POINT BREAK
US, 2015, 114 minutes, Colour.
Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey, Ray Winstone, Teresa Palmer, Matias Varela, Clemens Schick, Tobias Santelmamm, Max Thieriot, Delroy Lindo.
Directed by Ericson Core.
A quarter of a century ago there was an action film, surfing, robberies, FBI investigation, that made its mark as a cult classic, Point Break, with Patrick Swayze as the surfer leader of the robbers and Keanu Reeves as the infiltrator. In retrospect it is interesting to note that the film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture in 2009 for The Hurt Locker.
As with all sequels or remakes, many ask whether it is worthwhile – and what is the point! In this case it is to retain the basic plot and central characters but to extend the sports world of surfing to extreme sports, including surfing, skydiving, cliff climbing, trail bike achievement…
Of course, this is one of those adrenaline-pumping films (and, at some times, this is a bit of an understatement). As we sit in our seats, watching all these exploits, extremes that sometimes go beyond imagination, we cannot help but be excited. This is what is called vicarious excitement and entertainment. There may be some in the audience who would actually try to emulate these feats (though not exactly recommended) but most of us sit there identifying, comfortably and often uncomfortably, with the characters and all that tough and demanding action.
And the locations go international. Looking at the credits, one sees that there were shooting units not only in the United States, in Arizona, but also in Mexico, Venezuela, India, France, Austria and Italy. The film is quite spectacular to look at, quite extraordinary landscapes, especially for the trail bike opening ride and the trail called The Spine. The cliff-climbing in Venezuela, the double fall into the rapids, going over a vast waterfall, the extraordinary waves in the mid-Atlantic, the goldmine in Venezuela and the vast avalanche of rocks down the mountain side, skydiving and setting bales of cash free in midair, aiming for specific holes in the ground to dive into – and so on.
Australian Luke Bracey takes the role of Johnny Utah, made so popular by Keanu Reeves. International star, Venezuelan, Edgar Ramirez, is a strong presence and persuasive as the leader, Bodhi. While in the original, the robbers were daring and had a philosophy of edge and over the edge experience, this time the motivation is far more “mystical”, allegedly based on Ogaki, a Japanese adventurer, who made a list of eight daring feats, progressing around the world, defying all kinds of physical challenges. Bodhi’s aim is to achieve all of these. He has an international group with him, including Samsara, Australia’s Teresa Palmer.
There is an altruistic ideology about their exploits, stating that people have taken from the earth and, therefore, they have permission to return something of what was taken to oppressed people – diamonds falling from the air in India, cash in Mexico.
Johnny Utah is earnest as an FBI trainee with Delroy Lindo as his sceptical supervisor, persuaded about Johnny’s theories about where the group will strike next and allowing him to infiltrate, though not without many reprimands after Johnny is absent for 12 days, busy infiltrating the group and with Samsara, who shares the ideals. Ray Winstone is the British agent supervising him locally.
Eventually, there has to be a confrontation, a rivalry between the two men, with Bodhi relentless in his sense of mission and Johnny Utah having to come to terms with extreme sports achievements and the reality of crime, and its consequences, especially killings.
The director is Ericson Core who also acted as cinematographer – no mean feat with such different locations and such hyper-action sequences (actual or expertly using the green screen).
1. An experience of extreme sports, extreme views of life? The FBI story?
2. The original film, for the 1990s? This 21st century remake?
3. The range of locations, extraordinary photography, the variety of nature, beauty, harshness? The trailer bike route and the Spine, the robbery of the diamonds, dropping them on the people in India? The sky diving and the cash exploding in the air and falling in Mexico? The vast waves in the Atlantic? The huge goldmine and the consequent avalanche of rocks? The mountain peak in Italy, the bank, the cabin and the fight? Venezuela, the enormous cliffs, the waterfall, the river and currents? The final waves in the Atlantic? The cumulative effect of these locations – and the importance of green screen processes?
4. The range of stunt work, the special effects, adrenalin-pumping? The pounding score?
5. The effect on the audience, a precarious experience of these extreme sports? Identifying or not with the characters?
6. The trailer bike ride, the introduction to Johnny Utah, to Jeff, the locations, their skills, the bikes, the trek along the Spine, the photography of the riding, the leap onto the rock, Jeff and his overreaching, Utah holding on, Jeff’s fall?
7. The effect on Johnny Utah, his absence from the sports? The decision to join the FBI, the details of the training, instructor Hall, his severity, not believing Utah, the interview, the test?
8. The visuals of the two crimes, the criminals wearing the masks, collecting the diamonds, the consequences, scattering them?
9. The robbery of the money, the bales of cash in the plane, their being hidden under the cabin, pushing the money out, diving, ripping open the bails of money, the scattering of the money for the people? The policy getting back something? Their falling into the vast holes?
10. Johnny Utah and his role in the FBI, his explanation of the Ozaki endurance list? Eight? His working out the links for the crimes, the locations, the sense of direction, the particular extreme skills needed? His explanation to the group of FBi officials, their not believing him? Instructor Hall believing him?
11. Hall, Pappas, the British agent? Pragmatic, not believing the theories, but taking Utah into the ocean, the discovery of the waves, the boat, the young people and the holiday atmosphere, the immensity of the waves, the party, the surfing, Utah going into the waves, his being rescued?
12. The introduction to Bodhi, his philosophy? The touches of eastern mysticism? Environmental causes? These becoming ideology? And disregard for the human lives destroyed in the exploits? The group, his associates, the initial fistfight with Utah, Bodhi giving him respect? The millionaire, young, the boat, financing operations? Samsara, her presence? Utah infiltrating the group, their accepting him – and the later realisation that Bodhi knew who he was and said that he wanted to convert him? The parties, Utah alone, the discussions with Samsara, the sexual experience?
13. Utah realising the future plans, leaving the group, contacting Pappas, Pappas and his video of the sexual exploits? Hall and his anger, Utah away for 12 days, no contact, not obeying orders?
14. His returning, undercover, the plan to steal the gold, the threats to the convoy, Utah stating he was FBI, Bodhi knowing already, the explosions, the vast avalanche, Utah on the bike, the escape?
15. The robbing of the bank, after the FBI closed funds? Italy, on the peak of the mountain? The police and the shootout at the bank, Bodhi escaping, Utah and his pursuit, leaping onto the cabin, the fight, discovering that it was Samsara? The emotional effect and that she was a key member of the group?
16. The plan for Venezuela, Utah with the maps, working out the likely locations? The claim, defying gravity? The details of the climb, the visual attention, Bodhi, his companion, slipping and willingly falling? The two men at the top? Holding each other, Bodhi going over the cliff with Utah? The long fall, into the water, Bodhi and the current, Utah out on the rocks? Bodhi’s disappearance? Utah sitting talking with Pappas?
17. 17 months later, the time for the next huge wave, in the Atlantic Ocean, US territory, the boat, the helicopter, Utah coming down, meeting Bodhi, their final discussions, Utah leaving, Bodhi and his surfing, and disappearing under the waves?
