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EXISTENTIAL
ADRENALINE
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Now that
my love letter to John Carpenter has come to a close, I was unsure what film,
or group of films I should visit next. Should I board the “Action Movie Time
Machine” and venture to the ‘80s to track down ol’ Chuck, finally, or maybe the
‘70s for “Dirty Hairy“? Then it dawned on me. Not to long ago I sat down with a
few friends to watched “Point Break”. They wouldn’t shut up about how great it
was. I hadn’t seen it before, but it was a film who’s reputation I was familiar.
A gang of presidential mask wearing bank robbers gain a reputation for their
handy work while surfing between jobs. Oh, and Nick Frost’s character, Danny
Butterman, absolutely LOVES “Point Break” in “Hot Fuzz”. Well I guess If I
wasn’t interested before, I now have my seal of approval. In short, I watched
it and liked it, so “Point Break” it is.
The year
is 1991. Paul Reubens, Pee-Wee Herman, was arrested for masturbating in
an adult movie theater. Accusations of sex abuse and steroid use drew all kinds
of heat on to Hulk Hogan and the WWF. All this and Keanu Reeves learns to surf.
THE
SKINNY
The film
begins with Special Agent Johnny Utah, Keanu Reeves, who has recently
graduated from the FBI academy and been assigned to work band robbery detail in
southern California. Upon his arrival he is partnered up with veteran agent
Pappas, Gary Busey. Pappas is one of the older members of the team. He’s
seen and heard it all, and as a result he’s both jaded by his job, and regarded
as a bit of a nut by his co-workers.
Together
the new partners pick up where Pappas left off on a case involving a group of
bank robbers who go by the “Ex-Presidents”. They call themselves this because
they chose to wear presidential masks during their heists. There’s a Nixon,
Carter, Johnson, and Reagan. If you were ever confused by some joke or parody
from the ‘90s that involved a mask of a president, this movie is it’s
inspiration.
The
Ex-Presidents have acquired quite the reputation for being professional. No one
is ever injured, they only take what money is in the teller drawers and they
are in and out in ninety seconds. They leave no clues and few witnesses, and
have successfully robbed twenty-seven banks in three years. The only info that
Pappas has been able to assemble about they group is that they may be surfers.
A security camera caught one of the Ex-Presidents mooning, which revealed a tan
line. Later trace elements of wax was in a footprint left by of the robbers and
may be board wax. And finally, the Ex-Presidents only rob during the summer
months, when the waves are the best for surfing.
For this
thin but compelling theory Pappas’ co-workers give him shit. To them, Pappas
might as well be talking about the Kennedy assassination or aliens or
something. But Utah is convinced. The two devise a plan to send Utah undercover
and into the ocean. He will learn to surf and in doing so he will make surfer
friends who he will, hopefully, get some hot information out of. This plan works
pretty good, if you overlook almost drowning and getting his ass handed to him
time and time again by other more experienced surfers.
Soon Utah
meets Tyler, Lori Petty, a tough surfer chick who agrees to show him the
surfing ropes and later they fall in love. Tyler becomes Utah’s window into the
local surf community and introduces him to Bodhi, Patrick Swayze. Bodhi
is a bit of a local surfing guru. He has a crew of young men and women who
cling to his devil may care lifestyle. Bodhi isn’t just some thrill seeking
adrenaline junkie, which he is, he is someone who has a rich understanding of
what being alive truly is and how everyone should push the boundaries to better
live their lives and experience freedom. There is a moment in the film when
Bodhi reminds his crew just why they took on this lifestyle by saying; “This
was about us against the system. That system that kills the human spirit. We
stand for something. We are here to show those guys that are inching their way
on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human spirit is still alive.”
As Utah
starts surfing more with Bodhi and his crew, he begins to understand the more
spiritual connection the guys have developed with each other, as well as nature
(the surf) and thrill seeking. Bohdi gets Utah to open up and in turn gains his
trust and later mutual respect and admiration. This friendship later gets
between Utah and his duty when he makes the discovery that Bodhi and company
are in fact the Ex-President, and now he has to bring ‘em in.
