"Bodhi, this is your f*$king wake-up call man. I am an F, B, I, Agent!"
One of the most memorable lines from the film, "Point Break,” was spoken from one of the coolest character names, Johnny Utah.
Ok. Let's be real. "Point Break" wasn't perfect but it sure is a guilty pleasure. I have the Pure Adrenaline Edition on Blu-Ray and even though the transfer rate isn't the best, it sure rocks with the special features and the sound is much better than on DVD.
The films co-stars John C. McGinley(Scrubs) and the legendary Gary Busey as an almost retired FBI agent partnered with Keanu Reeves' Johnny Utah. Busey believes the unsolved set of robberies were done by surfers because of the tan lines on their a$$es and more importantly the type of sand which exists on only one type of beach. The movie goes from cool to epic levels of greatness once Patrick Swayze comes on the screen(that’s what she said). Swayze plays a philosophical surfer/bank robber named Bodhi. Yeah, don’t meet many of those in real life. Well, you don’t meet many FBI agents that are surfers either. I wonder how many people join the FBI and then learn to surf while investigating robberies. That’s quite an original thought actually.
“Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true.”
In all honesty, there is a core to the film that holds everything together. It’s the friendship that is had between Bodhi and Utah that truly drives the film other than its nifty surf/sky diving/action scenes. This friendship is tested as Utah has to come to terms with who Bodhi is, a man on the other side of the law. Though many of the spectacles of the film are ethereal, what the film is grounded with is the nature of morality.
I believe this film helped shape “Heat” in 1995 with Pacino and Deniro. In Heat, two people on the opposite sides of the law actually seem to really understand each other and actually think a lot alike except for one fundamental thing – robbing banks.
You have to admit that a lot of successful action dramas examine the ‘identity crisis’. This crisis can be a dual identity internally or two identities in conflict with each other on a fundamental issue. Take Superman and Lex Luthor for example. Both want what is best for the world but both have a different view on what is best. Lex would rather innovate and dominate the world whereas Superman inspires and succumbs to those that are suffering. Lex tries to dominate and Superman easily could but doesn’t.
Back to my point, if you are reading this and still haven’t seen “Point Break”, go out and watch it right away. 4 out of 5 stars/5 out of 5 stars for action junkies
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