , a social , epic styled drama in which he plays a warehouse worker , very loosely modeled on James Hoffa , who becomes involved in the labor union leadership , and Paradise Alley ( 1978 ) , a family drama in which he plays one of three brothers who is a con artist and who helps his other brother who is involved in wrestling .