Point Break (1991)

Director:

Kathryn Bigelow

Writers (WGA):

Rick King (story) &
W. Peter Iliff (story) ...

Release Date:

12 July 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Sport | Thriller

Tagline:

100% Pure Adrenaline.

Plot:

An FBI agent goes undercover to catch a gang of bank robbers who may be surfers.

Plot Keywords:

Car Chase | Bare Butt | Shotgun | Profanity | Wet Jeans

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Patrick Swayze	...	Bodhi
Keanu Reeves	...	FBI Special Agent John 'Johnny' Utah
Gary Busey	...	FBI Agent Angelo Pappas
Lori Petty	...	Tyler Ann Endicott
John C. McGinley	...	FBI Agent Ben Harp
James LeGros	...	Roach
John Philbin	...	Nathanial
Bojesse Christopher	...	Grommet
Julian Reyes	...	Alvarez
Daniel Beer	...	Babbit
Chris Pedersen	...	Bunker Weiss
Vincent Klyn	...	Lupton 'Warchild' Pittman
Anthony Kiedis	...	Surf Gang
Dave Olson	...	Archbold
Lee Tergesen	...	Rosie

Also Known As:

Johnny Utah (USA) (original script title)
Riders on the Storm (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:R (Violence) (Adult language) | Canada:18 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Ireland:18 | Denmark:15 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video rating) (uncut) (1992) | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Largo Entertainment

Trivia:

Keanu Reeves observed real FBI agents in L.A. to study for the role. He also practiced with UCLA quarterback coaches to help with football scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final skydiving scene, Utah jumps from the plane without any goggles. During the dive, goggles can be visibly seen in certain shots while disappearing during close-ups.

Quotes:

Johnny Utah: [to Bodhi] You crossed the line. People trusted you and they died. You gotta' go down.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Men Behaving Badly: Rent Boy (#2.2)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

7 AND 7 IS

An under-rated classic

Point Break is one of those films that everybody loves, but that nobody actually talks about all that often. It is a film that if you mention it in conversation, everyone else around is bound to say how much they enjoyed it.

The film's two main assets are unexpected ones, in the form of the direction and the script. The direction by Kathryn Bigelow is nothing short of excellent. Her handling of the action and suspense scenes is exciting and riveting. The two sky-diving scenes are brilliant as is the foot chase through the streets (and houses) of the city. The script, by W. Peter Illif, is also very good and the best thing about the film. The plot is multi-layered and has an original relationship between the hero and the villain. The way the story resolves itself and the ultimate resolutions is excellent, by the standards of most Hollywood action films.

This film deserves to be remembered as one of the better actioners of the nineties, not up there with Die Hard 2/3 or Speed, but better than 90% of the action junk made nowadays. At least this film has a plot.