A lot
happens between the middle and end of the film, none of which is bad, but I
feel obligated to skip over some so I don’t get too carried away with this
synopsis. Consider it self-censorship to prevent spoiling plot. However, I do
feel compelled to mention the often referenced “scream while shooting in the
air” scene made popular by “Hot Fuzz“. Utah can’t yet prove anything but
suspects Bodhi is involved with the robberies. Well one day Utah happens to
cross paths with the Ex-Presidents while they are knocking over another bank.
This leads to a foot chase. Utah follows Reagan/Bodhi down a hill and blows out
his knee in the process, which is an existing high school football injury. Utah
can’t follow any further. He pulls his gun and takes aim, but the idea that he
may be shooting his friend is too much for him to handle. Instead Utah lets out
a scream and unloads his gun into the air. It’s a little goofy, but it
illustrates just how much he respects Bodhi.
As the
chase drags on, Utah gets close to capturing Bodhi. He finds himself on a plane
flying over Mexico and Bodhi has just jumped from the plane in an escape
attempt. To catch Bodhi, Utah follows him. He screams “Fuck it!“ and
jumps from the plane. Without a parachute… WITHOUT A FUCKING PARACHUTE! The
first time I saw this I was genuinely, “What the fuck?!”, surprised.
Utah manages to float down to Bodhi, pull his parachute cord and hang on for
dear life until they reach the surface of the Earth. Upon landing, Utah blows
out his knee, again, and he can’t continue the chase.
Over the
next few years Bodhi continues robbing banks in several different countries to
afford his freedom seeking surfer lifestyle. Consider these crimes bread crumbs
and Utah follows his trail all the way down to Australia. Australia is known
for it’s ideal surfing coasts, not to mention there happens to be a ”Fifty Year
Storm” approaching. One that is guaranteed to make the most hardened surfers
wet in their pants and Utah knows Bodhi will be there.
When Utah
finds Bodhi on the beach they have words and then they have fists. As the local
police move into position, surrounding Bodhi, Bodhi begins pleading with Utah
-- telling him that he won’t make it in prison without his freedom. Utah grants
him his freedom, temporarily, to catch a ride on one of the death defying fifty
foot waves. After all it’s a once in a life time event, and as a friend, he
understands just how much it will mean to him. As Bodhi paddles out into the
waves, Utah quietly walks back to his car. Utah overhears a police officer say;
“Okay, we‘ll catch him when he comes back in”, to which Utah replies “He‘s
not coming back“. The End.
THE
VERDICT
What
makes this film great and highly recommended to both action movie fans as well
as people who typically thumb their nose at action movies, is that there is
more here than just car chases and gun fights. “Point Break” is a hidden gem
within the vast wasteland that is action cinema.
It is
wonderfully directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker &
Strange Days, who, in my opinion, perfectly captures the beauty, freedom
and danger of the surf and skydiving. Not to mention, she was able to weave the
Utah/Bodhi friendship in just the right way, allowing it to become the focal
point of the film. Similar to “Heat”, “Point Break” becomes more about the
relationship between the cop and robber, than the actual crimes themselves.
Utah and
Bodhi develop a bit of a bro-mance. They each appreciate the others freedom
seeking nature and grow to admire each other, which later becomes the center of
the films conflict. Utah is forced to hunt down his best friend and Bodhi is
driven to break his own personal rules and even kill in order to ensure his
escape. In fact Bodhi is even willing to die then be locked up. I can’t speak for
everyone, but I was buyin’ what both of these guys were sellin’.
On a
similar note, Bodhi is a total bad-ass with an existential life philosophy. Hmm
sounds a lot like Swayze’s character from “Roadhouse”. Another action movie
must see, if I do say so myself.
The only
negatives I found in this film is its goofy surfer lingo and the acting. Not
all of the acting, but there are a few deliveries Reeves gives that are less
than what they should be. But hell, people have been saying that about his
acting for years. On the other hand, Busey’s intense over acting, no matter how
wild, is just great.
If you‘re
willing to overlook its flaws, you will see that “Point Break” is a great film,
let alone great action film.
I’m Cory
Carr and this concludes our ride on the “Action Movie Time Machine”. And
remember, freedom isn’t free. Semper Fi!
For more
from Cory, check out his website slaughterfilm.com, where
he and his good friend Forest Taylor record weekly podcasts, reviewing the
films that are legendary, even in Hell!
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