VANISHING POINT

US, 1997, 92 minutes, Colour.
Viggo Mortensen, Christine Elise, Steve Railsback.
Directed by Charles Robert Carner.

Vanishing Point is a telemovie remake of the 90s of the 1971, almost classic, Vanishing Point directed by Richard C. Serafian.

In its time, the 1971 version was a mechanised version of the Easy Rider themes. The central character, played by Barry Newman, delivered cars – but had to drive and break through police barriers. However, he also took an opportunity to reflect on his life and the meaning of the world? The plot has been updated. This time the hero is a former army ranger. His wife goes into labour and he is over a thousand miles away. He has to get home. Pursued and confronted by the police, he takes time off in an Indian reservation to reflect on the meaning of his life. He then goes back and confronts the police again.

The film focuses very strongly on the car and its make, its capacity for speed. The film also focuses on moral issues as well as a meaning of life – in the context of the 1970s and the impending beginning of the 21st century.

The film was directed by Charles Robert Carner who directed a number of films for television including Red Water, Who Killed the Children, Judas.

1. The popularity of the original film? Many seeing it as a classic? The transition from the 60s to the 70s? Vehicles, the road movie? The meaning of life? The value of a remake in the 90s?

2. The transposition of the plot and characters from the 70s to the 90s? How similar the issues? The basic issues – with the different surface?

3. The location photography, the state of Utah, the mountains, the desert, the Indian reservation? The importance of the open road?

4. The film as road movie? The focus on the car and its potential? Seeing the car in action, speed, energy? Radio contacts? The car on the open road?

5. The quality of legend and myth about James Kowalski? In himself, the army background, the ranger, the concern for his wife, speeding through the state, the confrontation with authorities, the background of the Indian reservation?

6. The religious dimension of the film, the setting of Holy Week, the Passion of Jesus, moving towards Easter and Resurrection?

7. The situation, the character of Kowalski, the establishing of the character with his past, the army? His job, the car, no plane, the news about his wife, the troubled labour, his decisions? The police harassment? The justification of the police’s attitude towards him? His decision to run them? The airport?

8. Kowalski behind the wheel, an easy rider – easy driver? The roads, his skill in driving, the potential of the car, buying the radio? The different types that he encountered, the shop, the girl in the desert, the mechanic? His encounter with the Indians?

9. His going on the radio, the dialogue with the people who called in, the exploration of situations, the truth?

10. The counter-religious influence? Christianity and the Indian religions? The Indians, the rituals?

11. The importance of the flashbacks, the meeting of husband and wife, their love for each other, the baptism? The pregnancy, the birth? The phone calls?

12. Sergeant Preston, his role in connection with Kowalski, representing the police?

13. The FBI, the assistant, the sheriff? Their decisions about Kowalski, pursuit?

14. The phone call, death, the baby? Audience response to the wife, the pregnancy, the birth, the baby?

15. Kowalski and survival? Adding to the legend?

16. A piece of Americana, the 1990s, the role of the individual and individualism, technology and communication, authorities and government?